What makes a good classroom pet?
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As a preschool teacher, from experience, I can say rats made good classroom pets. Rabbits are terribly messy (a neighboring teacher had one) and IMO need more room that classrooms can provide. Guinea pigs were too distracting in the classroom, demanding, and at times too noisy.
I also had a pair of parakeets one year and they made good class pets, although you lose the cuddling factor you have with rats.
Hamsters and gerbils I've had BAD experiences with. Again, neighboring classrooms. Hamsters biting children and making them bleed, gerbils eating each other. Um yuck
I also had a pair of parakeets one year and they made good class pets, although you lose the cuddling factor you have with rats.
Hamsters and gerbils I've had BAD experiences with. Again, neighboring classrooms. Hamsters biting children and making them bleed, gerbils eating each other. Um yuck
For all those that are recommend rats I've always heard that pairs are better than keeping them as singles. If this is true for a pair what size cage and or tank?
On the research list right now are rats, mice, and looking at snakes and lizards that are supposed to be easy keepers. Thanks to everyone
On the research list right now are rats, mice, and looking at snakes and lizards that are supposed to be easy keepers. Thanks to everyone
Rats need morer oom than most tanks will allow, not to mention ventilation (rats have delicate respiratory systems). The same with mice, guinea pigs and rabbits. Something else to keep in mind is allergies- not just to pet dander, but to what ever bedding is used in the cages.
The fish tank in our school library is a big hit with the kids. Also, a couple of our kindergarten teachers were looking into hermit crabs.
The fish tank in our school library is a big hit with the kids. Also, a couple of our kindergarten teachers were looking into hermit crabs.
Rats are great pets for kids, and I would definitely recommend getting two, especially since they're going to be alone for three days. They're very social little critters.
I also have guinea pigs, if the kids are younger I'd recommend those because you put them in a lap and they stay put. :rofl1:
I definitely would not recommend a rabbit. I have three, and they do not put up with being handled improperly well, they have those big back kickers.
I also have guinea pigs, if the kids are younger I'd recommend those because you put them in a lap and they stay put. :rofl1:
I definitely would not recommend a rabbit. I have three, and they do not put up with being handled improperly well, they have those big back kickers.
I think it depends on the focus of the classroom. I inherited a dwarf hamster that I really didnt want, though he was a cool hamster. I got him all kinds of tunnels and critter trail stuff so he had lots of places to roam. I ended up giving him to a friend who was a special needs teacher at a Jewish school. She had his whole set up in the classroom and the kids lived helping her build it. He got out of his cage and honestly got TONS more interaction than he was getting at ny house. He even got vet care and meds when he got cancer.
Allergies is a good point I didn't even think about the bedding. It looks like I'm going the way of reptiles, fish, or possible a very small rodent that might not need as much interaction. These guys look promising http://roborovskihamsters.webs.com/
Just be aware that with reptiles you have the salmonela (sp?) thing. I'd be worried that young children wouldn't be as good at washing their hands or using hand sanitizer after handling a reptile as they should be. It's easy enough to make one or two kids do it, but it could get a little chaotic with a class full.
If allergies are a concern, small rodents might not be a good idea, either. There doesn't have to be contact with the animal for a reaction to the bedding to occur. Although something like Care Fresh would probably be OK.
Now you know why we don't have class pets at our school anymore.
If allergies are a concern, small rodents might not be a good idea, either. There doesn't have to be contact with the animal for a reaction to the bedding to occur. Although something like Care Fresh would probably be OK.
Now you know why we don't have class pets at our school anymore.
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I think it depends on what you're looking for in a classroom pet.
First of all, I do think that a classroom can be a great environment for some small pets, depending on the age group, resources available at the school, and willingness of the teacher to do the right research and treat the pet as their own pet who is living in the classroom.
I think a guinea pig is the best choice if you're looking for a pet that the children (provided they're old enough, I'd say kindergarten or first grade is too young) want to hold, pet, or interact with out of the cage. They're affectionate and friendly, and are big enough that you don't need to worry as much about them getting lost or caught in a small space.
I've never owned a rat, but I think they would make a good choice as well.
