Pocket pets (Rodent & Small Pet Species in general)

Member Name: PyrettaBlaze

Product:	Rodent & Small Pet Species in general
Date:	10/01/08 (374 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Depends on species

Disadvantages: depends on species

I have long been addicted to keeping animals as pets and I've owned everything from hamsters to snakes. Small rodents and similar animals are among the best pets in my opinion...generally less trouble than a dog or cat, many of them are suitable for children and they can often be kept in apartments or flats. So without further ado, here's my review on keeping all things small and fluffy...obviously I havent kept them all but I'm going on what I've read and been told for some species.


General guidelines for deciding to buy a pet and choosing a species

Remember that every living animal needs adequate care for its ENTIRE life...you cant just forget about it when you get bored. You need to provide a safe, roomy environment which must be kept scrupulously clean. You need to provide a varied and healthy diet, toys and exercise and company if the species of animal needs company. Animals need to be protected from extremes of temperature, and predators...and that might include the household kitty remember. Remember that children can be fickle creatures, so if buying a pet for a child, bear in mind that you may do most of the caring for that animal.

Decide why you want the pet. If you want a pet that can be cuddled and handled lots, you will need to spend a good amount of time socialising your little fluffy, as they dont tend to be as tame as puppies or kittens. Some species are more tolerant of handling than others. Rats, hamsters, rabbits and guinea pigs can be handled often. If you are more interested in watching the animals behaviour and play in its cage, then gerbils, mice, chinchillas or chipmunks may be better choices.

All species need attention and daily care, however the lower maintenance species are probably hamsters, gerbils, mice and guinea pigs. Rats and rabbits need lots of attention and exercise, and ferrets, chinchillas and chipmunks need much more specialised care, which can be time consuming and expensive.

If smell is an issue, steer clear of ferrets and mice. Rats can sometimes be a bit smelly too, this depends on the individual and females tend to be less stinky. Rabbits tend to be quite whiffy, regular cleaning out will help this but not eliminate it. Guinea pigs can be messy (they poo everywhere) but not really smelly, and hamsters, chinchillas, gerbils and chipmunks are fairly clean and not stinky.

Good species for children are gerbils and mice (although these are not particularly handle-able, they are interesting to watch), hamsters and guinea pigs. Rabbits tend to be more responsibility than a child can handle, but with adult supervision can make good pets. Ferrets are too bite-y to be considered childrens pets, but in my opinion the finest pet for a child is the humble rat...they are interesting to watch and enjoy being handled. Chinchillas and chipmunks are too high maintenance for a child to care for alone.


Choosing an individual

The best place to go for a fluffy is a reputable breeder...they tend to care more than pet shops, or a rescue shelter...bearing in mind that the short lifespan of small animals means you may not have the joy of the creature's company for very long. Wherever you go, the place should be clean and well-kept, as should the cages. The animal you like should be alert and active (bearing in mind that some species are nocturnal), reasonably friendly (again some species more so than others), and bright and healthy looking, with a clean, glossy coat, clear eyes, and clean around the bum. The seller should happily answer any questions you have, and the mark of a good breeder will be them asking YOU questions about your experience and living conditions.


Some tips

Most of the cages you see in the pet shops are far too small for the species advertised. Make your own or find the largest you can. Habitrail and Rotastak cages that can be built up are good ways to provide hamsters and mice with more space, however they are fiddly as hell to clean and put back together.

Most small fluffies are great at escaping...soft woods or plastics will be destroyed quickly and small holes will quickly become escape routes. Always choose or make a secure cage, and check it regularly for damage.

Allow your pet time to get used to its new environment before handling it.

Remaining gentle and quiet and slow at all times is the way to gain an animal's trust.

Read up on the particular species you want...join forums, look on the 'net and read books before you take the plunge.

If your going to just shove your pet in a cage and ignore it after a few weeks, buy yourself a Nintendo Wii instead.


General pros and cons of small fluffies as pets

They can be very interesting in terms of their behaviours and interaction with one another and you. This varies from species to species, but as they are less "domesticated" than dogs and cats they perform some interesting behaviours left over from wild days.

Small pets are a good way to teach children a lot about life...the joys and diversity of nature, the importance of treating animals (and therefore people) with respect, and lots of other things besides. The responsibility of cleaning and feeding and handling the pet can do children the world of good.

They're all pretty cute and fluffy looking, lets face it!

Most species are less demanding than dogs or cats, cost less and take up less room.

They tend, as a whole, to be easy to care for, although again this varies from species to species.

Researching a pet and getting together all the goodies you need for it can be quite fun and a good thing for all the family to join in on. Its a good bonding experience deciding which pet to buy and looking at all the options at breeders. All in all small animals can make ideal family pets.

On the other hand, they still cost money to keep. Rabbits and ferrets can prove costly in vet and dental fees, in particular, and cages are usually pretty expensive, although if you are handy with the DIY they can prove quite cheap.

Often they are bought on a whim and then left in the cage and ignored, which of course does nobody any good, especially not the poor animal! Always make sure you are ready to commit to an animal for its ENTIRE life, there's already enough animals in shelters.

A lot of small furries have short lifespans, which can be upsetting, especially for small children. Losing a beloved pet, whether its a dog or a hamster, is very sad and it makes it worse if you've only had the animal for two years.

