What Animal Should I Get?

[MadMen]

Morning all

My son wants "a pet" for his birthday.

No dogs, or cats, or anything that stinks.

???

[tonyav]

Brilliant idea minty.

[MadMen]

Snake is definitely a no-no. As are spiders.

Does anyone know anything about tortoises?

[Frank97]

I don't think Tarantulas smell, or require that much looking after, I'm no expert though.

[mallyh]

my grandchildren have hamsters and they clean them regularly so they dont pong ,they are kepy in dining room ,no smell at all

[Brinjal]

Yes tortoise do stink. Get him a pet rock.

[tonyav]

How about a Lizard then.

[Frank97]

Ah, no spiders then, can't say I blame you, not my cup of tea either!

[jd_1984]

Most animals do smell. What about a small rodent or gerbil/hamster.
Reptiles dont tend to be too bad but most people are not too keen on snakes/lizards.
Goldfish is easy!!

[MadMen]

dorro, I think most people are house proud. I just don't want something that's gonna wreck the place.
I am an animal lover. I would absolutely LOVE to get a dog, but I just don't think I could cope with toilet training.

D97, *shudder* no spiders!!! lol

[mallyh]

adopt him an animal at the zoo

[Baldric]

A Tortoise would be OK, but the daily walk takes a very long time!

[Hopkirk]

If you got a cat, you could try to train it to use the toilet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3OZYkZfU0k

[EvianBaby]

I've always found hamsters, rabbits, etc make rubbish pets. It's ok if you get one that happens to like to be handled but in my experience most of them don't so you just have something extra that you have to pay to feed and pick crap up from and you don't even get to give it a little cuddle.

[sunny-dave]

Tortoises live 'forever' - you'd still be looking after it many years after your son had moved on to beer/girls/whatever ...

... get something with a limited life-span, which will also provide him with a useful introduction to the impermanence of life when it shuffles off this mortal coil.

[maggiebee]

Get what you want MadMen as you will be the one who ends up feeding it, cleaning it out, taking it to the vet if required etc.

[MadMen]

Hamsters in the dining room? Ew. There's no way I could cope with that.
Whatever I get will be going in his room.

A pet rock? LOL. Good idea!

He's at that age now where toys are no longer wanted. A pet is what he wants, but I just need to make sure I get something that doesn't end up a big mistake. I'm thinking goldfish is the best idea so far.
Are you sure tortoises stink? Lizards are a bit weird aren't they. They've got those weird feet.

D97, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night!

Jd, no rodents!

[Hopkirk]

I could be your pet, but I'm not sure your son would be impressed.

[EcclesCake]

It would be cruel to keep a tortoise in a bedroom. They need to spend time outside foraging.

They are also expensive.

[MadMen]

mallyh, I did think of that, but I can just see his little disappointed face now.

Baldric, ha ha. They're just left to their own devices aren't they?

Hop, like in Meet in the parents. Mr Jinx. Lol