What is the best small pet?

Depends on what you are looking for. If you want something just easy to take care of, get a fish. If you want an animal that you are only going to handle at night get a mouse, gerbil or hamster (these ARE NOT good kid pets; they do not like being handled and are nocturnal so they do not want to be messed with at all during the day; many hamsters and gerbils turn mean because of over stimulation and being messed with during the day). The best animal in my opinion is a lizard. They don't mind being picked up, they are up during the day and require very minimal care.

I recently asked the same question and i have now purchased to Gerbals, they are brilliant. I have a 4 year old and she will sit and hold them and they do not bite or anything. You do need to bye them as pares as they like to have company however they have not cost me much on up keep and I have found them brilliant pets.

well depends on space i have children wich have had the usual hamsters /and rabbits /guineas .they dont live very long and the kids get bored with them. so i,ve brought pygmy goats loads of fun easy to keep,