Thinking about getting some sort of small rodents
Discussion
Hi All,
I live in a flat alone and I'm at work all day, but I think I would like a pet. I have never looked after rodents before, but I was thinking about getting two or three mice to keep in a cage in my living room.
I thought mice would be the best option as I could have two or three to keep each other company while I am out, and I would not need to get a massive cage to give them a comfortable amount of space.
I had a look in a pet shop today and they had dwarf hamsters, gerbils, degus. The degus looked very cool, but a bit too large for the sort of cage I had in mind. What would be the best type of rodent to get in terms of pleasure to own and ease of looking after? It would be nice to let them out in the evening. Is this practical or will they urinate everywhere and disappear under the sofa and never be seen again? I guess a pen would be needed?
I hear that people keep pygmy hedgehogs these days, but I don't like the idea of feeding them live food!
I live in a flat alone and I'm at work all day, but I think I would like a pet. I have never looked after rodents before, but I was thinking about getting two or three mice to keep in a cage in my living room.
I thought mice would be the best option as I could have two or three to keep each other company while I am out, and I would not need to get a massive cage to give them a comfortable amount of space.
I had a look in a pet shop today and they had dwarf hamsters, gerbils, degus. The degus looked very cool, but a bit too large for the sort of cage I had in mind. What would be the best type of rodent to get in terms of pleasure to own and ease of looking after? It would be nice to let them out in the evening. Is this practical or will they urinate everywhere and disappear under the sofa and never be seen again? I guess a pen would be needed?
I hear that people keep pygmy hedgehogs these days, but I don't like the idea of feeding them live food!
In my youth I, and friends, had mice, hamsters, chinchillas etc. Later I found that the best rodents are rats.
Very friendly, intelligent, not too small and slow enough to catch. We had one that used to have the run of the house and would use his own rat loo. Very friendly and would run to the door when I came home from work!
Very friendly, intelligent, not too small and slow enough to catch. We had one that used to have the run of the house and would use his own rat loo. Very friendly and would run to the door when I came home from work!
Thanks for the suggestions. I thought about rats, but I am a bit put off by the size. I bet a rat bite would do some damage! I have been reading online this evening and I quite like the idea that you can teach rats to do tricks.
I've just read that mice do not have bladders, so they wee everywhere. That doesn't sound ideal.
Thanks for the offer Nigel, but Worcester is a bit far. I'm actually not ready for them yet as I am in the middle of doing a bit of redecoration and putting in a new kitchen and bathroom.
I've just read that mice do not have bladders, so they wee everywhere. That doesn't sound ideal.
Thanks for the offer Nigel, but Worcester is a bit far. I'm actually not ready for them yet as I am in the middle of doing a bit of redecoration and putting in a new kitchen and bathroom.
AlexC1981 said:
Thanks for the suggestions. I thought about rats, but I am a bit put off by the size. I bet a rat bite would do some damage! I have been reading online this evening and I quite like the idea that you can teach rats to do tricks.
I've just read that mice do not have bladders, so they wee everywhere. That doesn't sound ideal.
Thanks for the offer Nigel, but Worcester is a bit far. I'm actually not ready for them yet as I am in the middle of doing a bit of redecoration and putting in a new kitchen and bathroom.
I only asked because they are "everlasting" lolI've just read that mice do not have bladders, so they wee everywhere. That doesn't sound ideal.
Thanks for the offer Nigel, but Worcester is a bit far. I'm actually not ready for them yet as I am in the middle of doing a bit of redecoration and putting in a new kitchen and bathroom.
We had two for my little girls third birthday, she'll be twenty one in September, and we've got loads of the poxy things !
Rats tame easily and if handled young will rarely bite. If they do they will be no worse than a gerbil, hamster or mouse to be honest. They all have strong bites if they want!
They do need larger accommodation but even mice need more space than you may think.
Mice are also very smelly. Rats much less so.
I have kept all of then at one time or another and my all time favourites were the rats (hamsters a close second). They all have their good traits though.
They do need larger accommodation but even mice need more space than you may think.
Mice are also very smelly. Rats much less so.
I have kept all of then at one time or another and my all time favourites were the rats (hamsters a close second). They all have their good traits though.
It depends how much time you can spend with them.. Degus/rats thrive from human interaction, the more you put in, the more you get out - both tend to be more friendly the more used to you they are. Gerbils are happy just hanging out together, they're easy to handle, very very rarely bite, and can take or leave your company if you can't get them out every day.
