Best pet for 9 year old? Update- got a leopard gecko!

[dab_20]

I had a guinea pig when I was about 10 and I loved her! I took care of her by myself, she was affectionate and loved to be held.

If he is leaning towards a reptile (like many little boys would!) I think they are not too hard to care for. I know my brothers had a few Iguanas... they were about 15 at the time. As long as you help set up the cage and thermostat, I'm sure he'll do well to care for it everyday with minimal help.

Good luck with finding him a pet

[BitsyNaceyDog]

I had a guinea pig when I was about 10 and I loved her! I took care of her by myself, she was affectionate and loved to be held.

If he is leaning towards a reptile (like many little boys would!) I think they are not too hard to care for. I know my brothers had a few Iguanas... they were about 15 at the time. As long as you help set up the cage and thermostat, I'm sure he'll do well to care for it everyday with minimal help.

Good luck with finding him a pet

I'm going to disagree with that. In general I think reptiles are more difficult to care for than other little pets. Because of their very large size and complex diet I definitely wouldn't recommend an iguana. Don't get me wrong, I think iguanas are awesome pets (one of my favorite), we had one for years (died last year of cancer at age 11), but they aren't for most people.

I do think leopard geckos are nice little reptiles and a great beginner reptile, especially for a kid. They're (in my opinion) one of the easier reptiles. They stay small, but are big enough to hold. They're diet isn't too complex, and like Snakemama said they're setup isn't too difficult and it's pretty easy to maintain. We've used both under the tank heaters and overhead heat sources and have found we prefer overhead. It's really just preference, the important thing is they have a heat source (and never use a hot rock- NEVER).

[IRescue452]

From what I've seen of leopard geckos, they are pretty hard to care for properly. Whenever I see one in a rescue or privately owned, they seem undernourished. I'd say a uromastyx is more sturdy for that age of a child who may want to handle it more often, plus their diet is easier imo. They get much bigger than a gecko though.

[snakemama]

From what I've seen of leopard geckos, they are pretty hard to care for properly. Whenever I see one in a rescue or privately owned, they seem undernourished. I'd say a uromastyx is more sturdy for that age of a child who may want to handle it more often, plus their diet is easier imo. They get much bigger than a gecko though.

It is common for new lizard owners to not realize that their pet needs supplementation in the form of dust for their crickets in order for their skeleton to form properly. Thus, a lot of leopard geckos in the hands of newbies wind up with metabolic bone disease. Pembroke_Corgi is researching NOW so that she doesn't miss any of these things.

Leopard geckos do not require special lighting, and they are strict carnivores, eating only insects. The insects should be "gut-loaded" by feeding them a nutritious cricket diet for a day before feeding them off, as well as dusted with calcium powder. One adult can comfortably spend its life in a ten gallon tank.

Uromastyx are omnivorous, thus the need to both gut load/dust insects and cut up appropriate vegetables for them regularly. They need a tremendously hot basking spot(120 degrees or higher!!), as well as UV lighting, which can be expensive and needs to be replaced at least 2x a year. (Not to mention the possibility of a small child burning himself on the light) Plus, they need larger tanks.

Not that I'm knocking Uros, they are fantastic little animals, but I feel strongly that a leo is more appropriate for a beginner to the hobby, and MUCH MUCH easier to care for.

[ramanth]

Crested geckos are really hardy. I don't have any supplemental heat for mine. And if insects bother you, you can simply feed them Crested Gecko Diet (powder you mix with water).

[molucass]

I was going to suggest a Crested gecko rather than a Leopard gecko as well.

[ginalovesfelines]

I agree that leos are not that hard to take care of. With a good tank, heater, and thermometer you will be ready to go. Their diet is pretty easy also. It would be my first pick, esp for a 9yr boy!

[Cataholic]

I am more of a mammal lover myself. So, I suggest you get him a horse. Big enough to feel manly, doesn't eat other animals, doesn't need a heat source, and the manure has a positive bio impact. Plus, your daughter would love the horse, too.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

I am more of a mammal lover myself. So, I suggest you get him a horse. Big enough to feel manly, doesn't eat other animals, doesn't need a heat source, and the manure has a positive bio impact. Plus, your daughter would love the horse, too.

I wish!!

[Catherinedana]

I think guinea pigs are great companion animals for young people because they are usually very laid back (at least in my experience) although there is still the chance of a problem between them and the cats.

Please do not get him a bird. So many budgies have gone to the bridge because they are thought of as "starter pets" but they are not. As mentioned before they are a bit noisy, definately messy and unless you get more than one, they will be disfunctional if he decided he doesn't want to interact much with it. Budgies are highly intellegent and get a bad rap. And I won't even mention about them looking like a lovely light snack to the cats.

Perhaps waiting a while to see how he interacts and cares for the animals already in the house will lead to an easier decision process.

[Miss Z]

No-one suggested rats?

[BitsyNaceyDog]

No-one suggested rats?

Wow! Where's my head? Rats have always been one of my favorite kid-friendly pets. I had always hoped to get Nathan rats when he became old enough for "his own" pet, but as of now (he's only 3) he much prefers reptiles. My husband is thrilled that Nathan shares his love for herpetology. Maybe Topher will be a rat kid?

[Christmas_Hamster]

No-one suggested rats?

I was going to a little while ago but I got here late and it looked like it had been settled on reptiles. :P