What is the best rodent pet to get?

Question

I just want a furry new friend and there are so many to choose from. any advice on which rodent is the best pet. I dont want to spend any more than $20 on the animal itself. Thanks!

Answer 1

It depends on how much time and effort you want to put into the animal. If you get a Guinea Pig, for instance, be prepared to get two. Guinea Pigs are social animals and are happiest when they have a (same sexed) friend. Also they need more living space than the average pet store cage. They need fresh Timothy Hay 24/7, fresh veggies daily, and their cages need cleaning at least once a week. They are not the "starter" pets that they have become associated with.

check out http://www.cavyspirit.com  for more info on Guinea Pigs.

A hamster, rat, or mouse would be a better choice if you only wanted to get one pet, as they are solitary animals. They do not need quite as much cage space either. However I would give them as much cage space as possible.

Simply put... do your research before you choose... and if possible, go through a private breeder or preferably a rescue to get you furry friend. Pet Stores do not have the highest quality pets and the conditions of the animals are not as good (nor the conditions of the breeding facilities from which they are purchased.)

Good Luck and enjoy your future pet!!

Answer 2

i would reccomend a hamster. theyre cute, and love to cuddle. they have the cutist accesseries for they're cage. theyre so fun and you get so attached to them.

Answer 3

Rats ---

Second runner up ?

GERBILS <3.

hamsters are mean.

and guinea pigs are skittish.

kthxbye.

Answer 4

Well like other people said "guinea pig" you shouldnt because they are very costy and need a lot of money for food, cage, and vet bills. I think a smaller rodent is best for your budget like a mouse, hamster, or even rat.

Answer 5

rats hands down. they dont bite (i have been bitten by so many hamsters/gerbils etc) they actually like spending time with you, are curious about what you are doing, and enjoy being handled (guinea pigs are skiddish) and i think they have the most attachment to you as far as my experience with other rodents goes, they bond well.

they are also super cute.

Answer 6

GET A GUINEA PIG!!! I have two and they are the most adorable little things ever. I call them my furry wittle fwriends. They're soft and cuddly, and are capable of doing  tricks, and being potty trained. (Yes I said potty trained) Guinea pigs usually do their business in the same spot (most often corners). If you let your pig out of its cage, at pet stores they have triangular  tray like things for the guinea pig to potty in.

Mine cost $17 ea. at Pets Mart.

ps.  i was told that they live better in pairs, thats how i ended up with two. No regrets!!!

Answer 7

Hamsters!

Answer 8

I think the best small pet or rodent to get is a gerbil!

They are easy to take care of, cute, and fun!

Oh, here are the differnces from gerbils and hamsters!

http://www.abcgerbils.com/versus.html

And some other links-

http://www.twinsqueaks.com/index.php

http://www.egerbil.com/

http://www.abcgerbils.com/

Enjoy! Good luck! I am getting a gerbil soon! :)

-Miss Giggles

Answer 9

Rats. Or guinea pig, perhaps but they cost more.

They also require more care because you need a BIG cage (bigger than you would think!) and you need to feed them lots of vegetables for them to be healthy.

Rats seem to be more "people-friendly" than guinea pigs too. All the guinea pigs I've seen are pretty skittish and don't like being picked up or anything like that.



PS, don't listen to Iheartbassets? (I think that's the name) Rats and mice are NOT solitary animals.. they like to live together with @ least another of the same s*x. (except for MALE MICE)

Answer 10

"A hamster, rat, or mouse would be a better choice if you only wanted to get one pet, as they are solitary animals. They do not need quite as much cage space either."

What? Rats are definitely not solitary animals. Don't give out advice if you don't know what you're talking about.

But, rats are also very expensive. They require a big cage, and usually a great deal of vet care throughout their lives for respiratory disease and tumor removals. So as awesome as rats are, I wouldn't recommend them if cost is an issue.

Answer 11

GUINEA PIG FOR SURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 12

I highly suggest you get a guinea pig. They are very social and soft and live longer than hamsters. They cost anywhere between 20-30 dollars and come in several different colors and bicolors. I have two guineas and love them to death. Hamsters are a good choice if you get one that is sweet and not too jumpy. Guinea pigs tend to settle in faster too.

Good luck and enjoy having a rodent as a pet! They are wonderful!

-Jean

Answer 13

That's easy; a rat!

Hamsters are fragile and often grumpy when you wake them up.  Rats are friendly, hardy, and they are willing to wake up any time to play with you.  Mice are also hardy, and usually friendly, but their urine smells much worse than a rat's or hamster's.  Mice are very acrobatic and fun to watch, though.  Guinea pigs are nice but have very little brain.  They are usually a little skittish, and when you let one sit in your lap, it's likely to pee.  Rats, mice, and hamsters will pee on you at first, but the figure out after a while that you don't like it.

It's up to you of course, they are all good pets, but in my opinion the best inexpensive rodent pet is a rat.

Answer 14

guinea pigs or rabbits but i highly recommend a guinea pig they are extremly cute even more if they are babies just like mine and they are extremly easy to take care of they are ideal for first pets for kids and cannot get lost that easily they are active at day  and rest at night just like us, they are not that expensive i bougt mine at the petstore for $15 (but i still had to buy him food,water bottle,toy,and brush) but they dont take big responsibility like cats or dogs ,you still have to take responsibility of it  and clean their cage regularly, wash their water bottle,etc,they dont stink exept if you got their cage dirty,but anyway guinea pigs are the  best rodent pets for me and are extremly cute                              wish you luck

Answer 15

Like a rodent a suger glider is the best little pets, they have great personalities and are very affectionate to their owners, their also known to bond well with human companions unlike most rodents. Guniea pigs just stink. their very cute and fly.  They run about 200 buck in pet stores though.  I think they are actually marsupials: they have a pouch i think.

picture

www.exoticnutrition.com/Sugar%20Glider...

Answer 16

hands down---the rat! Hooded rats generally have great personalities and rats are pretty easy to care for. They also bond with their humans quite closely and can be taught to come when they are called and do various tricks!

Ferrets are another good one.