Small animals tend to be happier to bite than your average dog or cat, due to the fact that they havent been tamed as long. Although most will tame down with gentle, regular handling.

Some small animals dont like being handled at all, and if you really want something to cuddle, its probably better looking at a dog or cat, or if you dont have the time, money and commitment, a teddy bear!

Make sure and keep all small furries well out of the way of large household carnivores...otherwise it will get very unpleasant! If you have cats or hunting breed dogs, think twice before buying something that looks like dinner.


Some commonly kept small pets:

Hamsters: Cute, fat little balls of fluff, hamsters can make good pets for children or adults. They are fairly clean and not very smelly, small and so dont need a massive cage (a minimum of two foot by one foot by one foot), and although you get some insane individuals, generally they can be tamed nicely. The cage may be costly but hamsters are cheap to feed, plain hamster mix supplement with veg, nuts, bits of dog biscuit and hard boiled egg will keep them happy. On the other hand, they are nocturnal so can keep you up all night if kept in a bedroom, and they hoard their food so watch not to give them too much fresh food in case it spoils. Syrian hamsters should always be kept alone but Russian and Chinese ones likes company.

Gerbils: Gerbils are pretty little things with hoppy kangaroo back legs and long tails. They are another common pet but generally much less handleable than hamsters...they are small and very jumpy and easier to lose. They are desert animals that seldom drink and so seldom pee, so they are very clean and non-smelly, and their cages dont need cleaned so often. They are fascinating to watch especially in an aquarium filled with sterile soil, soft sand or another diggable material. Again they are very cheap to keep and an old fish tank washed out with a wire lid is an ideal home for them, allowing them to dig.

Mice: used to be much more common as pets than they are now. Mice are quite like gerbils in that they are fascinating to watch but cant really be handled, although they will seldom bite. They are so tiny that escaping from their cages can become a problem. The main problem with mice is that they stink to high heaven, especially the males. Other than that they are fun, interesting pets. Mice shouldnt be kept alone, but make sure and get the same sex unless you want to be over-run!

Rats: Like keeping giant mice and the scourge of the rodent world, rats actually make fantastic pets. For such small animals they are unbelievably intelligent and can be taught tricks, and to come when called. Generally they love being handled and males are very cuddly, and although you get the odd nutter and a rat bite really hurts, generally rats dont bite and are very friendly. Rats need a large cage (I'd suggest a minimum of 3X2 foot for a base, with as much height, shelves and climbing room as possible) and a lot of attention and handling however, as they are highly intelligent and can suffer psychological problems if not kept amused. Rats shouldnt be kept on their own. Brilliant pets for responsible kids or adults.

Guinea pigs: Fat, squeaky and funny, guinea pigs are total wimps. They are very cute, reasonably clean and very easy to care for, so make good pets for children or adults. They are very timid however and require gentle handling. All guinea pigs do is eat and squeak really, and they arent very interesting to watch, but their main appeal lies in their cuteness.

Rabbits: Rabbits are commonly bought for children but arent really suitable pets for kids. They need lots of room and plenty of free roaming time, cleaning them out can be a chore (they get very stinky, especially if kept in outdoor hutches), and their strong back legs are capable of hurting children. You also have to be careful how you pick a rabbit up as if they kick out they can damage their spine. Rabbits can be house trained and left to free roam a house or flat. They are wonderful pets if you put the effort in however, cute and cuddly and fun to watch. Perhaps a pet for the whole family to care for, rather than just the kids.


Less common small pets

Chinchillas: Chinchillas are gorgeous creatures and have the softest, plushest fur...they are really just walking teddy bears. They are also fun to watch as they are very active, and they make lots of funny noises (including a "barking" sound). Chinchillas can be quite delicate however and caring for them is more complicated than caring for a guinea pig or rat, so you need to do your research before you get them. They are also much harder to tame, and even when tame often wont enjoy being handled much. They have a long lifespan (up to ten years) and are a big commitment, so are not ideal for children.

Chipmunks: Chipmunks are not really "pet" animals, and thats the first thing to consider. Unless they are hand-reared the likelihood of them being tame enough to handle is not high. Letting them out of the cage to run around is usually not an option because they will be impossible to catch. They can be fascinating to watch but need VERY large cages to be kept happy (more like aviary size than a cage you could keep in the house). More of a "hobby" animal than a pet really.

Ferrets: Ferrets are one of my favourite animals, they are total characters...mad, bouncy and totally crazy. Contrary to popular belief, a ferret owner is not necessarily missing a few fingers. If properly raised and trained, ferrets can be trained not to bite and can be trained to use a litter tray. They are intelligent, great fun to watch and friendly (once tamed). If you ask me, they are one of the best pets...but they are more like taking on the commitment of a dog or cat than most small animals. They can be pricey in vets fees (they need vaccinations and are incredibly accident prone) and cages, and you need a lot of energy to keep up with them. They are definitely not suitable for children, and their bites hurt very much (although as I've said they can be trained). And they're a bit on the smelly side too!


If you are looking into getting a small pet, doing your research and choosing your species very carefully are both vital to the happiness and success of you and the animal. If you choose correctly, small animals can be a total joy to keep. Always remember that any animal is a considerable commitment, just because it is small doesnt mean you get to disregard its feelings. For the responsible person, small animals can be endlessly amusing, funny and a real pleasure to keep in the home.

Summary: A guide on how to turn your house into a zoo...