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.
75 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
Domestic 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
Budgerigar
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
Cockatiel
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
African 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
Domestic 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 (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
Goldfish
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
Guppy
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
Domestic 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
Guinea 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
Syrian 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
Ferret
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
Fancy 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
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
Bearded 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
Leopard 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
Corn 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
Ball 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
Russian 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
Crested 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
Axolotl
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
African 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
Pacman 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
Fire-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
Sugar 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
Chilean 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
Land 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
Green-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
Zebra 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
Freshwater 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 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
Mongolian 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
Degu
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
African 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
Blue-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
Chinese 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
Oriental 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
Tiger 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
Madagascar 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
Giant 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
Umbrella Cockatoo
Umbrella cockatoos are among the most demanding companion parrots kept, combining a decades-long lifespan with needs closer to a dependent toddler than a typical pet bird. They are a poor choice for anyone who cannot guarantee daily company for 40 or more years.
Lifespan 40–60 years, sometimes longer · Complexity 5/5
Gouldian Finch
Gouldian finches are strikingly colourful aviary birds prized for their appearance rather than interaction. They reward a stable, warm, well-planted flight with quiet colour and song but do not tolerate handling or careless temperature swings.
Lifespan 5–8 years · Complexity 3/5
Discus
Discus are often called the king of the freshwater aquarium for their colour and shape, but they need pristine, warm, soft water maintained with real discipline. They suit experienced fishkeepers who enjoy a demanding, rewarding project rather than a first tank.
Lifespan 10–15 years · Complexity 5/5
Neon Tetra
Neon tetras are the classic beginner shoaling fish, bringing constant movement and colour to a modest, well-cycled community tank. Their main risk is disease introduced with poor-quality stock rather than any husbandry difficulty of their own.
Lifespan 5–8 years with stable water quality · Complexity 2/5 · Beginner friendly
Harlequin Rasbora
Harlequin rasboras are hardy, peaceful shoaling fish that suit new fishkeepers wanting an active, colourful community tank without the fussiness of some tetra species.
Lifespan 5–8 years · Complexity 2/5 · Beginner friendly
Flemish Giant Rabbit
Flemish Giants are gentle, imposing rabbits whose calm nature is often undermined by owners underestimating the space, handling strength and cost that come with their adult size. They suit experienced rabbit keepers with genuinely large housing.
Lifespan 5–8 years, shorter than smaller rabbit breeds · Complexity 4/5
Campbell's Dwarf Hamster
Campbell's dwarf hamsters are quick, inquisitive pocket pets best suited to an owner who wants to watch rather than constantly handle their animal. Their diabetes risk means diet needs closer attention than for Syrian hamsters.
Lifespan 1.5–2.5 years · Complexity 2/5 · Beginner friendly
Leopard Tortoise
Leopard tortoises start as an appealing small hatchling but grow into one of the larger African tortoise species with a potential human lifespan. Prospective keepers must plan decades ahead and provide serious outdoor or greenhouse space.
Lifespan 50–100 years · Complexity 5/5
Green Iguana
Green iguanas are sold small and appealing but grow into large, powerful, potentially defensive animals needing room-sized enclosures. They suit only committed, experienced keepers who plan for the true adult animal from day one.
Lifespan 12–20 years · Complexity 5/5
Veiled Chameleon
Veiled chameleons are visually striking but genuinely fragile pets that want to be watched, not handled. Their precise humidity, UVB and drinking-water needs make them a poor first reptile despite their common availability.
Lifespan 5–8 years for males, 2–3 years for females due to egg-laying strain · Complexity 4/5
Dyeing Poison Dart Frog
Dyeing poison dart frogs are vividly coloured, day-active amphibians that reward a carefully built bioactive vivarium with fascinating natural behaviour, provided humidity and live-food supply are kept meticulously consistent.
Lifespan 10–15 years in captivity · Complexity 4/5
White's Tree Frog
White's tree frogs are one of the hardier, more approachable pet frog species, tolerating occasional gentle handling and modest husbandry mistakes better than most amphibians, though their nocturnal croaking can surprise unprepared owners.
Lifespan 10–16 years · Complexity 3/5 · Beginner friendly
Emperor Scorpion
Emperor scorpions are calm, long-lived invertebrates that make an engaging low-maintenance display animal for keepers comfortable with an animal that should be watched, not held.
Lifespan 6–8 years · Complexity 2/5 · Beginner friendly
Curly Hair Tarantula
Curly hair tarantulas are among the calmest, most commonly recommended beginner tarantula species, valued for their tolerance of husbandry variation and their unhurried, easy-to-observe temperament.
Lifespan Females 10–15 years, males 3–5 years · Complexity 3/5 · Beginner friendly
Senegal Parrot
Senegal parrots pack much of the intelligence and longevity of larger parrots into a smaller, quieter, more apartment-friendly body, but they still need a multi-decade commitment and confident, consistent handling.
