Owning a pet is a fulfilling experience, providing you with a source of companionship that is guaranteed to make you smile. However, while most people look towards cats and dogs for a companion, these pets aren’t always suitable for everyone.
For instance, not everyone has the time to walk a dog several times a day or make sure they are home to feed the cat. While great pets, adopting these animals is a huge commitment not everyone is prepared for.
So, instead why not adopt a low maintenance pet? There are many great alternatives to cats and dogs, most of which don’t need the same level of commitment.
Check out the guide below for some of the best low maintenance pets around!
Low Maintenance Rodent Pets
Hamsters
If you’re looking for a small pet that is also low maintenance, look no further than a hamster. These small and adorable rodents are distant relatives of the guinea pig, another great low maintenance pet.
Hamsters live a relatively laid-back life, loving nothing more than sleeping, eating, and the occasional bit of exercise.
They are not too bothered by human interactions, so are often happy left alone doing their own thing. However, most pet hamsters do start showing signs of affection eventually, loving being handled by their owner.
Furthermore, they don’t have the most complex diet requirements, mostly eating grains, nuts, and vegetables. They also love fruit, but shouldn’t receive too much, as hamsters are prone to diabetes.
The most maintenance that a hamster needs is cleaning out its cage, including changing bedding weekly. So, the only thing you really need to worry about daily is changing their water!
Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs are another great low maintenance small pet, sharing many similarities with hamsters. For example, they enjoy a low maintenance diet of mostly vegetables, while needing their cages cleaned out weekly.
However, guinea pigs are larger than hamsters, so do have a larger appetite. Also, they are more sociable than hamsters, preferring human interactions more than their smaller relatives.
Despite their larger size, guinea pigs still require gentle handling, so are best suited for families with older children. Younger kids are often too rough for a guinea pig, so may accidentally hurt this small pet.
A guinea pig has an average life expectancy of four to five years. It is recommended that you adopt two guinea pigs, as they’re social animals so do prefer some company.
Chinchillas
The chinchilla is an adorable small pet with a low maintenance lifestyle. They do have a much longer lifespan than other small pets featured on this list, often up to 10 years. However, they do require a companion to ensure they live a long, happy life!
So, if you’re thinking of adopting a chinchilla as a small pet, we strongly suggest adopting a pair. They keep each other company, while also encouraging a longer lifespan, so its’ certainly worthwhile!
While they do live longer, chinchillas are still a very low maintenance small pet. They’re not bothered about being handled, so don’t require you to hold and carry them for long periods. The occasional handling gives them all the love and affection that they need.
In terms of cage maintenance, they do require a slightly larger cage than hamsters, with enough to stretch their legs each day. Their diet does consist of specific pet food for chinchillas, although it’s easily available online and at pet stores.
Rats
Rats have an unfair reputation as vermin. In fact, rats are one of the cleanest small pets available, taking great care to groom themselves each day. Pet rats are also incredibly adaptable to their environment, making them very low maintenance.
In fact, rats are one of the smartest animals to feature on this list. They’re happy playing games and solving puzzles, showcasing remarkable intellect for such a small pet.
However, rats don’t require constant attention and handling. While they do enjoy it, they’re also happy when left to their own devices. Their cage needs cleaning around twice per week and they eat an omnivore diet.
Rats require feeding twice daily, enjoying a varied diet of nuts, seeds, grains, vegetables, fruits, and cooked eggs and meats.
There are various species of rats, with the brown rat being the most popular as a small pet. Most rats have a life expectancy of 2-3 years.
Low Maintenance Reptile Pets
Snakes
While not everyone is a fan of snakes, they do make fantastic small pets, living a low maintenance life.
A snake doesn’t require much to be happy and content, with a spacious tank, fresh water, and a few spots to hide. You do need to invest in a suitably sized tank, a heat lamp or panel, and a hideout for your pet snake.
Other than that, snakes are incredibly low maintenance, requiring virtually no socialization and infrequent feeding. Snakes eat once every few weeks, usually a frozen animal such as a mouse or rat. Some do eat insects, although most snake foods are easily available at pet stores.
There are various species of snakes that are popular for small pets, including corn snakes, rosy boa, and a ball python. Some snakes do grow into large adults, so be mindful of the species you’re choosing.
Leopard Gecko
The leopard gecko is an adorable reptile that makes a great small pet for most people. They have awesome features, including vibrant spotted skin and large eyes that give them an expressive face.
Leopard geckos are ideal for people with homes that aren’t suitable for traditional pets, such as an apartment. They only need a small tank with about a 20-gallon capacity, so fit easily in most smaller spaces.
Their low maintenance lifestyle means they don’t require too much daily care. They eat insects, such as crickets and mealworms, which are easily available in most pet stores. Daily feeding is needed for baby leopard geckos, and once they’re adults only need to eat 2-3 times a week.
Most leopard geckos aren’t crazy about being handled. After building trust some might like to occasionally jump on your hand, but most prefer to avoid handling.
While leopard geckos are low maintenance small pets, they do have a long lifespan of up to 20 years. So, make sure you’re ready for a long-term commitment when adopting a leopard gecko!
Turtles
Turtles are a popular small pet, known for their adorable appearance and docile temperament. While low maintenance, turtles do have long lifespans, so make sure you consider this before adopting.
