What is the best small pet??? gerbil,hamster,mouse,etc.!! NO RATS!!!?

Question

What small animal is best for a pet???
* gebils
* hamsters
* chinchallas
* mouse
ETC!!!!!!! I want a pet that is FRIENDLY !

Answer 1

That is a hard question because you really could go with any of them i would recomend gerbils if you are more down to earth and friendly and a chinchilla if you are very calm and have a warming heart. Ferrets do stink but that can be cured by special deoterizer at petsmart. petco, and more... Hamsters do tend to bite but are adorable. A mouse is just like a animal not really cadagorized as a pet but give it a shot. I dont know much about rodents but many wishes and i hope you get a friendly one!! Hayleigh O

Answer 2

I would get a ferret because they like to play and run, just like a dog. Also because:
1. Ferrets are cute!
With mischevious eyes and sweet faces, ferrets are undeniably adorable.

2. Ferrets are very playful and curious.
They will entertain you endlessly with their antics. They will happily play with toys, and watching ferrets play for the sheer joy of it is guaranteed to lift your mood. Remember, it is known that owning pets has real health benefits and the joy and affection they bring is the main reason.

3. Ferrets are sociable, friendly and affectionate.
It if often recommended (although not essential) to have more than one. Having two or more ferrets increases the fun factor for the owner and the ferrets as they will interact and play together, sometimes with wild abandon. And despite having other ferrets to socialize with, they will still crave attention from their owners.

4. Ferrets are intelligent.
Some owners are amazed at how adept ferrets become at solving problems - and training their owners. Ferrets are very determined and will work at figuring something out with surprising persistence.

5. Ferrets are quiet.
While they can and do vocalize, for the most part they are very quiet. For example, probably the only time a ferret will make a noise loud enough for someone in the next apartment to notice is if the ferret is hurt or very frightened. They also sleep away a large portion of the day.

6. Ferrets are small.
Therefore, ferrets don't need a huge cage. Of course, the bigger the better, and ideal ferret cages are tall with muliple levels, so they still don't take up too much room. They do need time out of the cage daily for playtime and exercise, no matter what size cage you give them.

7. Ferrets are easy to feed.
This is especially true now that a variety of good quality ferret foods have become more widely available.

8. Ferrets can be litter trained.
Perhaps not to the same extent as cats, in that there are bound to be a few accidents. However, most can be fairly reliably trained to use a litter box in and out of their cages - a big plus when you have them out for exercise for a couple of hours a day!

9. Ferrets are easy to exercise.
They can get all the exercise they need tearing around your (ferret-proofed) home! Of course, if you want you could take them for walks. With a ferret sized harness and a little training, you can take them out for a stroll. There are few things that will start a conversation with strangers faster than walking your ferret in the park!

10. Ferret have distinct personalities.
Every ferret is unique and has it's own personality. Some are independent, and some are very cuddly, but each is an individual and treat to get to know!

Answer 3

I dont think you should worry too much. Most rats scream when you first give them a bath. I only give mine a wash if they're covered in poop. I use a couple of different methods depending on the rat. For rats that love water I give them a bath in the sink. I have a jug full of lukewarm water nest to me for rinsing off. First I wet the rat's body from shoulders down and then apply a tiny amount of baby shampoo to the area that needs cleaning. After massing that in, I use the jug of water and slowly pour the water over where I put the shampoo, massaging again to make sure its all gone. Then I wrap them up in a big towel and rub them dry. For timid rats and those who hate water, I use wet cotton pads to wipe away the mess. I find baby wipes are useless, they are too dry to effectively clean any mess on a rat, plus they need to be unscented as scented ones can cause breathing problems. If its a big mess I use a tiny bit of baby shampoo on the cotton pads and use loads of plain water ones to rinse off. I'm wondering why they should smell. Are they kept in a tank or cage? I want to respond to a couple of points. You should never use baby powder on or near rats, it will be inhaled by them and will cause breathing problems. You should also never give orange or other citrus fruits to male rats as it can cause kidney problems. Like someone else said, I'm also worried that they are fighting each other. They are probably playing or establishing the pecking order. It can look bad, but unless blood is drawn they should be ok. Its hard to do, but when they appear to be fighting you need to leave them alone so they can sort out the problem themselves. If you intervene they dont resolve the issue and things can escalate. I know this from experience. The only time I intervene now is if blood is drawn or if there is bullying going on for more than a couple of hours. Bullying involves one rat fluffing up its fur and sidling onto the other and forcing it into a corner and then not letting the victim move.

