What uncommon mammals do you keep (not dogs, cats, horses...)

[senor ocho]

Ours oink and teeth-clack at us generally between 7:30 and 8:00 AM. Mr Futzy starts the oinking, and the others just follow suit. Funny stuff. Try as you may to ignore them, they just don't relent.
If you can identify the quote I left in the previous post, PM me. You'll get your Scotch infusion. If you've never imbibed the wondrous Scotch, you're in for a treat.
-chris
www.krazy8sinvertebrates.com

 

[Cirith Ungol]

Hey! Mr Futzy looks very much like my first guinea pig! ...WAIT! I might even have a picture!
*Runns off and jumps into the nearest closet*
Ha! Got one!

 

[jmadams]

I had one a few years ago. He was super cute, but boy did he stink. I'm on to Chinchillas now. we currently have 4. Two males and two females.

 

[Cirith Ungol]

How are chinchillas kept and how would you describe them as pets? What is "their thing" so to speak, what makes them fun having?

 

[Malkavian]

How is the squirrel kept? Wouldn't it fall under some "wild animal" protection guideline? I dunno personally, am just curious. I guess squirrels too are rather speedy and wild. They look really cute tho! I'd love to have one, if I could train it to be nice to my furniture and other stuff (like if that was ever to happen )
Really nice!
Cirith

In North Carolina there are laws about keeping native animals as pets (largely I think to cut down on possible rabies transmissions from "tame" raccoons and squirrels, as well as to prevent depletion of native species (box turtles! for one)) I'm sure at least some other states have similar provisions.


Re: Chinchillas, they are SOFT. and kinda cute, and fun to watch. If I was ever going to have fur lined gloves, it would be chinchilla (Please no one kill me for that, and yes I am serious)
I've not had good experience with them personally, the ones at the petstore are rarely acclimated and the last one that was there bit every male it came in contact with.

Personally I'm off of mammals except as food for other critters. Kept hampsters and gerbils for years, now I can't stand them.

 

[Scorpendra]

that mentality of wanting to wear chinchilla fur for it's softness is why chinchillas are endangered in the wild...

if you get a mammal, i suggest a short tailed possum. they are cute, fairly easy to take care of, soft, unique, and almost disease resistant. also, they can be litterbox trained!

 

[edesign]

guinea pigs ARE awesome! Haven't owned any since i was about 10-11, but we had at one point 8 or 9 in one of those kiddie pools. We kept the pool in the garage (heated...lived in Alaska at the time) and put wood shavings in it and set it up with water and food. You're right...they're always good for cheering you up because of their sounds and behavior

My cat liked to jump in the pool/holding tank with them and sleep with them...never hurt a single one of them. You'd walk out in to the garage to get in the car or something and she'd be sleeping with 3 or 4 guinea pigs passed out right next to her/half on her

maybe i'll have to see about getting a couple whenever i live some place I can have pets...

 

[8 leg wonder]

I've always fancied keeping an armadillo. Has anybody on AB ever kept one of these armour plated cuties?

my GF used to have one when her and her mother did wildlife rehab. they named it arminhammer, it eventually died of old age