Snails, Slugs and Slime Snails and slugs are very successful members of the mollusc family. They have brown or grey, soft, unsegmented bodies and two pairs of retractable tentacles on their heads. Slugs have an obvious ‘saddle’ or mantle, while snails have...
Others
Rats
Breed: Rattus norvegicus Temperament: inquisitive, bold and intelligent Cost: $10-$15 Lifespan: up to 3 years Maintenance: medium Recommended for: teenagers, small homes History Rat. The mere mention of the word would send shudders down most (but not all)...

Bearded Dragons
Breed: Bearded Dragons Temperament: docile Cost: $60 – $400 Lifespan: 10 -15 years Maintenance: low Recommended for: Home units. Those wanting something different. Distribution There are three types of bearded dragons commonly kept by enthusiasts in Australia;...

Axolotls
Axolotls Pet Road Test: Axolotl Breed: Axolotl Temperament: placid but anti-social Cost: $20-$35 Lifespan: 12-15 years Maintenance: low-medium Recommended for: teenagers, those who want something different History Also known as the Mexican walking fish, the word...
Guinea Pig
Breed: Cavy (Guinea Pig) Temperament: quiet and manageable Cost: $5-$45 Lifespan: up to 11 years, average 4-5 years Maintenance: medium Recommended for: families, small residences History Very little is known about the domestic origins of the Guinea Pig, otherwise...
Pet Yabbies
Pet Yabbies Breed: Yabby and Marron Temperament: territorial Cost: $9.95 – $21.95 Lifespan: up to 3 years Maintenance: low Recommended for: aquatic critter fanciers Crayfish Australia has over 100 species of crayfish. Crayfish are lobster-like freshwater...
Bunnies
Breed: Rabbits Temperament: generally placid. Some breeds are flighty Cost: $25-$200 Lifespan: 8-12 years Maintenance: medium – high Recommended for: enthusiasts, supervised kids or older children Kids just love bunnies, and they come in many different...
Dairy Goats
Breed: Dairy Goats Temperament: placid and manageable Cost: from $300 Lifespan: 15 – 20 years Maintenance: low (non-lactating) high (lactating) Recommended for: a semi-rural or farm lifestyle History According to the list of provisions for the First Fleet, 19...
Imperial Blue Butterfly
Imperial Blue Butterfly John Dengate came across a caterpillar covered by a swarm of ants. At first glance it seemed as though the ants were killing the caterpillar, but as John explained, these two insects have a very special relationship. Imperial blue butterfly...
Fake Pets
Name: AIBO (Artificial Intelligence Robot) Cost: $3000 plus accessories Longevity: 10+ years Maintenance: medium (charging and ‘training’ required) Recommended for: well-heeled computer nuts If you’re interested in owning a pet but don’t want...
