i have a dwarf hamster, i've been feeding it cheerios for about three months. nothing has changed physicllay exept if i give him more than 3 or 4 (which is rare) he gets fat suddenly so then i dont feed him any for a day or two. please say in your answer if you have a dwarf hamster. thanks
Answers:
Generally Cheerios are safe for them, but It seems to be "bloating " him up. Try using real hamster feed and tiny cut up veggies and fruit instead.
No raw beans,tomatoes,garlic, onions,chocolate
any sugary or salty foods.
Okay. I do not have a dwarf hamster, but I did babysit two for about two months. I never fed them cheerios, however, I do have gerbils, which I DID feed cheerios. They seem to be fine. Make sure the cheerios you feed them are regular, not frosted or anything, and look to see how much sugar it has in it. I think your hamster will be fine if you feed him cheerios as a treat. I hope this helped! Please email me or something to let me know! Thanks!
no dwarf hamster but I have had several guinea pigs. I once gave them a small piece of Pop Tart and for the next few hours they were running everywhere like crazy and making more noise than ever but for the next day they barely moved or anything.
PLEASE do not feed your hamster cheerios, frosted flakes, anything. Do not feed it human food. You want to know why it gets fat suddenly? Because of the sugar in the cheerios. They have tiny hearts that beat MUCH MUCH faster than ours and if it beats any faster they can suffer a little heartattack or their heart can literally explode. Too much sugar will give it a sugar rush and it can kill them. I'm sure a little while after eating them he has trouble breathing after his heart slows back down.
Feed him hamster pellets, which are specially formulated for his body, and keep the cheerios for yourself.
only like 1 everyother day.
I had a rabbit who had cheerios, it made him fat and sick... I wouldnt keep doing it
Just plain Cheerios are okay as a treat.
I didn't answer this question, so how come you said I did? But since you want me to, here does. I don't have a dwarf hamster. But I did have mice. You should probably just give him Cheerios once in a while for treats.
BTW--You should not have posted that as an answer for my question. You are a mean person.
yes but shouldnt give them more than 2
are the cheerios ur giving him/her the regular ones? if so you are fine if they are the fruity or yogurt or the honey ones i wouldn't suggest it..
Hamsters can eat cereal as long as it has no added salt or sugar on it. A few cheerio's everyday wont cause weight gain for your hamster, but if he likes sunflowerseeds and nuts, this might!
I dont have a dwarf, but am a proud owner of a 16 month male syrian, and this breed is very prone at getting chubby!
just plain cheerios and only one . One cheerio doesnt seem like a lot but consider how big your animal is . It should also eat some of its other food.
yes as a snack, you do feed it regular hamster food?
No. They give hamsters bloat and can result in wet-tail. As hamsters are rear-gut-fermenters, this can be a fatal condition if not detected and treated in time. Stick with food and treats made specifically for hamsters. On a daily basis, offer your hamster a small amount of fresh fruits and vegetables along with their "lab block" style food. (People often allow their pet birds to eat human breakfast cereal too and I say the same thing again. It is not good. It's all natural but it is not actually in the natural form, it is stripped. It causes loose stools a.k.a "the runs".)
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Are cedar woodshavings really bad for rodents?
me and my brother just got into a fight about decar woodshavings, and since he knoes everything about animals, he said they were bad, well i looked them up on the internet and aparently they are, but i want other pet owner advice on it. is cedar gonna kill my hamster?
Answers:
As a professional pet breeder, the answer is: cedar shavings are not good for any rodent, especially the respiratory system. Do not buy recyclable newspaper bedding pellets either because those are not good for the hamster to put in their mouth. Fine pine shavings are soft and very small pieces. I have been breeding hamsters, using pine, for 14 years. Sometimes hamsters are allergic to pine. this occurs, the hair falls off the underside of the body and redness appears. Then a person has to use a very soft bedding that vets recommend.
Superpetusa.com and Kay tee make a very small granular newspaper product which can be used in hamster outhouses as long as the hamsters don't try to put it in the mouth.
i wouldn't use them
It's quite possible. Cedar bedding has been known to affect their sensitive respiratory systems. Please switch to a different bedding (I use corn cob).
all bedding has its bad sides the best to use is timothy hay grass you can find it at petsmart,petco,wal-mart alot of places
Yes. They can cause liver failure in small mammals (such as hamsters and guinea pigs) AND they can cause respiratory problems all because of aromatic oils. These are found in both cedar AND pine.
