Hi fellow wisemen/women! :)

I can't live without a pet, I just moved and I need a pet, I am alone most of the time and I think it would be nice to have one...

I need one that's low-maintenance, since I go to work on constantly shifting schedules, and I stay at work at around 10 hours a day (including transportation, traffic, agh), nut I have 2 days of weekly, and I also feel like I can't have something boring... I'd like my pet to be pretty interactive but not too needy (e.g, I'd love a dog but he might not like the lack of attention).
I don't mind if the food and housing is a bit expensive, as long as I don't have to clean it too often. (Am I even being reasonable?? )

My place is pretty small, no lawn, just garage with a gate, not like those shutters... Sort of open?. If I can keep my pet indoors that would be great.

Thanks for the help anyone!
I'm wiling to adjust these things a bit just to get a good companion :)

No offense intended but if you spend 10 hours a day at work and have constantly chaging shifts then perhaps no pet is right for you at the moment.

Most pets/animals like to have structure in their day, not just dogs and cats but animals like rabbits and hamsters as well.
They need human company and do not like being left alone for hours upon hours every day.

You want an animal that is interactive but not too needy... well there is NO pet like that. You cannot expect an active pet to be left alone for 10 hours a day.

The only animal I can think of that wouldn't mind being alone that long is a cat. And even then, some wouldn't mind seeing you more often.

I work anywhere from 8-12 hours a day, and judging by their activity levels when I AM home, they spend that time sleeping or watching the birds out the window. Half the time I wonder if they notice I've left, unless they have no food.

Instead of getting a pet,in your free time would you consider volunteering at a stables or animal shelter?

You get to 'care' for an animal and meet new people,plus make a difference in the community.

Great idea redhed.
By volunteering you can choose what hours you would like to walk/play/feed an animal.
If you are busy one day or weekend then you can give it a miss, with a pet of your own you can't. But most important even one day or even an hour at a shelter can give an animal a bit of happiness.

I do agree with Sariss that cats would probably be OK, but then again, I have seen some darn savage kitties just because they were not socialised enough.

Adopting an adult cat from a shelter would be my suggestion, but because of your work hours, volunteering at the shelter might give you that "pet experience" plus would allow you to check out the residents for adoptability in your situation.

Do you like birds? A paraket might be a good pet for you to have. I have parakets but I don't really like them that much as a pet because they have been caged their whole lives. My sister gave them to me so I just kept them. A lot of people love parakets because they are really cute and play a lot. You could keep them in the cage with bird toys during the day and let them fly around for a little while when you come home.

do you like birds? a paraket might be a good pet for you to have. i have parakets but i don't really like them that much as a pet because they have been caged their whole lives. my sister gave them to me so i just kept them. a lot of people love parakets because they are really cute and play a lot. you could keep them in the cage with bird toys during the day and let them fly around for a little while when you come home.

I know this is a little off the op,but parakets can be very entertaining,with a little time and patience you may get to like them,they will happily 'talk' away for hours,and can be very smart..

i know this is a little off the op,but parakets can be very entertaining,with a little time and patience you may get to like them,they will happily 'talk' away for hours,and can be very smart..

Oh I do like them I just feel bad keeping them in cages, but they are so used to it that when I let them out they want to go back in after 2 seconds. They are very entertaining and play a lot though.

If you do go the route of cats, you could always get a bonded pair from a shelter - that way they can keep themselves company while you are at work.

i know this is a little off the op,but parakets can be very entertaining,with a little time and patience you may get to like them,they will happily 'talk' away for hours,and can be very smart..

Really? Do they like being held?

The others have made some good suggestions. A dog is certainly a no go at this point in your life and if you choose to adopt a cat then I would defintely go with an adult and not a kitten. A kitten would require much more vital socialization and attention then you would be able to provide.

You could always go with a parakeet pair but remember to give the birds pleanty of space with an apporpriate sized cage. I've seen far too many poor parkeets cooped up in a tiny little cage picked up from a pet store that isn't big enough for the poor thing to hardly even spread its wings. While that little 1' by 1' cage may save space it would be cruel to the bird.

There are also some more low maintence reptiles that you may consider such as a leopard gecko. They don't take up too much room, require too much special care or need as much attention.

With an appropriate sized aquarium you may also consider an aquatic turtle.

instead of getting a pet,in your free time would you consider volunteering at a stables or animal shelter?

you get to 'care' for an animal and meet new people,plus make a differance in the community.

Aww that's a great idea! I'm in Manila, Philippines, I think I'm going to have a hard time looking for one...

But I'll try! :) Thank you!

If you do go the route of cats, you could always get a bonded pair from a shelter - that way they can keep themselves company while you are at work.

That's a good idea too, I am kind of a cat person.

Um does anybody think a reptile/amphibian pet is OK? Or still no-no?.

The others have made some good suggestions. A dog is certainly a no go at this point in your life and if you choose to adopt a cat then I would defintely go with an adult and not a kitten. A kitten would require much more vital socialization and attention then you would be able to provide.