Hamsters I don't really think of as preferable pets, they're too small and fragile for a group of children to handle, would get lost easier, etc. They'd make an ok choice if you want a pet that's strictly for the children to observe, but I don't know how much hamsters need out-of-cage exercise or stimulation...you might end up having to do that when the children aren't around so much.
Also, if you find a pet who shouldn't stay for as long as a 3 day weekend alone, and you're unwilling to bring the pet home, perhaps you can find a class parent who is experienced in pet care and would be willing to bring the animal home on the weekends. That's what we did with class pets growing up.
First of all, I do think that a classroom can be a great environment for some small pets, depending on the age group, resources available at the school, and willingness of the teacher to do the right research and treat the pet as their own pet who is living in the classroom.
I think a guinea pig is the best choice if you're looking for a pet that the children (provided they're old enough, I'd say kindergarten or first grade is too young) want to hold, pet, or interact with out of the cage. They're affectionate and friendly, and are big enough that you don't need to worry as much about them getting lost or caught in a small space.
I've never owned a rat, but I think they would make a good choice as well.
Hamsters I don't really think of as preferable pets, they're too small and fragile for a group of children to handle, would get lost easier, etc. They'd make an ok choice if you want a pet that's strictly for the children to observe, but I don't know how much hamsters need out-of-cage exercise or stimulation...you might end up having to do that when the children aren't around so much.
Also, if you find a pet who shouldn't stay for as long as a 3 day weekend alone, and you're unwilling to bring the pet home, perhaps you can find a class parent who is experienced in pet care and would be willing to bring the animal home on the weekends. That's what we did with class pets growing up.
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I agree with SarahHound. Guinea pigs require a lot of attention and do best in pairs. I don't know how old the kids in your class are; but I wouldn't have a small pet in a classroom with kids that are really little that don't know how to handle small animals properly and there is a chance they can drop them.
Corn snakes are very docile, several of my babies went on to become classroom pets. They are more active at night, but don't mind being woken up in the day to get handled. They're so docile I could have handed three of my adults to my toddler and she would have easily been able to manage them.
They also come in a huge variety of colors. My bubblegum snow won over many many young girls who were previously terrified of snakes. This isn't a picture of her but is about what she looked like:
As long as you account for things like the AC or heating getting shut off in the building over the weekend so your animal doesn't cook or freeze, corns absolutely don't mind being left alone. I've set mine up with water, fed them a good meal, then left for a week and they were perfectly content.
Can you legally own garter snakes in CA? They also come in a huge variety of colors, are easy to handle, and the extra bonus is they are awake and hunting during the day and are social. All the ones I've had got pretty social with people, and would even "ask" to be let out of the vivarium by rearing up like a cobra and waving frantically when people approached.
You could get a small group of males and build a really nice naturalistic vivarium for them, with plants, maybe even a water feature with underwater viewing for the kids. It's really cool to watch them swim and hunt fish (feed guppies, not goldfish).
Don't get king snakes. They're really nice, but have a very strong feeding response and can easily mistake small fingers for pinky mice.
Reptiles are pretty well hypoallergenic. You can adjust the bedding if people are allergic, depending on the species. Coir (coconut fiber) works well, there are paper beddings, or you can do a natural type vivarium with coir/soil and plants.
They also come in a huge variety of colors. My bubblegum snow won over many many young girls who were previously terrified of snakes. This isn't a picture of her but is about what she looked like:
As long as you account for things like the AC or heating getting shut off in the building over the weekend so your animal doesn't cook or freeze, corns absolutely don't mind being left alone. I've set mine up with water, fed them a good meal, then left for a week and they were perfectly content.
Can you legally own garter snakes in CA? They also come in a huge variety of colors, are easy to handle, and the extra bonus is they are awake and hunting during the day and are social. All the ones I've had got pretty social with people, and would even "ask" to be let out of the vivarium by rearing up like a cobra and waving frantically when people approached.
You could get a small group of males and build a really nice naturalistic vivarium for them, with plants, maybe even a water feature with underwater viewing for the kids. It's really cool to watch them swim and hunt fish (feed guppies, not goldfish).