Aspen is a safe woodshaving to use that has few or no aromatic oils.
It won't necessarily kill your hamster, but a safer choice is (as I already said) aspen or a recycled source (you can find these at most pet stores, although I recommend buying the shavings or bedding from a store that does not sell pets, like a feed store).
Cedar wood shavings can be very dangerous to small animals (mice, hamsters, gerbils) but are usually okay for larger animals.
Another thing to be aware of is that there are sometimes bugs in wood-shavings that you buy at the pet store. To kill the bugs, put the wood-shavings package in the freezer for a few days before using it. Be sure to allow the wood-shavings to return to room temperature before putting them in your pet's cage.
I definitely would switch to a different litter ASAP.cedar has been proven to cause liver damage in hamsters, and also irritates their respiratory systems. Cedar probably wouldn't be fatal right away, but it could cause long-term damage to your hamster's health. If you live in the US I know the brand of litter called Carefresh is supposed to be really good for small rodents.it's supposed to be absorbent, soft and dust-free (dust can also irritate their respiratory systems).
Ground corn cob litter is pretty good (I used it for my mice), but it's a bit gravelly and could be hard on their paws.plus they might nibble it.
I use unscented pine shavings for my hamsters, and they seem to do well with that. If you use pine try to find a brand that's as dust-free as possible.
It's unfortunate, but pet stores sell alot of things that are really unsuitable for the animals they're supposed to be for.like this cottony bedding for hamsters...it looks comfy, but it can be dangerous if they swallow it or get it caught in their teeth, or tangled around their foot. It's better to just use shredded unscented tissues or toilet paper.
Good for you for doing research and asking on the Internet...your hammie's lucky to have a conscientious "parent"!
Its very possible it will. I've heard that before, and yes it will kill your hammy if you don't get him off of the shavings rite now!Our mom keeps on telling me not to get cedar shavings, hope this answer helps.
Yes, your brother is right! I used to buy that for my gerbils, because it was cheap, and they gave you a lot in the bag. But, I realized that every single time my gerbil had that bedding, his nose would bleed bad, and it seemed like he had breathing problems. So I switched to the soft bedding, and everythings good now. He's a year old, and is gonna turn 2 in august! Stay away from cedar bedding!
Good luck!
Cedar is not the way to go. Many ailments can arise from the use of cedar in most smaller pets.
Concider this as well - they recommend against using cedar for bedding even for feeder rats, as it makes them unsafe to feed to reptiles, so that further points to using an alternative bedding. (yes I know this is your pet, but the point is that cedar is dangerous for most caged animals)
YES! It is deathfully wrong. DO NOT USE IT! It killed my first Hamster. I knew seeminglessly everything about my new pet, until it came to bedding. I had the little six-week old Teddy Bear Hamster for two months. One day I came into my room and he was shaking, I picked him up. And stroked him, his eyes were squinted. I called my mom, she said he must be sick. I never called the vet. Stupid me. I was crying to hard, he shoo,shook violently. I set him on my desk to see if he could walk, he shook so hard, in a long swinign liek motion, he fell off my desk. I balled whe whole day. He has been poisoned by the toxic cedar wood shavings. I miss him so much, i still cry all the time about him. MAKE SURE TO USE NON-TOXIC BEDDING!
It's unlikely it will kill your hamster outright, but it is true that pine and cedar shavings are toxic over time. My hamsters only lived a year and a half and two years, and I'm putting that down to cedar shavings in part.
These woods give off substances that are bad for rodents respiratory systems, so it just isn't worth risking.
Chalice
Eventually, it can mess up their liver and respratory sysems.
i used them for 13 guinea pigs and they survived
Yes. It's bad for hamsters, gerbils, mice, and rats. Bigger animals, like rabbits and guinea pigs, sould be ok. I did get some for my rabbit, but he started turning greenish (seriously). He was allergic, but other big rodents should be fine.
they cause respiratory problems and possibly cancers and kidney failure. pine can do this as well. using a paper bedding is best.
yes it will mess up thier senses real bad :-)
NEVER use cedar on your pets. the dust particles can cause respiratory infection, especially in small animals.and yes, a respiratory infection can be deadly if not treated quickly and correctly. i would immediately switch to pine(aspen) or the recycled paper products. if money is an issue, which pine is generally the same amount as cedar...use newspapers..just shred then up by hand and line the cage with it. your hamster will love to burrow in it.
good luck!
kk so i've had 10 hamsters at once soo i had to go on the internet and research soo yep it causes respatory problems and they have troble going to the bathroom ( # 2) trust me youll be happy you did
Yes! Cedar and pine shavings are not good for rodents,can cause many health problems and shorten their lifespan.
cedar and pine shavings can cause respitory problems in hamsters and gerbils. It could eventually kill them. I do not use it
I use a brand called "Cozy critter Super Shavings" it says on the bag that its "Low aromatic Spruce, hemlock and fir" I have had no issues with this brand of shavings.
