The best pets for those who don’t have a lot of time to spend on them are usually reptiles and fish, but there are some small mammals that would be perfect for a minimalistic lifestyle as well!
Reptiles are usually very low maintenance, especially when it comes to shedding. They typically only shed once or twice a year, but many animals that are not reptiles can also have light-shedding periods where they don’t need to be groomed every day. Most reptiles require regular feeding and water changes.
Fish are another type of pet that is typically very low-maintenance. They do not require daily attention, but they will need to have their water changed regularly and be fed once or twice a week depending on the kind of fish it is.
Small mammals are often much more high maintenance than reptiles and fish because they are active, curious creatures that can take up a lot of time if all their needs are not met! However, there are some small mammals that are much lower maintenance than others. For example, degus have very unique habits where they only come out of the cage for short periods at night so you won’t have to spend as much time exercising them. Degus need 4-5 hours of playtime outside of the cage per day and will also need a daily diet of Timothy hay, fresh grass, and vegetables. They also need exercise wheels in their cages because they are so energetic!
Guinea pigs have a very similar lifestyle to degus, but they do need more attention during the day while degus only come out at night. Guinea pigs usually sleep all day and party all night, which is great for those who work long hours or have children. They don’t require as much time outside of the cage as other small mammals such as rabbits because they don’t hop around too much, but you will still want to give them lots of time outside every day! Guinea pigs should be given timothy hay and guinea pig food pellets twice a day. Rabbits can be very low-key as well. They should have a couple of hours of exercise outside of the cage every day and their pellets should be supplemented with fresh veggies and hay.
Deer mice are another small mammal that can be very low-key because they don’t require much attention during the day unless you choose to work with them! These little guys love to just sit on their wheels all day so it is not necessary to let them out if your lifestyle isn’t dependant on it. They do need a diet of lab block, a water bottle, and some shredded paper for bedding, but there’s no going out every day or getting fresh greens for this guy!