Do hippos make good pets?

Hippos might look adorable when they’re small, but they make terrible pets—and here’s why:

1. They Get Huge: Baby hippos grow fast, and full-grown ones can top 3,000 pounds. That’s like having a small car roaming around your yard. Good luck trying to stop one if it decides to charge.
2. Seriously Dangerous: Don’t let the cute face fool you. Hippos are some of the most aggressive animals on the planet. They kill more people in Africa than lions or crocodiles. Even “tame” ones can snap in an instant.
3. They Need a River, Not a Bathtub: Hippos spend most of their day in water to stay cool and protect their skin. You’d need a private lake just to keep one comfortable—and no, your pool doesn’t count.
4. They Eat a Ton, and Poop Even More: Hippos chow down on massive amounts of grass and leave behind even more mess. Unless you’re up for nonstop cleanup duty, it’s a disaster waiting to happen.
5. It’s Probably Illegal: Most places ban owning hippos for obvious reasons. And even if you could get one, it’s not fair to the animal. They belong in the wild, not in someone’s backyard.

Bottom line: hippos are awesome to watch from a safe distance, but trying to keep one as a pet? That’s a disaster movie in the making.