What kind of rodent do you think an 8 year old girl would like?

Question

She likes rats, hamsters, and mice. Those are on her list! Do you think Chinchillas, Guinea Pigs, Bunnys or Gerbils would work?

Answer 1

when I was around her age I LOVED bunnys. I think almost ANY 8 year old girl would LOVE to have a bunny for a pet. I mean come-on, they're adorable!

Answer 2

I would recommend Guinea Pigs. Guinea Pigs are VERY friendly and you can keep them in an open box and they can cuddle you when you go to bed to! Guinea Pigs don't bite and if they come to like your daughter, they will make noise when your daughter comes home from school or a friends. That is a sign of affection. And even though you didn't list it, rats are also very friendly to. They don't need to much exercise and they don't bite either.

Hope I helped! :)

Answer 3

Keep in mind that gerbils and hamsters are noctural animals.  I learned this the hard way with my boys.  The hamsters loved to play at night when they were trying to sleep.  The hamsters slept duing the day so they were not much fun to watch then!

Answer 4

a lop bunny. they are gentle...but they are also fragile so make sure she is responsible enough to let her go unsupervised.

Answer 5

Guinea pigs are great, ive had 3 of them.  they're often afraid of people and run away when you try to hold them. chinchillas are cool but from what i hear they are surprisingly difficult to take care of.  you have to give them some kind of special dust bath all the time.  i think a bunny would be nice. ive never had one but theyve never run away from me at the pet stores like guinea pigs do! haha take what you will from this rant.

Answer 6

Guinea pigs all the way! They are easier for a small child to hold and snuggle without causing injury to the pet. I used to have hamster before I got my guinea pig and they were too delicate for my young sisters to hold. Another plus for guinea pigs is their temperment.....they are not as likely to snap as would a hamster. Guinea pigs come to know their owners and "chirp" (not like a bird) for them upon seeing them...they sometimes let you know when they are out of food/alfalfa (a special hay that aids digestion) or water by squealing. Overall I think a guinea pig would be the best choice.

Rats are usually even calmer than a guinea pig but most girls are scared of their tails......

Ps In whatever you choose good luck and remember that not all guinea pigs or hamster...ect are the same so ask the pet store employee to pick up and hold the pet of your choosing to see if its a "biter" or  just plain sweet......

Answer 7

Rabbits and chinchillas are absolutely NOT for kids. Rabbits, if properly kept, would need as much effort and training as dogs and cats. And chinchillas are really delicate and in some cases not good to handle at all.

Rats and ginea pigs can be taken care of by experienced, and mature kids who can appriciate a commitment. These both need some regular, fairly active maintenence, so she should be able to understand that she will have to do this without losing interest. Rats live around 3 years, while guinea pigs to 8, so that's another thing to think about. I personally would expect to have to do most of the work as her parent, but maybe she could take care of them. Both of these also cannot me housed alone, and you must have at least two. And they also both need very large cages, and daily time runnign aorun out of the cage. Neither of them can use exercise balls (or wheels) so this exercise is important for them to get. Oh and guinea pigs take a lot longer to tame, while rats practically ask for attention, so decide if you would like a timid pet or a more forward one. Personally, I think rats are a lot more like little dogs and perfect for kids, while guinea pigs are too shy and only suitable for older kids.

You obviously must learn about the pet before letting her get it, so here are some sites for you.

Rats: http://www.petratscanada.com/ratcare.htm

Guinea pigs: http://www.cavyspirit.com/

Gerbils hamsters and mice are a lot easier, and generally better for younger kids. I think if she was mature enough, she could look after them completely on her own. They also aren't too much of a commitment, mice living to 2, hamsters 2-3, and gerbils to 3-4. Gerbils are social, and need companions. So do dwarf hamsters, as opposed to syrian hamsters. Mice are also highly social, and females should have companions, but many males will fight unless they live in a really big cage. They are all pretty low maintenence, and just need weeksly cage cleanings, daily feeding and water changing, and daily handling.

Gerbils: http://www.agsgerbils.org/Gerbil_Care_Ha...

Hamters: http://www.hamsterhideout.com/

Mice: http://www.petwebsite.com/mice/mouse_car...

Please make sure you get her excited about the pet, and have her learn all of the care involved. Too often, kids will grow out of the phase of pet ownership, which is not right. Pets are a commitment, not some toy. Besides, you don't want ot be stuck with taking care of it completely by yourself.

Answer 8

Guinea pigs and bunnies are a bit more hardy, and more friendly as well.

Answer 9

Guinea Pigs and rabbits smell. I had them from when I was seven until I was about ten. They smelled up my room if I didn't change them five or six days. They're cute, but the stench is unbearable. Dwarf hamsters are great. My sister has three, and you change there cage about once a month. They're adorable, and they don't bite. Guinea pigs and rabbits can have some horrible bites that can make you hate the animal. Gerbils or hamsters would be your best bet.