…EXCLUDING a dog or a cat and fish.
I’m looking for something that I can keep inside in a cage or something that I could keep inside, maybe in a cage, that wouldn’t have TOO bad of a smell.
Do any of you have any suggestions?
lizard
Gueinea Pigs are so cute. And they don’t smell too bad.
Oh yeah, and no snakes.
I hate snakes. 
Why? Where they live shouldn’t be near as much of a consideration as why you want it? I work in a pet store, so I could generally help you pick something out down to a specific breed or variety. What are you looking at something to be inside for? Are you home alot? Do you want someitnh you can hold or pet? Are you allergic to anything? Do you have kids?
Hmmm, I guess more information is needed afterall, here we go.
First off, I want something inside here where I do a lot of my research and work and whatnot. I just want something to keep in my room, I guess also to keep me company, lol, I dunno.
Yes I am home a lot.
I’d prefer it to be something I could hold, etc…
I am allergic to long haired cats.
No, no kids that stay here all the time, although I do have my brother’s and sister’s kids coming by all the time.
Get a pair of rats (same sex). Why rats? They don’t seem to smell as much as the other rodent pets and they are nicer too boot. Why a pair? They are social critters and they do better when they live with a pal. I love my little guys to death. They never miss an oppertunity to beg for treats.
Seriously, give these little guys some thought. If you decide to get some, find a fancy rat breeder in your area. They will often give their culls away to a good home for free (mine does). Being from a breeder, you have a better chance of getting a rats with good dispositions. More importantly, a breeder will separate the sexes before they come of age. So you don’t run the risk of buying a pregnate rat. I’m sure a gazillion little ratties would not be in your plans.
Turtle. Hermit crabs. Parrot or some other bird. Sea Monkeys.
I’ve also heard that rats make excellent pets. A guy I know that’s had several says that a lot of them get cancer though (maybe just the white ones, can’t remember).
Well, unless you already had a snake.
A pair of same sex rats is a good suggestion. (You do have to keep their cage(s) clean, but I agree they do not get rank as swiftly as mice and other rodents do.)
Lizards might also be a good choice. If you want to be able to hold it and interact, I’d suggest a bearded dragon. There are a number of lizards that would not be good pets, so read up on them. Whatever you do, DO NOT get an iguana. Iguanas are only for people who are seriously into raising iguanas. They need a lot of room; they can (I would say do) have nasty dispositions; they get to be four feet long or longer and penning them in a medium or large tank (as opposed to a floor-to-ceiling or similar cage) is simply cruel.
Birds are messy. I have them. Loud and messy, but great company.
Consider tarantulas. You can hold them, pet them and let them sit on your head. If your life changes they won’t go into a funk if you disappear for a few days. And they do not stink.
How 'bout a frog? Lots of pet stores carry several types. They look cool and they don’t stink.
If you want a more “interactive” pet, you could get a ferret. (They don’t stink too bad if they’re de-scented, but they do have a particular odor.)
Lizards are fun pets. Some of them even get big enough to walk on a leash, if you want to.
Rabbits are cool critters, too. If you clean their hutch every day, the odor is minimal. But if you’re allergic to cats, you might be allergic to a bunny as well.
I love animals. I want one of each! 
Oh- I almost forgot! Chinchillas are really neat. Hedgehogs are interesting too.
How about a monkey? 
Sheesh, go the whole hog and get a mini pot bellied pig.
Or a Sumatran Tiger and an alligator
Now get real, NO ONE would do that!
I knew someone who had a small monkey of some sort years and years ago, and wow was that thing crazy. Of course, years and years ago for me is only about 12 years ago, heh.
I never thought of a rabbit, that would be cool to get back into as we used to have quite a few of those…we had a farm for many years.
I’m surprised no one has mentioned a hamster yet.
I had a friend who had a monkey. Not once was I hit by flying dung.
On a somewhat related note, don’t get one of those damn dirty apes.
Another vote for rats.
My sister got my niece a rat when she was three. Veronica adored Harry, and Harry adored Veronica. He was a great pet- cuddly, affectionate. He would get up on his hind legs to greet her when she came into the room.
The downside of rats is that they are short lived (2-3 years) and prone to cancer (which is what sent Harry to rat heaven before his time.)
Rats are good. Get rats.
A girlfriend? They don’t smell too bad, but they can get loud at times and not all of them appreciate being caged up.
Sheesh…girlfriends don’t small bad. You haven’t smelt my girlfriends farts then! One minute I’m going out with someone that smells like a bowl of fragrant oils and peaches and the next minute she ejects a smell that would gag a pole cat…thankfully it’s got better since i switched her to dry food.
Rats are smaller and don’t spend as much time in the bathroom.
A few years back I ended up with an Amazon parrot. Now, I’ve had budgies and doves, but never a larger parrot. What a treat.
He’s gotten quite attached to me and likes to cuddle my ears. He doesn’t say many real words, but he mimics English. He is quite happy to join in with any conversation going on near him.
The only drawbacks I see of owning a parrot:
- You have to spend time with them. If you spend several days a week away from home, forget it. These guys are social and really need your affection.
- Squacks. Every now and then the parrot decides it is time to let loose and screams… LOUD. It has gotten better as we cover his cage when he gets in those moods.
Outside of those two things, he is fairly easy to take care of. Pellet food and water in the cage all the time. In the morning he gets tomatos, fruits, or veggies. I give him small treats throughout the day - things like nuts or seeds, bread crust, ect. At dinnertime he gets whatever veggie we are having.
He’s not messy at all. Well, sometimes. But it isn’t bad. He’s a messy eater but most the dropped food lands at the bottom of his cage.
He likes music and TV, but he REALLY likes the “car talk” show on NPR. Something about how those guys talk -and when they laugh, he laughs.
If you have the time and the extra cash (the birds and cages aren’t cheap) you might want to look into a mid size parrot.
I second guinea pigs. If you’re allergic to cats, you might be OK with a short-haired piggy. As long as you change its cage twice a week (which is a breeze, if you do it correctly), there’s no smell. (I had guinea pigs for about six years.) In terms of feeding, the only special requirement is that you give them actual GP pellets, which are fortified with vitamin C, since - like humans - they don’t produce their own.
GPs are also known to make a wide variety of irresistably cute noises. They don’t bite, really - they’ll nibble on your finger. And, when let loose, mine never chewed on stuff the way my bunny did, but they’re fast little critters, and very good at hiding.
I’d suggest getting a female rather than a male. Males have a certain cleaning requirement that doesn’t sound too pleasant. I’m glad I only ever had females.
Well cared for GPs can live a good 6 to 8 years.