Don't get king snakes. They're really nice, but have a very strong feeding response and can easily mistake small fingers for pinky mice.
Reptiles are pretty well hypoallergenic. You can adjust the bedding if people are allergic, depending on the species. Coir (coconut fiber) works well, there are paper beddings, or you can do a natural type vivarium with coir/soil and plants.
That would be me. :lol-sign: Seriously, when our oldest son was in 3rd grade, we were the only ones who sent in a note saying we'd be willing to take the class guinea pig for Christmas and again for summer vacations. Fast forward 6 years to when our youngest was in 3rd grade, and we were the only parents out of 4 3rd grade classes to say we'd watch one for the summer (different pig, but for the same teacher). The following fall I started working for the school and brought "Furball" home with me on quite a few long weekends.
That's how I ended up with a guinea pig as a kid. We had them as second grade class pets, and mom agreed to let me bring "Butterscotch" home for the summer. Then the teacher mentioned that Butterscotch was really too old to have babies anymore, so would we like to keep her? I, of course, did want her, and my parents agreed. Butterscotch and I ended up doing an Exploring 4-H project together.
I've only skimmed through the other responses, so I apologize if I am repeating information.
If the classroom is looking for a highly interactive pet, I would definitely suggest rats over any other small animal. They are very smart, friendly, inquisitive, clever, and fun little critters. Plus, they are not very bitey, at least in my experience (as comparied to mice/gerbils/hamsters/ASFRs). One of the downsides is that they do require some very specific housing requirements, particularly that they do need a good amount of space, and they do not do well in tank-style setups. It's also best that they have hands-on interaction with their people, as they are very social critters and need mental stimulation. That may be difficult to provide, however, depending on the age of the students involved. While they are typically hardy animals, they are still small pets and have the potential to be hurt when handled by less-than-gentle hands.
Another good option would be corn snakes. Of all the snake species I've worked with, they are the best mix of docile personality, reasonable adult size, modest housing requirements, and good looks. There is definitely an investment to their habitat setup, mostly to ensure proper heating and hiding, but nothing obscene. Once everything is in place, they are fairly inexpensive to care for. They take well to being handled, but don't necessarily require daily interaction. A full-grown adult can live comfortably in a 20L glass tank (bigger is aways better, but that size is average housing in the corn snake world). As for feeding habits, my full size adults (350+ grams) eat one regular-size mouse (frozen/thawed) every three weeks. You do need to check local laws concerning the ownership of corn snakes, as they fall under native species regulation in some states.
Of course, these are the quick & dirty summary versions of each animal, but I would be perfectly happy to answer questions about either. I currently own nine corn snakes, and while I don't have any rats right now, I've owned a dozen of them over the last ten years.
If the classroom is looking for a highly interactive pet, I would definitely suggest rats over any other small animal. They are very smart, friendly, inquisitive, clever, and fun little critters. Plus, they are not very bitey, at least in my experience (as comparied to mice/gerbils/hamsters/ASFRs). One of the downsides is that they do require some very specific housing requirements, particularly that they do need a good amount of space, and they do not do well in tank-style setups. It's also best that they have hands-on interaction with their people, as they are very social critters and need mental stimulation. That may be difficult to provide, however, depending on the age of the students involved. While they are typically hardy animals, they are still small pets and have the potential to be hurt when handled by less-than-gentle hands.
Another good option would be corn snakes. Of all the snake species I've worked with, they are the best mix of docile personality, reasonable adult size, modest housing requirements, and good looks. There is definitely an investment to their habitat setup, mostly to ensure proper heating and hiding, but nothing obscene. Once everything is in place, they are fairly inexpensive to care for. They take well to being handled, but don't necessarily require daily interaction. A full-grown adult can live comfortably in a 20L glass tank (bigger is aways better, but that size is average housing in the corn snake world). As for feeding habits, my full size adults (350+ grams) eat one regular-size mouse (frozen/thawed) every three weeks. You do need to check local laws concerning the ownership of corn snakes, as they fall under native species regulation in some states.
Of course, these are the quick & dirty summary versions of each animal, but I would be perfectly happy to answer questions about either.
