Help me decide on a new pet.

SmilingSword

Hey everybody

I have had cats, dogs, snakes, fish, scorpions, lizards, frogs, toads, terrapin, a tortoise and a micro pig as pets in the past. Now I don't have anything and it's doing my head in. Had to give up Scruppy, my pig in the beginning of the year because of Indians. I run a student house for my parents when I'm not at work and they rented the back house out to Indians. Apparently Hindu's can't live on the same property as swine.

I live in South Africa in the Eastern Cape so anything remotely interesting is illegal to keep as a pet. This isn't really a problem, it just makes it very expensive and hard to find a decent breeder. Also there is the constant worry of environmental people finding out fineing you and killing your pet. This almost never happens, but it is a possibility. I'm a cat person at heart, but my sister lives on the same property as me in a different house and she has cats "that live in my house." I don't want to get a kitten because her cats are two of the lamest cats I've ever met and they would probably teach the kitten to be lame too. Oh also I don't like dogs very much.

Anyways all suggestions are welcome. I want something fairly intelligent, not just a show piece, something that I can chill with. Also I can't get any big lizards, that would want to roam the backyard because the students would all freak out and leave, so no rock monitors or tegu or anything like that.

iKrivetko

ARMADILLO

Troodon80

You absolutely must get a cat.

Look at those adorable claws. Oh, look, it wants to play/have a belly rub. :D

SmilingSword

iKrivetko said:

ARMADILLO

Aren't they smelly?

iKrivetko

SmilingSword said:

iKrivetko said:

ARMADILLO

Aren't they smelly?

Who cares, they are bulletproof.

SmilingSword

iKrivetko said:

SmilingSword said:

iKrivetko said:

ARMADILLO

Aren't they smelly?

Who cares, they are bulletproof.

That is true

dunbar

Edit: original reply not PC.

[Deleted User]

The user and all related content has been deleted.

Nimran

I would have said ferret, but if it's illegal, then probably not a good idea. I do like the word 'skink', though.

JuliusBorisov

A chicken, really. I once had a chicken and she was very smart and cute. And she's been bringing eggs:)

Call her Melicamp and imagine she's your apprentice

Kamigoroshi

If you're looking for a highly intelligent pet, then maybe getting an octopus may appeal you. Indeed, octopuses can make great aquarium pets (as long as you got the needed time, equipment and knowledge of course). Not to mention their overly cute eight tentacle arms can keep you entertained for hours as they solve puzzles and other intelligent toys. Depending on the species they require rather large tanks and their food is also more expensive than other marine pets. So be prepared for that if you're getting one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABEDwa1ztQk

SethDavis

Tiger Shark

SionIV

Rats are awesome pets.

They get very tame and mine used to crawl up and sit on my shoulder. They are highly intelligent and very social.

meagloth

In the interests of actually being helpful, the cape genet looks interesting. I would warn against having anything to exotic as a pet, especial something that could be damaging to the enviroment. Even something as harmless as a cat is technically invasive; house cats are responsible for the deaths of a great number of endangered birds every year. They have a hard time knowing which is which. My cats, of course, will have nothing to do with the outdoors and are completely blameless:P

I've never heard of a genet before, but they look like raccoon cats, so I'm all for that, if you think you can manage that. I would also warn against anything that isn't really domesticated. People can dig themselves into holes they can't get out of getting pets that are really wild animals. Especially ones that are cute as Cubs but not so much as adults. Nature deserves more respect that a lot of people give it nowadays. People getting things like baby big cats, bears, or monkeys/apes is a real problem in some places. I'm gonna go ahead and tag @Tresset on this one too.

TheElf

Because they're cute and have an awesome name.

Teflon

So you don't interested in winged one? I have had canary and it was cute.
By the way what is terrapin?

SethDavis

Teflon said:

By the way what is terrapin?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamondback_terrapin I think

scriver

I don't think pet choosing is the kind of thing you should refer to a bunch of internet for.

As for...

SmilingSword said:

Also there is the constant worry of environmental people finding out fineing you and killing your pet.

...That doesn't exactly fill me with confidence in your animal care skills.

wubble

I can't believe no one has said miniature giant space hamster yet.

SionIV

wubble said:

I can't believe no one has said miniature giant space hamster yet.

I got a miniature (dwarf) hamster with a giant heart, but I'm not sure if she is from space or not...

Almateria

Leopard heckos are only as boring as all other reptiles

ChildofBhaal599

GOTTA GO FAST!

booinyoureyes

While I am always for the subjugation/enslavement of all ferrets everywhere, I do believe that hedgehogs have a certain coolness about them that other animals just can't manage. The spikes make them seem unwelcoming but in reality they are all laid back and chill.

OzzyBotkins

I have 4 cats and I love them all
Get another cat

LadyRhian

Momonga. Specifically Dwarf Japanese Flying Squirrels> or Heck, just get a squirrel as a pet…

Seriously, though… How could anyone resist something THIS cute?

CaloNord

Chinchilla! Chinchilla!

They are cute, social and curious they don't take up much space and can be a lot of fun when on the loose. They are rodents so they can be a little jumpy and you'll need to earn their trust. They are illegal here but I've always wanted one. And above all, as far as I know their poop doesn't smell neither does their urine as far as I can find out. but seriously, get me one too?

LadyRhian

Chinch'es are cute (I call Chinchillas Chinches…) too.

CoM_Solaufein

Fox squirrels are cool but they aren't native of your country or that part of the world.