Various combinations of allergies among members of my household preclude dogs, cats, and mammalian exotics. The choice is therefore reptile, bird, or no pets a

Various combinations of allergies among members of my household preclude dogs, cats, and mammalian exotics. The choice is therefore reptile, bird, or no pets at all. A terrapin isn't any worse than a cat, really. They'll interact with you when they feel like it, and do their own thing when they don't. But they won't go around destroying things when they get bored. It's not a dog, but it won't be killing anyone with dander, either--salmonellosis, maybe, but not allergens. Fish are mostly just decoration. If you're going to have an aquarium anyway, you might as well put an aquatic reptile in it. They'll at least acknowledge your existence as foodgiver.