What small mammal/rodent is best for a pet? 4 kids want to know.?

Question

We may be getting a small animal - what is best?
Gerbil - ferret - rat - hedgehog - other?
Why is one better than the other? What's the care/feeding/upkeep involved?
What can kids care for easily?

Answer 1

I've owned and worked with them all and by far I'd recommend a rat for kids! Gerbils and hamsters are nasty little biters and will draw blood for no reason at all! Hedgehogs are nice, but get scabies and fleas at the drop of a hat and also nocturnal, so not much fun during the day. Ferrets stink always even when descented! Poop all over ruin carpet and chew wire! Guinea Pigs make annoying squeeky noises and keep people awake at night. Rats are quiet, sweet, and love to be held and petted and are extremely clean and easy to care for. The only ones that cary diseases are the nasty suer and street rats, but pet rats are very clean and healthy and will ride around on your shoulder and kiss your ears or lick your cheek and they are always in a good mood and ready to play. You will love them! Good luck

Answer 2

I prefer rats and hamsters. Ferrets bite but can be lovable once trained. Gerbils just don't have the capacity to show love so I'm thinkin' no on that one. Hedgehog...well, just no. Rats are very smart and lovable and so can hamsters. However, rats, if trained right, can go with your kids anywhere and simply sit on their shoulders happily getting loving pets from your kids. They are easy to care for as long as you have lots of newspaper, water, and rat food (usually sold in big bags and last for at least a month). You just have to change the cage every couple of days since they urinate like every 20 minutes. Good luck!!

Answer 3

Growing up I had a hamster (was always biting people). When I got older I got a pet rat. Tracks was the best. She never bit a soul and was very friendly.

Rats don't need all the fancy cages as the hamsters and they are a little more durable because they are bigger.

Pine shavings are a great bedding (never use cedar). Change it every week. I fed a rat/hamster grain mix, but she loved banana chips so I'd use those as treats.

Whatever you decide, be sure to check with your parents first. Having all the information in front of them when you ask shows that you're being responsible about getting a pet.

Answer 4

Well I think hedgehogs have to have special diets with live insects and stuff so I wouldn't have them as my first choice. I'm going with dwarf hamsters. They are small and not as messy as mice and are really fun. I think you only need to change their litter every 1-2 weeks so that isn't so bad. And I hear ferrets make good pets although I've never had one. Whatever you get, don't get mice, they make terrible pets. I know from experience. So yeah, your best bet is either a hamster or a gerbil IMO.

Answer 5

A parent needs to oversee the care of any pet to make sure it is getting done.

Gerbils are the easiest to care for and you won't need four tanks for four kids as you can keep more than one together (two cages of two gerbils is best).

Rats are super fun; you could keep four in a 5 foot Martin cage. But they must come out and play every day and are omnivores so have stinky waste.

Ferrets are similar to cats in their care needs -- a pretty complicated pet. They need vaccinations and there are strict laws about their biting anyone. More for a committed adult.

Hedge hogs are not for kids, they are temperamental and not easy to handle or soft and pet-able.

Answer 6

depends on how old the kids are . . . . if there really young youll want something thats very friendly like a ferret ( but those can smell )
hampsters are great pets. but they can get agressive if they ar handled too much or in a rough way.
Rats and gerbals are good too and are probably better for younger kids but ive never had experience in that
i would thinka hedgehog would be too much care for young kids.
whatever you decide to do good luck !

Answer 7

Ferrets have a must that they give off that personally, I'm allergic to so your kids should be around a ferret first to make sure they don't have the same allergy. I vote for gerbils. They are fairly clean and small.

Answer 8

well it depends on the kids' ages but if they aren't too young a ferret is alot of fun are great pets to have around. They are really smart and loads of fun but if they're too little that may ne a problem because some of them can nip at small children. Not all do thoough, mine doesn't. They're also not that hard to keep you just make sure it always has some food and water and clean the cage once a week. Just make sure they get alot of time out of the cage!

Answer 9

Well, I used to have pet rats and they were adorable. If the kids are serious about taking care of it, then it should be alright (although adult help may be needed). Rats are very sweet and affectionate and you grow attached to them very easily. The only problem is that they don't tend to live more than 3 years, and it can be quite upsetting for little children. Make sure you research a little more before you make your choice! Best of luck!

Answer 10

First of all I have to ask How Old are all your children??

Do you plan on useing this animal for 4 H?

IF not If you don't mind cleaning up messes I would say a parakeet they are easy to train in 3 days time ... and they do cuddle and and cue and talk to you change there cage every week and you can play with them just buy the toys they can play with..

I used to breed and raise Birds...