As the holidays approach, it's a good time to remind friends and family that although hamsters, guinea pigs, leopard geckos, goldfish, and other small animals may be viewed as "children's pets" or "beginner's pets," they are far from it! In fact, there is no animal companion species that I think should be solely tended to by a child; attentive adults must be involved with maintenance and vetting! If a child wants an animal companion and the adults in the home are not interested in doing 100% of the care, they should simply get a plushie instead.
As veterinarians, we see far too many sad cases of parents "gifting" their child an animal friend as a present and then allowing them to languish in a small, dirty cage after the first month of excitement wears off. Whether we're talking about a mouse, a bearded dragon, or a betta fish, these are all complex living beings that require specialized care, including regular wellness exams with a veterinarian who is comfortable with treating said species.
Additionally, the standards of care have improved significantly over even the last decade. While it may have been "acceptable" (but nonetheless cruel) to have a guinea pig or rabbit to live in a hutch in the garage or backyard when we were kids, we now know so much more about the care of these fragile, social, intelligent animals. They deserve so much better than the bare minimum!
Hermit crabs, as another example, are still sold in teeny plastic 1 gallon containers, with colorful gravel and plastic palm trees. I adopted my 5 hermit crabs from a local animal rescue a few years ago and they currently live in a 300 gallon tank with over a foot of sand, a saltwater pool, a freshwater pool, and lots of climbing ropes. It may sound obvious but doing your research when bringing any animal into your home is absolutely so critical! Don't just buy the tiny, cheap, cruddy cages that are sold at major pet store chains.
After your thorough research, if you are still considering adding a new family member, check out your local animal shelter and PetFinder.com as every species - from potbelly pigs to cockatiels to goldfish - can wind up in a rescue's care, in need of a loving, well-prepared home.
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