Ygthkb

The business of mind storage became a profitable one, after the discovery of a magical process that allows the memories and personality of a living being to be transferred into another body. Consciousnesses are stashed in animals (or rented humans, for the wealthy) while the body undergoes surgery. Dangerous prisoners suddenly become much easier to take care of. Falconry becomes an extremely popular hobby, although in a rather altered form. The process is easy and cheap, only requiring a trained mage to do it. While in another body, one is fully capable of controlling and using the host body as if it were one's own.

For the purposes of this question:

• Any vertebrate is capable of holding one human mind for an unlimited amount of time.




• Intelligence is not affected by one's current body, only by the original.




• If the host dies, the mind stored in it is lost.




• This takes place on modern day Earth.




• The host's mind does not exist while another mind is using that body.

My question: Based on affordability, portability, safety, and other factors, what animal is overall the best option for a mind storage business (primarily for hospital patients with painful conditions)? For example, mice would probably not be a good choice, because they have a short lifespan and could be too risky to use.

Turtles. Very sturdy, easy and cheap to keep, long-lived. You can also reduce their metabolism and keep them lethargic.

Otherwise, dogs. Not so cheap, and require way more space. At the same time, they're more active and could supply more enjoyable experiences.

Pigs.

The pig anatomy is very close to our own. Even the pig nervous system and brain structures are very close to human. Pigs even have a similar social structure.

So it would be a short acclimatization period for the human 'mind' to adjust to the new surroundings and body.

The biggest relearning curve would be walking on four legs vs two.

The drawback is the shorter life span of the pig - 15 to 20 years potential.

As much as there might be a trade in recreationally adopting the form of a golden eagle or a porpoise. A very safe* and efficient storage vessel would be the Arctic Wooly Bear Moth Catarpillar.:

_{Wikipedia 2019 CCSAL- Licence}

Due to its restricted seasonal growth period, G. groenlandica has a
life cycle of approximately 10 years.

They're also small enough that they can be packed in a suitcase by the thousand.:

G. groenlandica can withstand temperatures as low as -70 °C

*The fine print is that their mortality rate during hybernation is about 13%. In a cash-strapped society this would be suitable for low value citizens, welfare-state cases or prisoners.

African Grey Parrot.

When the economy permits.:

_{Wikipedia 2019 CCSAA Licence}

With a 40 to 60 year lifespan and the ability to communicate in recognisable human speach (not to mention fly) this would be a great option.

The better off citizens would I'm sure be given the choice of their preferred animal from among a suite available at each medical facility.

Ultimatley, the law of supply and demand will allow people to become whatever they want. There might be some illegal options such as an adult mayfly (too short a lifespan) or a planarians (people would be able to infinitely clone themselves and their memories at will) but commerce will prevail, it always does.

Commercial concerns.

Where commerce is concerned, fads and fashions will I'm sure come and go, the fallback option in times of financial chrisis will be the expedient and cheapest - the old catarpillar.

Addendum:

Hospital administrators could find that there developes an illicit trade in revenge-consciousness transfers - "Do you know someone you'd like to see as a cockroach dancing on a hot tin-lid? We have the answer."

Society would then, of course need to cope with the illicit trade in body upgrades and people turning up at police stations claiming to be someone else. Interesting issues your world throws up.