I am second year Vet. Tech student and being away from my pets is horrible. I have never had a Small Pet so i am taking advantage of being away from home to get one. I want something furry and small. I am leaning towards a rat or a hamster. But i am really confused on what will be best. I refuse to get a fish!!
ok im guessing you will need to take into account a variety of aspects
space, initial cost, running costs, impact on life, your impact on the animals life, general awesomeness of the animal itself
because you want something i’d recomend a rodent of some sort, due to the ease of gaining equipment, the space you will potentially have and they’re low maintinanve
hampsters, are small, easilly obtained, live relitively short lives (think do you really want a pet after you leave?), are cheap to feed, need little space, and are by nature (bar a few varieties) solitary so can be kept alone (which will cost you less both in the long and short term), however are nocturnal and as a result when you are up an about during the day will disturb his natural cycles.
Rats, these are bigger and so will need a bigger (and more expensive cage) which will take up more space, and they are gregarious (group living animals) and so a minimum of 2 will need to be purchased (they participate in allogrooming) they live a little longer than an average hampster (2-3 years) but respitory issues and cancer are common and this will cost you in vetinary bills, they will also need about an hour a day minimum of ‘free riegn’ time where they are allowed to wander about your room (which will need to be rat proofed because they chew everything….and steal things too XD), they are much cleverer and can be trained (which is always fun) and can gain very close bonds with thier owners (mine sit on my shoulder when i walk around the house)
they are also crepescular (they are active mainly in the dawn and dusk) and as a result will be awake when you are most active (if you are an average student) but will in both the long and short term cost more than a hampster, but in my opinion will provide a more interesting expeirience but remember not everyone likes rats about ;)
mice have pretty much the same pros and cons as hampsters but are gregarious and so a small group can be kept which is always more fun…but breed like wildfire if they are not the same gender (i’d reccomend a group of females
Guinea pigs are to large and noisy for student accomodation in my opinion, but then again im not the largest guinea pig fan in the world
i keep rats at college, and so am a little bias to say the least , and they definately keep me entertained ^_^ they dont smell if cleaned out regularly but do make a bit of a mess, and pens, coins and other small objects always end up in they’re bedding after they have had ‘run about time’
just get a cute little hamster… :)
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My wife loved her Chinchillas, small furry, cute soft, easy care and up keep.
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What about a small bird – Cockatiel or Budgie, they can be very friendly.
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hamster i think rats are dirtier
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Goldfish…………………………………………………..
(<.<)—->
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get a raccoon! haha…
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Hamsters are really cute. I think you should get one of them. They are very lovingly and fluffy.
They are perfect. ~Danni
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id go for a cute little rat well more like a mouse. hamsters are cute! but i think they can get a little smellier.
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Rats are good, smart as a dog too.
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Well in a lot of dorms don’t allow you to have furry pets because some people may have allergies so fish are the only way to go. It just depends on the rules of where you are living. But if you are allowed furry pets then I would definitely go with a hamster…a long haired one that likes to be held and doesn’t run 30 miles a night.
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i prefer you get a hamster…or give a thought towards a squirrel…
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lol i would get the fish :D
i think rats only live up to 2-3 years, but im not sure. i think you should get whick lives longer. im not sure how long hamsters live up to, but personally i would get the hamster because they look so much cuter with those chubby cheeks lol
hope i helped
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Rats are cool and full of personality Always had them.
Always had guinea pigs…they have the coolest squeaking when they hear lettuce coming their way.
Chinchillas are way cool..Petco $99.00
Your right fish and turtles are was to much..and last way to long,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29035692@N03/sets/72157616199869397/
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have a wolf dog,2 cats, 3 fish tanks and two, 37 yr old red eared slider girls. Three adopted males 11, 8 and a 4 yrs old yellow bellied slider.
I hate rats so i would vote for the hamster.They are easy to take care of and not much hassle.If i were you,i would get a fish though:-)
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I like rats, they are cool. I know people that take their rats everywhere with them, it seems like they have a bond. they are pretty cute too. Lol.
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I love rats! They have so much more personality then hamsters. I have had both. If you do decided on a hamster don’t get a dwarf hamster. They are nasty. The teady bears are nice…but like I said they just arn’t as lively and bright as rats. If you get a rat don’t get an Albino. I know there is supposed to be nothing different about them besides color, but they never seemed to live as long for me.
Rats are very smart and you can train them to do all sorts of tricks. Some will let you hold them belly up espically if you get them very young. They are very intelligent creatures.
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get a hamster…its better than a rat
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hamster
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People become allergic to rats easily (like me). Hamsters are okay. But a guinea pig would be more personable, though bigger. How about a hedgehog? Not furry but different.
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Rats are very clean and smart, I do recommend them :D
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ok im guessing you will need to take into account a variety of aspects
space, initial cost, running costs, impact on life, your impact on the animals life, general awesomeness of the animal itself
because you want something i’d recomend a rodent of some sort, due to the ease of gaining equipment, the space you will potentially have and they’re low maintinanve
hampsters, are small, easilly obtained, live relitively short lives (think do you really want a pet after you leave?), are cheap to feed, need little space, and are by nature (bar a few varieties) solitary so can be kept alone (which will cost you less both in the long and short term), however are nocturnal and as a result when you are up an about during the day will disturb his natural cycles.
Rats, these are bigger and so will need a bigger (and more expensive cage) which will take up more space, and they are gregarious (group living animals) and so a minimum of 2 will need to be purchased (they participate in allogrooming) they live a little longer than an average hampster (2-3 years) but respitory issues and cancer are common and this will cost you in vetinary bills, they will also need about an hour a day minimum of ‘free riegn’ time where they are allowed to wander about your room (which will need to be rat proofed because they chew everything….and steal things too XD), they are much cleverer and can be trained (which is always fun) and can gain very close bonds with thier owners (mine sit on my shoulder when i walk around the house)
they are also crepescular (they are active mainly in the dawn and dusk) and as a result will be awake when you are most active (if you are an average student) but will in both the long and short term cost more than a hampster, but in my opinion will provide a more interesting expeirience but remember not everyone likes rats about ;)
mice have pretty much the same pros and cons as hampsters but are gregarious and so a small group can be kept which is always more fun…but breed like wildfire if they are not the same gender (i’d reccomend a group of females
Guinea pigs are to large and noisy for student accomodation in my opinion, but then again im not the largest guinea pig fan in the world
i keep rats at college, and so am a little bias to say the least , and they definately keep me entertained ^_^ they dont smell if cleaned out regularly but do make a bit of a mess, and pens, coins and other small objects always end up in they’re bedding after they have had ‘run about time’
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