what kind of small animal should i get?

Question

my dad said i could get a small animal after we buy a house we just bought a house here are my options

ferret guinea pig, hamster

Answer 1

i would go for a guinea pig they tend to be more friendly than ferrets and hamsters. Hamsters usually will nip you and ferrets smell awful.

Answer 2

It depends a lot on what type of pet you want. I have had guinea pigs and hamsters, but not ferrets.
Ferrets demand a lot of attention every day and they will get into everything so the house has to be ferret proofed much like when you have a baby, but one that can squeeze through really narrow areas.
Guinea pigs are much more sedentary. You can handle them and they are much calmer and will be content to be held and walk around on the floor.
Hamsters are small and harder to handle and will run and hide if they escape. They are hard to get back in my experience. Very cute and fun to put in a hamster ball or trail and let it explore that way.
My favorite small animal is a rat. They are curious and playful like a ferret without the strong odor. They don't demand quite as much handling as ferrets, but they are very social animals and love spending time with people. Rats have very unique personalities and every rat I have had has had their own quirks.

I suggest going to a pet store and talking with the staff there who can talk with you about what you are willing and able to do and what you are looking for in your new pet. Have Fun!

Answer 3

you can have the scent glands of a ferret removed but they are not always easily cared for - you MUST ferret proof your home as they wander and are not the most intelligent of souls. They can get themselves trapped into corners...etc. A guinea pig can be pretty cool but they definitely have their personalities and quirks. I recommend a golden teddy bear hamster. They are adorable, can be social and not hard to maintain. Just make sure you provide them the basics including chew sticks or tasty twigs to maintain their dental needs.

Answer 4

hamster they smell less a guinea pig smells and you have to change it every week a ferret smells the worse your friends will never want to come over a hamster you only have to clean every two weeks or every month

Answer 5

I would recommend a hamster.

The regular size are easier to handle and to find when they get out of the cage, which they will. They are master "escape artists" which is half the fun.

I also had a dwarf hamster later on, but I couldn't play with her as much. Our regular size hamsters were more durable and endured six of us kids who played with them constantly.

If you only want a pet to look at and not to handle, there are also low maintenance fish (like Siamese fighting fish which must be kept in a bowl by themselves alone) or birds like finches (but if you get a group, they chirp a lot and will lay eggs and multiply).

A friend of mine has a leopard/spotted gecko which eats crickets once a week, is interesting to watch, and easy to handle though he prefers to sit on his rock.

Answer 6

I'll suggest you a pet rabbit... They are cute, loving and adorable and can live longer. It’s easy to find many challenges involved in having a pet rabbit. But there are lots of positives, too. Here are some of the pros and cons… Rabbits can live a long time, up to ten years or so. People often view rabbits as something to amuse the kids when they’re young. But having the life expectancy of a dog makes them a long term commitment. Think ahead. Rabbits are prone to a few diseases that may be hard to treat. Since they can’t vomit, a hairball can cause them serious intestinal difficulty. Keeping their diet correct in order to minimize the odds takes some effort. They can contract something called RHD (Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease), a virus that can cause death. Even if they survive, they can also spread it to other pet rabbits. They can be subject to flea and mite infestations, with all the potential complications that brings. Rabbits requires some grooming, more than a cat, but considerably less than a dog. Though bathing them is unnecessary, and indeed not generally a good idea (rabbits can become overheated easily), they still benefit from regular nail care and brushing. Some of that grooming effort is for the benefit of the rabbit, some of it is for you. Keeping them well brushed, but not harshly so, will help keep the amount of hair around the house down. Trimming their nails keeps them from being quite so destructive around the house if they’re left free to roam around. A pet rabbit that is out of the cage can be quite destructive. They love to dig and they may chew almost incessantly. A rabbit’s teeth never stop growing and one way they keep them under control is to gnaw on things. That may be fine outside, but in the house it can be a problem. Rabbit proofing is the way to go here, but that involves thought, effort and sometimes a moderate expense. You’ll need to lay down covers for the couch or plastic laminates (such as those used under office chairs) and devise other protective measures. But, there are many ways to do this and it doesn’t have to be done often. Many people see the expense and effort as well worth it. Vet care is important and, as it is for any pet, expensive and time consuming. But with rabbits there’s often an additional problem: few vets have much experience with pet rabbits. Often, the little creatures just don’t get the attention a dog or cat might. When they become ill, they often die and are just replaced. That gives vets fewer opportunities to treat them. Finding a good one in your area can be difficult. But all that said, rabbits are still among the most fun pets. They’re cute, soft and they exhibit a surprising array of amusing behaviors. They can run around and express joy. When not in stressful situations, they can respond well to individual people, like many other mammals. They’re affectionate, in their own way. It’s hard to resist something as gentle and full of life as a pet rabbit. Weigh the factors yourself, then be prepared for surprises, just as you would with any pet. I hope that it helps.. Good luck.

Answer 7

hamster because I had one and it was the sweetest thing ever. Just make sure you know what kind you want.
Ferrets smell bad and guinea pigs can keep you up all night with the noises they make.

Answer 8

I had hamsters and they were really cute but they smelled so bad, and cleaning their cage is so gross. I wouldn't suggest getting one unless you are going to have time to clean their cage once a week and get them fresh food and water daily. They are kind of a hassle after while.

I would get a small dog if I were you. Yorkie's are really cute and great dogs!

:) Good Luck!

Answer 9

Get a rat! They are inexpensive, intelligent, clean, friendly, and don't smell near as bad as other pets. In fact, many of them will use a certain corner or spot of their enclosure as a little bathroom. They love to climb and play and they aren't "bitey" like gerbils or hamsters...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fancy_rat

Answer 10

The hamster is the smallest and easiest to care for. I would start with that it's your first small animal pet.