What dinosaurs Would make good pets

There’s no denying that dinosaurs capture our imagination in a way few extinct creatures do. Their varied sizes, shapes, and lifestyles make us wonder what life was like when these prehistoric beasts roamed the earth.

Given our fascination with these ancient creatures, we aim to explore an amusing hypothetical scenario in this article: What if dinosaurs could be pets? Which species might make the best companions?

Let’s jump into this light-hearted exploration and unleash our imaginations! I mean if Jurassic World Dominion could show them as pets, why can’t we!

Understanding Dinosaurs as Potential Pets

When we think about pets, several factors come into play. Size, for example, matters immensely; a Great Dane requires different care than a Siamese cat or a hamster

Temperament is crucial too, as some animals are naturally more sociable or tameable than others. The dietary needs and habitat requirements of our pets are also important considerations.

Could you provide the right food and environment for your pet?

Now, apply these factors to dinosaurs, and we find ourselves dealing with a whole new set of challenges.

For instance, how do you accommodate a dinosaur that reaches lengths of over 100 feet, or feed one that consumes hundreds of pounds of food in a day? Similar answer is your dont, just like you cant have an elephant wandering in the house, you have to scale those dinosaurs down. So in our list though we do have a couple of larger dinosaurs, you will find most of our dinosaur pets suggestions are pet ( although large pet) sized.

Criteria for Selecting Dinosaur Pets

To select the top 10 dinosaurs that could make good pets, we need to establish specific criteria.

• Firstly, size is paramount; the dinosaur should be of a manageable size.
• Secondly, we will consider their diet; herbivores might be easier to manage than carnivores.
• Behavior is another crucial factor; was the dinosaur social, or was it more of a solitary creature?
• Lastly, the habitat requirement of the dinosaur will be considered.

With these criteria in mind, we can begin to explore which dinosaurs might, in a world of pure imagination, make good pets.

Top 10 Dinosaurs That Could Make Good Pets

With these dinosaur pet criteria in mind, let’s take a fun, and of course imaginative leap into the world of dinosaur pets.

Dinosaur	Size	Diet	Behavior	Habitat Requirement	Pet Suitability
Compsognathus	Small	Carnivorous	Swift, active	Varied	High
Velociraptor	Small	Carnivorous	Intelligent, possibly social	Dry, sandy	Medium
Psittacosaurus	Small-Medium	Herbivorous	Possibly social, easy-going	Forests, plains	High
Hypsilophodon	Small	Herbivorous	Quick, agile	Woodlands, forests	High
Microceratus	Very Small	Herbivorous	Social, active	Woodlands, plains	High
Parasaurolophus	Large	Herbivorous	Social, gentle	Forests, swamps	Medium
Maiasaura	Large	Herbivorous	Highly social, caring	Coastal	Medium
Oviraptor	Medium	Omnivorous	Possibly social, fast	Desert edges, semi-arid	Medium
Protoceratops	Medium	Herbivorous	Social, defensive	Dry, sandy	Medium
Leaellynasaura	Small	Herbivorous	Agile, possibly social	Polar forests	High

These species have been selected based on their manageable sizes, suitable diets, and potential compatibility with humans – by which we mean the ones less likely to look on us as a snack rather than a friend!

However, this is all theoretical, of course, and serves as a fun way to learn more about these fascinating prehistoric creatures.

Perhaps you can let us know what dinosaur you would want as a pet in the comments below.

1. Compsognathus

This small dinosaur, also known as “Compies“, in the Jurassic park franchise, was roughly the size of a turkey, making it one of the smallest known dinosaurs though not the smallest as we discuss here on the site.

Swift and agile, they were carnivores but their small size meant they likely hunted insects, lizards, and other small creatures though possibly your fingers might be worth a nip or a bite if they got too close!

Pet Suitability: Given their manageable size and diet of small prey, Compsognathus could be a suitable pet for a dinosaur enthusiast, although their carnivorous diet might be a factor to consider especially, if Jurassic World is anything to go by and you have young children!

2. Velociraptor

Contrary to the large, terrifying creatures seen in popular movies, real Velociraptors were much smaller—about the size of a turkey. They were intelligent, potentially social, and had a carnivorous diet.

It is thought that they likely lived in packs for safety and hunting, so if you decided to go for a pet velociraptor you might need to consider more than one! While they might do well as a pet you would have to make sure, as Owen Grady said, that you are the Alpha!

Pet Suitability: Velociraptors’ small size and potential sociability could make them interesting pets, but their carnivorous diet and sharp claws might pose challenges and having more than one would be better for them, but probably not for you!

3. Psittacosaurus

A small to medium-sized dinosaur, Psittacosaurus was herbivorous with a beak-like mouth. Evidence suggests it might have been a social creature, living in herds.

though it was fairly small, about a metre or so, it could grow to over 2 metres in length when it was older so would need quite a lot of space. however its cute tail feathers, presumed docile temperament and herbivore diet put it on our cutest dinosaurs list as well as this pet dinosaur list.

Pet Suitability: The Psittacosaurus’ herbivorous diet and potential for sociability make it a strong candidate for a hypothetical pet dinosaur.

4. Hypsilophodon

A small, agile dinosaur, Hypsilophodon was a herbivore and possibly a good tree climber. It had a slender body and long legs, indicating a fast runner.

It also walked on two legs and being about 2 metres long would have been shorter than most humans, but still likely a metre or so tall

Pet Suitability: With its small size, herbivorous diet, and agile nature, Hypsilophodon could be considered an interesting choice for a dinosaur pet but it would probably need a lot of exercise!

