What small mammal as child's first pet?

[ametan]

My son will be five years old in September and I think he's ready to graduate from goldfish and move onto a more "real" pet. Now what to get?

I want it to be a mammal. Small. I want it to require some maintenance but nothing horribly smelling and time-consuming. I'd also like a good temperament. Anyone have any suggestions for me?

 

[joshuai]

guiney pigs are great =

 

[8by8]

A small rodent would be good. Hampsters and rats would be ideal, but not mice, there too skittish IMO. Also a plus for rats, you can litter box train them and teach them everything if not more than you can a dog.

 

[RoachGirlRen]

In my experience, the opposite is true when it comes to mice vs. hamsters; I've had one or two nippy/unfriendly mice out of scores of mice I've owned since childhood. I've had one or two NON-nippy/unfriendly hamsters out of tens of hamsters I've owned since childhood.

If you do get a hamster get a syrian from a breeder that has handled it from a young age, and keep it in a large, well enriched enclosure; the smaller the enclosure the more territorial and nasty the hamster, and the more bored the hamster, the more neurotic and likely to bite.

Gerbils are a possible option, but they are often a bit jumpy. Is the expectation that the kid will get to hold them, or just pet and feed? If the latter then they'd be OK. If the kiddo is to hold them, I'd only do it close to the ground with supervision, as a leap could harm or kill them.

In my honest opinion though? Despite social conditioning to the contrary, I think pocket pets are an awful choice for the majority of children. Many get abandoned quickly because the child loses interest or is afraid to hold them after a bit, and most wind up neglected and improperly cared for in too-small enclosures (hint: there is no such thing as a commerically available hamster cage that is appropriate for hamsters in the average pet store). They are very fragile, readily nip when roughly handled, and are frightened by the noise and rapid movements of children; they're really an adult's pet.

Unless you have a very exceptionally gentle, quite, mannerly kiddo, I'd suggest getting a larger, less nippy pet that maybe the kid gets to pet and feed but not pick up and hold until he's a bit older like a guinea pig or rabbit. However, both are social species that need large enclosures, and both can have pretty long lifespans. So I'm not sure how you'd feel about that. Rats are a good compromise as they're very gentle and affectionate but still short lived, but you'll need at least two since they are extremely social. And keep those nails trimmed unless you want a scratched up kiddo!

If you do decide on a species let me know if you need help finding reputable care sheets. As with tarantulas, most pet stores that sell them don't know what the heck they're talking about and will sell you a bunch of unsafe and unecessarry products.

 

[galeogirl]

I'm considering this question myself. My daughter is 7.5, but she wants a cuddly pet that is decidedly hers and we're leaning toward adopting a pair of guinea pigs or a dwarf rabbit.

 

[xhexdx]

Rats all the way. Hands-down the best rodent, in my opinion. Get it small, handle it often.

 

[Chaika]

I would really advise against hamsters. They are very nocturnal which means that they will be active all night while your child is in bed sleeping and will be sleeping when they want to play with them. So in order to play with it your child will have to wake the hamster in the middle of its sleep cycle in the afternoon. This is obviously stressful for the animal and in my personal experience actually shortens their life. I took great care of both my hamsters but the first (which I played with lots) only lived for 1.5 years whereas the second (which I did not have much time to play with as I was too busy studying) actually lived for 3 years, and that's a really big difference.

What I would recommend is show mice. They are much more flexible in their activity schedule and will be active for at least part of the day. Show mice are also slightly larger than normal mice, which is better for the child and mouse, and they come in a huge range of beautiful colours.

Having had both hamsters and mice I can say that although my hamsters were very cute and good tempered I much preferred the mice because they were out and about much more and seemed much more interested exploring and in me, whereas the hamsters were only interested in going back to sleep

I have no experience with rats but had a few friends that had them and their feedback was that they make fantastic (if short lived) pets although they do need more space than other small rodents.

 

[OldHag]

I vote Rat!
Guinea pigs are, in my opinion, high maintanence. We have two rats and two guinea pigs. The rats are MUCH less stinkie and a lot less jumpy and nervous. Infact the rats arent jumpy at all. They just have great personalities and a whole lot easier to care for. Guinea pigs require SO much time and effort. Just something to think about.

