Ask HN: what's a good pet for the working programmer?

So, here's the deal: I'd quite like a pet of some kind.

I'm a programmer. I work quite long hours sometimes, and I'm not keen on taking things out for walks, so I don't want anything that's very high-maintenance. I have my own apartment, so no roommate drama, but no garden, so no outside poop-space. I want something that's small, low-maintenance, isn't going to chew cables or scratch out the eyeballs of visitors, and is ideally cute and/or cuddly.

What pet do you have? Does it fit well with your lifestyle?

I currently have a small dog, very independent, but does require the occasional walk.

I think a hermit crab might be ideal for you.

Just to state the obvious a Penthouse Pet will probably be the best option, since you living alone (might be high maintenance though). Second best I would recommend a cyborg beetle http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/30-the-pentagons-beetle...

Third best will be a cat as long as you understand that you can never own a cat, she will own you.

Suggestions: * A pair of rats * Fish

Either way there will be cage/tank maintenance, but it might be more frequent with the rats.

{edit} A tarantula could be good too {/edit}

I am owned by a cat. He generally sits quietly and doesn't interrupt while I'm working, and has learned to leave cables alone; however, he often wakes me up in the middle of the day to demand that food be presented or doors be opened.

Overall, however, I'd rather be owned by a cat than have some other animal around.