Owning a Mouse or Rat

There are distinct features to tell the difference between a pet mouse and rat, including size and color. Though the average lifespan of a mouse is about one and a half years to three years, the average lifespan of a rat can be two and a half years to three and a half years. Rats and mice are classified as rodents, though they can make excellent pets when cared for properly. Both animals can be active during the day and night. They also rarely bight when cared for properly. Rats and mice like burrowing and playing. As with any pet, clean water and good quality food should be provided at all times. Recommended foods include rodent rations that can be pelleted or in block form. Although rodents love sun flower seeds or seed bases treats, this could lead to obesity. So, it is recommended to only give these foods to your pet rat or mouse occasionally or as a treat. Rats and mice will eat at night, if they want to. There are a few reasons that might affect your pet's food intake, including health, food quality, and even its environment humidity and temperature. You should clean your rodent's water bowl and replace it with clean water each day. If your rodent does not get enough water, it may dehydrate. This could cause your rodent to lose body weight or even result in death. Some pet rats, not all, can be protective of their living spaces. Also, if you wake your rodent up from its sleep, it may become cranky. There is a wide variety of cages to select from when choosing a home for your mouse or rat. Mice and rats can easily chew through wood and plastic, so choose a cage that is metal and/or durable. It is necessary for your pet to have tunnels, nesting boxes, and toys of the like. Note that two different types of rodents SHOULD NOT be kept in the same cage. Cage bedding should definitely be clean and nontoxic. If you need to know any further information, please ask a local breeder or someone who knows information about rodents at your local pet store.

Owning a Sugar Glider

Sugar gliders are small, marsupial and nocturnal animals. They make great pets, and in captivity they may live up to fifteen years. Adult males are slightly smaller than most adult females. When housing a sugar glider, it is a good idea to keep them in cages with tree branches and an exercise wheel. Sugar gliders can easily chew through wood, so it may not be a good idea to provide it with any wooden cages. Make sure the wheel is high enough for the sugar glider's tail not to get stuck. Also, it you should provide hollow logs or wooden boxes for the animal to nest in. Nest boxes should be cleaned often. Even though nesting boxes do not need bedding, you can provide them with a blanket or soft material for comfort. There are MANY types of food a sugar glider in captivity will eat. For example, it may eat moths, grasshoppers, meal worms, crickets, fly pupae, watermelons, oranges, kiwi, berries, and eucalyptus. Also, they can sugar glider pellets, nectar mix, vitamins, and minerals. But, be sure to ask a breeder or sugar glider expert if you have any questions or want to know any further information.

Owning a Hedgehog

Hedgehogs are small, cute, prickly animals. These animals have a soft, white undercoat but short, prickly spines on it's back. The spines are not barbed, like a porcupine's, but they do feel prickly. Domestically raised hedgehogs will bite infrequently. If the hedgehog does bite you, it will merely feel like a pinch, due to the hedgehogs short teeth. Almost all hedgehogs will bite or chew on leather. The hedgehog also has a unique feature, it rolls into a ball. This completely covers its face and feet. The animal does this when it feels threatened. A very odd feature of the hedgehog is self-anointing. This is when the hedgehog is presented with a new food, odor, or salt. This causes the hedgehog to salivate excessively, twist into an S shape, and spread the foamy saliva over its spines. This is believed to be the hedgehog's way of making it spines more effective by coating them with the irritating substance. Also, when you first begin handling your pet hedgehog, you may feel an itching or burning due to the saliva on the quills. Larger cages are recommended for hedgehogs, since their normal territory in the wild can be a large as 650-1,000 feet in diameter. You should NOT have wire flooring in your cage because this can be damaging to their small feet. You should have some sort of hiding or nest box, since most hedgehogs will not sleep in the open. Hedgehogs are very good climbers, so be sure your pet will not be able to escape their pen, cage, or aquarium. Since hedgehogs need exercise, bathtubs may be used. In the wild, hedgehogs are omnivores, which mean they eat both meat and vegetation. Many first-time hedgehog buyers are unaware of what their pet should eat, and this may result in obesity. A recommended diet of one-two tablespoons of cat food should be okay for your hedgehog, and water should be available at all times. But please, before you buy your hedgehog, get information from the experts, this may be much better than going to your local pet store.

Owning a Gerbil

Gerbils are small, furry, curious, and friendly little animals. They are becoming popular household pets due to these characteristics. Gerbils are also classified as rodents and can live 4-5 years. Due to their grooming habits, gerbils are clean and odorless. The average mature gerbil is larger than a mouse but smaller than a rat. Gerbils can be left unattended for days if food and water are provided. Most food can be bought at a local pet store. Fresh water should also be available at all times. These pets are quiet, besides their faint, high-pitched arguing noises. They might thump their hind feet when frightened or excited. A gerbil's quick movements make them fun to watch and highly entertaining. Gerbils may seem most happy when in pairs, such as male and female, female and female, or even male and male. If you have two mature females or males raised in different families but kept together, they may fight. Purchased or homemade cages can be used to keep gerbils. You may want to stay away from wood cages, these can be easily gnawed or be unsanitary. A mesh lid should be provided with the cage because a gerbil can jump very high.

Owning a Chinchilla

Chinchillas are soft, furry, and extremely cute animals. Chinchillas do seem cute, but may not be the best pet for children. If a chinchilla is in a situation in which it feels uncomfortable, such as being squeezed too tight, it will bite. These animals are classified as rodents, but unlike others, it lacks an unpleasant smell. Chinchillas have a common lifespan of 15+ years. They also love dust bathing, so you should supply them with something dust-like to roll around in. If a chinchilla is allowed to run free in a house, it will eventually chew it down. For food, chinchillas need a sipper bottle to drink from. It is recommended to put a metal shielding on the plastic bottle, since a chinchilla can easily chew through plastic. You may be able to buy food at a local pet store. These animals like exercise, but it may be very hard to find a place in which the chinchilla will be able to exercise without gnawing or chewing. Wired-floored cages are NOT recommended for chinchillas because this can cause arthritis in the feet. The bad thing about buying a chinchilla is that you have to contact a breeder in which you trust. Pet stores may not supply you with a good-quality pet, they only want to sell. If you have any other questions, it is recommended to ask a local breeder.

Owning a Hamster

Hamsters are common household pets. They are inexpensive, fairly easy to care for, and also friendly. Hamsters are grouped as rodents and come in a variety of colors. The lifespan of the average hamster is 2-3 years. The three basic types of hamsters existing today include: The long-haired Teddy Bear hamster, the Golden Hamster, and the the colored, short-haired Fancy hamster. Also, the Chinese hamster, or also known as the dwarf hamster. Hamsters tend to sleep during the day, but can be active. Sometimes if wakened from sleep, they can have a cranky temperament. Hamsters also like to burrow, chew, and dig, so toys would be good for keeping them occupied. With hamsters, or any other pet, clean, good quality food must be provided. Many pet stores sell food pellets for small household pets, varying in price. A hamster may eat about 12 grams of food each day. Water should be held in bottles equipped with sipper tubes. But, if you would like to know any further information, you should ask a sales clerk at your local pet store.