Guinea Pig

Guinea pigs are intelligent and inquisitive pets which are easily tamed. They require regular attention and socialisation, so they are happiest when kept with another guinea pig. They can live for up to ten years and feed on grass and leafy green vegetables.

Mouse

Mice are gentle and intelligent pets. They do best with lots of physical and mental stimulation. Since they are social animals, it is recommended to keep them in same-sex pairs and to handle them regularly. They eat fresh fruit and vegetables along with rat pellets for protein and live for one to two years.

Bearded Dragon

Bearded dragons are docile pets who love to sunbake. They do not smell or make noise, but they can be flighty, so make sure your windows are closed before letting them roam. They eat insects, fruit and vegetables and live between 10 and 15 years. To buy a bearded dragon, you will need to get a Reptile Keeper’s license. These cost around $50, and you must be over the age of 16 to apply.

Hermit Crab

Hermit crabs are low maintenance, nocturnal pets. They love climbing and they love company, so they should be kept with other hermit crabs in an enclosure with a lid. Hermit crabs live for 10 to 15 years and should be fed hermit crab pellets, fruit, vegetables and insects. They require two water bowls in their enclosure, one with salt water and the other with fresh drinking water.

Betta Fish

Betta Fish, otherwise known as Siamese Fighting Fish, are beautifully coloured, tropical fish which thrive in a consistently warm environment. Contrary to popular belief, Betta Fish can be housed together, so long as there is only one male per aquarium. They can live up to 5 years and should be fed specially formulated Betta Fish pellets.

Gecko

Geckos are nocturnal, friendly pets who are great for pet keeping beginners. They can live alone or in groups, but make sure to keep only one male in each tank to prevent fighting. Geckos eat insects like crickets and mealworms and can live between 6 and 20 years depending on the breed. You must have a reptile license to own geckos.

Budgie

 

Budgies are tame birds who require regular physical and mental stimulation, so make sure to provide them with toys and rotate them every few weeks. Since they are social animals, you should keep them in pairs or groups. These birds eat seeds as well as fresh fruit and vegetables, and with proper care, will live for 7 to 10 years.

Turtle

Turtles are beautiful yet high maintenance pets that can live for 50 to 60 years. They are not particularly social, preferring to be left alone and not handled. Turtles are solitary animals which should be housed by themselves. Since turtles are quite messy, their tanks will require regular cleaning. They will also need UV lights and water filters. Turtles feed on turtle pellets, fruit and vegetables, as well as live food like worms and crickets. To own a turtle, you need to have a Reptile Keeper’s license and room for a large tank.

Snake

Pet snakes have been growing in popularity in recent years, with somewhere between 25,000 to 30,000 licensed reptile keepers in NSW alone. Snakes are very low maintenance and make no noises or smells. Although they are not particularly cuddly animals, these cold-blooded pets enjoy wrapping themselves around you, using your body heat to warm up. They can live for up to 20 years and eat defrosted mice or rats, depending on their size. To own a snake, you will first need to apply for a Reptile Keeper’s license.

Stick Insect

Stick insects are low maintenance pets which live for 12 to 18 months. They require mesh or plastic enclosures with good ventilation. Be careful when and where you handle them as male stick insects are able to fly. Stick insects get all of their food and water through eucalyptus leaves, so make sure to mist their enclosure each day to maintain the humidity.