*I am going to update this with my thoughts now that I have been a teacher for a few years.
GOOD CHOICES
Insects and other Creepy Crawlies:
*Insects are one of my favorite choices. In my classes we have had isopods, mealworms, worms, millipedes, snails, an ant farm, and raised butterflies. My tarantula and roaches also came to visit. The kids loved it all! My favorites with millipedes, snails, ant farms, and butterflies due to greater visibility. In the future I would do all of them again and I would also like to try raising triops and maybe a stick insect or praying mantis. There are lots of humane science experiments you can do with isopods, mealworms, worms, roaches etc. We have done tests regarding camouflage, preferred foods, movement style, and humidity, heat, and light preferences.
-Isopods!
Isopods (or Roly Poly bugs, potato bugs, woodlice, etc) are a great choice in my opinion. These have little to no monetary cost and are very simple to keep and even breed. Isopods are safe to handle, easy to observe, and require little space or supplies. All you need is a container, substrate, moisture, and some wood or greens. I keep mine in a five gallon tank that has a layer of gravel on the bottom for drainage and a substrate mix of dead leaves, dirt, and rotting/soft wood. I keep the drainage layer half full of dechlorinated water and occasionally spray the top to keep everything nice and moist. The isopods do fantastic in this setup!
- Millipedes
These were honestly one of my favorite pets! I had three florida ivory millipedes. These would be great for a classroom because they were a manageable size, easy to handle, and great to watch! They have similar basic needs to the isopods and loved to climb sticks. Another plus of having insects or creepy crawly pets is their tendency to be silent!
-Land Snails
As far as these go, they are similar in care to the previous two choices. The main difference is that handling is less of a possibility. These are still fascinating, cheap, easy pets!
-Hermit Crabs
Now these probably require the most work and money so far. However, I still believe if appropriately cared for, these would be a great addition to the classroom. Hermit crabs are a social species that will thrive as long as their needs are met. Make sure if you decide to setup an enclosure, you do plenty of research first! They will require a deep substrate, along with heat, moisture, and space to climb. I would be hesitant to let children in a class handle these guys, however, with the right kids, it could be beneficial.
*Now that I have had my crabs several years and have taught a few years, I would LOVE to have a crab tank in the room. My crabs are out frequently during the day, fascinating to watch without being distracting, fun to feed etc. I am hoping to set up a class tank in the future. Although it will be challenging to move in and out for summer. Maybe a smaller tank like 30 or 40 gallons with 2 or 3 Ecuadorian crabs. We will see! I have used my current crabs for class demonstration videos about their needs, preferred foods, movement etc.
Aquatic Critters:
* I have had little class tanks with baby guppies, snails, and shrimp before. The kids loved them. I liked them too but they require more maintenance than the pets I have mentioned so far and the guppies presented a challenge since they cannot go as long without being fed and do not do as well with wafers or vacation feeders (which can also cloud up the water if not promptly eaten).
-Mystery/Apple Snails, Shrimp, and Dwarf Crayfish
These three would be great choices for a small classroom tank. The snails would thrive in a bare bottom tank, while the others would appreciate plenty of surfaces and hiding places. All three would do well with a quiet, gentle filter. These tend to be fairly hardy given the right care. In my opinion, aquatics are a little more complicated than other creatures due to their needs for specific water parameters (such as pH, hardness, etc.) However, they are still fairly low cost, easy pets.
Fish:
-Betta
These are a classic class pet and for good reason! These tough, beautiful fish tend to be quite personable and simple to keep. They can thrive in a relatively small tank (around 5 gallons is great) and are easy to come by. Kids often enjoy the pretty colors and fancy fins. They do not eat very much (a few pellets a day to every other day) and do not produce as much waste as some other fish might.
Mammals:
-Rats
In my experience, as long as you acquire them as babies and work with them frequently, rats have great potential. This is definitely the most advanced pet listed so far and would need a teacher committed to their care and well-being. Rats need frequent cleaning, frequent interaction, a large cage, and often have medical bills. You need to have more than one. Despite these drawbacks, rats have the potential of being one of the most rewarding class pets due to their high intelligence, gentle disposition, and curious nature. These guys rarely, if ever, bite when acquired from a young age. Though they are more on the nocturnal side (which is nice because they won't make much noise during class), they are eager for attention and do not mind being woken up to play. This would probably be best for an older classroom who could be trusted to handle the rats nicely with supervision and understand their needs. It would be beneficial for students to work together to teach the rats tricks and to receive their affection.
