Thread: Ideas for a pet
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Old 06-11-2003, 11:39 AM   #16
Epona
Zartan
 

Join Date: March 1, 2001
Location: London, England
Age: 54
Posts: 5,164
Quote:
Originally posted by WillowIX:
You could get yourself a budgerigar (sp?). They don't need that much space. Of course they too need care. But you won't have to worry about complains from allergy sufferers. Not many people are allergic to exotic birds and therefore they might be accepted when you move out to a new apartment. [img]smile.gif[/img] They're also cheap.
Sorry, but I have to disagree with this. I have been owned by budgies all my life, and they are the noisiest, messiest pets on the planet. You can't leave them alone over a weekend, since they need almost constant attention. It would get depressed and pull its feathers out.

People think - oh budgies, they're easy - but people who think like this have miserable unhealthy budgies. Did you know that budgies can live to be over 20 years old? Probably not, because most die of malnutrition and neglect before they reach 10 years - because people buy them and do not realise what their requirements are. They also have to have several hours out of their cage every day, and are very delicate - aerosol sprays, cleaning products, teflon cookware, smoke, incense, can all kill them quite painfully and so they are not at all suited to a dorm environment.

NOT AT ALL SUITABLE! - an opinion based on 32 years of budgie ownership - and the noise and mess drive me up the wall sometimes, and I'm used to it!

I agree with Cloudy - it is not a suitable set up for any pet really. A goldfish would probably be your best bet if you really feel the need for an animal in your life.

EDIT: to add that you're wrong - LOADS of people are allergic to birds. Parrots produce a huge amount of dust from the feather sheaths breaking down, which can cause breathing difficulties for even mild asthmatics, and can also result in a lung condition similar to asbestosis.

[ 06-11-2003, 11:41 AM: Message edited by: Epona ]
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