Pets are indeed an important part of any household. Your experience with the pets can be the most enjoyable when you make a choice based on your home, lifestyle and family. Kids definitely love to play with pets and before you buy a pet rodent you should know about the choices you have.
Why opt for rodents as pets?
There are a variety of options that you can choose from in the rodent category. They like to stay in closed habitats such as a cage, hutch or pen, and they also like to spend time with humans. It should be noted that even though these creatures might look easy to manage, you would still have to give them due attention and time. They do need companionship like any other pets and would love it when their humans take care of them. Below are a few rodents that you can choose from.
Hamsters
A hamster is about six inches in length and lives up to two to three years. They are solitary animals that can be kept in a cage. If you are looking for a pet for your child, then hamsters are a great option. You would need a cage sized at about 12 by 18 inches. It is best to have a large cage for them as they love to play around. Syrian hamsters are known to have a manageable temperament. However, they can be grumpy and defensive. Hamsters are fragile and hence it is a good idea to always supervise your child whenever they are handling it. To sum it up, hamsters are widely available and would make great pets. In most cases, you will not have to keep them in groups as the species are solitary and can stay alone.
Gerbils
Gerbils also live up to 2 to 3 years. They have a furry tail and their body length is of four inches. These cute creatures are very social and would prefer staying with others. While buying the pets you might want to buy them in pairs so that these cute pets do not end up feeling lonely. However, it might get difficult to introduce the Gerbils to each other. This is why you should buy them in pairs and if they are young then they will bond well with each other. You can buy a gerbilcage in a size of 12 by 24 inches. With time you will find it easier to handle Gerbils. They are less prone to biting when compared to hamsters. It should be noted that Gerbils are very energetic and so if you are looking for a pet for your kids then you will have to supervise them playing with these pets.
Mice
On an average, mice live up to one to three years. They are also very easy to take care of. They are the smallest rodents you can have as pets with their bodies being 3 inches. Since they are fairly social, you might have to buy them in pairs or small groups so that they can have a good experience being your pets. You can keep them in a cage which is 12 by 18 inches big. However, you will require a larger cage if the mice are more in number. If you are looking for low maintenance pets then mice are perhaps the best option. They are active and playful and very entertaining to watch. When it comes to kid-friendliness, these pets are a good option.
Rats
Rats live for two to four years and are great pets. It is advised to keep them in pairs and preferably of the same sex. Their body length is about 8 inches and rats are large in size compared to the other rodents. They have a long tail which is hairless and is the same length as their body. With time, rats become very easy to manage. Did you know that rats are very intelligent and rarely bite? Awesome! Isn’t it? They are not as unpredictable as the hamsters and are way easier to handle. Rats may need time outside of their cage for exercise and social interaction. Rats can be taught some simple tricks and hence it will be a good idea to have them as pets for your kids.
Guinea Pigs
If you are looking for rodents who live long, then Guinea Pigs are a good option. They live up to 5 to 7 years and some guinea pigs have also been known to live for 10 years. They have a very easy going temperament, which makes them highly popular for a family. You would rarely see guinea pigs biting, even when they are stressed out. You can keep them in a large cage with other guinea pigs so that they do not feel alone. A minimum of 4 square feet of floor space should be good for keeping guinea pigs. This should be accompanied by regular exercise outside. If you cannot let your guinea pig outside often, then you would need a larger cage to accommodate them. Unlike the other rodents on the list, guinea pigs are the least likely to escape from your cage. They have a demanding diet which the owner would have to consider. Apart from the high maintenance of guinea pigs, they make incredible pets for the kids. Since they would not run around and escape, the children can play easily with them. Moreover, guinea pigs also do not display any bad temperament, making them very manageable.
Final Take
Thus, rodents can be a good choice of pets for your little ones. Some other types of pets include chinchillas, chipmunks, degus, squirrels, duprasi and more. There are various options in the rodent family that you can choose from and it is up to you to opt for the best one. You should consider their temperament as it is one of the most important aspects for kids. Since your kids would spend most of their time with the rodents, they should not escape quite often. Moreover, maintenance is also an important factor and you should know which pet would be the best fit based on how much time you can give them.