Species database
Pet Encyclopedia
Every profile uses the same structure, so you can compare animals honestly — including the ones that are far harder to keep well than they look.
41 species
Domestic Dog
The dog is the most behaviourally varied domestic species on earth. Choosing well means matching the individual dog's energy, sociability and handling needs to your own daily life.
Lifespan 8–16 years, shorter in giant breeds · Complexity 3/5 · Beginner friendly
Felis catusDomestic Cat
Cats are territorial hunters that adapted to living alongside humans. Most behaviour problems are resolved by improving the environment rather than by training the cat.
Lifespan 12–20 years · Complexity 2/5 · Beginner friendly
Melopsittacus undulatusBudgerigar
Budgies are the most widely kept parrot in the world: intelligent, social and far more demanding than their low price suggests.
Lifespan 6–12 years, sometimes longer · Complexity 3/5 · Beginner friendly
Nymphicus hollandicusCockatiel
Cockatiels combine an affectionate nature with a manageable size, and are among the best first parrots for a committed household.
Lifespan 15–25 years · Complexity 3/5 · Beginner friendly
Psittacus erithacusAfrican Grey Parrot
African greys are among the most cognitively advanced companion animals kept in homes — and among the most frequently rehomed when owners underestimate their needs.
Lifespan 40–60 years · Complexity 5/5
Serinus canaria forma domesticaDomestic Canary
Canaries suit people who want the presence and song of a bird without daily handling, provided they have real flying space.
Lifespan 8–12 years · Complexity 2/5 · Beginner friendly
Betta splendensBetta (Siamese Fighting Fish)
Bettas are personable, intelligent fish that are routinely mis-sold as low-maintenance. A small heated, cycled and planted aquarium transforms their quality of life.
Lifespan 3–5 years · Complexity 2/5 · Beginner friendly
Carassius auratusGoldfish
A well-kept goldfish is a long-lived, large and interactive pet, which is exactly why the traditional bowl fails them so badly.
Lifespan 10–25 years · Complexity 3/5 · Beginner friendly
Poecilia reticulataGuppy
Guppies are colourful, hardy and prolific, making them an excellent introduction to keeping a balanced planted aquarium.
Lifespan 2–3 years · Complexity 2/5 · Beginner friendly
Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticusDomestic Rabbit
Rabbits are complex, long-lived social animals with specialised digestive and dental needs — far removed from the 'easy starter pet' reputation they still carry.
Lifespan 8–12 years · Complexity 4/5
Cavia porcellusGuinea Pig
Guinea pigs are chatty, gentle herd animals that thrive in company and need a much larger, flatter enclosure than pet-shop cages provide.
Lifespan 5–8 years · Complexity 3/5 · Beginner friendly
Mesocricetus auratusSyrian Hamster
Syrian hamsters are solitary desert burrowers. Give them depth, darkness and a large wheel, and handle them in the evening when they naturally wake.
Lifespan 2–3 years · Complexity 2/5 · Beginner friendly
Mustela putorius furoFerret
Ferrets are delightful, demanding carnivores with a real talent for trouble, suited to owners who enjoy active, hands-on pet keeping.
Lifespan 6–10 years · Complexity 4/5
Rattus norvegicus domesticaFancy Rat
Fancy rats are affectionate, clever and sociable — arguably the most rewarding small mammal to keep, with the sad limitation of a short lifespan.
Lifespan 2–3 years · Complexity 3/5 · Beginner friendly
Chinchilla lanigeraChinchilla
Chinchillas are long-lived, cool-climate mountain rodents that reward patient owners with decades of company — but will not tolerate a warm room.
Lifespan 10–20 years · Complexity 4/5
Pogona vitticepsBearded Dragon
Bearded dragons are the most popular pet lizard for good reason: handleable, expressive and hardy when their heat and UVB needs are met precisely.
Lifespan 8–15 years · Complexity 3/5 · Beginner friendly
Eublepharis maculariusLeopard Gecko
Leopard geckos are calm, long-lived and among the simplest reptiles to house correctly, making them the classic first lizard.
Lifespan 15–20 years · Complexity 2/5 · Beginner friendly
Pantherophis guttatusCorn Snake
Corn snakes are widely regarded as the best beginner snake: modest in size, calm in temperament and undemanding in their requirements.
Lifespan 15–20 years · Complexity 2/5 · Beginner friendly
Python regiusBall Python
Ball pythons are calm, long-lived snakes whose only real challenge is maintaining stable humidity and accepting their occasional refusal to eat.
Lifespan 20–30 years · Complexity 3/5 · Beginner friendly
Testudo horsfieldiiRussian Tortoise
Russian tortoises are hardy, personable and inexpensive to feed, but they need far more floor space and a much longer commitment than most buyers expect.
Lifespan 40–75 years · Complexity 4/5
Correlophus ciliatusCrested Gecko
Crested geckos need no live-food colony and no complex heating, making them one of the simplest reptiles to keep well in a planted vertical vivarium.
Lifespan 15–20 years · Complexity 2/5 · Beginner friendly
Ambystoma mexicanumAxolotl
Axolotls are neotenic salamanders that never leave the water. They are charming and long-lived if you can reliably keep the tank cool.
