Help choosing a pet
Discussion
My daughter would love a small house pet, but we cannot decide. What would be best, a hamster, gerbil or Guinea pig? My daughter is seven and would like to keep the pet in her room. What stuff would we need and which are easiest to handle and look after?
Sorry for my ignorance, I only had a goldfish when I was small.
Thanks in advance.
Sorry for my ignorance, I only had a goldfish when I was small.
Thanks in advance.
Gerbils are best kept in pairs, fun the watch as their lively and active, not all that great a being handled as the can run off pretty quick and can bite.
Hamster, soft small and fury easy to keep, can bite but not normally that quick so easy to hold.
Guinea pig....like a potato with legs.
Chinchillas might be another option.
Hamster, soft small and fury easy to keep, can bite but not normally that quick so easy to hold.
Guinea pig....like a potato with legs.
Chinchillas might be another option.
Have you considered a rat? Of all the small animals I've kept they are generally quite easy to tame and handle, not particularly messy, easy to keep And cheap.
Chinchillas require larger cages and are by far the messiest little sods I've had! Got 4 (2 boys 2girls) and I'm sure they crap more than they eat and throw it out of there cages!
Chinchillas require larger cages and are by far the messiest little sods I've had! Got 4 (2 boys 2girls) and I'm sure they crap more than they eat and throw it out of there cages!
jackthelad1984 said:
Have you considered a rat? Of all the small animals I've kept they are generally quite easy to tame and handle, not particularly messy, easy to keep And cheap.
Chinchillas require larger cages and are by far the messiest little sods I've had! Got 4 (2 boys 2girls) and I'm sure they crap more than they eat and throw it out of there cages!
Defiantly rats!Chinchillas require larger cages and are by far the messiest little sods I've had! Got 4 (2 boys 2girls) and I'm sure they crap more than they eat and throw it out of there cages!
Iv kept a few over the years and they are the best rodent to keep as a pet if you have kids as they love interacting with people.
Another vote for a rat. I had one when I was a student, he was a proper character; friendly, inquisitive and used to spend most of his time either on my shoulder or in my jumper. he used to spend a big chunk of the day roaming around our lounge but only ever pooped in the toilet corner of his cage.
They don't live very long though and can leave a dribble of wee behind wherever they go.
Which gives me an idea - tennarat, you heard it here first!
They don't live very long though and can leave a dribble of wee behind wherever they go.
Which gives me an idea - tennarat, you heard it here first!
Oh Definitely rats, one will bond more with your daughter but will get lonely when she is not there. Two will still be friendly but not bond quite so much. 2 males or 2 females will work. Do need quite a decent sized cage of at least 2 tiers and avoid pine based woodcock as a covering as many rats are sensitive to the pine.
Rats tame very easily with good handling and will learn to respond to their names etc. They are not long lived (bit like hamsters) 2yrs is getting to a good age. Gerbils are longer lived 4yr approx, Guinea pigs 4-7yrs.
I would still think even with short life span they are worth it.
I know you didn't mention rat in your list though!!
ETA, whilst I am sure you would it is worth mentioning that whilst you will get the pet for your daughter and they will be in her room it will be a parents responsibility to check them at least once, preferably twice a day, to ensure food is being eaten, water is being changed, they are being cleaned out and the pet is well. A child under 16 cannot be the sole charge of any pet.
And.....check out a local rescue centre, I got my rats from a local rescue centre, they had loads that they needed to rehone!!
Rats tame very easily with good handling and will learn to respond to their names etc. They are not long lived (bit like hamsters) 2yrs is getting to a good age. Gerbils are longer lived 4yr approx, Guinea pigs 4-7yrs.
I would still think even with short life span they are worth it.
I know you didn't mention rat in your list though!!
ETA, whilst I am sure you would it is worth mentioning that whilst you will get the pet for your daughter and they will be in her room it will be a parents responsibility to check them at least once, preferably twice a day, to ensure food is being eaten, water is being changed, they are being cleaned out and the pet is well. A child under 16 cannot be the sole charge of any pet.
