first pet

[Karen]

I'd be the contrarian and say get him a turtle, as long as there's someone to help supervise his care for it - that way he'll learn that they are nothing to be afraid of!

If, however, no one would be willing to help him, maybe a guinea pig.

[lute]

I'd be the contrarian and say get him a turtle, as long as there's someone to help supervise his care for it - that way he'll learn that they are nothing to be afraid of!

If, however, no one would be willing to help him, maybe a guinea pig.

of course i'm going to help him take care of whatever he gets. my mom says no turtles. she's TERRIFIED of them. i was talking with him and i think he's going to get a hamster or guinea pig.

[CathyBogart]

i was talking with him and i think he's going to get a hamster or guinea pig.

I would DEFINITELY NOT recommend a hamster, but as long as he's gentle with it I think a Guinea pig would be a great idea.

Hamsters are nocturnal, so they don't like to get attention during the day, their eyesight is very poor and they are prone to bite, more often than any other small animal I've come across. (This is especially true for dwarf hamsters in my experience)

As for as guinea pigs being delicate...yes, their little legs are a bit delicate...one of my mom's friends has a pair of GPs who her little daughter is very fond of. While I was over at their house, the little girl said "could you get out Bonzai? (What a neat name!) I'm not allowed to hold him unless I'm sitting on the floor." That seemed like a good solution to me. A grownup gets him out, she sits down, and they both get playtime.

You didn't say how old your brother is though, so I don't know if he's old enough that such a rule might be insulting to him.

[My Peanuts]

I had gerbils when I was young. I had many and I never got bit, but I know some people that have been bitten (not by mine) I think something bigger like a guinea pig is better. Same type of care, but bigger. Make sure he knows he has to clean that cage ALL the time. Kenny, my piggy when I was young earned his name, he was a pig!

[Roxyluvsme13]

How about a fish?

[Husky_mom]

about your concern about the pool.........how about a DUCK!!, they can swim adn pretty much like chicks, well kind of............

[lute]

my brother is 8yrs old. i don't want ducks because i think they stink.lol i honestly think he'ss probably get a gunea pig.

[dab_20]

about your concern about the pool.........how about a DUCK!!, they can swim adn pretty much like chicks, well kind of............

They are much more work, in my opinion... and they SMELL!

[icedtea]

one of my friends was goign to get a pet turtle but then she found out that she had to keep it in the fridge or freezer or something during a certain season, so she got guppies and neon fish instead, and they eat each other and die a lot, which is sad.