Reptiles:
-Leopard Geckos
*After more experience, I still think these have potential but I would be much less comfortable with kids handling them for several reasons and the school may not like the heat lamp/live bugs. It would depend on the district. I also rarely see mine being active during the day unless he thinks he may be fed.
These guys are pretty neat. Coming in a variety of patterns and colors, these lizards do well in a 40 gallon tank with a sand and soil mix substrate (I also like some clay in there) on the bottom. They will need a heat lamp on one end and hiding places, including a humid hide. These guys are a good choice for a fairly low-cost reptile that has the potential to be interactive. They are nocturnal, however, they do not mind waking up during the day and will be active in the morning, especially around feeding time. My main drawback to these geckos is their need for live food. This can be slightly expensive (unless you breed your own feeders) and you may have trouble with children who are upset by this idea. However, the reality is, some animals need to eat other living creatures. These are also pretty good choices if you have an older class that wants to handle the animal. However, you will need to supervise to make sure the animal stays safe and does not get injured or drop its tail.
-Bearded Dragons
These are wonderful, interactive yet quiet pets. While the initial setup is expensive, the upkeep of bearded dragons is pretty low. They will need a nice varied diet with fresh greens/veggies and protein sources like roaches and other insects. These tend to become very tame and seem to enjoy human interaction. While they are diurnal and will be active during school hours, they tend to spend the majority of their time basking and eating and should not be overly distracting. These tend to have more specific needs and be a bit more costly than the gecko, but if you have older kids and are willing to put in the effort, these may be the perfect pet for your class.
-Mud or musk turtle
This is a good option for a pet to observe, but not handle. Mud and musk turtles are a good choice for someone wanting a turtle in the classroom because they stay small. A 40 gallon tank is just right for many types of these two and will be easier to maintain. This option will require you to perform frequent water and filter changes as turtles are extremely messy and produce a lot of waste. The tank and filter may be costly due to the high space and filtration needs of turtles.
-Hermann's or Russian Tortoise
These tortoises would be a good choice for classrooms with mature children. A tortoise table or habitat in a kiddie pool setup with their needs in mind would be an interesting addition to the classroom. These guys eat a variety of weeds and greens and have high uvb and heat needs. As long as research is done first, a properly cared for tortoise could be an interesting addition to your class.
Amphibians:
- African clawed frogs
* I have had one of these as our class pet for two years. (It is actually one of the pets I have had longest at 6 years.) The kids enjoy taking turns watching "Froggy" eat worms and pellets. He is not as interactive as some may wish since I do not let the kids take part in cleaning his tank or anything like that due to health/safety concerns. You could create jobs like having a student turn his light on and off, taking turns tossing food in (with supervision and assistance), and monitoring the cleanliness of the tank.
These are one of my all time favorite species! They are extremely comical little frogs. Children will love their silly plump selves and the way they shovel food into their mouths. This is one of the cheapest, most simple class pets. They do well in a bare bottom tank (10 gallons for one, 20 for two) with a hiding place or some fake plants. They thrive when provided with a gentle filter and can be fed earthworms or an assortment of pellets. They are quiet and hardy, affordable and cute.
MAYBES
-Guinea Pigs
*Update: I will probably NEVER want to have these as class pets! Many teachers love them but I have yet to see a single teacher give them appropriate care. They can be loud, require lots of cleaning, can upset allergies, are prone to medical issues etc. I would go for rats over these guys any day. Sadly, I never see any teacher feeding an appropriate diet, keeping them in pairs, having a large enough cage etc. The cage would take up a lot of space in the room and you would need to devote extra time to clean it and provide maintenance to the pigs. The only positives I could really see would be that they are active and kids could help feed them frequently. I also have not had experience with many guinea pigs who were happy to be handled. Mine have mostly been friendly, but even the friendliest and bravest did not love being caught or held. They are prey animals and tend to have nervous dispositions that children may stress.