Answer 4

Regardless of what animal you choose, you need to educate yourself first. For example...a chinchilla can live up to 20 years! that's a big commitment! Plus they have special needs. Hamsters are mostly nocturnal. Gerbils are very hyper. Mice don't live very long. Two to three years on average. Mice are actually very loving, intelligent creatures that can adapt to your lifestyle. A pair of females make a great pair of pets. But again there are certain things you need to know before you purchase any animal. So do a little research first. Try joining some animal chat groups and asking questions. You may learn a lot!
dave<:3}~...OWNER/ SHAGGYMOUSE YAHOO GROUP

Answer 5

Hamster ... Teddy Bear Hamster, they are the friendliest little creatures out there. Stay away from Dwarf Hamsters they are mean little boogers. Mice are tricksters, and unless you feel like having to search for them when they escape I would not recommend them. Gerbils, are pretty mean to ... not the best if you want something to hold and play with. I have never had a Chinchilla, but I do know that they are the most high maintenance of the ones mentioned above, and will also require special care from an exotic vet.

You should really reconsider ... rats aren't nasty like you see in the movies, they are very social, and lovable creatures ... but everyone has their preferences.

Answer 6

Well it is a shame you said no rats because of those you list, they are the best. Mice are probably the friendliest and definitely the smartest of those listed, although hamsters can be quite friendly too. You should think about a guinea pig. They can't learn tricks (or maybe they just choose not to) but they are very cuddly and friendly and live longer than the others if you pay attention to their hygiene and diet.

Answer 7

hamster-requires weekly cage cleening and needs to be played with every once and a while/

mouse-same as the hamster, except mice are usually smaller, therefore the cage will be smaller.

chinchillas-i have never had one, but i would think because its bigger it would need more attention than a smaller pet.

cats-cats are very independent animals so they don't need comstant attention, and can be left in the house for hours on end without defacing the house. Although they require the litter box to be changed twice a week, and they must be fed daily, cats are my favorite pet. PLus, it has been proven that stroking a cat decreases stress levels.

dogs- even if its a small one, dogs are a big deal. you must walk teh dog three tiems a day, even up to seven times a day when they are a puppy, out to pee. They must constantly be watched and they can't be left at home for hours on end like a cat can. they need to be trained or they will end up doing very bad things to the house.
bottom line, if you dont have the time for one, dont get a dog.

i hope this helped
=]

Answer 8

it depends on a alot of things, i would suggest mainly not a chinchilla, they are they harderest to care of, and are VERYYY expensive, im talking at LEAST over $100, i really only have experience with gerbils and hamsters, so ill give u some pros and cons of those, plus these i think are the best rodents to have as your first pet

gerbils
~usually not nippy, but if untame they can be, and tameing them is hard, because they are skiddish
~live about 3-5 years, longer then hamsters
~awake during the day, so it won't wake u up at night
~they generally are more immune to disease then hamsters, which is why they tend to live longer
~are much more active then hamsters, they seem to always be up and about
~they don't really enjoy being handeled, they like you, but not the constant touch
~they love the runabout ball, they will run almost the whole time u put them in there
helpful websites;
http://www.egerbil.com/general.html
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pets_gerbilcare


hamsters
~varries from hamster, it can either be aggressive or very friendly, ask if you can hold the hamster before you buy it, just to make sure that it isn't a nippy one
~they live about 2-3 years, so if u want a pet that will live a long time, hamsters aren't the greatest, but i personally think its better to have a pet with a shorter life if you are a begginner
~they are NOCTURNAL, so you won't usually see them awake, it can be very annoying if you are trying to sleep
~hamsters are prone to diseases, espcially wet tail, always be up to date with your hamster to make sure its not breathing too slow or fast, unresponsive, or limping
~they seem very inactive, just because we are sleeping when they are awake, doesn't make them even more active, usually they are very lazy
~once tame, they love to see you, and they like to be held
~most get bored easily of the hamster ball, after 15 mins or so, they just clean themselves
helpful websites:
http://hamster-heaven.com/
http://www.hamsterific.com/


i think that these are the best choicies if it is your first rodent, they are both fairly simple to take care of, and they are a learning experience type of rodent, as u understand their behavior more, i would recommend either a guinea pig, rabbit, or ferrett

Answer 9

Sorry buddy but pet rats are the smartest and best pocket pets you can get. They are clean, and if you get a female, she's full of lively energy. Hamsters suck, they aren't nearly as social as rats and they're quite boring and difficult to teach. Rats are smart, friendly, and can learn quickly. If you get a rat though, get two or it'll be depressed. Ferrets aren't pocket pets but they're cool too.

Answer 10

"I want a pet that is FRIENDLY !"

Rats are MORE friendly than any other rodent you listed, and less likely to bite. Seriously, get a hamster and get two rats and you'll prefer the rats, no doubt =).

If you're really against it, though (and I pity you--you're really missing out!) then get a chinchilla or a pair of guinea pigs. They're pretty friendly.