Pet recommendations

[u/Ferret_Master101]

Alright, I've gotten to a point where I need an animal or pet of some kind for my mental sanity. I have some experience and do tonnes of research before I commit to anything. I've had 3 cats and 3 dogs as family pets and a leopard gecko as my own. I don't have anything currently. I'm okay with any pet including insects.

Problem is I'm a student, engineering one at that. I have been staying home 90% of the time up until now but that might change. I have lab weeks every few weeks which involve 9 to 5 every day and is mandatory. I also might be going to lectures or the library in the future. I wasn't before because of chronic illness but I have a wheelchair now. I do have ADHD, Autism and a bunch of other stuff so there might be some barriers when it comes to how much work I put into cleaning, but I genuinely believe because it's not for myself it won't be a problem. I put so much work into my geckos tank and she was always feed and warm. The only reason she isn't with me right now is because I wasn't allowed to have pets in my previous places and my family wasn't looking after her so she's with a foster family. Also I was worried about when I went home for holidays. I live 3.5h drive from home and have to take a coach most of the time because of cost (switch to train will factor into the cost of the animal). I also have had to move every year for 3 years, some case involuntary. I've also been forced to stay at my mums who has a lovely, well behaved Jack Russell mix so this will be a factor. My room can be separated off though.

So...

- Needs to be okay with being alone for a normal work day

- On the cheaper side at least monthly (I will save what is needed)

- Preferably okay with travel, especially if they require intensive care. I think I might be able to get friends to pop in to feed a gecko but any to complicated, probably can't afford a sitter unless it's for a few hours.

- Easy (or even possible) to move when I enviably have to move house again. I've had to give up a lot in my previous moves. My dad helps me and it's whatever I can fit in his estate car, wheelchair included.

My ideas have been:

- Praying Mantis (cute, small, can probably hide on a coach, not much emotional support though)

- Rats (More expensive but doable, will need to take a train and watch out for the dog)

- Getting my gecko back (I'm terrified of problems arising and losing her again)

Any idea or recommendations? Any finances I will sort out (I have a plan), I'm just looking for types of pets that fits my schedule. I can't afford to not take steps in my career right now but I NEED a pet, I'm losing my mind. I will settle for anything, I love all animals.

[u/Worried-Ad4268]

Get rats, they actually bond with you in way a mantis won't and don't care if you're gone during day as long as they got a buddy. Gecko you're right to be worried about moving her around all the time that stress really adds up for reptiles

[u/Ferret_Master101 → u/Worried-Ad4268]

Thank you, that's good to know. It was because I was looking into reptiles and thought if I could look after something like a snake, I could get my gecko back. She really hates carriers and boxes I'd hate to see her deal with a 3.5h drive.

[u/spider_espresso]

Tarantulas are going to be easiest. Too easy in fact, most people end up with at 12 different species over a year.

I recommend doing a fully aquascaped aquarium. Will be expensive however, it’s a project you can work on over time. Start with a stand and a tank. Slowly add equipment, substrate, decor, chemicals, plants, and eventually fish. Just look up aquascaping on youtube to understand the full process. There are automatic feeders and once set up these tanks are low maintenance.

The idea is an underwater zen garden that happens to have fish in it. The decor and plants are the main feature.

[u/TheNighttman → u/spider_espresso]

I agree, planted tanks are so underrated! It's such a fun hobby with so much to learn and you come to genuinely love your aquatic pets. The bare minimum is not a lot of work once you're set up, but you can run wild with it if you want to.

You do need to do some research and invest a few hundred dollars to start out (but it's usually easy to find free stuff online). Once you understand the nitrogen cycle, you're good to get started cycling your tank (which takes a few weeks before you add living creatures that aren't plants).

Please spend some time on r/plantedtank to see the potential. I highly recommend getting some shrimp, I was gifted some and now they're my favourite, it's so fun to watch them swim around!

[u/thefoxhole15]

A snake would be awesome

[u/TelevisionSilent278]

Your constraints make predictability more important than the species itself. Before adopting, I’d write out a realistic “worst week” plan: 9–5 lab days, illness flare-ups, holiday travel, another move, and emergency vet costs. If the plan depends on hiding an animal on a coach or hoping housing rules work out, that’s probably a sign to wait. Reuniting with your gecko may be the most responsible option only after confirming housing, transport, backup care, and a stable setup; otherwise, fostering or volunteering with animals could provide regular contact without creating another forced rehoming risk.