Furthermore, there are various species of turtle, each one varying in size, lifespan, and maintenance needs.
For example, the painted turtle is one of the smallest pet turtles available, living around 30 years on average. Painted turtles are small pets so don’t need the largest tank, making them a great choice for most people.
The size of the tank needed for the turtle does depend on the species. In most cases, turtles enjoy a spacious tank, so somewhere between 50-150 gallons is recommended. They also need a water filter and heat source to maintain the right water temperature. Tanks need cleaning every 2-3 weeks
Other than that, turtles are very low maintenance. They don’t need handling and their diet consists of food pellets that are sold at most pet stores.
Low Maintenance Aquatic Pets
Betta Fish
When it comes to low maintenance, small pets, most people consider some sort of fish. However, certain fish are surprisingly high maintenance, mostly because of their habitat. For example, exotic fish is mostly saltwater, requiring specific conditions for their tank.
So, if you’re interested in a low maintenance fish, a freshwater species like the betta fish is a great option.
A betta fish is a low maintenance freshwater fish that is happy to swim around in smaller spaces. They don’t need a large tank or pumps and filter systems, although they’re territorial so don’t mix with other fish.
Because betta fish are best left alone in their tank, you don’t need to clean it as regularly.
Hermit Crabs
Hermit crabs are small crustaceans that are popular additions to many fish tanks and aquarium setups. However, they make great pets on their own, being very low maintenance.
For example, a hermit crab doesn’t need much space, with a 5 to 10-gallon tank offering ample room for them to explore. Cleaning their tank is quick and easy, as hermit crabs are clean animals that don’t leave much mess behind.
Also, feeding the crab is easy, with a diet consisting of aquatic pellets and flakes found in most stores. Just make sure that a hermit crab has a nice selection of shells to use! They do outgrow their shells, so having a good range of sizes is important as they grow.
Sea Monkeys
Sea monkeys were hugely popular during the 1990s and 2000s, being the must-have pet for kids around the world. The reason they were so popular is quite simple – they are exceptionally low maintenance pets!
A type of brine shrimp, sea monkeys only need a small tank of freshwater to hatch. Once born, sea monkeys grow to around 1-inch, so are easily visible as they float around the tank. They’re a great pet for young kids, requiring almost no maintenance while being cool to watch.
Sea monkeys only need feeding twice a week, while their tank needs cleaned around once every four weeks. They have a short life expectancy, living for around 2 years in most cases.
Snails
Snails are another incredibly low maintenance pet, requiring nothing more than a tank and some fresh soil to explore. Simply fill a tank with a few inches of soil and you have the perfect home for a snail.
A snail eats a low maintenance diet too, mostly needing raw fruit and vegetables. The odd eggshell or fish bone also helps maintain a healthy shell.
Snail tanks only need weekly cleaning, which is mostly wiping away the mucus trails along the sides of the glass. Do this and your snail will live a long happy life – they often reach 10-15 years!
African Dwarf Frogs
African Dwarf Frogs are a great addition to any aquarium, living in harmony alongside most other aquatic life. However, they’re also great pets on their own, requiring a small 3–5-gallon tank with good quality water.
Their diet consists of bloodworms and brine shrimp, so make sure not to house alongside sea monkeys!
The most maintenance that an African Dwarf Frog need is maintaining its water supply. They like freshwater between 72-78F °, so it’s important to monitor their water quality. Check the water once per week, replacing it every few weeks.
Low Maintenance Insect Pets
Tarantula
Yes, many people are utterly terrified of tarantulas, but they still make a great low maintenance pet.
As a solitary animal, a tarantula doesn’t require any attention or handling, being happy alone in its terrarium. In fact, they prefer small spaces, so a tank of around 5 gallons is more than enough for a pet tarantula. Add in a few spots for them to hide and you’ll have a happily content spider.
A tarantula’s diet consists of fresh insects, which are found in most good pet stores. Crickets, roaches, and mealworms are a popular choices of food for these spiders.
Tarantulas live up to 7 years, reaching around 10inches in diameter when fully grown.
Scorpion
Much like the tarantula, a scorpion isn’t a small pet for everyone.
These insects are known for their striking appearance, featuring large claws and a stinger on their long tail. Depending on the species, scorpions reach 8 inches in size, with a lifespan between 2-6 years.
Scorpions have a low maintenance diet, only needing to be fed every other day, eating small insects like mealworms and crickets.
A scorpion doesn’t require too large a tank, although it’s important to maintain a suitable temperature between 80-90F °.
Praying Mantis
The praying mantis is a slender insect that loves sitting still for hours in its tank. They only live around one year, needing just a small tank and few things to climb to keep themselves happy.
Their diet consists of small insects like moths, fruit slides, and smaller crickets. We recommend watching them as they feed, as it’s amazing how quickly they switch from docile to attack mode!
Moreover, a praying mantis is a small pet that’s widely available for free. Simply head outside and check some trees for one to adopt!
Which Low Maintenance Pet Is Best for You?
Make sure you check out all the low maintenance pets listed above for an idea of what options are best for you. Whether it’s low maintenance rodents, reptiles, or insects, there are amazing pets suited to all lifestyles!