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  1. Hedgehogs
    How big?     ½–1¼ pounds
    Lifespan     8–12 years
    Price     $50–$350, depending on coloring
    Do they get along with kids?     Yes, if socialized when young. They ball up and poke out their quills when startled, so they’re best for older kids.
    Diet and care     These omnivores eat hedgehog food, plus occasional treats of live crickets and mealworms. They need a warm habitat of 75–80 degrees (usually achieved with an in-cage heat lamp).
    Special notes     “They get along with other hedgehogs but not with other animals,” says Erica Mede, a vet tech at Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital, “because they’re a prey species.”
    Find out more     hedgehogcentral.com

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  2. Chickens
    How big?     3–6 pounds
    Lifespan     3–5 years
    Price     Baby chicks cost about $3 each. The big investment? Housing: “You can build your own for under $100,” says Jeff Park resident Linda Nellett, who trains urban chicken keepers. Prefab houses can cost as much as two grand.
    Do they get along with kids?     Yes. “If they’re handled a lot when young, they’re much more patient [as adult hens] with being cuddled.”
    Diet and care     Chicken feed is as cheap as $18 for a 50-pound bag, which should last a half-dozen hens for a month. They also enjoy kitchen scraps.
    Special notes     Like pigs, chickens are legal in Chicago as pets but not for slaughter. Find restrictions for individual suburbs at the website below. Roosters are noisy, so most people opt for hens (making neighbors happy). Also, beware of predators like raccoons. “Everybody likes chicken dinner,” Nellett says.
    Find out more     chicagochickens.org

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  3. Bearded dragons
    How big?     12–16 inches, including tail
    Lifespan     10–16 years
    Price     $50–$200, depending on coloring
    Do they get along with kids?     Absolutely. “They’re one of the most sociable lizards. Many seem to like to be with their humans. If they can sit on you, they’re happy campers,” Mede says.
    Diet and care     These omnivores eat fruits, leafy greens and insects, which need to be dusted with calcium powder for a balanced diet. “They can’t synthesize their own calcium,” Mede says, “so you’ll need a special lightbulb to help them convert vitamin D3 into calcium.”
    Special notes     Breeders call them pogonas, after lizards’ scientific name, Pogona vitticeps.
    Find out more     thebeardeddragon.org

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  4. Potbelly pigs
    How big?     60–150 pounds
    Lifespan     10–20 years
    Price     $400–$800 from a reputable breeder
    Do they get along with kids?     Yes, as long as the pig joins the family last. “Pigs don’t like to be usurped,” says Nancy Shepherd, Missouri-based pig breeder and educator. It takes work, but pigs and dogs can be trained to cohabitate, she adds.
    Diet and care     “A full-grown pig eats just two cups of piggy chow a day. That’s not much,” Shepherd says. “It’s natural for them to root, so they really do need a safe outdoor space. Grass grazing is good.” Contrary to assumption, they don’t smell, but they need activities to match their intelligence, which is akin to that of a five-year-old child.
    Special notes     Spaying or neutering is a must. If possible, see what the parents look like around age three to learn how big your pig could grow.
    Find out more     potbellypigs.com

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  5. Sugar gliders
    How big?     6–7 inches and about 4 ounces (roughly the size of a gerbil)
    Lifespan     6–12 years
    Price     $175–$250
    Do they get along with kids?     Not generally with those under ten. They get frightened easily, bite hard and move fast.
    Diet and care     They require a specialized diet prepared in a blender: fruit, eggs, yogurt and/or oats. Many owners make big batches and freeze portions in ice-cube trays.
    Special notes     Prepare to spend a couple of hours a day with your nocturnal marsupial. “They need extra attention,” Mede says, or they get distressed. Another solution: “Get more than one sugar glider. Most people have three or four. Nobody wants to deal with a self-mutilating sugar glider.”
    Find out more     chicagosugargliders.com

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Surprising pets for families

From chickens to pigs to bearded dragons, here’s the skinny on how to expand your in-home menagerie

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