When choosing a small pet, one of the key considerations is how much mess they might bring into your home. While some critters are surprisingly messy despite their size, others are delightfully low-maintenance when it comes to cleanliness. Here’s a look at 10 small pets that are messier than you’d expect, followed by 10 that make minimal messes.

1. Hamsters

Hamsters are undeniably adorable, but their cages can quickly become a source of chaos. These little rodents love to dig, burrow, and scatter their bedding all over the place. Combine that with their habit of hoarding food in hidden corners, and you have a recipe for frequent clean-ups. Hamsters are also known for chewing on their cage bars, creating debris that adds to the mess. Regular cleaning is essential to keep their environment odor-free and prevent health issues, but the upkeep can be more intensive than new owners anticipate.

2. Parakeets (Budgies)

Parakeets may be tiny, but they bring big messes with their vibrant personalities. These birds are notorious for scattering seed husks and food around their cage, not to mention their frequent droppings. Additionally, they enjoy preening, which can leave feathers and dust floating in the air. If you have parakeets, be prepared to vacuum regularly and wipe down their cage to maintain a clean and healthy environment. Their charm makes the effort worthwhile, but the mess can surprise first-time bird owners.

3. Guinea Pigs

Guinea pigs might seem like low-maintenance pets, but their messiness rivals larger animals. They produce a lot of waste for their size, and their love for fresh veggies often results in food scraps scattered across their enclosure. Bedding and hay can quickly spill out, especially if they’re housed in a cage with open sides. Their cages require frequent cleaning, and even with regular maintenance, you’ll often find yourself sweeping up bits of hay and bedding from your floors.

4. Rabbits

Rabbits are sweet and cuddly, but their housekeeping skills leave much to be desired. They are prone to scattering their bedding and food everywhere and can be quite the chewers. If given free roam of your home, rabbits may leave droppings behind or even nibble on furniture and electrical cords, which adds another layer of mess (and risk!). Litter training can help reduce their messiness, but their natural behaviors mean you’ll still be tidying up after them daily.

5. Ferrets

Ferrets are playful and energetic, which often leads to a messy living space. They love to dig, burrow, and hide objects in their cage, which can lead to frequent rearranging and cleaning. Their musky scent also requires diligent cleaning to keep it under control. Additionally, ferrets have a habit of knocking over food and water bowls, turning a neat cage into a disaster zone in minutes. While their antics are endlessly entertaining, their messiness can be a challenge for some owners.

6. Chinchillas

Chinchillas are known for their luxurious fur, but that beauty comes with a messy price tag. These nocturnal rodents take dust baths to keep their fur clean, and the fine dust often spreads outside their bathing area, coating nearby surfaces. Chinchillas are also active chewers, creating additional messes in their enclosure. Their love for jumping and climbing can scatter food, bedding, and waste around the cage, requiring frequent clean-ups to keep things tidy.

7. Lovebirds

Lovebirds bring vibrant energy to any home, but they also bring plenty of mess. Like parakeets, they scatter food and seed husks around their cage and produce a lot of waste. These birds also enjoy shredding paper or leaves for entertainment, leaving behind a trail of confetti-like debris. Lovebirds’ need for stimulation means they’re often rearranging or destroying toys, further adding to the mess. While their antics are fun to watch, it’s important to stay on top of the cleaning.

8. Sugar Gliders

Sugar gliders may be small, but their mess-making abilities are impressive. These nocturnal creatures are prone to flinging food as they eat, leaving sticky remnants in and around their cage. Their waste can also accumulate quickly, especially if their cage isn’t cleaned daily. Sugar gliders’ playful nature means they’ll often scatter bedding and toys around, making regular cleaning essential. Despite their cuteness, they’re a surprisingly messy choice for a small pet.

9. Mice

Mice are tiny, but they’re masters of creating a mess. They chew through almost anything, leaving bits of material scattered in their cage. Their habit of hoarding food often leads to hidden messes, and their cages can become odorous without regular cleaning. Mice are also prolific breeders, so if you’re not careful, your mess problem could multiply rapidly! While they’re fascinating to watch, their messiness requires dedication to maintenance.

