Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore introduced us to many more fantastical creatures from the Harry Potter universe. Any Muggle animal lover would probably be lying if they said they would not have liked to be in Jacob Kowalski’s shoes and experience the magic of these beasts. Admit it, most of us have been wishing for a niffler since the first Fantastic Beasts movie released six years ago.
Having said that, do all of these fantastic beasts make good pets? If you were magically given one of the many creatures from the wizarding world, would you indeed be able to keep it at home, or would it burn your house down? Let’s find out.
Bowtruckle
Definition from Fantastic Beasts: A tree-guardian creature, difficult to spot being a maximum of eight inches tall, and made of bark and twigs with small brown eyes.
Pickett, the bowtruckle with attachment issues, has been Newt’s constant companion and emerged as a hero in the third movie. If you have a big backyard with many trees that this tiny creature can guard, the bowtruckle can make for a good pet. Just know that not all of them might be as cuddle-friendly as Pickett and you will need to learn how to breed woodlice to placate your pets.
Make sure to warn your friends and family about being near the trees, because if feeling threatened, bowtruckles can jump down and gouge the aggressor’s eyes out with their sharp fingers.
Niffler
Definition from Fantastic Beasts: Small, fluffy, black and long-snouted with a predilection for anything glittery.
Newt’s niffler, who we now know is named Teddy, is perhaps the creature that stole the show right from movie one. This beastie that looks like a cross between a platypus and a mole won the hearts of viewers. While the exceptionally cute Teddy might be numero uno on the pet list, and the book describes them as “gentle and even affectionate,” it also says that they should never be kept in a house.
Nifflers live in deep burrows, are always hunting for glittery treasure and have litters of six to eight. So not only will you have to hide your gilded possessions, you’ll have an angsty niffler without a burrow. For now, let’s just cuddle that Teddy plushy.
Phoenix
Definition from Fantastic Beasts: Magnificent, swan-like scarlet bird with golden beak, tail and talons. A gentle creature that can disappear and reappear at will, whose tears have healing properties.
The phoenix is possibly one of the most majestic creatures in the wizarding world. The Dumbledore family’s phoenix, who we assume is Fawkes, has been a beaconing presence in all the movies including the Harry Potter series. There are definite upsides to having a phoenix as a pet. One, it is found in India as well, so you don’t have to go far! Two, its song is magical, said to give courage to the pure of heart and three, it rises from its ashes so you never feel the heartbreak of losing a pet.
Unfortunately, phoenixes have a reputation of being free creatures notoriously difficult to domesticate. So if a phoenix choses you, consider yourself extremely lucky.
Diricawl
Definition from Fantastic Beasts: A plump-bodied, fluffy-feathered, flightless bird from Mauritius that can disappear in a fluff of feathers and reappear elsewhere.
Not many know that Muggles are actually familiar with this magical creature. According to the wizarding world, the extinct dodos are actually diricawls that have disappeared and might show themselves to Nomajs someday. A fluffy, flightless bird that can roam around in your backyard or house sounds like a delightful pet until it goes poof — and reappears in the neighbour’s house or across state lines. These cute avians might be a tad too whimsical as pets.
Zouwu or Zouyu
These creatures have not been documented in Newt’s book and seem to have roots in Chinese mythology. In the wizarding world of Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter, they are described as five-coloured, gigantic elephant-sized cats.
Resembling a lion with tusks and with a tail like a Chinese dragon, these creatures can apparate over large distances in seconds. So, if you’re a travel junkie, the affectionate, gentle zouwu seems like a dream pet. Who wouldn’t like to go on vacation with their animal companion! Except you might need a very large area to house your new pet — elephant-sized, remember?
So unless you live in a sprawling estate and can get away with breaking some international travel rules, perhaps the zouwu is not your best bet for a pet.
Mackled Malaclaw
Definition from Fantastic Beasts: Land-dwelling creature with a passing resemblance to a lobster that should, on no account, be eaten.
We all know someone who has or wants a quirky pet — iguana, lizard, bearded dragon, frog — so why not a lobster-like creature? Going by the definition in the book, the critters that Newt encounters when trying to rescue his brother from prison are these ones.
A cute concept for those who like kooky pets, and low maintenance — a sizable fish tank filled with rocks, and a steady diet of crustaceans — this is a pet you will have to keep some distance from. The bite of a malaclaw is said to always bring bad luck. And just in case one escapes the enclosure, there is an elaborate dance routine involved in getting it back to the tank.
Hippogriff
Definition from Fantastic Beasts: A native European animal found worldwide, with the head of an eagle and body of a horse.
Buckbeak, or Witherwings, might not be part of the Fantastic Beasts films, but the hippogriff was very much in existence in Newt’s world. As he says in his book, the hippogriff can be tamed but it must only be attempted by an expert (like Hagrid). One has to bow before these proud creatures and if the bow is returned, it is safe to approach them. So if you manage to give and earn the respect of a hippogriff, and have a ranch-like property fit to raise horses, it is probably one of the best pets to have. They are low maintenance creatures who burrow for insects and occasionally eat a small animal and preen their own feathers. Just remember, when dealing with a hippogriff, be a Harry and not a Draco!
Qilin or Qirin
Another creature not documented in Newt’s book, this very important beast from the Fantastic Beasts universe also has roots in Chinese mythology. In the wizarding world, they are described as deer-like creatures with golden scales down their back (unlike the horse-meets-dragon features of the qilin from MCU’s Shang Chi). The revered qilin is supposed to have precognitive abilities and can look into the soul of a person to judge whether they are pure of heart.
The genteel qilin with its beautiful doe eyes can make the perfect pets if you have enough open space for them to frolic. Do remember that babies must grow up and an adult qilin is as big as a large stag. The only word of caution: make sure to be self aware and connect with your thoughts, lest your pet that refuses to bow causes an existential crisis.
Dragon
Harry Potter/Facebook
Definition from Fantastic Beasts: The most famous of all magical creatures and among the most difficult to hide.
We all have dreams, including for the kinds of pets we’d like to have. But not all dreams come true and that is the truth of life. For further information on if you can keep a pet dragon (with a complimentary stern lecture) please contact an expert magizoologist or dragon tamer. We recommend Newt Scamander or Charlie Weasley!