NO but it's definitely not the best i would get some care fresh bedding. :)
yes because it can cause upper respiratory infection.
Answers:
As a professional pet breeder, the answer is: cedar shavings are not good for any rodent, especially the respiratory system. Do not buy recyclable newspaper bedding pellets either because those are not good for the hamster to put in their mouth. Fine pine shavings are soft and very small pieces. I have been breeding hamsters, using pine, for 14 years. Sometimes hamsters are allergic to pine. this occurs, the hair falls off the underside of the body and redness appears. Then a person has to use a very soft bedding that vets recommend.
Superpetusa.com and Kay tee make a very small granular newspaper product which can be used in hamster outhouses as long as the hamsters don't try to put it in the mouth.
i wouldn't use them
It's quite possible. Cedar bedding has been known to affect their sensitive respiratory systems. Please switch to a different bedding (I use corn cob).
all bedding has its bad sides the best to use is timothy hay grass you can find it at petsmart,petco,wal-mart alot of places
Yes. They can cause liver failure in small mammals (such as hamsters and guinea pigs) AND they can cause respiratory problems all because of aromatic oils. These are found in both cedar AND pine.
Aspen is a safe woodshaving to use that has few or no aromatic oils.
It won't necessarily kill your hamster, but a safer choice is (as I already said) aspen or a recycled source (you can find these at most pet stores, although I recommend buying the shavings or bedding from a store that does not sell pets, like a feed store).
Cedar wood shavings can be very dangerous to small animals (mice, hamsters, gerbils) but are usually okay for larger animals.
Another thing to be aware of is that there are sometimes bugs in wood-shavings that you buy at the pet store. To kill the bugs, put the wood-shavings package in the freezer for a few days before using it. Be sure to allow the wood-shavings to return to room temperature before putting them in your pet's cage.
I definitely would switch to a different litter ASAP.cedar has been proven to cause liver damage in hamsters, and also irritates their respiratory systems. Cedar probably wouldn't be fatal right away, but it could cause long-term damage to your hamster's health. If you live in the US I know the brand of litter called Carefresh is supposed to be really good for small rodents.it's supposed to be absorbent, soft and dust-free (dust can also irritate their respiratory systems).
Ground corn cob litter is pretty good (I used it for my mice), but it's a bit gravelly and could be hard on their paws.plus they might nibble it.
I use unscented pine shavings for my hamsters, and they seem to do well with that. If you use pine try to find a brand that's as dust-free as possible.
It's unfortunate, but pet stores sell alot of things that are really unsuitable for the animals they're supposed to be for.like this cottony bedding for hamsters...it looks comfy, but it can be dangerous if they swallow it or get it caught in their teeth, or tangled around their foot. It's better to just use shredded unscented tissues or toilet paper.
Good for you for doing research and asking on the Internet...your hammie's lucky to have a conscientious "parent"!
Its very possible it will. I've heard that before, and yes it will kill your hammy if you don't get him off of the shavings rite now!Our mom keeps on telling me not to get cedar shavings, hope this answer helps.
Yes, your brother is right! I used to buy that for my gerbils, because it was cheap, and they gave you a lot in the bag. But, I realized that every single time my gerbil had that bedding, his nose would bleed bad, and it seemed like he had breathing problems. So I switched to the soft bedding, and everythings good now. He's a year old, and is gonna turn 2 in august! Stay away from cedar bedding!
Good luck!
Cedar is not the way to go. Many ailments can arise from the use of cedar in most smaller pets.