Lifespan 25–35 years · Complexity 4/5
Ghost Mantis
Ghost mantises are captivating, leaf-like ambush predators that make an inexpensive, low-space observation pet, though their short lifespan and total intolerance of company mean they are a display animal rather than an interactive one.
Lifespan 6–12 months as an adult · Complexity 2/5 · Beginner friendly
Parrotlet
The parrotlet is a tiny, bold South American parrot that packs big-parrot personality into 30 grams. It suits owners who can offer hours of daily interaction and safe flight time.
Lifespan 15–20 years · Complexity 3/5 · Beginner friendly
Eclectus Parrot
The eclectus is a calm, intelligent parrot known for striking male–female colour differences and a fresh-food-heavy diet. It is a decades-long commitment best suited to experienced bird keepers.
Lifespan 30–40 years, sometimes longer · Complexity 4/5
Oscar
The oscar is a large, intelligent South American cichlid that recognises its keepers and can live over ten years. It needs a big, powerfully filtered aquarium and is not a community fish.
Lifespan 10–15 years · Complexity 3/5
Bristlenose Pleco
The bristlenose pleco is a small, peaceful algae-grazing catfish that stays around 12–15 cm. It needs driftwood, vegetable foods and good filtration, making it a sensible pleco for most tanks.
Lifespan 5–10 years · Complexity 2/5 · Beginner friendly
Platy
The platy is a hardy, colourful livebearer and one of the easiest freshwater fish for beginners. It breeds readily, so plan for fry or keep a single-sex group.
Lifespan 3–5 years · Complexity 1/5 · Beginner friendly
Molly
The molly is a peaceful livebearer that thrives in hard, warm water and sometimes slightly brackish conditions. It needs more space and stable water quality than its beginner reputation suggests.
Lifespan 3–5 years · Complexity 1/5 · Beginner friendly
Cherry Shrimp
Cherry shrimp are small, bright red freshwater shrimp that clean algae and biofilm in planted tanks. They need a cycled, copper-free aquarium and stable water rather than much hands-on care.
Lifespan 1–2 years · Complexity 2/5 · Beginner friendly
African Clawed Frog
The African clawed frog is a fully aquatic, long-lived frog that never leaves the water. It needs a secure lid, gentle filtration and minimal handling, and is restricted in some regions.
Lifespan 10–15 years, sometimes over 20 · Complexity 2/5 · Beginner friendly
Sulcata Tortoise
The sulcata is the world's third-largest tortoise, reaching 70 kg or more and living for 70+ years. It needs a large, warm outdoor enclosure and a high-fibre grazing diet, so few homes can truly suit it.
Lifespan 50–100+ years · Complexity 5/5
Uromastyx
Uromastyx are hardy, herbivorous desert lizards that bask at very high temperatures. They suit keepers who can provide intense heat, strong UVB and a mostly leafy-green diet.
Lifespan 15–20 years · Complexity 4/5
Argentine Black and White Tegu
The Argentine black and white tegu is a large, intelligent lizard that can grow beyond 1.2 m. It needs a very large enclosure, varied diet and experienced handling, and is invasive in parts of the US.
Lifespan 15–20 years · Complexity 5/5
Swordtail
The swordtail is an active, hardy livebearer named for the male's sword-shaped tail. It needs a longer tank with swimming space and a cover, as it can jump.
Lifespan 3–5 years · Complexity 1/5 · Beginner friendly
Koi
Koi are ornamental carp that can exceed 60 cm and live for decades. They need a large, deep, well-filtered pond rather than an aquarium, plus seasonal feeding adjustments.
Lifespan 25–35 years, occasionally over 50 · Complexity 4/5
Pygmy goat
Charming and full of character, but these are small livestock, not garden pets — they need land, company, fencing and a farm vet.
Lifespan 10–15 years · Complexity 4/5
Lionhead rabbit
A small, characterful rabbit with a distinctive mane — needs the same space, company and hay-based diet as any rabbit, plus extra grooming.
Lifespan 8–10 years · Complexity 2/5 · Beginner friendly
Pacific parrotlet
A big parrot personality in a pocket-sized body — charming but bossy, and needs confident, consistent handling.
Lifespan 15–20 years · Complexity 3/5
Domestic shorthair cat
The everyday cat — diverse, generally healthy and endlessly varied in personality. The best choice for most first-time cat owners.
Lifespan 12–18 years, many reach 20 · Complexity 1/5 · Beginner friendly
Netherland Dwarf rabbit
The smallest popular rabbit breed — adorable but delicate, with higher dental risk and a need for patient, gentle handling.
Lifespan 10–12 years · Complexity 3/5