5. Microceratus

The Microceratus was a very small herbivorous dinosaur. It was social and had a relatively high metabolic rate, indicating it was an active creature. we actually have it on our weakest dinosaur list as well, which if you are inviting on into your home is surely not a bad thing!

it was only thought to be around 2 feet long, and was seen being (we think) cooked in Jurassic World Dominion in the night market – and less horribly being looked at by Masie Lockwood when she was younger.

Pet Suitability: The small size, herbivorous diet, and sociability of Microceratus make it an ideal candidate for a pet dinosaur.

6. Parasaurolophus

This dinosaur was a large herbivore known for its distinctive, elongated crest. Parasaurolophus were likely social creatures, living in herds.

It is certainly on of the biggest on our list of pet dinosaurs, but people do have horses for pets and this, though a little bigger of course, is a similar idea! While it was too big at 30 ft plus and 5000 lbs, to be a house pet it could fair quite well in a group in a paddock just like in Jurassic World Evolution games.

With its trumet like crest it might be quite nice to listen to as well, for a while at least!

Pet Suitability: While the Parasaurolophus’ sociability and herbivorous diet are favorable characteristics, its large size might pose a challenge for a dinosaur pet unless it was kept outside of course.

7. Maiasaura

A large herbivorous dinosaur, Maiasaura was known for its caring nature towards its young. They lived in large herds and had a plant-based diet. However it is another 30 ft and 5000 lbs dinosaur so if you wanted this as a dinosaur pet then you would have to have quite a lot of outside space.

Also if you are considering maiasaura as a pet, it seems a shame to not let them be the “good mother’ so you might have to expect babies to join your pet dinosaur over time!

Pet Suitability: The Maiasaura’s nurturing behavior and herbivorous diet make it a good contender, but again, its large size might be problematic for a hypothetical pet scenario and of course you might have to let those maternal instincts flouris and have baby maiasaura at soem stage too.

8. Oviraptor

The Oviraptor was a medium-sized dinosaur with a diet that could have included meat, plants, and eggs. They were fast creatures and might have been social.

Although not seen to often in Modern media ( one cut scene in Jurassic World Dominion – quite literally a CUT scene) and a random attack on Adam Driver in the Movie “65” At least we think it was an oviraptor it has not been depicted well, It would have been actually quite small and would, kinda, be like having a flock of slightly larger 3 ft tall chickens around.

Pet Suitability: The Oviraptor’s medium size and potential sociability could make it a suitable pet, but its omnivorous diet might require more careful management

9. Protoceratops

Protoceratops, a medium-sized herbivore, roamed the Earth during the Late Cretaceous period. With a robust body, large skull, and distinctive frill on its neck, it was one of the more recognizable dinosaurs at least if not by name but by family – it was a ceratopsian a filled and horned dinosaur.

Its diet mainly consisted of plants, and its behavior was defensive when threatened. Protoceratops lived in dry, sandy environments, often close to water sources. One world of caution, ther eis a famous fossil of Protoceratops and velociraptor called “Fighting Dinosaurs” so it may not be a good idea to keep on of each as yoru dinosaur pets.

Pet Suitability: Protoceratops’ s size, herbivorous diet, and social nature make it a potentially suitable dinosaur pet. Its ability to live in dry conditions could also adapt well to many modern climates. However, its defensive behavior might pose challenges in a domestic environment.

10. Leaellynasaura

Leaellynasaura was a small about 3 feet in length, bipedal herbivorous dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period. Known for its long tail and agility, it was named after Leaellyn Rich, the daughter of the paleontologists who discovered it.

Interestingly, Leaellynasaura lived in polar forests, enduring long periods of darkness, indicating its adaptability and giving it those cute big eyes ( it is also on our list of cutest dinsoaurs! )

Pet Suitability: Leaellynasaura’s small size, herbivorous diet, potential social nature, and adaptability to different light conditions give it a high pet suitability rating. It may adapt well to indoor living, making it a strong contender in our pet dinosaur scenario.

What can you have instead of a dinosaur pet?

Well aside from the more obvious dog or cat, if you wanted something more prehistoric looking and don’t want to dress up your dog in a dinosaur costume ( they exist trust us! You an check those out here) You could always go for a lizard if you are careful to fulfil its needs.

however, much easier to take care of are some dinosaur fluffy and cuddly toys like the ones below. They don’t need space, walking or food, and are unlikely to bite you when you sleep!

Conclusion

We’ve explored the possibility of what it would be like to have a dinosaur as a pet. Did we miss one, you can let us know below if you think there are better dinosaurs that would make good pets.

From the small and swift Compsognathus to the social and herbivorous Maiasaura, each of these creatures has unique characteristics that could theoretically make them an exciting pet.

You didn’t find the Tyrannosaurus, or the Mosasaurus on this list, and I’m sure you can think of the reasons why, the dinosaur is supposed to be your pet, you are not supposed to be its pet! ( or lunch!

Practical Considerations and Disclaimers

The concept of dinosaurs as pets is purely hypothetical and whimsical, designed to engage us in a fun thought experiment.

If dinosaurs were alive today, practical concerns such as their size, diet, and impact on modern ecosystems would pose significant challenges.

In addition, ethical considerations about keeping wild or extinct animals as pets would undoubtedly arise. Lastly, the potential safety issues of keeping creatures evolved for a different era as pets can’t be ignored.

References

• https://www.safariltd.com/blogs/toys-that-teach/which-dinosaurs-would-have-made-the-best-pets
• https://list25.com/20-bizarre-dinosaurs-that-wouldve-made-great-pets/
• https://mix.syok.my/article/trending-on-mix/dinosaurs-that-would-probably-make-good-pets
• https://www.quora.com/Which-dinosaurs-would-make-the-best-pets