Hey I absolutely love birds, especially Swablu. How would swablu do in a home setting?
Time for a relatively light and easy one, pun definitely intended! A swablu would indeed make a great pet, though their needs will require some diligent upkeep; this would be a great option for parents looking for a pet that will teach their children responsibility! Let’s get into it.
At just over a foot tall and weighing less than three pounds, swablu are a great size to be a house pet. While they will need space to stretch their wings anf fly around, they don’t have any particular environmental needs to account for save one minor one, which I’ll go into further detail on later. It wouldn’t hurt to have a yard or local park to allow your swablu to get flying time in, and thankfully, unlike many aerial pokémon I’ve covered on this blog, they don’t have a notable habit of eloping and getting lost. In the wild, they are somewhat migratory according to the season, but considering that this behavior is driven by food shortages in the winter (Emerald), secure access to food should disincentivize this migration.
Swablu are well known to get along excellently with humans, and are fond of sitting atop their heads like a “cotton-fluff hat” (Ruby, Diamond/Pearl, HeartGold/SoulSilver, Black2/White2, X, Omega Ruby, Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl, Legends: Z-A), which is both a sign of their affection for humans and extremely adorable. I’m sure this could, at times, become inconvenient, but is far from a deal-breaker in general. My cat always wants to sit on my lap at times when it’s inconvenient, but it’s so cute that I just have to let it happen.
There is no indication of swablu being violent, which is good considering that they are no pushovers. Moves like Dragon Breath and Moonblast can do some serious damage, and Perish Song’s ability to automatically make a person faint can prove deadly in the wrong situation. Thankfully, a well-trained swablu is quite unlikely to attack a human, and this pokémons’ pros outweigh the cons. That being said, as I always say, risk is ever-present, so keep that in mind.
Now, for the one environmental need that swablu do have: these pokémon are very particular about keeping themselves and their environments clean! As the pokédex explains, swablu can’t relax if their surroundings aren’t clean (Platinum, Black/White, Violet). This goes for their wings too; in order to provide a proper environment for a swablu, they will need some sort of shower or birdbath in which they can clean their wings regularly to maintain their comfort as wild swablu do (Sapphire, FireRed/LeafGreen, HeartGold/SoulSilver, Y, Alpha Sapphire, Sword, Scarlet). This should be a fairly easy accommodation for many owners to make, even if they have to use their own human shower. While swablu are known to participate in the cleaning of their environment, using their wings as cleaning implements (Sapphire, Platinum, Black/White, Alpha Sapphire, Violet), their need for cleanliness presents a great teaching opportunity. As I mentioned at the top of this post, this pokémon would provide for a great opportunity for young owners to practice responsibility. Their small size and otherwise low-maintenance makes them a great candidate for most homes, and their need for and participation in cleaning may inspire children to take more responsibility in keeping the home clean.
Overall, this pokémon is a great option, so long as one can provide the cleanliness they need to stay calm. While they aren’t the most harmless pokémon in the world, their friendly demeanor towards humans and small size counteract their threat level, making for a nice, even “A” rank.
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