Although guinea pigs are wonderful animals, I would hesitate to recommend them as class pets. Any guinea pig I have ever seen being kept in a classroom has been in borderline abusive conditions. People do not realize that these are social animals (you will need more than one) who need lots of space and require a lot of work. The commercial guinea pig cages you see at the store are honestly not appropriate for long term care. The humane society recommends 7.5-10.5 square feet for a pair of guinea pigs. That is a lot! In addition, they require a diet with vitamin c that includes a constant supply of timothy hay or orchard grass hay, and servings of pellets and vegetables each day. They will also need their water filled frequently and their cage cleaned almost daily. They produce a lot of waste. You will also need to clip their nails and provide chew toys for their teeth. Now, all that being said, if you are willing to provide them with the space and care they need, they can be a good choice for mature, older children who understand their needs and limitations. This is a pet that would need lots of effort, commitment, and supervision on the teacher's part.
-Mice
The only time I would recommend mice as class pets is if the class was raising mice for a project. They are sweet, intelligent animals. However, they are incredibly dirty! They have a constant smell and this is a definite drawback. They are also very delicate.
-Crested Gecko
For more mature classrooms, this could be an option. Their main drawback is their lack of movement during the day. However, they tend to be gentle and may be nice for infrequent supervised handling.
-Firebelly Toads
*At this point, I no longer consider the barking a big issue. It is not that frequent and tends to happen at certain times of day/year more than others. These are a fun, brave, active species. Just make sure the kids cannot access the cage since they should not be handled.
These are a great pet for kids, but I would hesitate to put them in a classroom. My only reason for this is their tendency to bark loudly.
-Axolotl
This would be a fantastic pet, however, they have very strict temperature needs and if your classroom was not cold enough, you would need to purchase a chiller, which is very expensive.
-Guppies
* I have had guppy tanks in the room during certain times of the year when learning about aquatic ecosystems. They were exciting and fine short term, but I do not prefer them as a year round class pet.
Guppies would be a good fish for a class learning about genetics or life cycles. However, they are somewhat short lived and fragile for my taste, so I probably would not have them otherwise.
-Goldfish
Provided an appropriately sized tank, goldfish are a great choice for classroom pets! However, many people try to cram them into tanks and bowls waaaaay too small and they quickly die. If you can provide at least a 30 gallon tank and lots of filtration, goldfish may be the way to go! Make sure to do your research!
PROBABLY NOTS
-Rabbits
People always assume rabbits are sweet little cage pets. This is a bad assumption! In my experience, they are more similar to a cat or dog in their requirements. They need LOTS of space, companionship, and if they are not spayed/neutered many get aggressive and show problem behaviors. They eat a lot and poop a lot and can be a lot of work. They also tend to startle easily and be more nervous than some other animals. I love them, but I do not recommend rabbits as class pets in the typical classroom.
- Hamsters and Gerbils
* I think provided with a large enriching environment these actually could be fun to have. However, they would be very hands-off and may sleep most of the day.
These guys are common class pets and I do not think they are the best choice. These tend to be more nocturnal and are more likely to bite than many other pets. I cannot tell you how many times a hamster has bit me and drawn blood with little to no provocation! They produce a lot of waste and need frequent cleaning. Gerbils are less grouchy typically but have complex social needs and must be able to burrow. They get bored easily and can be destructive. While they can be sweet, they are less inclined to be handled than other pets. I think gerbils could work in certain settings, but definitely not my first choice for the typical classroom.
-Snakes
*If you can get approval though and create a great low stress environment for them go for it. One nice benefit would be to help kids see snakes as beneficial creatures instead of nightmares.
Although I love snakes, I would hesitate to recommend them as a class pet. I think it would be difficult to convince parents and administrators to allow them and many students would be put off by feeding them mice (even frozen/thawed). In addition, many snakes are easily stressed out, leading to health issues. I think you will have an overall easier time with a different choice.
-Red Eared Sliders
Unless you get a grant to build a nice big enclosure for them, just don't do it. What kind of message are you sending the kids if you buy an animal that you can't properly care for? These need huge amounts of space and filtration that average people just cannot afford to provide.
-Bullfrog
Many classrooms raise bullfrog tadpoles and then end up keeping the bullfrog. I would not recommend this. Firstly, after caring for it in captivity for so long, it cannot be released into the wild like some people are inclined to do. In addition, they need much more space than most people are willing to provide. They can be loud, jumpy, etc.
So those are some suggestions and considerations if you are thinking about adding some life to your classroom! Keep in mind it is always better to research and plan first! Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions :)
-Kelly
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