Which rodent is best for begginers?

Question

I have been wanting to get one for a long time but I am not sure which one to get. I was really wanting to get a gerbil...are they easy to care for?

Answer 1

You should start off with mice, gerbils or hamsters. Try to avoid ones which need alot of care and attention, like rats who need a couple of hours with you each day. I'm not saying rats are bad and that you shouldn't get them, they are actually my favourite rodent but they just need a lot more space and time than others.

Mice are cute, and fun to watch but not the best to be handled for a long time. Males are more calm and laidback but they will also need taming. If you get female mice, get at least two.

Gerbils chew all the time, so you should invest on a stronger cage with no plastic tubes. People like to use glass tanks for their gerbils. They can also jump very high, so the tank should have a proper fitting lid.

Hamsters are known to bite randomly, but they can also be very sweet.

If you are only looking to get one pet, get a male mouse or a syrian hamster. If you dont mind having more, try gerbils, mice or dwarf hamsters.

Answer 2

I would suggest getting a hamster.  They are easy care and fun to play with.   I would either get a teddy bear hamster or some winter white dwarf hamsters.  The teddy bears are so common and cute.  I have two winter whites and they are also cute... they DO NOT BITE, all though an occasional small nibble.  also they turn white in the winter so that is pretty cool.  hope it helped!

Answer 3

yes they are- but you will need to buy two so they dont get lonely- they are very sociable.

Answer 4

rats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

You can take whatever you like just make sure they are freindly then they would be good for starters a Teddy Bear Hamster perhaps.

Answer 6

Yes i've had 4 gerbils and i still have 3 of them! They are very easy to care for and very fun to watch. They don't produce much waste, mine have never gone to the bathroom on me in the 2 years i've had them. The only con about them is they are very hard to hold unless you get them from a very young age from a breeder. Apparently they don't trust very easily so if you want a cuddly pet then don't get a gerbil.

Also, they do best in pairs or more. And females are more territorial and more likely to declan than males. Mine are all males. They are very friendly and love to take treats from your hand!

Good luck, i hope i helped!

Answer 7

get a guinea pig

Answer 8

I agree with miley if you get ones that aren't afraid of people and like people rats are definitely the best.....

Answer 9

syrian hamster.hamsters are fun and make you happy.

Answer 10

Ever since I was little I have always wanted a pet and the one time when we went to the pet shop and I was begging my mum for a pet, to my suprise she said yeh! I had a choice of several rodents and I choose the rat! Even the pet shop lady said they were really good and fairly easy to look after! so RAT!!

Answer 11

It depends what you want, I started with guinea-pigs and love them but winter white hamsters are also very good pets

Answer 12

I'd suggest a hamster, or maybe a gerbil for a beginner. They require the least care, an daren't as prone to illnesses as rats, guinea pigs and bunnies.

The only reason I'd suggest a hamster over a gerbil is because they aren't as quick, so it would be easier for you to handle it. They are both really fun pets, though, and I think it's more up to you than anything.

Good luck!

Answer 13

gerbils are very easy to take care of! plus, they're desert rodents so they don't drink as much as say a hamster would.. which in turn leads to less urine.. which leads to less smell. i had my gerbil, ringo, in a 10 gallon aquarium with some fun things in there. he was a great pet!

Answer 14

I'd say it'd depend on:

- where you live (as in what rodents are available)

- what is your lifestyle like?  some rodents such as rats for example are extremely sociable and you do need to put aside time for them each day

- what type of place do you live in and how much space do you have - luckily most rodents just need a cage with plenty of room and perhaps a room thats rodent-proof to free range in or an outdoor cage in the yard for rodents like guinea pigs or rabbits

- i'd suggest researching groups or clubs on the particular rodent you are interested in and speaking to other owners for advice

Answer 15

gerbils are easy to care for.....because other than cleaning, feeding, and giving them water you can't do anything with them.  Gerbils also bite and aren't social, as are mice,  and hamsters.  If your ok with having a pet you observe rather than socialize with those are very easy to care for.   If your looking for more hands on rats are a fantastic addition to families but they also require more time spent with them and a bit more care but I would also consider them less maintanance than lets say a rabbit, ferret, cat or dog.