If you're looking at mice, then females are less smelly than males, but with regular cleaning, there's not much of a difference.
Cage-wise: Rats/degus need the same kind of sized cage if you won't have them out to exercise a lot (degus can run up to 4km/day in the wild so a wheel is highly recommended), mice don't need such big cages as they're tiny, gerbils have pretty small cages (a tank is preferred so they can dig/spray sawdust all over the place without making a huge mess. Hamsters don't need huge cages, but can be antisocial (and bite, badly, if not used to handling) as they're nocturnal.
Also, might want to contact your local RSPCA rescue, they often have a lot of little rodents in need of a loving home - you can't always be sure of age/temperament, but they're usually honest with you (as you can return them if you're not happy).
As a side note, I'm sorry for not promoting hamsters more, there are some lovely ones out there, but definitely get them as babies, or known friendly ones, I have scars when they've bitten my thumb to the bone when they took random offence to my hand O.o
Also, thank you for inspiring me to sign up! :P
If you're looking at mice, then females are less smelly than males, but with regular cleaning, there's not much of a difference.
Cage-wise: Rats/degus need the same kind of sized cage if you won't have them out to exercise a lot (degus can run up to 4km/day in the wild so a wheel is highly recommended), mice don't need such big cages as they're tiny, gerbils have pretty small cages (a tank is preferred so they can dig/spray sawdust all over the place without making a huge mess. Hamsters don't need huge cages, but can be antisocial (and bite, badly, if not used to handling) as they're nocturnal.
Also, might want to contact your local RSPCA rescue, they often have a lot of little rodents in need of a loving home - you can't always be sure of age/temperament, but they're usually honest with you (as you can return them if you're not happy).
As a side note, I'm sorry for not promoting hamsters more, there are some lovely ones out there, but definitely get them as babies, or known friendly ones, I have scars when they've bitten my thumb to the bone when they took random offence to my hand O.o
Also, thank you for inspiring me to sign up! :P
AlexC1981 said:
I thought about rats, but I am a bit put off by the size. I bet a rat bite would do some damage! I have been reading online this evening and I quite like the idea that you can teach rats to do tricks
has had many rats (I have 7 now) and only 1 of my rats has ever been a biter, and that was because she was albino and had poor eye sight! so we just moved slowly around her!I will always big up rats, soooooo interactive and want to be with you not run away from you! Ive had hamsters, gerbils, degu, guinea pigs, rabbits and the only one I would have after rats, is rats! they are a different league to other rodents! and no they dont toilet everywhere and mine all use a litter tray in thier cages.
Mice are good for a "looking at" pet but not the best for handling, you could always go for dwarf hamsters they have a reputation of biting butI had some that never bit,
any excuse to show off my rats
and the latest
ps if your near midlands im currently expecting rat babies any day!
Degucrazy said:
It depends how much time you can spend with them.. Degus/rats thrive from human interaction, the more you put in, the more you get out - both tend to be more friendly the more used to you they are.
Cage-wise: Rats/degus need the same kind of sized cage if you won't have them out to exercise a lot (degus can run up to 4km/day in the wild so a wheel is highly recommended),
and dont forget to have a wire base! its very scarey to wake to an empty cage and a nice hole in the plastic base!! Cage-wise: Rats/degus need the same kind of sized cage if you won't have them out to exercise a lot (degus can run up to 4km/day in the wild so a wheel is highly recommended),
the make sweet sounds too, mine used to sit and "talk" to the dog!
Aww, what a gorgeous little degu! My 2 used to scare my old dog off if they decided he was too close to the cage, they were the boss of him! I actually have them in a plastic-based cage at the moment as a temporary measure, but having lots of more exciting things to chew, they've actually left the plastic pretty much alone (a few tester nibbles but that's it). You also don't want to keep them on mesh floors, as it can hurt their paws - a good compromise I find is either a solid metal base, or a piece of hardwood/newspaper over the top of the mesh to stop them spending too much time on it.
They are somewhat.. insane tho, highly intelligent, and having trained them to reach through the bars to take a treat, one of mine went one better, and stuck his tongue right out trying to get it! They're currently managing to negotiate running on a wheel at the same time, which is impressive as they're not well known for sharing.
They're also pretty noisy for such little things.. if they're not shrieking at something they heard that they took offence to, then they're chewing something/running on their wheel/warbling/rustling!
My 2 chilling in the hot weather:
Also, mice can be easy to handle/very friendly/just like tiny rats, if given the proper upbringing! They don't sit still like some rats do tho, so not as good if you want something that will sit still, and same goes for gerbils/degus.