Concider this as well - they recommend against using cedar for bedding even for feeder rats, as it makes them unsafe to feed to reptiles, so that further points to using an alternative bedding. (yes I know this is your pet, but the point is that cedar is dangerous for most caged animals)
YES! It is deathfully wrong. DO NOT USE IT! It killed my first Hamster. I knew seeminglessly everything about my new pet, until it came to bedding. I had the little six-week old Teddy Bear Hamster for two months. One day I came into my room and he was shaking, I picked him up. And stroked him, his eyes were squinted. I called my mom, she said he must be sick. I never called the vet. Stupid me. I was crying to hard, he shoo,shook violently. I set him on my desk to see if he could walk, he shook so hard, in a long swinign liek motion, he fell off my desk. I balled whe whole day. He has been poisoned by the toxic cedar wood shavings. I miss him so much, i still cry all the time about him. MAKE SURE TO USE NON-TOXIC BEDDING!
It's unlikely it will kill your hamster outright, but it is true that pine and cedar shavings are toxic over time. My hamsters only lived a year and a half and two years, and I'm putting that down to cedar shavings in part.
These woods give off substances that are bad for rodents respiratory systems, so it just isn't worth risking.
Chalice
Eventually, it can mess up their liver and respratory sysems.
i used them for 13 guinea pigs and they survived
Yes. It's bad for hamsters, gerbils, mice, and rats. Bigger animals, like rabbits and guinea pigs, sould be ok. I did get some for my rabbit, but he started turning greenish (seriously). He was allergic, but other big rodents should be fine.
they cause respiratory problems and possibly cancers and kidney failure. pine can do this as well. using a paper bedding is best.
yes it will mess up thier senses real bad :-)
NEVER use cedar on your pets. the dust particles can cause respiratory infection, especially in small animals.and yes, a respiratory infection can be deadly if not treated quickly and correctly. i would immediately switch to pine(aspen) or the recycled paper products. if money is an issue, which pine is generally the same amount as cedar...use newspapers..just shred then up by hand and line the cage with it. your hamster will love to burrow in it.
good luck!
kk so i've had 10 hamsters at once soo i had to go on the internet and research soo yep it causes respatory problems and they have troble going to the bathroom ( # 2) trust me youll be happy you did
Yes! Cedar and pine shavings are not good for rodents,can cause many health problems and shorten their lifespan.
cedar and pine shavings can cause respitory problems in hamsters and gerbils. It could eventually kill them. I do not use it
I use a brand called "Cozy critter Super Shavings" it says on the bag that its "Low aromatic Spruce, hemlock and fir" I have had no issues with this brand of shavings.
NO but it's definitely not the best i would get some care fresh bedding. :)
yes because it can cause upper respiratory infection.
Are block foods good for hamsters?
I just got a new hamster. I feed him kaytee Forti-Diet for rats, mice and hamsters. There these little brown blocks. I heard that with grain mixes if your hamster eats olny his favorites he can have nutrition problems. Are the block foods good for them? My hamster loves to eat them and it cuts down his teeth too.
Answers:
blocks foods are better then the seed food, the block food has everything he needs in it, and it wears down his teeth so its good in both ways
hello,
I had hamsters and I tell you that there is not better food as the greenness and the fruit. You can also give him blocks, but that they have nutritious also.. you give him the leftovers of greenness like lettuce, cabbage, carrot, etc. will See that he will like... You can give it apple, banana, pear, citric as the orange.. etc. I love the hamsters!!
I am not sure if you are worried about what you feed it try vita vittles my hamster loves it!!!
Answers:
blocks foods are better then the seed food, the block food has everything he needs in it, and it wears down his teeth so its good in both ways
hello,
I had hamsters and I tell you that there is not better food as the greenness and the fruit. You can also give him blocks, but that they have nutritious also.. you give him the leftovers of greenness like lettuce, cabbage, carrot, etc. will See that he will like... You can give it apple, banana, pear, citric as the orange.. etc. I love the hamsters!!
I am not sure if you are worried about what you feed it try vita vittles my hamster loves it!!!
Are black oil sunflower seeds ok to give to hamsers?
Answers:
I know the type of sunflower seeds you mean. Theyre all black and tend to be smaller than the regular looking seeds... In my mouses' food mixture, the black oil SSs are present, so your hamsters shoujld be fine.
they love them but they dont have any salt cuz the salt is bad for them but sunflower seeds werw always there favorites
I give my hamster sunflower seeds with out salt. She eats them right up. To my knowledge sunflower seeds are good for them because then the skin has oil so they won't scratcch.
my hammies even ate roasted sun flower seeds, (human snack). i think it's ok, they love it.
