Reptile or Rodent?

Question

Which is better to have?

Answer 1

Reptiles:
+Most species rarely bite
+Only eat a few times a week or month
+Come in all sorts of sizes, shapes, and colors
+Produce less waste than mammals, and don't normally 'go' while being held
+Don't smell if cage is clean
+Don't need toys, treats, etc.
+Can live 20-50 years depending on species
- Can carry salmonella
- Require specific heat/humidity levels
- Require a large cage



Rodents
+ Can live in ambient household temperatures
+ Don't require huge cages
+ Are soft and cuddly
+ Can be fed treats
- Produce a LOT of waste, and will often poop or pee on you while you're holding them
- Cage smells and must be cleaned daily
- Require fresh food and water daily
- Only live 5-10 years, max
- Often bite
- Not a lot of variety in species

It comes down to personal choice; but I'd reccommend the reptile. They're fascinating creatures, and people don't spend thousands of dollars exterminating boas and bearded dragons, but they DO spend thousands exterminating rodents. Just a thought.

Answer 2

Rodent

Answer 3

A reptile becuase rodents smell.
=D

Answer 4

rodents are easier to care for. reptiles can be quite high maintenance. they require quite a lot of special equipment. rodents on the other hand require food, water, a place to live, and love.

Answer 5

I prefer both.....Both have their pro's an cons, but they are about the same. Both require specific housing (even if the housing it self is simple, the inside may be a bit more complicated, as in toys, hammocks, etc...etc..)

Alyssa:

Rodents
+ Can live in ambient household temperatures-----------depends on the person, some people like their houses in the low 60's.....which would cause illness in most rodents, and higher than 80 could cause heat exhaustion.

+ Don't require huge cages-----------again untrue....for 2 rats the LEAST amount of space is a 24 x 14 x 24 inch cage....BIGGER IS BETTER.
Mice require largish cages that they can run about in, as do hamsters and gerbils. The more exotic rodents like Degu's require ENORMOUS cages, with VERY HEAVEY gauge metal as they can chew through the more commercially available metal.

+ Are soft and cuddly--------I have to agree with this!


+ Can be fed treats-------depends on whether or not they are allergic, or on a special diet. Alot of rodents DO have specific diets, dwarf hamsters can not have any sugar as they are prone to diabetes, rats can not have sweet potatoes, and males can not have orange/orange juice because it interacts with some kind of protine that comes from the testicals that turns into cyanide.

- Produce a LOT of waste, and will often poop or pee on you while you're holding them-------
The only thing I've ever had happen was fear poo (which is pooping when they are very scared) and marking, very small drops of urine used to establish that you are THEIR property.....


- Cage smells and must be cleaned daily-----not true if you have a properly sized cage, you should only have to wipe it down 1-2 times a week and do a complete change of bedding and scrubing the cage once every 2 weeks.

- Require fresh food and water daily-------well duh, so do you, your mammal, should we get rid of you? Reptiles require fresh water every day as well.
- Only live 5-10 years, max-------some species of rodents live less than that, rats AVERAGE longest lifespan is about 3yrs old, which is equivelent to about 60 yrs in human years:
R-1yr=H-30yrs, R 2 yrs=H 45 yrs, R 3 yrs = H 60 yrs, R 4 yrs= 75 yrs, R 5 yrs=H 90 yrs, R 6 yrs= H 105 yrs, R 7 yrs= H 120 yrs.....
(R means Rat, H means Human)....

Other species of rodents such as degus, live 5-10 yrs....


- Often bite--------I've never had a rodent that bit just because, it is usually something the HUMAN did to CAUSE it to bite, like coming in to pick it up from over head, remember, rodents are PREY items, and that may seem like a bird about to swoop down a eat them. They react out of fear, anger, territor issues, and illness.

- Not a lot of variety in species------maybe not variety OF species but there is variety IN the species, such as dumbos, rex's, double rexs, fawn, black, black berk, down under, bare back, hooded, and so on for different coat/color/ear set of rats.....Hamsters have a TON of different coat colors and lengths, mice come in a ton of diff coat colores as well, I've even seen a few "dumbo" mice.

Do a little reasearch first...

I have my rats, and I wouldn't exchange them for the world. I love my snakes to, but they do't ineract with you as much, they are "pretty" to look at when you can see them, and it's awesome to watch them eat.....but I'll take kisses from ratties over a snakes "love bite" anyday.

Answer 6

rodent there so cute but take alot of work lol

Answer 7

i would have to go with 'rodent' but thats just me.
i like pets that are more soft and cuddly that you can hold and play with.

i actually have both though..

Answer 8

defenily a reptile
=D

Answer 9

definitely rodent!! rodents are furry, cute, easier to name, and more fun to play with!!

Answer 10

depends on the type of pet and the type of person. i had a hamster, it was cute and soft which was a lot better than having an iguana or something which isnt as playful