How to Care for Your Pet Rock

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Did you just get a new interesting soon-to-be-your-best-pal pet rock? Or you might be interested in taking care of a pet rock? We'll tell you how to do that!

Like how do you properly care for a silent, stone-faced pet rock? How to entertain it? You never know when it's hungry, mad, playful, or tired. How do you feed it? Clean it? Play with it? This article will tell you all you need to know about caring for your stone-faced pal.

Part 1 of 8:

Choosing Your Forever Friend

Pick a rock. This is a crucial step as every rock is different and unique! You can find different rocks at the park, your garden, at a beach, etc. Make sure you pick a good one!

Determine whether its size is convenient for your purpose. If it's for a traveling companion, pick a small one. If it's for a friend, a larger size is best. But you can adjust to what you want. If you want one that's medium or extra small - pick it! It's up to you. It's your special rock.

Bath your pet rock. Bathing for your pet rock always need patience, as some kinds of rocks like to bath on their own. This is different for every single kind. For bathing, you need at least 1½ (one and a half) room bigger than the rock itself, as the rock might not bath inside if it's smaller. You'll need to bath the rock with water and soap, and bath it slowly. You can't bath it too quickly as your pet rock wouldn't be too clean.

Congratulations! Now you are a responsible owner of your best friend pet rock! Advertisement Part 2 of 8:

Naming Your Rock

Be creative and maybe name your rock a type of berry or a flower. Like for example the name Lemon, it might have little yellow cracks or be yellow. You may call it Blossom, if it is slightly tinted pink or a white color.You can also name it after a character from a movie or tv show.Or you can give it two names and have a cool nickname for your rock
You should also determine your pet's "gender". If you can't decide, think of whatever name you like, boy or girl.

Look at your rock’s appearance. If it's bumpy or smooth, give it a name that suits it. Get to know it's appearance to ensure you've picked the right name.

Consider this advice: Make a list of all the names you want, then narrow it down. Remember, you can always give the rock a middle name and a last name!

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Feeding

If you can't print or find anything that smells nice, try to see if your rock is interested in looking at your food. If you are comfortable with it, your rock could even smell your food.

Add some lemon or orange peels to a handful of cloves. You can also add rose petals, mint, or lavender.

Paint or print a pretty picture. Again, you can just let it see what you do for snacks.

Play some music. Classical music will do nicely. If you don't like classical music, your rock can still be comfortable with catchy pop. Despite their name, pet rocks don't normally like rock music.

Make a texture board by gluing pieces of different materials to a piece of cardboard. Rub your pet rock over these different textures. This is a good idea for if your rock gets a bit rough.

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Bathing Your Rock

Prepare a cup of warm water. You'll want a nice wide bowl.

Add some liquid soap. Stir it together, and carefully place your rock inside the mix. But before you do, check the rock's type. Some rocks may not be able to go in water.

Use a sponge or a cloth to scrub your pet rock inside with the soap-water mixture. If you can't use any of these, use your hands. Scrub for 2-4 minutes. Make sure it rubs all over, under any crevices.

You may need to redo any text/pen that you may have drawn on.

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Building a House

Take a cardboard box and cut a small window in the side with sharp scissors. If you are a child, ask and adult to help.

Remove the lid and place a small box (for example, a matchbox or Altoids box) against a corner of the box. Fill it with a soft material, such as cotton, felt, or some cloth. Newspaper shreds will do nicely.

Create a rug. Do this by cutting a piece of fabric or material and gluing it to the bottom of the box. Make sure it fits the whole area.

Make a beanbag couch. Either purchase one or stuffing a small drawstring purse with cotton or crumpled newspaper will work as well.

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Make a litter-box. Place newspaper shreds in a matchbox.

Set the beanbag couch on the side, and make a table by setting a piece of sturdy material over four pebbles. You could glue them on.

Make a dining room. Place a mini potpourri in the corner. You can also play some music.

Discover your rock's favorite color. It can depend on your pet's breed. Use this color for the carpeting in the house.

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Traveling with Your Pet Rock

Travel with your pet rock! Bring it to school, on a vacation or just take a nature walk with your pet.

Use a box big enough for your rock. You can add an attachment for its belongings.

Cut two opposite flaps on the box. The remaining flaps are to be folded about 3-4cm away from the ends.

Make a slit in the folded part of the flap. Please ensure that when you close the box the slits are lined up.

