The first question you might be asking yourself just by examining the title is, what are breedables? The definition of breedables in the world of Second Life is a pet that is taken care of just like you would take care of a pet in reality. However, this pet can be bred to make exclusive versions of the pets you have that you can either sell for online currency or keep and show off. Breedables are popular because it gives the full experience of owning a pet such as buying food, collars, water, etc. to take care of the pet and keep it’s stats or happiness, health, and sleep levels up just like you would take care of yourself or a real-life pet. However, some people only use breedables for breeding them and making popular breeds or unique traits and coats for their pets. Some sell for over USD 100 in the virtual world platform of Second Life. Amazing! Isn’t it? This is just one form of pet that you can own in Second Life. However, if you’re like me and have too much responsibility with a real-life pet and don’t want to put too much real-life money into Second Life to get virtual currency to spend on taking care of a pet, then you might be interested in virtual pets that aren’t breedables and guess what? They do exist, and they’re just a one-time price.

JIAN is a famous pet maker in Second Life they specialize in creating mesh and Animesh pets that you don’t have to take care of, but you can interact with them. By interact you won’t be able to feed them or whatnot, but you can hold them, pet them, give them toys, watch them wander around, take pictures with them and Instagram it all over the internet or whatever millennials do nowadays, etc. This is my chosen option for having pets or any animal in Second Life as these are carefree, so if I’m offline, they won’t get sick, pass away, or die. Which let’s be honest I think most of us would prefer something like the JIAN pets, especially if you have a busy lifestyle or use Second Life to escape real-life responsibilities.

An example of breedable pets that are popular and constantly found throughout Second Life are:

• Amaretto and ABC horses
• KittyCats
• Zooby Babies (yes breedables can be baby avatars as well crazy huh?)

These are just a few, but these from what I’ve seen are the most popular breedables that can be found and that are enjoyable to most individuals. I, for one, will be honest with all of you I have had and acquired all three and have been roped into them for years. However, now I only have KittyCats which keep getting sick because I’m not around a whole lot (at least they’re not dead) and Zooby babies (recently they went from prim to mesh so to take care of them is a lot cheaper than in the past and worth it). I will type up a whole post about Zooby babies and my experience with them in the near future. If you’re interested in that, please keep an eye on future posts. But from experience breedables can get pricey, especially if you don’t control yourself with how many you have. If you have one or two, it isn’t so bad but any more then that and to keep them happy and healthy takes a toll. To be fair though a lot of Second Life users see breeables as almost a game. If this is something you’re interested in, then go for it! It can be fun but realize money does go into them and to keep your breedable habits under control if you try it.

As far as JIAN pets I own quite a few of their pets and animals but my all time favorites that I own are:

• Guinea Pig’s
• Cats
• Wolves
• Ferrets

These are so great, especially if you like watching animations they scamper around, do little tricks, make noises, everything a breedable can do. They are fantastic and a great addition if you own a parcel or piece of land to call home on Second Life. They have their perks, and in the long run, they’re a lot cheaper than taking care of a breedable.

Overall, there are two ways to have pets in Second Life above I have provided two examples one primary example of breedables and one example of just having a pet or companion to have with you throughout your virtual journey. These are just some ideas if you’re looking to get started with a pet on Second Life. I will be creating posts both on JIAN animals and my breedable experiences. I’m going to have a post on Zooby babies and hope you will keep an eye out for all of them. If you have questions about breedables or finding a pet for you’re avatar and self to enjoy in Second Life, please leave a comment below, and I will answer as soon as I possibly can.