i need help...

[xComfterblyNumb]

for my boyfriend and i's anniversary.. i knoo that he wants something cool for his room.. like a venus flytrap or.. even better a pirahna (the 6'').. and i only have like a $50 budget... i wanted to get him something REALLY cool but i have nooo idea where to start i was thinking id go with pirahnas.. because theres a store by me that has them for $30 and then maybe somehow i could get a tank real cheap.. i dont kno! HELP MEEE please

 

[Elizabeth]

It sounds like this would be your first aquarium, and that isn't something you should just shove together in an afternoon and hope it works. You would most likely end up looking at a dead piranha in there. Take some time to educate yourself about the set-up needed for the piranha? Fine, then you could do it, but with the fish at $30 and the aquarium (10 gal) around $15 (here), I don't think your budget will cover the filter/pump/chemicals for water safety for the fish/food for the fish/etc.

Take a second look at a neat plant for him to have now, and maybe buy just part of the set-up for the fish-to-come, along with a simple book on aquariums/piranhas.

 

[Malhavoc's]

First of all Wrong Forum, try the not so spinless wonders/watering hole with this problem and I second the above mentioned opinion you don't want to rush into a dead animal.

 

[xComfterblyNumb]

hmm see ya thats what i was asking? duh.. if you have any ideas of something LIKE THAT..that i could get him.. you dont need to lecture me and make me feel stupid... i was asking for ideas ... i never said specifically that iwanted to get a pirahna

 

[David_F]

No one was trying to make you feel stupid. You may have better luck in the Watering Hole or Not So Spineless Wonders forums. But, to answer your question, fly-traps are cool. Pretty easy to take care of you could get a bunch for $50. Check out www.petflytrap.com for these and other carnivorous plants. Since we are in the Insects forum maybe you could think about a mantis or roaches? Mantids are awesome pets. You could almost let them have free reign over a room (though I wouldn't recommend it). They seem to be very intelligent, but that's probably just because they track their prey (and you when near them) with their heads. Roaches can be interesting pets too. Good luck with whatever you decide and read anything you can get your hands on about any animal before you decide.

 

[Wade]

You can sometimes find good deals on fishtanks in the classified section of the local paper. They'll be used, but sometimes you can get an entire set up (including fish) very cheaply.

Wade

 

[protheus]

for my boyfriend and i's anniversary.. i knoo that he wants something cool for his room.. like a venus flytrap or.. even better a pirahna (the 6'')..

Since you seem to be leaning towards live pets, I highly recommend Pandinus imperator (emperor scorpion). They're great. Only mildly venomous (though I hear the pinch is pretty nasty), pretty easy going, and reaching several inches long as an adult. I keep mine on potting soil, and you can get plastic enclosures which are suitable for around $10 - $15.

If you shop around, you might find him an emperor for, say $12, plastic enclosure for about the same, bag of potting soil (no fertilizer or other chemicals) for $5, and something for your scorpion to hide in for another $5 or $10.

He should expect to spend perhaps 20 to 50 cents a week to feed it.

Be sure he doesn't mind caring for it; it's not hard, but it's always best to be certain. You can find care information in the scorpion forum. Of course, this is a biased answer, since we're all about venomous arachnids here, but I love mine (I have two...)

Chris

 

[luther]

I'd suggest a mantis as a good beginner's bug. They're easy to keep and harmless and there are plenty of care sheets and advice forums for them.

I keep some species in well ventilated jars and some on my house plants. The Ghost Mantis (Phyllocrania paradoxa) makes a great communal house-plant species. You can put half a dozen on a window ledge plant without fear that they will wander or canibalize. The Flower Mantis (Pseudocreobotra Wahlbergii) also works well as a "free" pet since it too is reluctant to move from it's spot and looks awesome.