We grow sunflowers every year, and the hamsters LOVE getting a chunk of sunflower to de-seed. We have grown both varieties, and they're equally popular. It's better when they're home-grown, because they aren't salted.
Are bin cages suitable for breeding Syrian hamsters in?
Y/N please!! any details on how to make them etc would be great, too!!
Answers:
You do know what you're getting into, right? I would really advise you not to breed them, because it can get really out of hand. Soon enough, you'll have babies everywhere. By bins, do you mean plastic storage containers from a Target or Walmart? I've seen people do it, but it seems a little risky. I would worry about them getting out, and having respitory problems from the enclosure. Especially if you're having tons of babies running around, you'd need a really really really big one. I would adivse you not to.
Yes bin cages are great are great for syrians. and they are pretty easy to make if you have a few basic tools.
My bigger concern is that you are wanting to breed hamsters with out being sure of what kind of housing to provide. Do you know how hard breeding hamsters is? There can be many problems with breeding hamster including canabalism (mother hamsters may eat the babies for many different reasons). Please do some research before you breed, it's not as simple as sticking a pair of hamsters together and waiting for babies.
Below is a website that has some good breeding basics as well as intructions (and lots of pics) on making a bin cage for your hamsters. Good luck and enjoy!
are they in seperate cages? if so put the female in the males cage and theyll get it on
Em,
From experience here, don't get into breeding. If the one you're planning on breeding is the one in your other question, she's too old. They need to be between 4 months and 1 yr for a female. We had a verbal contract with a pet store and they had too many come in when ours were old enough, so kept all of them including 3 Syrian males and about 20 dwarfs (the dwarfs they stopped selling on us). We already had some extra cages and I had gotten a great deal on cages on line so we had enough cages to house all of them plus more. Weigh the advise of others on breeding very carefully. Although it's your decision on what to do. Our food bill per month on small animal food is about $40-$60, this doesn't include treats, litter or vet bills.
If you still are wanting to get into breeding and are willing to raise up to 20 babies per litter, then start buying up the cages. You'll need them. Instead of breeding, I turned to helping others who needed homes (fostered or permanent) for their small animals. I had been advertising with a local free ad paper, but they told me I can't take other peoples pets, then turn around and place ads for homes for them - stupid paper doesn't understand what fostering animals means, that it's for short term until you find a new owner. I have a $5-$10 fee depending on the breed of small animal and they called it selling them. I actually go and meet the potential owners in person and go over the specific care for them first. This is another thing you would need to do with any private people you would have getting yours.
Now for the bin cages, how big are they to start with? One adult hamster needs about a 11"x12"x12" or a two story cage or a 10 gallon tank. Think how crowded it will get with up to 20 babies running around. I would use at least a 20 gallon tank sized cage. Now you are aware that all Syrians are to house alone once they are about 3-4 months old. And you can't house mating pairs together either.
http://www.geocities.com/calhamassoc/fea...
here is how to make some they will be ideal but keep them clean and well ventilated .read as much as you can on buying and breeding hamsters before you start.also see if a local pet store will buy the young off you before you breed and what price they will pay or if you can get more money letting them pay you with hamster food and bedding etc so your hobby becomes free .i did that with mice at your age.good luck.
kinda but it depend how many hamsters you want but i would stick with a glass 10gallon tank its a good breeding area :)
Answers:
You do know what you're getting into, right? I would really advise you not to breed them, because it can get really out of hand. Soon enough, you'll have babies everywhere. By bins, do you mean plastic storage containers from a Target or Walmart? I've seen people do it, but it seems a little risky. I would worry about them getting out, and having respitory problems from the enclosure. Especially if you're having tons of babies running around, you'd need a really really really big one. I would adivse you not to.
Yes bin cages are great are great for syrians. and they are pretty easy to make if you have a few basic tools.
My bigger concern is that you are wanting to breed hamsters with out being sure of what kind of housing to provide. Do you know how hard breeding hamsters is? There can be many problems with breeding hamster including canabalism (mother hamsters may eat the babies for many different reasons). Please do some research before you breed, it's not as simple as sticking a pair of hamsters together and waiting for babies.