Cut out a long piece of cardboard from the leftover flaps. Remember to make the width a tad smaller than the slit, so that it slides in effortlessly. Fold it.

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Shred some newspaper (although tearing it up is more fun). Fill the box halfway with shredding and it's ready for use!

Protect your rock when going into new or foreign places. Rocks can get sick too! They may pick up moss, fungi, lichen, and other unwanted diseases.

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Throwing Pet Rock Parties

Throw dried flower petals into some hot water and mix in very little bubble mix.
Massage your pet rock! Rub the nooks and crannies with Vaseline or baby oil. You could also get some other rocks to come.

Invite some friends, whether they have pet rocks or not. If they don't, you may wish to surprise them some.
Grab some of your favorite snacks, and feed your pet rock as well. Remember they must use the senses other than taste!
When it's time to go to sleep, bring your pet rock's bed with you in your sleeping bag. Tonight, you sleep with your special pet. If you don't want to, put the rock in it's home. If your friends brought or have been given pet rocks, place them in as well. Remember which rock belongs to who, though!

Make a special meal for you and your rock. Keep in mind it can't eat your food, but you can eat yours.
Spend some alone time together. Maybe play a game.

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Creating a Home Cinema

Make a home cinema! It's a great way for you and your pet rock to spend some quality time together. First of all, find a thin card (this will be used as a wall so find a box with walls the same size, if needed cut to size) or buy one.

Measure your phone or tablet. Cut out a hole in the card the same size as the screen.

Ensure the screen is visible. When complete, cut out one side of the wall on your box and glue your cut out wall in its place. Make sure that you are happy with it,

Create a support for your iPhone/iPod on the back of the wall.

Cut and glue a piece of card (preferably rectangular) to the back of the support.

Slip your phone onto the support. Put your favorite movie or video on, pop some corn. And of course give your fellow friend a little beanbag to relax on, sit back, relax, and enjoy!

Community Q&A

How do I convince my parents that rocks also have feelings like us humans? Community Answer

Remind them of people in comas who are completely paralyzed and can't even talk, but are perfectly capable of feeling and thinking. Then ask them how they would feel if they were in a coma and a super-intelligent creature were to throw them away because they couldn't move or respond. There is nothing else you can do if they don't have empathy.

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Do I have to be careful with wild pet rocks, or are they tame? Community Answer

You have to be careful with wild rocks. They are difficult to tame, but they usually have the most interesting personalities.

Why is my pet rock not moving? Community Answer Your pet rock may just be shy. Give it some time and then it will come out of its shell.

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To get the best experience, educate your rock and give it attention at least 30 minutes every day. Maybe you could watch a movie with it!

If you take your rock(s) anywhere, be sure not to lose them. They would be lonely without you!

You should never keep a bag that contains all your rocks inside. They might not like being cramped in a small space with a dozen other rocks. If you have two or three rocks who are known to be close friends, you can keep them in a larger, contained space, but they should always have their own personal home areas or be able to get away from each other. Don't keep even one pet rock in a Ziploc or other plastic bag for a long time.

Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Your rock may be wild or tamed. If it is round and/or store-bought, it is probably civilized. Tamed rocks like modern looking homes and already know manners; their parents taught manners to them. If your rock is bumpy, and/or found outdoors, it is probably wild. Wild rocks may want natural materials in their home and need to be taught manners. Both types are good.
Pet rocks are great because they're always comfy! You can build a big house for them, or just tuck them into a backpack pocket. They'll be happy either way!
If you have a small tin lunch box, add some padding and furniture to make a mobile home! Now your pet rock will always feel at home.
Twist some fuzzy pipe cleaners around your rock to make a cute and comfy leash!

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About This Article

503 votes - 93% Co-authors: 244 Updated: August 14, 2024 Views: 319,597 Categories: Craft for Kids

Having a pet rock is a fun way to learn how to take care of a pet for the first time. Once you find a rock you like, you should give it a name. You can name it anything, like Star, Diamond, or Rocky. To keep your rock from getting lonely, bring it to school, on vacation, or wherever else you go. Carry it in a small cardboard box filled with newspaper so it can be comfortable. When it’s time to bathe your rock, prepare a cup of warm water and add a couple of drops of liquid soap. Place your rock in the water, and use a sponge to scrub it clean. Then, use a dry cloth for a towel. You can easily make a small house for your rock out of a cardboard box. Just use scissors to cut holes for the window and doors. To learn how to build furniture for your pet rock, read on!