10. Turtles

Turtles may seem like low-maintenance pets, but their aquariums tell a different story. Uneaten food and waste can quickly cloud the water, requiring frequent filtration and tank cleaning. Additionally, turtles’ aquatic environments often develop algae, which adds another layer of maintenance. If you’re not diligent, a turtle’s habitat can become smelly and unsightly. Keeping their tanks clean is crucial for their health and your home’s cleanliness.

11. Betta Fish

Betta fish are among the cleanest small pets you can own. They don’t produce much waste, and with a properly filtered tank, maintenance is minimal. Bettas don’t require elaborate setups, and their solitary nature means there’s no mess from other tankmates. Regular water changes and feeding are all it takes to keep their environment clean and healthy. These stunning fish are perfect for pet owners who want beauty without the hassle.

12. Leopard Geckos

Leopard geckos are known for their tidy habits. They typically designate a single area in their enclosure as their “bathroom,” making spot-cleaning simple. These reptiles don’t require elaborate setups, and their diet of live insects doesn’t leave behind much mess. With a little effort to maintain their habitat, leopard geckos make clean, low-maintenance companions that are fascinating to watch.

13. African Dwarf Frogs

African dwarf frogs are aquatic pets that are surprisingly easy to keep clean. Their small size means they produce minimal waste, and a well-filtered tank does most of the work. They don’t require elaborate care, and their calm nature ensures they don’t disturb their environment much. Regular water changes and occasional tank cleaning are all it takes to keep them happy and healthy.

14. Hermit Crabs

Hermit crabs are remarkably clean pets, especially when provided with the right substrate and environment. They’re meticulous about their shells, often cleaning and maintaining them. Hermit crabs don’t produce much waste, and their diet doesn’t lead to significant messes. With occasional substrate changes and tank cleaning, they’re easy to care for and fascinating to observe.

15. Tarantulas

Tarantulas might not be everyone’s first choice for a pet, but they’re incredibly clean. These arachnids eat infrequently and leave behind minimal waste. Their enclosures require very little maintenance, with occasional spot cleaning and substrate changes being sufficient. Tarantulas’ solitary and low-energy lifestyle makes them one of the cleanest small pets you can own.

16. Budgies (With Proper Training)

While budgies can be messy, those with properly trained behaviors and designated play areas are surprisingly clean. Regular cage cleaning combined with toys that limit scattering minimizes their potential messiness. With consistent care, their vibrant personalities shine without much added effort.

17. Corn Snakes

Corn snakes are among the cleanest reptiles to keep. They eat infrequently, and their waste is easy to clean up as they often pick a single spot for their bathroom. Their enclosures require only occasional spot cleaning and substrate changes, making them a great low-maintenance choice for reptile enthusiasts. These docile and fascinating creatures keep things simple for their owners.

18. Dwarf Hamsters

Unlike their larger hamster counterparts, dwarf hamsters tend to be less messy. They’re smaller in size, which means they produce less waste, and they’re less likely to scatter food or bedding. With a well-designed enclosure and regular cleaning, their maintenance can be kept to a minimum. These pint-sized pets are perfect for those who want the charm of a hamster without the chaos.

19. Sea Monkeys

Sea monkeys (a type of brine shrimp) are one of the easiest and cleanest pets to maintain. They live in small aquatic habitats that require minimal upkeep. Feeding them is simple, and their tiny waste is easily managed with periodic water changes. Watching their tiny, graceful movements is a relaxing and mess-free experience.

20. Stick Insects

Stick insects are quiet, clean, and low-maintenance pets. They feed on leaves, leaving behind minimal waste that’s easy to clean. Their enclosures stay tidy with occasional substrate changes, and their slow, deliberate movements make them fascinating to observe without creating chaos. Stick insects are ideal for anyone looking for a unique, mess-free pet.

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