 

[H. laoticus]

I think hamsters are great.
I have one in a Krittertrail 2 and it does perfectly fine.
It comes out every time I'm near the cage and is so fun to hand feed.
For mine, I can leave it alone if I want since it has all it needs in the cage, water and food. Just clean out/wash the cage once or twice a month is fine. They're pretty cheap in terms of care and don't take up much time at all.

 

[Rex Libris]

Rats all the way. Hands-down the best rodent, in my opinion. Get it small, handle it often.

+1 Rats rock.

But actually, little cage pets are not great for small children. Get him a kitten.

 

[JC]

Rats and Russian Dwarf Hamsters.

I had two rats I raised myself from pups. They were very intelligent and aware of their surrondings. I'd let them out of their cage sometimes, and the first few tries they wouldn't go beyond two feet away from my feet and would run back and up my legs when startled. But it is recommended you get more than just one because they need a lot of interaction. They were very fun. I think of them as miniature dogs.

I also had some dwarf hamsters that used to play tug-o-war with my fingers. After training them, they would run up to my finger once they learned how to play when they were in the mood. They were hilarious. They were the least smelly of all the mammals I've kept.

 

[pouchedrat]

Rats, a same-sex pair would be great. They're very forgiving of mishandling, and are larger and less delicate than other small pocket pets. That, and you can train them to do tricks, come when called, and litter box train them. Also, out of probably 200 or so rats I've had in my lifetime, only about 3 or 4 were biters. And out of those, only ONE didn't overcome being a biter. One took MONTHS of socialization and a neuter before he overcame it and became a sweetheart, but I firmly believe that was the result of poor breeding, as it was mostly hormonal.

And as photos, I JUST picked these three rats up last week! I've been a rat owner for 16 years now, and honestly I didn't start with rats until much later in high school (my father HATES rodents, and pretty much all animals except fish) just before my parents seperated. They were everything to me, helped me go through serious bouts of depression, changes in life, etc. Definitely little sweethearts.

My first pet was a parakeet in first grade, and the thing lived until I was in college. Not the friendliest bird at all and I'd never recommend something like that for a young kid. My son now helps take care of our prairie dogs, the rats, and a female natal rat that lives in his room (whom he's VERY protective of). He's 4 1/2 and if he can feed pets, help with veggies and refill water bottles despite his disabilities, then i think most kids can be taught proper care. Just remember parents are still the primary caregiver, especially when it comes to vets and for me, cleaning cages.

also I very much do NOT recommend rabbits as a pet for a young kid. We have two 6 year old rabbits, one from a rescue situation that was poorly cared for, who was originally a pet for a small 4 year old boy. The rabbit would lunge and growl, and try biting anyone who went near her. She's still leary of being held but she lives with a neutered boy and they get along well now.. but honestly rabbits live 10++++ years, are VERY messy, destructive, and need spaying/neutering to prevent marking territory and cancer. Plus the vet bills if something does go wrong can be bad due to improper diet or whatnot. I admit rat vet bills can be an issue as well, but not too horrible. Usually it's for myco or tumors, but going with a good breeder and not a pet store helps prevent issues like that.

 

[BQC123]

I'm considering this question myself. My daughter is 7.5, but she wants a cuddly pet that is decidedly hers and we're leaning toward adopting a pair of guinea pigs or a dwarf rabbit.

We went the dwarf rabbit route. Just be sure to get a decent sized cage. Pet stores really undersize the cage for a rabbit.
Our rabbit can be left to run around the house, when we are home, and goes into the cage to use his litter pan. Also have an outdoor pen for when we are outside.
Just need to change the litter twice a day ( I just use shredded paper ) be sure there is always fresh water, and keep up on the feeding.

 

[rexi_doll]

A small rodent would be good. Hampsters and rats would be ideal, but not mice, there too skittish IMO. Also a plus for rats, you can litter box train them and teach them everything if not more than you can a dog.