And.....check out a local rescue centre, I got my rats from a local rescue centre, they had loads that they needed to rehone!!
Edited by bexVN on Monday 13th April 18:02
Edited by bexVN on Monday 13th April 18:06
Guinea pigs need at least one friend and loads of space - they're also pretty nervy. I second/third/whatever the rat(s) suggestion, they're clever, friendly and interactive.
Do be really really sure that you, the parents, are totally happy with taking full responsibility for this critter for up to 4 or 5 years (with luck) - even the best, calmest, most animal-friendly and most mature 7 year old can't really comprehend a commitment of that length.
Do be really really sure that you, the parents, are totally happy with taking full responsibility for this critter for up to 4 or 5 years (with luck) - even the best, calmest, most animal-friendly and most mature 7 year old can't really comprehend a commitment of that length.
I took my daughter down to the local pet shop to research different pets and how much each would cost to buy and keep. She took a notebook and pencil and wrote everything down. The shop assistant was very helpful in explaining each animal. Hamsters, Guinea pigs, rats, etc were looked at, but she has her heart set on a couple of Guinea pigs.
Instead of buying them there and then she is saving up over the next six months to buy as much as she can as possible herself. This means if she is still serious in six months time about keeping Guinea pigs we can go ahead with it and she has contributed to the cost of buying them.
Instead of buying them there and then she is saving up over the next six months to buy as much as she can as possible herself. This means if she is still serious in six months time about keeping Guinea pigs we can go ahead with it and she has contributed to the cost of buying them.
Just be absolutely certain you get 2 of the same sex 
.
Again there are rescue centres for all small creatures that she could enquire at aswell.
I really like your daughters approach. Guinea pigs do have a slightly unique diet need (need bit C in their diet) so make sure she (and you) know all about that.
Hope she has room in her bedroom for a very large cage and that she is aware that cavys are very very vocal (esp if you are late feeding them)
Wish her good luck with the saving
.Again there are rescue centres for all small creatures that she could enquire at aswell.
I really like your daughters approach. Guinea pigs do have a slightly unique diet need (need bit C in their diet) so make sure she (and you) know all about that
.Hope she has room in her bedroom for a very large cage and that she is aware that cavys are very very vocal (esp if you are late feeding them
)Wish her good luck with the saving
Guineas are the perfect pet,
Ready for handling at any time, very low odour and very clean animals.
Very easily tamed and will sit on your lap for hours.
Ensure a pellet is fed rather than a muesli mix and find a product called readigrass to feed along side it,
Meadow hay should be available 24/7 and provide fresh every day on the floor of the cage.
They will enjoy succulents such as cauliflower leaves,spring greens,carrots,raw beetroot, celery, fresh picked grass is greatly enjoyed .
Feed what fresh food they will consume in 20-30 mins then they will go on to eat hay all day which should be the biggest part of the diet.
I have breed/exhibited guineas for over 40 yrs and never tire of the charm of them.
I probably have around 150 in a purpose built guinea shed.
Ready for handling at any time, very low odour and very clean animals.
Very easily tamed and will sit on your lap for hours.
Ensure a pellet is fed rather than a muesli mix and find a product called readigrass to feed along side it,
Meadow hay should be available 24/7 and provide fresh every day on the floor of the cage.
They will enjoy succulents such as cauliflower leaves,spring greens,carrots,raw beetroot, celery, fresh picked grass is greatly enjoyed .
Feed what fresh food they will consume in 20-30 mins then they will go on to eat hay all day which should be the biggest part of the diet.
I have breed/exhibited guineas for over 40 yrs and never tire of the charm of them.
I probably have around 150 in a purpose built guinea shed.
Guineas are the perfect pet,
Ready for handling at any time, very low odour and very clean animals.
