What's the best choice to pick if I'm getting a "small pet" for my bday ?

Question

I'm turning 13, and my mom promised me that she would let me get a pet. But it has to be a small one, like a hamster or gerbil. I don't really know which one to pick. I want a FRIENDLY pet that are easy to befriend.
Here are my choices:

Hamster (I've never had one before but they're bigger than mice and gerbils so I'm not too afraid to hurt them while I hold them.)

Gerbil (I've had one before, but I don't really think I should get one again because it bit me a lot, and some how got out of its cage and we couldn't find it anywhere :] )

Rabbit (I haven't really talked to my mom about this though. She says that they stink and I don't know if she would let me get one even if it was my bday)

Ferret (I've heard that ferrets are expensive and have an odor problem)

So if you think theres something else I should get please suggest it also.
Thanks :]

Okay, thanks everybody for all your nice answers!
I've narrowed it down to a Rat and a Guinea Pig. I'll just have to settle it with my mom, see if it's okay. It seems like mostly everyone said I should get a rat. They do sound very friendly, and I would definitely get one, but the only problem is that I don't think my mom would want one. I KNEW I was forgetting something. I left out the guinea pig. Thanks for bringing it up. They do sound friendly as well and the cuter the better :]
But it was hard for me to pick a best answer. So I wish I could choose all, but I can't. So all of you have been such a big help!!
Thanks so much! Message me to find out which pet I got at the end ;]
I'll probably get it this weekend. My bday is on August 11th. Thanks mucho!

-Sabrina

Answer 1

if you go to petco, they have russian dwarf hamsters. i recently got one. they are very inexpensive. the hamster is about $10. the cage that i got was $40 that included food, bedding, toys, wheel and treats. you have to clean the cage about every 2-3 weeks [ people say do it every week, i dont].. the thing i like about my hamster is that it eats from my finger and it doesnt bite that much. if it does bite, it doesnt hurt at all.

as you said, gerbils are very sneaky and like to come out of their cage alot.

rabbits really do stink and sometimes bite, and you dont know if it has rabies or not.

ferrets are expensive and they do poop alot. if you let them out of the cage, they like to poop in certain corners. i dont think you want such a stinky pet like that.



oooooooh, what about a dog?
small breeds like chihuahua, maltese, poodle, bichon frise !
sure, they are more responsibilty, but the reward is great. they are very nice companions.

Answer 2

rabbits and hamsters hardly ever bite and they're great pets for kids. However your moms right, rabbits do smell. I don't think hamsters smell, they're actually nice pets if you like rodents. However they do stay awake in the night and they might make some noise. But if you don't mind that hamsters are great pets. Ferrets bite(they have got really sharp teeth) and iam not sure about a gerbil. Bunnies are cute and i have a bunny. I clean its cage about 2 times a week and it doesnt smell too bad at all. If the smell bugs you get a hamster.. if it doesnt get a bunny!!

Answer 3

I would go with a hamster, because ferrets and rabbits have a lot of odor to them, and their cages often require cleaning more often. If you want a hamster, you also have to consider whether you want something like a large golden hamster, that sleeps a lot and really aren't that playful, or somehing like a dwarf hamster that is at least 1/3 the size of a regular hamster. Dwarf hamsters do not create as much of a smell as other larger hamsters, but they are also very noisy and active at night, so if noise might bother you, you should go with a larger hamster. However, larger hamsters can also bite a lot harder, and tend to get very angry if you try to get them out during the day, because they do not like to have their sleep disturbed.

Chinchillas are a good choice as well if they are tamed, and rats can be rather nice, but they also smell a bit. Chinchillas are expensive though, about $100-$200 and they need a cage at least as large as a ferret cage, but they can be very friendly and playful, just like rats.

Answer 4

I would get a rat! I know you probably think that i am crazy, but they are very socail animals and will love their owner and they are smart and small, but as with any animal, you should get to of the same gender and size. this isn't just with rats, but with all animals, you could get just one of any small animal that lives in a cage, but you have to play with it for atleast 1 hour a day. rats are very social like I said and they will become attached to their owner. if you are afraid of their tail, there are specially bred tailess rats. You can buy them from almost anny petstore, and I suggest getting a female because the smell better and they aren't aggressive. You would provbably want to get the medium or large size because the small sized ones are not very nice and they are very afaid of people and bite. They also don't have to be spayed, and you can't put a female and a male together or two males because they will fight. I have 3 rats and I love them all! I hope I helped you out!
-Emy

Answer 5

A chinchila maybe. IBut they are very expensive, and not all pet stores have them. I have 2 bunnies and I have also had 2 hamsters and in my opinion rabbits are the best way to go. They do stink but if you change their cage like every 2-3 days its not a big problem. Most Hamsters bite alot!!!!!! So thats not a real cuddly pet. Stick with the rabbit or a ferret.

Answer 6

rats are great I had one that I could leave on my bed it wouldn't jump off and was litter trained.
Guinea pigs are also great. Make sure you feed it guinea pig food and not rabbit food. They also need teh little salt spools or they may be a little nippy trying to get teh salt from you skin.
I would suggest getting a book about teh animal you are going to get and if you have to wait to actually get teh pet until you know what you are getting and how to take care of. the library and internet are great places to get the info without paying for the books ate the petstore.
Good Luck

Answer 7

Hamsters:
The good: They are easy to care for, not too expensive, are solitary so they don't mind if you forget to play with them every once in a while.
The bad: They bite, they only live 3 years, they sleep all day, they run in their wheel at night which can squeek and be annoying (no, you can not take their wheel away).

Gerbils:
The good: most are friendly, they are up during the day, they are interesting to watch, you can have two in one cage (same gender).
The bad: they don't like to live alone, they are hard to hold because they are more active, they can chew through a plastic cage.

Rabbit:
The good: They are more social, more playful, more interactive, live 10 years
The Bad: They need 6 or more hours outside their cage every day, they need to be neutered, they need vet checks, they need very, very big cages, they eat a lot, they are expensive, they are hard to hold and carry, they poop a lot.

Ferrets:
The good: Very intertainting, similar to having a kitten, live 10 years, very playful, very friendly
The bad: They can get lost in the house, they need 6 hours a day outside their cage, they need huge cages, they are expensive, they need to be neutered, they need vet checks and shots, they steel and hide things, they poop a lot, they smell

Spend a few months researching all the animals you are interested in. Then find out what ones you like best and will fit into your house hold. Volunteer at a shelter to get practice caring for the animals you are interested in.

Look into:
Rats
Gerbils
Mice
Guinea Pigs

Answer 8

The rabbit is the coolest, but also the most messy. If you play with it out of the cage, you'll have to clean up afterward--they poo all the time. The hamster is pretty much the same as a gerbil, and is the easiest to take care of.

I like the first suggestion of getting a gineau pig. They are big and sweet like rabbits, with only half as much poop.

Answer 9

Definetly a Guinea pig, Or a chinchila. I dont know if your mom would like this but, rats are great pets. I had a rat and he ahardly smelled, and was the sweetest little guy in the world. Anyway, I hope this helps.

Answer 10

I know you didn't list this as one of your choices but have you considered a bird? Cockatiels are very friendly and social and show affection also. Plus you can do more with them.
If a bird isn't an option, you might like the guinea pig, my friend had them and they liked sitting in laps.