I currently own nine corn snakes, and while I don't have any rats right now, I've owned a dozen of them over the last ten years.It looks like corn snake is the winner I've always always wanted a snake and this is a good fit.
Ideally I'll purchase one sometime in the next month or two. Pleanty of time to research and find a good breeder. Plus I get to look at all the color morphs. Ball python and garter were on the list but I like their larger size as opposed to a garter, and I'm a little worried about ball pythons needing more humidity since I live in a desert.
If anyone has good breeder recs for corn snakes that'd be great. Thanks so much you guys.
I've always always wanted a snake and this is a good fit.Ideally I'll purchase one sometime in the next month or two. Pleanty of time to research and find a good breeder. Plus I get to look at all the color morphs. Ball python and garter were on the list but I like their larger size as opposed to a garter, and I'm a little worried about ball pythons needing more humidity since I live in a desert.
If anyone has good breeder recs for corn snakes that'd be great. Thanks so much you guys.
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I was going to suggest a corn snake, but I thought they were banned in California! They're really awesome pets, I have two. One of them is a little bit feisty (IE he bites if your hand is within reach) but that's really unusual and I've never encountered another with his nasty temperament.
My other one is (and previous corn was) really sweet. She loves to be handled, and will come out of her hiding spot if she hears you taking outside the tank. She moves stuff (driftwood, empty water dish, etc.) around inside her tank, climbs up the walls, and loves to come out of her enclosure and hang out on a person or just on the floor or bed. Watching her eat is really fascinating, and if I pour water into her dish she'll drink the water as it flows into the dish. I have no concerns about letting children handle her (the youngest who has held her was a mature 5 year old, with close supervision).
My other one is (and previous corn was) really sweet. She loves to be handled, and will come out of her hiding spot if she hears you taking outside the tank. She moves stuff (driftwood, empty water dish, etc.) around inside her tank, climbs up the walls, and loves to come out of her enclosure and hang out on a person or just on the floor or bed. Watching her eat is really fascinating, and if I pour water into her dish she'll drink the water as it flows into the dish. I have no concerns about letting children handle her (the youngest who has held her was a mature 5 year old, with close supervision).
It looks like corn snake is the winner I've always always wanted a snake and this is a good fit.
Ideally I'll purchase one sometime in the next month or two. Pleanty of time to research and find a good breeder. Plus I get to look at all the color morphs. Ball python and garter were on the list but I like their larger size as opposed to a garter, and I'm a little worried about ball pythons needing more humidity since I live in a desert.
If anyone has good breeder recs for corn snakes that'd be great. Thanks so much you guys.
I've always always wanted a snake and this is a good fit.Ideally I'll purchase one sometime in the next month or two. Pleanty of time to research and find a good breeder. Plus I get to look at all the color morphs. Ball python and garter were on the list but I like their larger size as opposed to a garter, and I'm a little worried about ball pythons needing more humidity since I live in a desert.
If anyone has good breeder recs for corn snakes that'd be great. Thanks so much you guys.
Of course, I also know many breeders that are much more experienced than I am, and whom will also have many more clutches with many, many more morph options available. Several of them will also have yearlings or adults for sale, which may be your better option for a classroom pet. While corn snakes are widely known as being hardy reptiles, the babies are still pretty fragile and have more potential to be finicky in their first year.
Again, just let me know. If there is a particular color or pattern you have in mind, I can direct your to breeders who specialize in particular morphs.
To be honest, though, you might be perfectly happy with a "normal" (also known as "classic"). They tend to be the most colorful (in my opinion) and are generally available for less than $30, depending on how bold the colors are. Finally, "Okeetee" is a type of "normal" corn snake that is known for having very bright orange and very thick, black borders. (They also technically should all have lineage to a specific region in North Carolina to be called "Okeetee", but that is another story.) You may pay a little more for one of those, but they are still very reasonable and very, very pretty.This is my five year old "normal" corn, Reggie. He is about as bright as they get without being classified as "Okeetee", and this pic was taken on a overcast day.
Sorry, I hope I'm not overwhelming you with information. It's just that these snakes are kind of a passion of mine.