I HATE HATE to disagree with someone's opinion, but I don't fully agree. You have to be careful as to which kind of hamster you choose (I heard robo hamsters and teddy bear hamsters are BEST) BUT even the teddy bears tend to be nippy as babies(which is how they are sold in pet stores. Also, keep in mind that they are nocturnal.

I got a teddy bear hamster for my niece, and she loves it, but she never gets to see it or play with it, due to the fact that it wakes up an hour after her bed time. It is also very nippy and we have to wear gloves to get it out.

Guinea Pigs I hear are a much better choice, and from what I remember from my guinea pig when I was young, they are very awesome.

Good luck in whatever you choose to get

 

[ametan]

Just to clarify, I'm fully expecting to do most, if not all, of the work required in taking care of this pet while my son "helps" me. This way he can get his feet wet so-to-speak. We have two dogs and three cats already (besides all of my Ts), but I'd like something he can feel is "his" and take some pride in taking care of.

Also, I'd never get a young child a kitten. At least with caged creatures you can be sure he's only petting it with parental supervision.

Sounds like rats are the winner in a big way. Can anyone tell me what I need to properly care for one? Or point me in the direction of good information?

 

[Shell]

Another vote for rats

I have 2 females, and they are so sweet and friendly and hilarious to watch. They smell a lot less then other rodents I have kept , and it's great to see their personalities.

 

[xhexdx]

Use aspen bedding, not cedar or pine.

As already stated, a same-sex pair is preferred. Females stink less than males.

Don't use a cage with a shallow bottom; they will push the bedding up and out of the cage. A ten-gallon would work too, but they'll dirty the sides pretty quickly.

You can feed them almost anything, but the generic rodent food at the LPS would do fine. Supplmement with fresh veggies. Make sure they have water (from a bottle, not a dish).

The pics above are all of dumbo rats. Their ears are placed a little further down on their heads and are rounded. They're (in my opinion) very cute! Color and physical appearance (dumbo, rex, etc.) don't play a part in their personalities.

Also, when selecting, either buy 'pet-quality' rats from someone who breeds them specifically as pets, or if you buy feeders, put your hand in the tank and see which rats are curious (and friendly) enough to come to you. Don't pick a rat solely based on color/pattern, as tempting as it is.

Hope this helps.

Also, keep in mind they'll only live 2-3 years, on average. They're also very prone to tumors.

--Joe

 

[Scoolman]

Rats all the way. Hands-down the best rodent, in my opinion. Get it small, handle it often.

I agree 100%. Rats make awesome pets. Get a young one and it will become your child's best bud. I have had several over the years, my favorite are the hairlees rats, and giant rats.

 

[Rex Libris]

Also, I'd never get a young child a kitten. At least with caged creatures you can be sure he's only petting it with parental supervision.

Ah. Most parents give the kid a cage pet, keep it in the child's room, and let the child handle it whenever he wants, without supervision. It is more at risk than a kitten -- a kitten can scream loudly, and run away, is less fragile to begin with, and interacts with the entire family, thus gaining the attention of an adult when there is a problem. I've seen a lot of little creatures crushed and killed or injured by small children, or left without water, but kittens growing up in families with very little kids have done fine.

I think a ten gallon is too small for rats. They're active and clever and need play space. I'd get two males. They're smellier, but they grow bigger and are generally more cuddly and slower moving. Take your kid to handle some rats before buying them -- some people are allergic to them. Myself included, which is a pity because they're really wonderful.