Very easily tamed and will sit on your lap for hours.
Ensure a pellet is fed rather than a muesli mix and find a product called readigrass to feed along side it,
Meadow hay should be available 24/7 and provide fresh every day on the floor of the cage.
They will enjoy succulents such as cauliflower leaves,spring greens,carrots,raw beetroot, celery, fresh picked grass is greatly enjoyed .
Feed what fresh food they will consume in 20-30 mins then they will go on to eat hay all day which should be the biggest part of the diet.
I have breed/exhibited guineas for over 40 yrs and never tire of the charm of them.
I probably have around 150 in a purpose built guinea shed.
Ready for handling at any time, very low odour and very clean animals.
Very easily tamed and will sit on your lap for hours.
Ensure a pellet is fed rather than a muesli mix and find a product called readigrass to feed along side it,
Meadow hay should be available 24/7 and provide fresh every day on the floor of the cage.
They will enjoy succulents such as cauliflower leaves,spring greens,carrots,raw beetroot, celery, fresh picked grass is greatly enjoyed .
Feed what fresh food they will consume in 20-30 mins then they will go on to eat hay all day which should be the biggest part of the diet.
I have breed/exhibited guineas for over 40 yrs and never tire of the charm of them.
I probably have around 150 in a purpose built guinea shed.
N+1 for rats.
Note: rats plural, not a single rat on its own. They are intelligent, social creatures, and the very best toy a rat can have is another rat! Keep them in at least same-sex or neutered pairs, preferably three or more if you've got space for a nice big cage.
My only hesitation is if she wants to keep them in her bedroom, I can think of two problems:
1) They are somewhat nocturnal, loosely speaking. (Strictly speaking they are crepuscular: active at dawn and dusk, but will often go back to bed in the very middle of the night). Rats will be very active and quite noisy as they climb and play in their cage, just as you're trying to get to sleep. This will be true of lots of rodents.
2) Rats love being in a busy part of your house. Even though they appear to be asleep in their nest, they will come running out to greet you at the slightest sound: they really do love human interaction, and your whole family will grow to love having them in a busy part of the house too. So personally I wouldn't keep them in an unoccupied part of the house. The living room is far better!
Note: rats plural, not a single rat on its own. They are intelligent, social creatures, and the very best toy a rat can have is another rat! Keep them in at least same-sex or neutered pairs, preferably three or more if you've got space for a nice big cage.
My only hesitation is if she wants to keep them in her bedroom, I can think of two problems:
1) They are somewhat nocturnal, loosely speaking. (Strictly speaking they are crepuscular: active at dawn and dusk, but will often go back to bed in the very middle of the night). Rats will be very active and quite noisy as they climb and play in their cage, just as you're trying to get to sleep. This will be true of lots of rodents.
2) Rats love being in a busy part of your house. Even though they appear to be asleep in their nest, they will come running out to greet you at the slightest sound: they really do love human interaction, and your whole family will grow to love having them in a busy part of the house too. So personally I wouldn't keep them in an unoccupied part of the house. The living room is far better!
Very good point with the area of house ^^.
My sis had to move back home yrs ago. Had 2 rats, Mum hated rats (usual thing, the tails) so they went into the bedroom. Sis not home much and very quickly Mum and Dad felt sorry for the rats as they thought they seemed lonely. 1 week later they were in the lounge
Mum slowly got over her phobia .
I think OP daughter has set her heart on g.pigs, I do wonder how long they will stay in the bedroom as they aren't so quiet either!
My sis had to move back home yrs ago. Had 2 rats, Mum hated rats (usual thing, the tails) so they went into the bedroom. Sis not home much and very quickly Mum and Dad felt sorry for the rats as they thought they seemed lonely. 1 week later they were in the lounge
Mum slowly got over her phobia .I think OP daughter has set her heart on g.pigs, I do wonder how long they will stay in the bedroom as they aren't so quiet either!
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