pet rat? gerbil? mouse?

[Anonymous]

My son wants a small furry pet... I have been reading up on them and am leaning towards gerbil. But everything I read says that rates make better pets than any other small rodent-type pet. I have an aversion to rats, but believe that they probably are indeed more friendly and interactive and smart than gerbils, mice or guinea pigs.

Is there anyone who can persuade me to get over my prejudice and get my son a rat or two?

[Anonymous]

I had rats, and I loved them. Intelligent, fun, and love to interact. But please do get 2, so they have each other when your son isn't available to play.

[Anonymous]

Rats are very smart and very trainable. If you think it would help, you can always get one in 2 colors. How old is your son though? If on the younger side, then gerbils' nails are too sharp and mice might be too delicate. Hamsters - regular size - can be a good choice also. We love our guinea pigs and a lively one might really be the cuddly friend he wants.

You can learn a lot by contacting Small Angels Rescue: http://www.smallangelsrescue.org/

http://www.smallangelsrescue.org/adopt-2/rats/

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Gerbils and mice are boring. All you can really do is watch them. Rats are amazing and so smart. I've heard Guinea Pigs can also be fun pets.

[Anonymous]

Same here. We ended up with guinea pigs. They have been great. I think the ones from the shelter are better than from the store. Very healthy and cute.

[Anonymous]

Thanks! I had been looking into that adoption site. It also got me thinking about fostering. So much less commitment.

Do guinea pigs interact with people the way rats can? (ie, do they actually enjoy being held and petted? Do they play with people? They always seem rather passive and indifferent to me, like rabbits, but I never had one.)

[Anonymous]

My gerbils were quite interactive and fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks! I had been looking into that adoption site. It also got me thinking about fostering. So much less commitment.

Do guinea pigs interact with people the way rats can? (ie, do they actually enjoy being held and petted? Do they play with people? They always seem rather passive and indifferent to me, like rabbits, but I never had one.)

Yes, just like rats, most guinea pigs like to be held and petted but they have to be trained and get used to you.

You didn't say how old your son is but as an fyi small animals like this make a poor choice of pets for kids under age 8 or so. The animals are fragile and kids can squeeze to hard - on accident or on purpose - and may be rougher than they intend to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks! I had been looking into that adoption site. It also got me thinking about fostering. So much less commitment.

Do guinea pigs interact with people the way rats can? (ie, do they actually enjoy being held and petted? Do they play with people? They always seem rather passive and indifferent to me, like rabbits, but I never had one.)

Yes, just like rats, most guinea pigs like to be held and petted but they have to be trained and get used to you.

You didn't say how old your son is but as an fyi small animals like this make a poor choice of pets for kids under age 8 or so. The animals are fragile and kids can squeeze to hard - on accident or on purpose - and may be rougher than they intend to be.

Yes, forgot to reply, but the kids are 10 and 12 and very gentle. If one is allergic to dogs, are they likely to be allergic to rodents too?

[Anonymous]

Gerbils are fun. You'll want to get two from the same litter and keep them in a glass aquarium with a mesh lid, not one of those hamster cages (they chew on the plastic and metal wire which can hurt them/their teeth).

Depending where you get them, they sometimes will be ok being held.

They're fun to watch (have a lot of interesting behaviors) and are easy to take care of. They aren't too stinky, so their cage only needs to be cleaned every 4-8 weeks or so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks! I had been looking into that adoption site. It also got me thinking about fostering. So much less commitment.

Do guinea pigs interact with people the way rats can? (ie, do they actually enjoy being held and petted? Do they play with people? They always seem rather passive and indifferent to me, like rabbits, but I never had one.)

Yes, just like rats, most guinea pigs like to be held and petted but they have to be trained and get used to you.

You didn't say how old your son is but as an fyi small animals like this make a poor choice of pets for kids under age 8 or so. The animals are fragile and kids can squeeze to hard - on accident or on purpose - and may be rougher than they intend to be.

Yes, forgot to reply, but the kids are 10 and 12 and very gentle. If one is allergic to dogs, are they likely to be allergic to rodents too?

No not usually. But if you guinea pigs need timothy hay all the time and if you have any kind of outdoor allergies you might be effected by the hay.

[Anonymous]

Bunnies are nice pets too. I had one when I was a teen and he lived until I was in my early twenties. He was a very sweet pet. I took him out of his cage often and he'd hang out in the living room with the family. He seemed to be very playful too. It requires a larger cage, and the cage needs to be cleaned every few days, but a great pet.

[Anonymous]

Rat hands down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks! I had been looking into that adoption site. It also got me thinking about fostering. So much less commitment.

Do guinea pigs interact with people the way rats can? (ie, do they actually enjoy being held and petted? Do they play with people? They always seem rather passive and indifferent to me, like rabbits, but I never had one.)

Yes, just like rats, most guinea pigs like to be held and petted but they have to be trained and get used to you.

You didn't say how old your son is but as an fyi small animals like this make a poor choice of pets for kids under age 8 or so. The animals are fragile and kids can squeeze to hard - on accident or on purpose - and may be rougher than they intend to be.

Yes, forgot to reply, but the kids are 10 and 12 and very gentle. If one is allergic to dogs, are they likely to be allergic to rodents too?

I would talk to an allergist, OP, and possibly get tested. It would be heartbreaking to get a pet then have to get rid of it.

FYI, my cousin had guinea pigs. She had two and actually trained them. They were very sweet.

[Anonymous]

Rats are so sweet, but have those long naked tails that freak people out. They can't help it, though.

Fairfax County animal shelter has a bunch of guinea pig babies who like to hang out together.