They are somewhat.. insane tho, highly intelligent, and having trained them to reach through the bars to take a treat, one of mine went one better, and stuck his tongue right out trying to get it! They're currently managing to negotiate running on a wheel at the same time, which is impressive as they're not well known for sharing.
They're also pretty noisy for such little things.. if they're not shrieking at something they heard that they took offence to, then they're chewing something/running on their wheel/warbling/rustling!
My 2 chilling in the hot weather:
Also, mice can be easy to handle/very friendly/just like tiny rats, if given the proper upbringing! They don't sit still like some rats do tho, so not as good if you want something that will sit still, and same goes for gerbils/degus.
Rats!
We have two very friendly and social. I have kept rats individually before and now we have a pair they seem much happier.
Very easy to train, ours return to their cage and stand on their hind legs on command. Great pets very cheap to keep just make sure you get the biggest cage you can afford.
Sage and Parsley
We have two very friendly and social. I have kept rats individually before and now we have a pair they seem much happier.
Very easy to train, ours return to their cage and stand on their hind legs on command. Great pets very cheap to keep just make sure you get the biggest cage you can afford.
Sage and Parsley
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I agree - thie first one I ever had was a rehome, had been one of a pair but his friend had died, the owner could no longer keep him. He was getting on so I didn't get another rat friend for him as a result he really bonded with me, he would greet me when I got home and would fall asleep on me etc. He was brilliant, I only had him about 4 months in the end but I was so upset when I had to have him put to sleep.I ended up with 2 more rescues a few months later, they were great and better to have company for each other witrh my long hours but they didn't bond with me in quite the same way. Still great though
I didn't know rats were so popular! I did a bit of reading on them this morning and they sound like the most rewarding of the rodents. Mice don't seem particularly tame and with hamsters and gerbils it sounds a bit hit and miss as to whether or not you get a nice one.
I'm still a bit confused on the bladder issue with mice. Does it dribble out all the time?
The degus look lovely, but I don't have the space.
Thanks for showing me your animals. I'm in Essex near Romford, so the midlands is a bit far Mubby, but thank you for your offer of rat babies!
I'm still a bit confused on the bladder issue with mice. Does it dribble out all the time?
The degus look lovely, but I don't have the space.
Thanks for showing me your animals. I'm in Essex near Romford, so the midlands is a bit far Mubby, but thank you for your offer of rat babies!
You'll probably find local rescue centres desperate to rehome some that's how I got a couple a few years ago, they had a foster carer and she had about 20 of them, picking just 2 wasn't easy! I gave a donation for them.
I don't actually know about mice and their bladders but my guess is they just wee a lot rather than it just dribble constantly, I don't remember my mouse dribbling on me but I do remember he'd wee at some point whilst being handled!
I don't actually know about mice and their bladders but my guess is they just wee a lot rather than it just dribble constantly, I don't remember my mouse dribbling on me but I do remember he'd wee at some point whilst being handled!
Edited by bexVN on Monday 4th June 22:44
As a former rat owner I agree with all the comments regarding their intelligence and the affection they give.
If I'd never had contact with my daughter's Chipmunks I'd say rats were the no.1 rodent pet.
Chipmunks however are even better. They are very entertaining , not at all timid, love attention and being handled and the best thing about them is their lifespan , rats typically live for 2-3 years , not a long time to have them when you become emotionally attached , whereas with Chipmunks a 6-8 year lifespan is not uncommon.
If I'd never had contact with my daughter's Chipmunks I'd say rats were the no.1 rodent pet.
Chipmunks however are even better. They are very entertaining , not at all timid, love attention and being handled and the best thing about them is their lifespan , rats typically live for 2-3 years , not a long time to have them when you become emotionally attached , whereas with Chipmunks a 6-8 year lifespan is not uncommon.
I volunteer at a rescue centre, and we have a range of small animals. There's a very friendly male mouse, who certainly doesn't wee constantly! Also got an incredibly friendly rat who's unfortunately by himself.
I can't recommend rescue centres enough, at the one I'm at, myself, and everyone who works there makes a point of being as frank and as honest as possible, as we'd rather you waited for something more suitable than took an animal you weren't going to be happy with.
I can't recommend rescue centres enough, at the one I'm at, myself, and everyone who works there makes a point of being as frank and as honest as possible, as we'd rather you waited for something more suitable than took an animal you weren't going to be happy with.
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