So a colleague at work has finally agreed with me to buy her son an exotic pet. I've tried hard to recommend snakes but rodents in the freezer is a big no for her. She also cannot tolerate tarantulas and doesn't want anything that will need extra heating or cost much ( the list of demands goes on and on) Finally I got her interested when I mentioned my African land snail Gary. I'm thinking there has to be more choice to fit into the filter. Scorpions are also out the question! Geckos perked her interest but the extra heating quickly destroyed that :-( Any ideas? Im thinking we're stuck with inverts.
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So is the frozen food the only prob with a Snake? If it is then how about if the kid was to keep a mini chest freezer or something like that in their room that was for the rats/mice? That way they wouldn't have to be kept in the kitchen freezer. Also depending on how old he/she is (the kid) then maybe they could feed the Snake themselves with just mum supervising and that would also solve the problem of handling dead things if she's funny with that too.
If she really doesn't like the idea of extra heat or light then a Crestie might work for her. If they're kept in a warm room they won't need extra heat and don't need a light : ) But they do seem lively creatures, not sure if that would be a good idea with a kid. But again depends on how old he/she is. But also they need to be fed live foods. I'm guessing she doesn't like that idea either?..
I have GALS and I love them. But I'm not sure they're all that interesting to a kid really. I love to watch them eat, but they don't really do anything.
Some cooler-climate Beatles? Don't know much about keeping Beetles but there are some really stunning ones out there.
Stick Insects? I used to keep the Indian ones and they're lots of fun. They don't need light or extra heat and they dance! All you need to feed them is Privet (which can be found for free!). The one down side is that they breed like mad and unless you take the eggs out and destroy them then you'll end up with tons of them. But if they're kept on kitchen roll or something light-coloured and flat then you can easy see the eggs, no problems there. I think Stick Insects could work for both mum and kid. And once they have a home set up for them they're almost free to keep. And of course it doesn't have to be the Indians, you can get all sorts of weird and wonderful Stick Insects these days. But the Indian ones don't look as scary as others do! : )
How about some cold water or sub-tropical Fish? I have a sub-tropical tank with Guppies and Platies in at the minuet. They're fun to watch, but obviously not very handlable... And you do need a light really.
Birds? No extra heat or light. No feeding live foods or frozen dead things. Some Birds can be tamed and handled, and some even talk to you. Maybe a pair of smaller Parrots for instance? Love Birds? Never kept Birds but I think they can make a lot of mess if their cleaning isn't kept on top of, but I can't imagine it's much worse than some other pets.
There are still a few options out there, we just need to find the right one. Don't give up yet Kelf! : )
quote:All you need to feed them is Privet (which can be found for free!).
Which someone will still have to go out and find,or buy.
quote:How about some cold water or sub-tropical Fish? I have a sub-tropical tank with Guppies and Platies in at the minuet. They're fun to watch, but obviously not very handlable... And you do need a light really.
You need lights/pumps etc and to change the water at times.
quote:Birds? No extra heat or light.
Some birds can make a real mess like you said.Everything needs some form of care etc.
1.0.0 pinstripe Royal Python 1.0.0 Bumblebee Royal Python 1.0.0 Normal corn 1.0.0 Extreme red Hognose 0.1.0 Extreme red tiger Hognose 1.1.0 yemen chameleons 1.0.0 Piebald yemen 1.0.0 Tamatave panther 1.0.0 Quadricornis
But seriously though could you not convince her that all pets need careing for and need some money spent on them. Some more than others, but still.
Could you not try telling her that owning a pet is a great way of teaching a kid about responsability and caring for others. It is true. Would that not convince her to re-think? To maybe give us a wider choice to work with.
Either that or we're stuck on GALS, which still need food buying for them, and cuttlefish bone. Not to mention the soil to live on, hidey places to sleep in etc... or Stick Insects, witch are at least free after buying their home (minus the kitchen roll for the bottom, I supose)...
the impossible task
Posted - 13/07/2012 : 19:09:22
