Top Five Most Challenging Neopets

Number Five: Uni

Being the most beautiful of all the Neopets doesn’t come easy. Unis require an enormous amount of grooming and exercise to stay happy and healthy. They have short, silky fur and sensitive skin that require daily shampooing, as well as long, easily-tangled manes that need thorough combing multiple times per day. Their hooves need to be coated in a special polish each day to keep from chipping or staining, while their gleaming horns need to be filed down so that they don’t become too sharp. Far from being diminutive and dainty, Unis also have immense physical strength and endurance. They must be exercised for several hours each day, or else they will become bloated and listless. Unis are also emotional creatures that are easily offended or hurt. While they have the tendency to blow things out of proportion, they are sensitive to the emotions of those they are close to, and make it their business to maintain the emotional wellbeing of their loved ones. You must be prepared for many hours of work and patience if you plan to adopt one of these Neopets. In return, however, a Uni will be your stalwart defender and confidant, and will viciously protect your honor from criticism.

Number Four: Skeith

A single Skeith can eat you out of house and home in just a few days. These massive beasts have near insatiable appetites, very little energy, and are generally short-tempered. However, this off-putting behavior is merely a facade, for deep within a Skeith lies a lonely and loving heart that desires affection from its owner more than anything else. They are stubborn and gruff, and hide their feelings behind a tough and unfeeling persona. A Skeith needs an owner who is patient and equally stubborn, who can maintain rigid discipline at all times. You need to be kind, but firm with these pets, and never let them have their way with you. Once a Skeith has recognized you as the alpha, however, it can be molded into an obedient, noble pet, able to cast aside selfishness and express the love that hides in its heart. If trained properly, Skeiths can be formidable opponents in the Battledome as well, so they are popular pets among experienced Dome goers. Due to their lack of fur or hair, Skeiths require little in the way of grooming, although they do like to have their claws polished from time to time.

Number Three: Meerca

Meercas get into everything. Literally. I’ve seen a Meerca get stuck in a bathtub faucet before, and it had no way of explaining how such a thing even came about. They are definitely not good pets for owners who like to keep secrets, as they will doggedly track down and uncover any hiding place you can think of, and snatch whatever forbidden fruit is inside before you can even blink. Meercas are rambunctious and hyperactive little mongrels, who quickly lose interest if something isn’t either moving very quickly or labeled as something they shouldn’t touch. They are known to hoard bizarre and useless items in strange places, and tend to leave a mess wherever they go. These tiny rascals are very fast and agile, and love to clamber up high places, including on top of their owners’ heads. You need to have a lot of energy to keep track of a Meerca, and even more energy to find things to keep it occupied. They are fast thinkers, and are able to slip out of dangerous situations with remarkable stealth and ease. They love belly rubs and playing games. Meercas hate baths and are very difficult to groom. If you can get yours to sit still long enough for a quick bath, you will be a very lucky owner indeed. Life is never dull with a Meerca around, although I sometimes wonder if it would kill them to just hold still for a few minutes.

Number Two: Tonu

The Tonu may look sweet and gentle on the outside, but be warned: these short-sighted lumps of cute are among the most deadly and destructive Neopets in the world. In the wild, they are typically crepuscular, meaning that they are most active at dawn and dusk. Because of this, they have poor vision in bright light, and often bump into things, unintentionally causing massive damage with their sharp horns and heavy feet. Tonus can be easily startled, and when upset, they will blindly charge at anything that looks even remotely threatening. More than one Tonu owner has been admitted to the Neopian Hospital after being unintentionally trampled by their frightened Neopets. Tonus love to smash things to pieces, and are valued members of many construction and demolition teams as a result. However, it can be difficult for them to differentiate between the things that they should or shouldn’t destroy. In order to raise a Tonu, you need a sturdy house and furniture. They feel most at home around traditional Tyrannian furniture, such as Hewn Stone or Rock. As long as they are not startled, Tonus are friendly and affectionate pets who love to cuddle. Their large, fluffy manes need regular shampooing and combing, and like the Uni, their horns need to be filed down every now and again.

And now, the Neopet guaranteed to give any experienced owner a good hard challenge!

Jetsams are wild, aggressive, and generally unfriendly Neopets. Because they are primarily aquatic creatures, they require almost no regular grooming, which is a point in their favor. They love to fight and tear things to pieces, and are known to be insensitive to the feelings of those around them. This doesn’t stem from any kind of inherent malice, though. While little is currently known about Jetsams and their typical emotional health (mostly because they don’t like to talk about it), it is commonly believed that the Jetsam’s nasty personality can be attributed to intense anxiety and many other deeply rooted insecurities. When frightened or upset, a Jetsam will try to relieve its tension by attacking and destroying anything nearby, making them dangerous and unpredictable creatures. Many a seafarer bound for Krawk Island has reported an unusually large Jetsam attacking their boat over deep waters, and trying to bite pieces out of the hull. Their friendship is difficult to earn, and it can take several years to form any kind of meaningful connection with one of these troubled Neopets. However, if you do manage to succeed in earning a Jetsam’s trust, it will be a loyal companion and ferocious protector to the end of its days. You need never fear the Swamp Ghoul if you have a Jetsam by your side!

Well, if you’re looking for something to shake up your life, any one of these pets should do the trick. It is important to think carefully before adopting any new Neopet, however, regardless of how easy or how challenging they are to care for. You need to be prepared for all kinds of duties, big and small. Or in these five cases, a whole pile of enormous responsibilities. Whether caring for the loyal and spirited Gelert, or wrangling the wild and untamed Jetsam, you alone are responsible for your Neopet’s happiness, and that’s something you should always take very seriously.