Home › Rankings › Best pets for people who live alone and work full-time

1. 1
   Cherry Shrimp

   A tiny red freshwater shrimp that grazes algae and leftovers all day and breeds readily. It is forgiving once settled but very sensitive to sudden changes and copper.
   Alone 5/5 · space 1/5
2. 2
   Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle

   Korea’s best-loved horned beetle. You can watch the full life cycle at home, from fat white grub to pupa to adult, which makes it a classic family project.
   Alone 5/5 · space 1/5
3. 3
   Stag Beetle

   Beetles with antler-like jaws. Popular species such as Dorcus titanus and Dorcus hopei can live two or more years as adults, but most must be housed alone because they fight.
   Alone 5/5 · space 1/5
4. 4
   Tarantula

   Large, hairy spiders whose beginner species, such as Brachypelma and Grammostola, are calm and live quietly in a small enclosure. Females can live more than 20 years.
   Alone 5/5 · space 1/5
5. 5
   Hamster

   Popular as a first pet because they fit a small home, hamsters are actually solitary night owls. A large enclosure, deep bedding and a big wheel matter more than toys.
   Alone 5/5 · space 2/5
6. 6
   Canary

   A songbird developed over five centuries from a wild finch of the Canary Islands. Not a hands-on pet, but the male's rolling song and the variety of colour and shape breeds are a joy to watch and hear.
   Alone 5/5 · space 2/5
7. 7
   Zebra finch

   A tiny Australian finch with a coral-red beak and, in males, bright orange cheeks. It is a bird to watch in pairs or groups rather than one to handle.
   Alone 5/5 · space 2/5
8. 8
   Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish)

   A Thai labyrinth fish with flowing fins and a surprisingly bold personality. Males must live alone, and despite the cup-sized myth, a heated, filtered tank keeps them healthy.
   Alone 4/5 · space 1/5
9. 9
   Ball Python

   A gentle African python that curls into a tight ball around its head when nervous. Adults rarely exceed 1.5 m, making it the most manageable python, though long fasts and humidity can test new owners.
   Alone 5/5 · space 3/5
10. 10
    Corn Snake

    A slender rat snake from the southeastern United States, docile, a reliable eater and forgiving of temperature swings, which makes it the go-to first snake. Its one big flaw: it is an escape artist.
    Alone 5/5 · space 3/5