 

[pouchedrat]

Yeah, colors and ear placements, etc, really mean nothing as far as how the rat's personality is going to be. An example of that:

This is Skunk. He came to me because the previous owner couldn't handle him anymore and wanted him to go to an experienced home. He originally came from a rescue, and before that, another home. The "rescue" he came from, we later learned, decided to BREED these rats because of their unique looks. Skunk was cage aggressive (meaning he was territorial of his cage and would BITE HARD if you went near it), rat aggressive (he attacked other rats), and human aggressive (...bit people). He attacked and severely injured his brother who he had lived with since birth, which is why the owner decided to find a new home for him. When I recieved him, the first thing I did was take him to my vet for a neuter. His aggression was definitely hormonal, and neutering helps that. It usually takes a month or two before the testosterone leaves the body, but with this boy it took much longer before he stopped attacking. During introduction with my other rats a couple months after his neuter, I gave everyone a bath, dabbed their noses with vanilla extract, and put them all together in neutral territory on the couch. what does Skunk do? He immediately lunged at one of my most docile little boys, and bit a huge hole in his side. A vet visit, pain meds, anti-inflammatory meds later, I tried again after more time passed. This time, he got another rat in the foot, exposing bone. Once again, another vet visit and more time passed (both rats healed up fine, by the way. Seriously shows how incredibly resiliant rats are), EVENTUALLY not only was I able to integrate Skunk into a cage of other rat boys AND was able to handle him, pet him, and even get some licky kisses from him, but he wasn't even ALPHA rat in the pack!!! However, not even a year later, Skunk developed hind leg paralysis and muscle degeneration, which once again is hereditary. He basically wasted away to nothing but skin and bones, and dragged his back feet at the end of his life.

I want to say RIGHT NOW that this is NOT the norm for rats AT ALL!!!! This is a case of poor breeding, what happens when people breed rats for looks and color, as opposed to personality, health, and temperament. There are some absolutely awesome rat breeders out there who regularly attend rat shows, win ribbons, even compete in rat agility courses and tricks. There are also rat breeders who are akin to backyard breeders or puppy mills, who are only in it for personal gain, or just to have "cute babies".

As far as care goes, rats only live 2-3 years. 3 is lucky, most of mine live an average of 2 - 2 1/2, with my oldest being 3 1/2. They do best in same-sex pairs or groups, and best in a wire cage with 1/2" bars (powder coated is best, galvanized will rust eventually). Some decent cages are at www.martinscages.com but some of us use ferret nations for larger rats, or critter nation cages. They're more expensive, but they're very pretty and fun to decorate! Especially if you sew your own hammocks (lazy boys in hammocks is always fun).

Food: Harlan Teklad really is a great food source for rats, although it's hard to get sometimes. I always use a high quality, low protein dog food mixed with dry pasta, oats, kashi or total cereal, flax seeds, etc. They also benefit from veggies, fruits, chicken bones (yes, they can eat chicken bones fine without splintering), and honestly anything leftover you can toss in the cage with the exception to only a couple things. I would also give any rats with mild respiratory problems a chocolate chip, and that actually helps with their lungs a bit.

They are prone to tumors, especially mammary tumors in females. Breeders screen for this, and there are breeder databases online with entire rat lineages posted, which rats are related to whom, and if any genetic defaults existed.

there are a few places to go online. Just do some searching and you'll find some great forums. I should also note I'm a rat snob, a rat freak, so I'm the kind of person who treats mine like royalty and will go to extremes for my ratties, lol...

If you don't go with a breeder, or a rescue (yeah there are rat rescues out there and they can tell you the personality of the rats) then stick your hand in a tank at a pet store, etc. Whoever comes up to you, nibbles your fingers, licks you, and wont' leave you alone? That rat is choosing you. Baby rats use their teeth for everything, so if they nibble, it's normal. if it was a bite you'd know. If they get too tough, squeek at them and they will let up immediately! Baby rats, like puppies, are testing their teeth and their surroundings. The biggest issue is Mycoplasma and tumors with pet store rats... they tend to get it moreso than one from a breeder. That, and I've gotten SDA twice from rats at pet stores, without even purchasing a rat from them. It was carried home on my clothes, and almost whiped out my ratties.

and let me say that some of the BEST pet rats I've ever had were pet store feeder rats!
Here was Casanova... the rat who made me go back to rats after a long break:

AND more recently, now that I have four ratties, This is the new girl who once again broke me in and forced me to get into rats again. I stuck my hand in a feeder bin at repticon, and this girl came up to me, licked my fingers, and began climbing up my arm and would NOT leave me alone. Thus, months-long rat break was broken, again!