4 Kinds of Pets That Can Be Raised in 20 Sq. Ft. Which One Do You Like?

Do you want to keep a pet to accompany you? Common cats and dogs have many attractive advantages, but if you want to take good care of them, you must have enough space at home, as well as enough energy and time, which inevitably discourages many people. This article directly provides you with some ready-made options. You can evaluate which small pet is suitable for you by the required space, feeding difficulty, and time and energy cost required.

1. Arthropods

Recommendation: Beetles

Feeding Difficulty: Easy

There are many types of beetles with bright colors, and some beetles even have random colors and patterns. Although there are still some skills to raise individuals with particularly large bodies or long lifespans, it is not difficult overall.

• Companion time

The lifespan of adult beetles varies depending on the species, from a few months to up to one or two years.

• Required space

It will vary depending on the size of the beetle. Generally speaking, a 2~3L takeout box for the larvae and an A4-sized feeding box for the adults can already meet the space needs of many species of beetles.

• Environmental requirements

The larvae should be placed in a plastic box filled with sawdust and raised in a dark place. In addition to changing the sawdust regularly, disturb them as little as possible. When they pupate, don’t move them around or damage the pupal chamber. The environment of adults is mainly sawdust, jelly tables, and bark. There is no compulsive demand for lighting conditions, and scattered light is enough.

Both beetle larvae and adults have certain temperature requirements, most of which are between 20-24℃, and some varieties require higher temperatures. If your home is too cold, prepare a reliable heating pad and pay attention to avoid safety hazards.

2. Reptiles

Recommendation: Brazilian turtles

Feeding Difficulty: Relatively easy

• Companion time

If raised correctly, 10 to 20 years is a piece of cake. Theoretically, turtles can live longer, but there is a big difference between home breeding and their original habitat, so it is difficult to say whether they can live to that age.

• Required space

Generally, a water area at least 6 times the size of their carapace is required, and natural light should be provided. If there is insufficient natural light, it is best to have UVB lamps to reduce illness.

• Environmental requirements

Brazilian turtles are very common in the market. They are relatively hardy and easy to raise. They do not have such high requirements for the environment. If conditions permit, it will be easier to install a filter.

If don’t have a filter, it is necessary to change the water regularly. After all, turtles live in the water all the time, accumulated dirt tends to corrode the skin and shell. But don’t change it too frequently, a half or one-third of the water should be changed each time.

It should be noted that the first killer of turtles is not low temperature, but temperature difference. Therefore, in areas with large temperature differences between day and night, pay attention to the corner where the turtles are placed. It is best to have a relatively small temperature difference or provide insulation equipment.

3. Fish

Recommendations: Guppies (tropical fish), koi and goldfish (cold-water fish) Feeding Difficulty: Relatively easy

• Companion time

Guppies have a lifespan of 2-3 years. Goldfish have a lifespan of 3-5 years, and can live up to 6-7 years if well-bred. Koi have a lifespan of more than 20 years, and can live for 50 to 60 years if well-bred.

• Required space

A popular guideline is 1 inch of fish per 1 gallon of water. When estimating in this way, pay attention to how big the fish can grow, whether there are other things in the tank that take up space, etc.

• Environmental requirements

To raise fish, you need to ensure the water quality first. On the other hand, whether it is tropical fish or cold-water fish, the difficulty of raising them can be seen by whether the fish has high requirements for water.

So in comparison, guppies are easier to keep among tropical fish. Neutral hard water such as tap water can be used after being aired for two days to disperse the chlorine. Change the water by about 1/3 each time. At the same time, a filter should be placed to not only keep the water clean but also provide sufficient oxygen to the fish through the water flow on the water surface or the oxygenation function. After all, guppies are tropical fish. Their suitable temperature is 18-20℃, which can be met indoors most of the time. If the temperature is too low, a heating rod needs to be placed. If you still feel troublesome, consider cold-water fish such as koi and goldfish.

4. Birds (People with allergies should be cautious)

Recommendation: Budgies

Feeding Difficulty: Relatively easy

• Companionship time

Budgies have a lifespan of 7-10 years.

• Floor space

A pair of budgies requires a rectangular cage of at least 2 ft³. If conditions permit, a larger cage is better.

• Environmental requirements

Budgies have a long history as pets, so all kinds of products needed for keeping them are easy to buy, such as cages, feeders, waterers, nests, standing poles, etc. However, when choosing a specific product, you can look at the experience shared by others in advance. Some products made of materials or structures may hurt parrots, for example, they are easy to get tangled in the feet or neck.

Families who like quietness should also consider that although the call of budgies is not unpleasant, as parrots, they still like to call, and they cannot be trained to be silent all the time. If you are not sure whether you can accept it, you can watch the video or experience it in the store for a while. Budgies are not strict about temperature requirements. They should be kept above 10℃ in winter and avoid exposure in summer. Generally, indoor environments can meet the requirements.

Although some pets are recommended, it still needs to be reminded again that “don’t be impulsive when raising pets”! You must take care of your daily life first, and then consider introducing a new “family member”!