Entertainment

Something more exotic

Parakeets and cockatiels

Cost: $95 to $125 for the bird and cage to start; food and chew toys run $20 to $50 a month.

Why they’re great for city living: “They become part of your family,” says Kopulos. “They can learn to mimic, like to be pet and have a lot of contact.” Also, they’re hypoallergenic.

Why they’re not: Messy and noisy. Tibbetts says they should regularly be let out of their cage to fly around freely, while supervised, and they’re likely to spread their seed and poop around the house. They can also be annoyingly chatty, especially in talkative households where they’re given plenty to mimic.

Cuddle factor: Very affectionate. They’ll sit with you, be happy when you come home and sad when you leave and even nibble off your dinner plate — which may or may not be a good thing.

Bearded dragons

Cost: $500 for the fancy reptile and temperature-controlled housing (they need a UV light and a 75-to-105-degree environment), $20-$25 a month for food and vet.

Why they’re great for city living: They’re hypoallergenic and require little time and attention.“You’re lucky if it eats and poops every other day,” says Lorelei Tibbetts, manager of the Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine. “They’re pretty stoic, they’ll sit in a spot for hours,” adds Daniel Kopulos, owner of Fauna, an alternative pet store on the Upper West Side.

Why they’re not: That stoicism can be a bit of a bore if you want a more interactive pet.

Cuddle factor: More than you might expect.They like to be petted and sit in your lap because you’re warm — and they’re not.

Betta fish

Cost: $45 for the fish, bowl, water conditioner and food to start; less than $5/month for food.

Why they’re great for city living: “Bettas are sleek and pretty and so incredibly simple to take care of,” says Kopulos. Tibbetts notes that they’re fun for kids. “You can target train them to swim through hoops!” Also, hypoallergenic and cheap.

Why they’re not: They’re low maintenance but not no maintenance. You need to change their water weekly and keep the temperature at 78 to 82 degrees; any colder and they become sluggish, and they’re not the most thrilling pet to begin with.

Cuddle factor: Zilch — it’s a fish. But they’ll recognize you when you come home, according to Kopulos.

Guinea pigs

Cost: $45 for a critter and a cage; $60 monthly for food.

Why they’re great for city living: Cute and relatively low maintenance — they can stay in a cage longer than other small mammals. “Most people get them for their children because they’re very affectionate, playful and quiet,” says Tibbetts.

Why they’re not: They require a lot of hay for eating and they shed a bit (but not as much as rabbits) — factors that create a mess and can irritate allergies. Also, they get smelly if their cage isn’t cleaned regularly.

Cuddle factor: Very loving and playful. They happily squeal when they see their owners.

Rabbits

Cost: $45 to start for bunny and cage; $50 to $100 monthly for food and vet.

Why they’re great for city living: “Rabbits have more personality than guinea pigs,” says Tibbetts. “They’re like dogs and can bond with owners, come when you call them, some will sleep in your beds.” Added bonus: Thumper can be litter trained.

Why they’re not: “They require a lot more care than guinea pigs because they have very difficult digestive systems, need a lot of time out of their cage for exercise and are very prone to injury,” says Tibbetts, who has seen many bunnies injured after being dropped by kids. They also shed, eat messy hay and are bad for allergies.

Cuddle factor: Snuggly but fragile.

Adopt an exotic

Several adorable bunnies and other exotics are available for adoption. Meet them at the Humane Society of New York from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 306 E. 59th St.; 212- 752-4840 or visit humanesocietyny.org.