Skip to content
Ate something?
EN

Choose

Welcome

My pet

Emergency

Italiano Español Français Português

The honest pet encyclopedia

Which pet is right for you?

Six questions about your time, home, family and money: at the end, a ranking of 19 pets, with the real reasons. And for each one, how long it lives, how big it gets, what it eats and how to care for it.

Take the quiz I already have a pet

Real numbers, with sources: Rover 2026, McMillan 2024, RSPCA, Rabbit Welfare Association, OATA.

What you’ll find on Bestiepedia

Four parts, from the day you choose to the day you need help. All free, no account, with the sources written down.

Choose

Which pet is right for you, how big it gets, how long it lives and what it costs: 20 pets and 42 dog breeds compared.

Welcome

What to have ready before it arrives, vaccines and vet checkups, pet by pet.

My pet

Its own page, kept on your phone: age, food, weight with a diary and the care calendar.

Emergency

It ate something or seems unwell: what to do now, who to call and the signs not to wait on.

The pets, one by one

How long they live, who they do well with, how much space they need. Swipe sideways and tap yours.

01 Dog Lives12.5 years (median)Does bestwith you, every daySpacedepends on size; goes out several times a day Its care sheet 02 Cat Lives12–14 years, often moreDoes bestalone or in pairsSpaceadapts to an apartment, if it gets to play every day Its care sheet 03 Rabbit Lives7–10 yearsDoes bestin pairs, alwaysSpacefor a pair, at least 3 × 2 m (about 10 × 6.5 ft) and 1 m (3.3 ft) high Its care sheet 04 Guinea pig Lives5–8 yearsDoes bestwith at least one other guinea pigSpacea roomy pen; indoors when it’s below 15 °C (59 °F) Its care sheet 05 Hamster Lives2–3 yearsDoes bestalone (Syrian hamster)Spaceat least 100 × 50 cm (39 × 20 in) of floor, 25 cm (10 in) of bedding, a 30 cm (12 in) wheel Its care sheet 06 Pet rat Lives2–3 yearsDoes bestnever alone: at least two of the same sexSpacea big multi-level cage, with hammocks and hides Its care sheet 07 Ferret Lives6–10 yearsDoes bestat least two togetherSpacea ferret-proofed home and several hours of play outside the cage every day Its care sheet 08 Canary Lives10–15 yearsDoes bestalone or in pairs: the sources disagreeSpacea cage where it can stretch its wings in every direction; an aviary is better Its care sheet 09 Budgies Lives5–10 yearsDoes bestin pairs or groupsSpaceout of the cage every day, in a safe room Its care sheet 10 Cockatiel Lives10–20 yearsDoes bestout of the cage every daySpacea cage of at least 60 × 60 × 90 cm (24 × 24 × 35 in) per bird Its care sheet 11 Lovebirds Lives10–15 yearsDoes bestin pairsSpacea big cage, time out every day, away from the kitchen Its care sheet 12 Tortoise Lives50–100 yearsDoes bestoutdoors in the warm months, safely fencedSpaceabout 10 m² (108 sq ft) outdoors per tortoise, with shade and shelter Its care sheet 13 Leopard gecko Lives10–20 yearsDoes bestin a warm terrarium, with a humid hideSpacea terrarium with one side at 28–32 °C (82–90 °F) and one at 23–26 °C (73–79 °F) Its care sheet 14 Bearded dragon Lives10–15 yearsDoes bestwarm: a basking spot at 38–42 °C (100–108 °F)Spacea big terrarium, with a UVB tube about half its length Its care sheet 15 Corn snake Lives10–20 yearsDoes bestalone: one snake per terrariumSpacea terrarium with a locking lid and no gaps Its care sheet 16 Ball python Lives20–30 yearsDoes bestalone, with two hidesSpacea terrarium at 30–32 °C (86–90 °F) at the warm end, with a humid hide Its care sheet 17 Goldfish Lives10–15 yearsDoes bestin groups, in a real aquariumSpaceat least 100 liters (26 gallons) for one adult, plus 50 (13 gallons) for each extra fish Its care sheet 18 Betta fish Lives3–5 yearsDoes bestone male per tankSpacea heated, filtered tank of at least 20 liters (5 gallons), at 24–26 °C (75–79 °F) Its care sheet 19 Tarantula Livesmales up to 10 years, females over 30Does bestalways aloneSpacea terrarium wider than it is tall: a fall can injure it Its care sheet 20All 20By group: mammals, birds, reptiles, fish.See them all

Answer below and watch the ranking change

The quiz has already started. With every answer the 19 pets change places; at the end, the reasons for and against.

Live ranking · The top 7 of 19

Answer: who takes the lead?

  1. Cat
  2. Dog
  3. Rabbit
  4. Guinea pig
  5. Hamster
  6. Budgies
  7. Goldfish
  8. Tortoise
  9. Leopard gecko
  10. Bearded dragon
  11. Corn snake
  12. Ball python
  13. Ferret
  14. Pet rat
  15. Cockatiel
  16. Lovebirds
  17. Betta fish
  18. Tarantula
  19. Canary

Emergency

Ate something?

If your pet ate something dangerous or seems unwell, call your vet right away. Don’t wait for symptoms.

What to do now, and the poison hotline for your country

Already have a pet?

The right numbers for your pet

Enter its name, birthday and weight once, for any of 20 pets. The site does the vets’ math: age, food, weight, shots and the care calendar. Everything stays on your phone.

Create its page See Luna
Luna · 2.6 years 46human years7.3oza day5/9right weight

The real numbers

How many years can you promise?

Tortoise 50-100 years Ball python 20-30 years Tarantula 10-30 years Leopard gecko 10-20 years Corn snake 10-20 years Cockatiel 10-20 years Goldfish 10-15 years Bearded dragon 10-15 years Lovebirds 10-15 years Canary 10-15 years Cat 12-14 years Dog 12.5 years (median) Rabbit 7-10 years Ferret 6-10 years Budgies 5-10 years Guinea pig 5-8 years Betta fish 3-5 years Hamster 2-3 years Pet rat 2-3 years

From each pet’s care sheet: for dogs the median lifespan (McMillan 2024), for cats International Cat Care, for the others RSPCA, PDSA and the sources listed on each care sheet.

$39,350a medium-size dog, over its whole life$32,527a cat, over its whole life

Median lifetime costs in the United States (Rover, “2026 Cost of Pet Parenthood”). Do the math for yours

Work out your number

Every tool gives you a real number, with the source written below. Free, no account.

46human yearsHow old is it, really?Luna, a 2.6-year-old dog. For the other 18 pets, where they are in their life.7.3 oza dayHow much to feedLuna, with her 3,600 kcal/kg food. And what the other 18 eat.5/9body conditionIs it a healthy weight?Ribs, waist, belly for dogs and cats; adult weights for the others.20care calendarsVaccines, checkups and careShots, how often to see the vet and each pet’s care, on your phone.5signs not to wait onWhen to call the vetFor each of the 20 pets, from vets’ care sheets.21things to checkCan my pet eat it?Foods, plants, medicines: red, yellow, green.42breeds to scaleDog breedsReal photos at their real height: official FCI standards.$39,350a dog’s lifetimeWhat it really costsA cat: $32,527. Do the math for yours.

Real numbers, with sources. WSAVA, ESCCAP, International Cat Care, Merck Veterinary Manual, FCI, ASPCA, PDSA, RSPCA, ARAV, Rover. I’m not a vet: this site helps you understand, it doesn’t replace a visit.