While in theory one could keep a blue whale as a pet, in practice a small number of species of mammals and birds have dominated the pet scene for a very long time. Fish have joined them more recently. With the exception of iguanas and non-venomous snakes, few reptiles and amphibians make good pets.

The glofish, a genetically modified zebrafish with a bright red fluorescent color is the first genetically modified (GM) animal to be engineered as a pet.

A pet can be acquired from a breeder, an animal shelter, a pet store, and sometimes from people who have too many due to births.

Common Pet Species

Mammals

* Horses
* Dogs
* Cats
* Rodents, including hamsters, guinea pigs, mice, gerbils, chinchillas, degus, flying squirrels and rats
* Rabbits
* Ferrets
* Hedgehogs
* Alpacas
* small pigs
* Monkeys
* Donkeys

Birds

* Budgerigars (parakeets)
* Cockatoos
* Macaws
* other parrot species
* Canaries and other finch species
* Doves
* Cockatiels

Reptiles

* Lizards
* Iguanas
* Snakes
* Turtles
* Crocodilians, including alligators, crocodiles, caymans, gavials (can usually only be kept as pets when they are young)

Amphibians

* Frogs
* Toads
* Salamanders
* Newts
* Caecilian, a wormlike amphibian that lives underground

Fish

Arthropods

* Ants
* Crickets
* Tarantulas