You could always go with a parakeet pair but remember to give the birds pleanty of space with an apporpriate sized cage. I've seen far too many poor parkeets cooped up in a tiny little cage picked up from a pet store that isn't big enough for the poor thing to hardly even spread its wings. While that little 1' by 1' cage may save space it would be cruel to the bird.

There are also some more low maintence reptiles that you may consider such as a leopard gecko. They don't take up too much room, require too much special care or need as much attention.

With an appropriate sized aquarium you may also consider an aquatic turtle.

I used to have a turtle! :) I'll go see if I can take care of one now that I'm working.

If you get a parakeet that's hand raised then yes, they can learn to enjoy being held. They still like companionship though, so getting two would be better, all it means is getting a slightly bigger cage.

Budgies can learn to talk, they whistle wonderfully, they're very affectionate if trained and handled early and often. They can be a bit loud though, mostly when you don't want them to be, late evenings and early mornings. ;)

My grandfather raised budgies and cockatiels and I've always had birds in my life. I love these little animals, they really can be the perfect pet.

A hamster isn't a bad idea either. Hamsters are solitary animals, they really don't need a lot of attention and actually prefer to be left alone, but, with early handling they can learn to tolerate and enjoy their human beings. Only thing about hamster is that they're nocturnal, not bad if you work during the day.

If you get a parakeet that's hand raised then yes, they can learn to enjoy being held. They still like companionship though, so getting two would be better, all it means is getting a slightly bigger cage.

Budgies can learn to talk, they whistle wonderfully, they're very affectionate if trained and handled early and often. They can be a bit loud though, mostly when you don't want them to be, late evenings and early mornings. ;)

My grandfather raised budgies and cockatiels and I've always had birds in my life. I love these little animals, they really can be the perfect pet.

A hamster isn't a bad idea either. Hamsters are solitary animals, they really don't need a lot of attention and actually prefer to be left alone, but, with early handling they can learn to tolerate and enjoy their human beings. Only thing about hamster is that they're nocturnal, not bad if you work during the day.

Oh?. Hmmm... That's a good idea... I know very little about parakeets (or birds, in general), is a 15x15x15 cage okay for a pair (used to be my rabbit's cage)?.

As for hamsters, I used to have a pair but they are very unfriendly! :(
They always run away, too, I end up panicking... We have those here, but only 2 varieties, the Siberian Dwarf and the, uh, Bear? Not sure, the common one.

A hamster, would be great for u

Oh?... Hmmm... That's a good idea... I know very little about parakeets (or birds, in general), is a 15x15x15 cage okay for a pair (used to be my rabbit's cage)?...

As for hamsters, I used to have a pair but they are very unfriendly!! :(
They always run away, too, I end up panicking... We have those here, but only 2 varieties, the Siberian Dwarf and the, uh, Bear? Not sure, the common one.

When it comes to birds it's a very bad idea to use a cage not designed for them. The bars on most pet cages are too far apart and many birds have died because they get stuck.

It's best to get a cage specifically designed for your breed of bird, yes, there are different cages for different bird breeds.

The bigger the better. There are great cages available, if you don't mind getting a used one I would recommend checking eBay or your local sellers.

Make sure that your birds have a cuddle bone, this will keep their beaks from growing too long. Because budgies have hooked beaks it's very important as a long beak can actually kill them.

If you decide to go with budgies then let me know, I can help you with the buying of the cage and the accessories and give you some info on the care of your birds. :)

Here is a great link about budgies.

Budgie Information (http://www.tbvet.com/Services%20and%20Health%20Topics/Health%20Topics/Exotics/budgie_information.htm)

And pictures of some of the bird cages I found on eBay.

25040

This one can be expanded. I have this cage for my cockatiel only I have the expanded version. It's basically two cages in one. I paid $123.00 CDN for mine, in a pet store.

25041

Here is a great link about budgies.

Budgie Information (http://www.tbvet.com/Services%20and%20Health%20Topics/Health%20Topics/Exotics/budgie_information.htm)

And pictures of some of the bird cages I found on ebay.

25040

This one can be expanded. I have this cage for my cockatiel only I have the expanded version. It's basically two cages in one. I paid $123.00 CDN for mine, in a pet store.

25041

Wow thanks!! :) I checked the website, and it's very informative (and full of surprising information, too)

- I suppose I shouldn't clip its wings, the vet should right?
- Can I really give him hard-boiled chicken eggs as a treat? How about hard-boiled little quail eggs?
- If I let it fly around... Won't it make a mess (or is there a way to toilet-train it)?

Wow thanks!!! :) I checked the website, and it's very informative (and full of surprising information, too)

- I suppose I shouldn't clip its wings, the vet should right?
- Can I really give him hard-boiled chicken eggs as a treat? How about hard-boiled little quail eggs?
- If I let it fly around... Won't it make a mess (or is there a way to toilet-train it)?

I used to have a budgie and we never clipped it wings, we used to let him fly around the room for exercise. (Make sure ALL windows are closed!! )
However clipping is not that hard, just watch a few tutorials or get your vet to show you how to do it once and then you can do it yourself from then on...

Budgies can be kept in pairs so if you want to get a bigger cage then you can get 2 to keep each other company... if not then lots of toys to keep him amused while you are not there so he does not get bored...
A bored bird can become destructive and start tearing their own feathers out.

