Thinking about a class pet...

[JennyBug]

I teach 7th grade, and I have been thinking for a while about getting a class pet of a reptilian or amphibian sort. I don't want a chameleon because of the precise care, so I was thinking about some sort of gecko. Does anyone have any suggestions? I have owned a tokay gecko before (and never again), and I grew up with anoles.

 

[Lancecham]

How about a bearded dragon. They are very social, have personalities, friendly, active during the day and are very friendly.
My wife is a teacher and when she taught 2nd grade, she had them in her classroom for years. She never had any problems with them.

 

[Ryan Jarosek]

Leopard or crested gecko would be fun

 

[Julirs]

The big concern with class pets is that no one is there to take care of them during the weekends as well as the temperature fluctuations. Rodents do much better since you can leave them food and water. I would say the next best thing would be snakes.

 

[AReptile]

What's wrong with taking the pet home on the weekends if nobody takes care of it in the classroom then. I would say a fire bellied toad or like someone else mentioned perhaps a bearded dragon. Fire bellieds and other frogs can go long without food, Saturday-Sunday without food will definitely not kill them. I'd just be concerned about temperatures for any amphibian/reptile while nobodys around.

 

[lucky]

maybe a tarantula? they are fun and wont need the food/care on weekends.

 

[pssh]

Get a nice 30-40 gallon tank and get two fancy gold fish! They are very underrated in my opinion. Add an African dwarf frog or two and you have fun in a fish tank!

Though if you do decide to get fish please do research. They require more space and care than almost all people who own them give them. I also would not get a larger rodent (I'm thinking mainly guinea pigs and bunnies right now) because they don't handle being class pets very well and often times require a bazillion times more work than a teacher needs to deal with at school.

Or you can get bugs. Like silkies and stick bugs! Or a tarantula (though I wouldn't want the boys and girls holding it just in case it gets dropped or it gets aggrivated and bites.) or even get some exotic roaches!

 

[JennyBug]

Haha, sorry, I just want to clarify so you guys don't think I'm some newbie who doesn't know her animals

Our current "children" are:
2 veiled chams (Seamus and Shannon)
5 chinchillas (Carmen, Minnie, Trousers, Daisy, and Peach - though depending on the Arlington ruling, we will be getting two of those rescues)
3 discus fish (95 gal. aquarium)
Cats
Dogs

I didn't want anyone to be fearful of suggesting things. I have thought about tarantulas, but I need to finish researching the different species to find an ideal one. I know rosehairs are popular, but any other suggestions would be cool.

At one point I was considering a blue tongued skink. They're very friendly, not to mention smart, but once again, I need to finish researching.

Right now I'm between fish and some sort of small reptile or amphibian. Our assistant principal actually has a beardie, so that is a real possibility.

Keep the suggestions a-coming! I am compiling a list to research, so I might have a decision made by, oh, April or so

 

[QuioteCham]

Tailless Whip Spider!!!!!! So awesome! Take a spider, a crab and a scorpion, mix em' together, and thats what they look like! But seriously, they are cool tho, and you can hold them (very very gently tho). Check out Ken the Bug Guy.

 

[DJ Richey Rich]

I teach 7th grade, and I have been thinking for a while about getting a class pet of a reptilian or amphibian sort. I don't want a chameleon because of the precise care, so I was thinking about some sort of gecko. Does anyone have any suggestions? I have owned a tokay gecko before (and never again), and I grew up with anoles.

My personal opinion a bearded dragon is a amazing choice they love the attention their very easy to care for and easy to catch if a kid lets it out

 

[JaxyGirl]

I have two bearded dragons and they are great with people. Mine will sit on my lap for hours and eat crickets out of my hand. Very easy to take care of and they don't bite. Plus they get pretty stocky (not fragile) so they are a good choice for kids

 

[ijmccollum]

Well, since you seem to recognize animal responsibility I worry less about the proper care. So the next question is, "what animal is best suited for kids/classroom". When my son was in school class pets ranged from rodents, dogs, spiders, turtles and fish -- that I can remember. The issues that came up most were allergies, health/germs/safety, and what they eat. Some kids freaked out over live food, some thought it way cool, and then there were the parents and their ethics and concerns (but being a teacher, I am sure you are aware). Young kids seemed to like warm and fuzzie while older kids appreciated the more exotic. Either way, you will need something hardy.

 

[Syn]

I say get a digital thermometer that will remember high and low temperatures for the day, and go back and check it once a day if possible, that way you will know what the temperature fluctuations are in the school on off-days, and so we can better understand the requirements of what you will need.

 

[Lizardlover]

Best class pets IMO- fish, hermit crabs, beardies, cornsnakes, hissing cockroaches, tarantulas, leopard geckos, and tortoises, my 7th grade biology teacher had a russian tortoise.

 

[pssh]

I bought (well a few of us all gave money) my teacher a small 2.5 gallon tank and heater/other good stuff and two little African dwarf frogs. Everyone loved them, even people who hate frogs/lizards because they are just so cute looking. plus they can go without eating on weekends.

 

[Zen Reptiles]

I bring my animals into a grade 4 class every year, my best friends mom is the teacher so we organize it every year.

The most popular animal I've brought in was two full grown female Tomato Frogs.

They're so cool, usually always visible, vibrant, and they eat with vigor when fed.

You'd need a heat mat to keep temps sustainable, but they are awesome and forgiving so long as their needs are met, even at a minimum.

Not very handleable though. If you want something handleable, maybe a frilled dragon or a tame male green basilisk. Those are always a hit.

I'd imagine you want something active in the day while the kids are there.

PS: you can set up a cricket breeding tank for them. My grade 5 teacher did that and we all thought it was the COOLEST thing. Watching them stick their egg-depositer thing into the wet cotton that was stuffed into a test tube, and all the tiny pinhead babies hatching all the time. It was so cool I will never forget that.

 

[sandrachameleon]

a male hissing cockroach makes an easy and interesting pet. They are hardy, easy to pick up/handle, dont bite, dont smell, dont make much noise, eat a wide variety of stuff, can go without food for long periods of time, tolerate fluctuations in temperature, serve as good subjects for learning about beetles, take up very little space...

 

[xanthoman]

i know its not really in the reptile/ amphibian class, but have you ever considered a praying mantis ? they are relatively cheap and easy to house and obtain , have relatively minimal care requirements (they eat mostly ffs and pinheads or any small insects and can be housed in an empty plastic jar), most live about one school year (less than 7 months), if you timed it just right you could probably display there full life cycle . a $7 ootheca (egg case) can hatch about 100-200 baby mantis (depending on type) so each of your students could raise their own, they are easy to handle and have interesting personalties, some are quite beautiful. chinese or european mantis would probably be the best choice, pictured is an orchid mantis

 

[OOOst16]

I say no reptiles in the classroom unless you can bring it home on weekends and make sure it has propper csare at all times on the weekdays. Reptiles are sensitive. Get a mamle of some sort. Not somthing that takes sooo much care. Insect fish mamle....ect...even mamles are stretching it imo. Schools are hecktic.

 

[meganm85]

my science teacher had about every animal you could think of...she had snakes, turtles, a chameleon, iguana, spiders, rats,etc....then again she was there everyday..even weekends to take care of them.......id say a turtle would be good...my teachers turtles i think ate feeder fish.....so before you leave for the weekend put some fish in and then they can choose when they want to eat.....even a snake would be good....just my opinion...