Lifespan 10–15 years · Complexity 3/5
Hymenochirus boettgeriAfrican Dwarf Frog
African dwarf frogs are peaceful, fully aquatic amphibians that suit a small, gently filtered species tank.
Lifespan 5–10 years · Complexity 2/5 · Beginner friendly
Ceratophrys ornataPacman Frog
Pacman frogs are hardy, striking and almost entirely sedentary — an excellent choice for keepers who want a low-activity display amphibian.
Lifespan 6–10 years · Complexity 3/5 · Beginner friendly
Cynops orientalisFire-Bellied Newt
Fire-bellied newts are long-lived, undemanding amphibians for cool rooms, best kept as an observation species with strict hygiene.
Lifespan 10–20 years · Complexity 3/5
Petaurus brevicepsSugar Glider
Sugar gliders are wild-type marsupials with exacting dietary and social needs. They are frequently mis-sold as pocket pets and very frequently surrendered.
Lifespan 10–15 years · Complexity 5/5
Grammostola roseaChilean Rose Tarantula
A calm, undemanding invertebrate for keepers who want an unusual display animal, with the understanding that it is to be watched rather than held.
Lifespan Females 15–20 years, males 3–5 years · Complexity 2/5 · Beginner friendly
Coenobita clypeatusLand Hermit Crab
Hermit crabs are long-lived, social invertebrates routinely sold as disposable holiday souvenirs. With a humid, deep-substrate tank they can live for decades.
Lifespan 20–30 years in good conditions · Complexity 3/5
Pyrrhura molinaeGreen-Cheeked Conure
Green-cheeked conures pack a lot of parrot personality into a small body. They are a popular first parrot, but their beak strength and need for daily attention still surprise many new owners.
Lifespan 10–20 years, sometimes longer with good care · Complexity 3/5 · Beginner friendly
Taeniopygia guttataZebra Finch
Zebra finches are lively, low-cost aviary birds best enjoyed as an active flock rather than a handled pet. Their constant chatter and breeding behaviour make them fascinating to watch.
Lifespan 5–10 years · Complexity 2/5 · Beginner friendly
Pterophyllum scalareFreshwater Angelfish
Angelfish are elegant, deep-bodied cichlids that reward a tall, well-planted tank with striking display behaviour, but their territorial streak means tankmates need careful choosing.
Lifespan 10 years or more in well-kept tanks · Complexity 3/5
Corydoras spp.Corydoras Catfish
Corydoras are gentle, sociable bottom-feeders that do best in same-species groups over soft sand. They are one of the easiest community fish to keep well.
Lifespan 5–10 years, sometimes longer · Complexity 2/5 · Beginner friendly
Meriones unguiculatusMongolian Gerbil
Gerbils are lively desert rodents that spend most of their time digging elaborate tunnel systems. A deep, dry substrate matters as much as floor space for their wellbeing.
Lifespan 2–4 years · Complexity 2/5 · Beginner friendly
Octodon degusDegu
Degus are sociable, sunlight-loving rodents from Chile that need daytime activity, dust baths and a very low-sugar diet. Their intelligence makes them rewarding but demanding pets.
Lifespan 5–8 years, occasionally longer · Complexity 3/5
Atelerix albiventrisAfrican Pygmy Hedgehog
African pygmy hedgehogs are solitary, nocturnal insectivores that need a warm, stable enclosure and patient handling to stay tame. Their strict temperature needs catch many new owners out.
Lifespan 4–6 years · Complexity 3/5
Tiliqua scincoidesBlue-Tongued Skink
Blue-tongued skinks are sturdy, docile lizards that make one of the more approachable reptile pets thanks to their calm temperament, provided their basking and UVB needs are met precisely.
Lifespan 15–20 years, sometimes longer · Complexity 3/5 · Beginner friendly
Physignathus cocincinusChinese Water Dragon
Chinese water dragons are striking, semi-aquatic lizards that need a large, tall, humid enclosure with a real pool. Their skittish nature makes them a poor fit for handling-focused keepers.
Lifespan 10–15 years · Complexity 4/5
Bombina orientalisOriental Fire-Bellied Toad
Fire-bellied toads are hardy, colourful amphibians that display a bright warning belly when threatened. They are easy to keep in a simple paludarium but should be watched rather than handled often.
Lifespan 10–15 years in captivity · Complexity 2/5 · Beginner friendly
Ambystoma tigrinumTiger Salamander
Tiger salamanders are large, burrowing amphibians that spend most of their time hidden in moist substrate. They are calm to handle occasionally but do best mostly left undisturbed.
Lifespan 12–15 years, sometimes over 20 · Complexity 3/5
Gromphadorhina portentosaMadagascar Hissing Cockroach
Hissing cockroaches are easygoing, low-maintenance colony insects often used to introduce children and nervous keepers to invertebrates. Their audible hiss is a defence display, not aggression.
Lifespan 2–5 years · Complexity 1/5 · Beginner friendly
Lissachatina fulicaGiant African Land Snail
Giant African land snails are calm, long-lived invertebrates popular for classroom and hobbyist keeping, but they are illegal in many places because of the serious agricultural and health risks they pose if released.
Lifespan 5–10 years · Complexity 2/5 · Beginner friendly