I love these birds, they are colorful in both looks and personality... and of coarse, they are native to Australia ;)

I have also heard with budgies that female/female pairs can sometimes cause problems between the birds. I'm not a huge budgie expert though. Is here any truth to this Alty?

I have also heard with budgies that female/female pairs can sometimes cause problems between the birds. I'm not a huge budgie expert though. Is here any truth to this Alty?

Good thought... I was only about 7 or 8 when we had mine, they were fine together but I can't remember what sex they were :o

I have also heard with budgies that female/female pairs can sometimes cause problems between the birds. I'm not a huge budgie expert though. Is here any truth to this Alty?

It really depends on when you get them and how much they're handled. If you get them together then they're usually okay, also, same sex means no unwanted babies. ;)

I really recommend getting a pair because they are very social little animals, they need attention. The only thing bad about having a pair instead of one is that they will bond more to each other then to you. But, again, lots of handling, getting a good breeder, it makes all the difference.

Personally, I'd never get a bird from a pet store, it's a lot like getting a dog from the pet store. These birds are mass bred and aren't handled at all. A real bird breeder hand rears the young so that they imprint on humans and are more tame. My Grandpa hand reared all his birds and every budgie (save one) that we ever owned was from him. I love these little birds, they really are wonderful companions and very intelligent.

It is possible to get a bird from the pet store and train it, but a hand reared bird is just better, in my opinion.

Also, pet stores lie. There are ways to determine a budgies age, it's the lines on their forehead. The more lines, closer to the beak, the younger the bird. As they age the lines decrease, go further back up the head. Am I explaining this properly? Anyway, I've seen many budgies in pet stores that aren't the young birds that the store claims they are.

Right now we have a cockatiel, she was given to us by a guy that hubby works with. She was hand reared, very tame, wonderful bird, very unusual color and just as sweet as can be. I'd like to get another to keep her company because I don't have the time to give her the attention I think she deserves. She's a doll. I had budgies from the time I was 5, love them. They really are amazing little birds.

Let me know what you decide. :)

One more thing. About clipping the wings.

I've only done this once, with a cockatiel that we found flying around our neighborhood. The poor thing was so distraught that once we caught him and put him in a cage, he wouldn't come out. I had a friend (that breeds cockatiels) clip his wings so that I could handle him without him hurting himself. It worked.

I normally wouldn't recommend clipping a birds wings. This is part of much needed exercise, it keeps them healthier and more well balanced, but, at first, when you're training, clipping the wings isn't a bad idea. Don't let the pet store do it, most of the employ's there have no idea what they're doing and can permanently disable a bird.

If you get the bird from a breeder then ask him/her to do it for you, if they don't know how, walk away, this person doesn't know what they're doing.

The wings should take around 3 months to grow back. I've found that the best way to get a bird used to you is to take him/her in your hand, walk into the bathroom, shut the door and turn off the light. Stay there for around 5 minutes. Birds are prey animals, therefore they're often very skittish and frightened. By taking him/her into a dark room and just holding, you're establishing trust. Actually, my third budgie, Butsie (don't ask) was very tame after just one session in the bathroom. After that, training was easy. Butsie actually learned to talk. He said "Gutter Butsie" (german) and "Ich bin schoen" also german. ;)

Really, I can't say enough about these wonderful little birds, they really are great pets. :)

^ RIP starby! :(


I live alone but find little time for pets.

I have a koi pond, dozens of tropical fish (in 2 different aquariums) and 2 rabbits.

That's it.

I would recommend to you a Betta or a small aquarium with small goldfish (shubunkins or sarassa comets).

PS: For many years, up until last year, I bred all sorts of birds in my garage. I had over 100 at a point, including tiny finches and canaries to Amazon parrots and african greys. It drove me crazy so I sold/gave away most and now I don't even have 1!

PS: For many years, up until last year, I bred all sorts of birds in my garage. I had over 100 at a point, including tiny finches and canaries to Amazon parrots and african greys. It drove me crazy so I sold/gave away most and now I don't even have 1!

Birds aren't for everyone and 100's would drive me crazy too. ;)

I used to breed finches. Well, I didn't actually breed them, they bred themselves. What I wasn't told at the pet store was that two finches will equal 30 finches in about a year. The sad thing is that finches must be kept in pairs, so I bought a male and female. By the end of two years I had so many finches that I had already bought 3 different cages to house them all. The saddest thing, I couldn't give these little guys away. No one wanted a pair. Sigh.

I ended up finding a wonderful home for all of them. They now live in the Muttart, a series of greenhouses that is open to the public. The pavilion they live in is the tropical one, it's warm, has tons of trees, a waterfall. It's bird paradise. :)

Budgies I adore, but no, they're not for everyone. It depends on how much you expect from a pet. The OP wants something she can interact with, so fish aren't the ideal pet for her. She also doesn't have a lot of time, so a dog, cat, rabbit etc, is also not the best idea for her. Hamsters, hedgehogs or birds, those would be the best pets for someone that doesn't have the time to spend with their pet.

Just my opinion. :)

A cat would be best.Most animals need you to spend plenty of time with them.