I currently have one cockatiel (which is spoiled rotten), 6 parakeets and a male betta fish- It may sound like alot but its not to me- Everyone is happy and healthy- ANYWAY= I have been looking to add to my "flock" but I am not ready for a dog or a cat....have looked up hamsters,gerbils,sugar gliders, ferrets,etc...I want to do the research before I made a final decision- ANY OTHER SMALL animals that I am leaving out?
2007-05-08 18:18:17 · 13 answers · asked by Wisdom Herbs 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
ANY IDEAS are welcome- just not a cat, dog or bird-
2007-05-08 18:19:03 · update #1
wow I am really pleasantly surprised to see so many people suggesting rats. This would also be my suggestion. They are extremely intelligent, very affectionate, clean, never bite, and can be litter box trained. I also agree with LUVRATS - a rat should never be kept in a cage that is made for a hamster, the poor thing would not be able to move. They also make several different types of rat food that is made specifically for rats and contains all of the vitamins they need.
2007-05-08 19:08:35 · answer #1 · answered by sara123 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Rats make WONDERFUL pets but they can get expensive. They need BIG cages and unfortunately, they do get sick and need to see a vet occasionally. Also, they only live 2-3 years. They MUST be kept in same sex pairs -- or more. Rats almost never bite.
Gerbils are also wonderful and sweet. They are healthier and live longer than rats but they aren't NEARLY as affectionate or tame. Again, they MUST be kept with companions. Do not ever attempt to introduce 2 adult males -- they will fight to the death. Get two males OR two females, not one of each! Same goes for most other small critters. Gerbils rarely bite.
Please do NOT get a sugar glider. They require difficult, specific care and should NOT even be sold as pets.
Hamsters are nocturnal and many of them bite. Some types of hamsters are better off as solo pets, but others need company.
Ferrets require a lot of care and can have health issues too but they make great pets if they are suited to you. I think they are happier in pairs, though.
Mice are adorable but not particularly tame -- although I guess you can tame them if you handle them enough. Male mice SMELL but females don't. Also, male mice will fight each other a lot.
Guinea pigs are cute and can be cuddly if you socialize them properly. They can be noisy, though. Again, they are happier in pairs.
I don't know a lot about chinchillas but I hear they make nice pets.
Rabbits are sweet but they need a lot of room. They can be litter trained but you can't train them not to chew! Rabbits are happier with rabbit friends.
Of all small animals I think gerbils are the best for most people. Rats are fabulous pets and I love my rats TO DEATH but if you can't afford a lot of vet bills, don't get rats.
Remember, many types of animals don't mix. Rats will kill birds or mice. Ferrets will kill rats. Some birds will kill any small animal. So be careful how you house them!
EDIT -- Mary Jane WHERE do you get your rats? They must be very, very small rats. My rats could NEVER live in a hamster or gerbil cage! Rats need about 2 cubic feet of space PER RAT. And gerbil food is NOT good enough for them. Perhaps you can do some research to make sure your rats are as happy as they can be...
2007-05-08 18:47:30 · answer #2 · answered by luvrats 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I (and my sister) kept pet rats for a few years. While this may sound strange, rats are actually very similar to hamsters or mice or any other rodent often kept as a pet. They are actually more intelligent than most other rodents, and also smaller than most people think. Most pet stores carry them and they are fairly cheap. They can be kept in a hamster or gerbil cage and can use similar toys and food.
2007-05-08 18:26:52 · answer #3 · answered by mary jane 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I personally love Rats. They are great! They are smart and relatively easy to train plus they are pretty easy to care for. All of my rats that I have had never bit a soul, learned their names, and even learned to walk on a leash. They are great pets just make sure you don't catch one, get one from a pet shop.
2007-05-08 18:38:42 · answer #4 · answered by Stephanie 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a turtle, a red-eared slider. They're capable of a lot more human interaction than most people think, and mine at least has turned out to be very sweet.
2007-05-08 18:22:51 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can get those small turtles. i know someone that had a 30 gallon hexigon tank with a waterfall in it and had 3 of them. it was like a lagoon type thing. if done right you can even have live plants and everything in it.
they look great.
2007-05-08 18:36:49 · answer #6 · answered by howicouldkillaman 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Tortoise. Maybe your birds could hitch rides on the tortoise's back like in the B.C. comic strip LOL
2007-05-08 18:44:24 · answer #7 · answered by Surfer 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mice, chinchilla, rabbits, guinea pigs, other fish. There r reptiles as well but they are epensive and difficult to look after
2007-05-09 00:12:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rats. Honestly people view them as bad because of their rep in the wild but they are EXTREMELY clean, dont smell, and are gentle loving creatures. You should look into them.
2007-05-08 18:23:57 · answer #9 · answered by Devin S 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i comprehend it somewhat is sort of stressful yet all i can think of of is the loopy frog from that cellular advert, there's a link under for one, it sings too. in case you hate that element all i can recommend is a mild toy
2016-10-30 22:22:26 · answer #10 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