Below is a website that has some good breeding basics as well as intructions (and lots of pics) on making a bin cage for your hamsters. Good luck and enjoy!
are they in seperate cages? if so put the female in the males cage and theyll get it on
Em,
From experience here, don't get into breeding. If the one you're planning on breeding is the one in your other question, she's too old. They need to be between 4 months and 1 yr for a female. We had a verbal contract with a pet store and they had too many come in when ours were old enough, so kept all of them including 3 Syrian males and about 20 dwarfs (the dwarfs they stopped selling on us). We already had some extra cages and I had gotten a great deal on cages on line so we had enough cages to house all of them plus more. Weigh the advise of others on breeding very carefully. Although it's your decision on what to do. Our food bill per month on small animal food is about $40-$60, this doesn't include treats, litter or vet bills.
If you still are wanting to get into breeding and are willing to raise up to 20 babies per litter, then start buying up the cages. You'll need them. Instead of breeding, I turned to helping others who needed homes (fostered or permanent) for their small animals. I had been advertising with a local free ad paper, but they told me I can't take other peoples pets, then turn around and place ads for homes for them - stupid paper doesn't understand what fostering animals means, that it's for short term until you find a new owner. I have a $5-$10 fee depending on the breed of small animal and they called it selling them. I actually go and meet the potential owners in person and go over the specific care for them first. This is another thing you would need to do with any private people you would have getting yours.
Now for the bin cages, how big are they to start with? One adult hamster needs about a 11"x12"x12" or a two story cage or a 10 gallon tank. Think how crowded it will get with up to 20 babies running around. I would use at least a 20 gallon tank sized cage. Now you are aware that all Syrians are to house alone once they are about 3-4 months old. And you can't house mating pairs together either.
http://www.geocities.com/calhamassoc/fea...
here is how to make some they will be ideal but keep them clean and well ventilated .read as much as you can on buying and breeding hamsters before you start.also see if a local pet store will buy the young off you before you breed and what price they will pay or if you can get more money letting them pay you with hamster food and bedding etc so your hobby becomes free .i did that with mice at your age.good luck.
kinda but it depend how many hamsters you want but i would stick with a glass 10gallon tank its a good breeding area :)
Are bigger or smaller cages better 4 a bunny?
I have a large cage and my bunny has been more happy but is it because of her cage?
Answers:
Bunnies really like larger cages, but my bunny is always happiest hopping around my house. I would have her be a house rabbit, but my cat has tried to kill her before.
bigger cage means more space. yes you bunny is happy to have a bigger home
no
no it's not because of the cage size bunnys always seem unhappy if you know a person with a rabbit let them hang together
Yes,the bigger the cage,the happier the bunny!
yes, a bigger gage is better for a bunny.
bigger, they need exercise and if their not alowed to run around outside the cage when its a small one than there just gunna get fat and bored.
The bigger the Cage, the happier the bunny. A cage can never be to big but it can easily be too small.
The bigger the cage the better as the rabbit will have more room to hop around and therefore be happier than if it were in a small cage where it couldn't move much.
Answers:
Bunnies really like larger cages, but my bunny is always happiest hopping around my house. I would have her be a house rabbit, but my cat has tried to kill her before.
bigger cage means more space. yes you bunny is happy to have a bigger home
no
no it's not because of the cage size bunnys always seem unhappy if you know a person with a rabbit let them hang together
Yes,the bigger the cage,the happier the bunny!
yes, a bigger gage is better for a bunny.
bigger, they need exercise and if their not alowed to run around outside the cage when its a small one than there just gunna get fat and bored.
The bigger the Cage, the happier the bunny. A cage can never be to big but it can easily be too small.
The bigger the cage the better as the rabbit will have more room to hop around and therefore be happier than if it were in a small cage where it couldn't move much.
Are animal crackers alright for hamsters to eat?
I figure they are very bland, so I gave my hamster one earlier. He's fine and whatnot, but I was just curious if this is an appropriate snack every now and then?
Of course I give him veggies and fruits, but I was just wondering about animal crackers.
Answers:
Of course. He'll be fine and this is appropriate in small amounts once in a while only.
I dunno but I do know what happens if you give a mouse a cookie.
no! their digestive tracks r not like ours
well, aside from the nutrients hamsters need, which u can google...animal crackers to an animal?.thats cannibalism, it might be ok for his diet, but its gonna **** its head up
Of course I give him veggies and fruits, but I was just wondering about animal crackers.
Answers:
Of course. He'll be fine and this is appropriate in small amounts once in a while only.
I dunno but I do know what happens if you give a mouse a cookie.
no! their digestive tracks r not like ours
well, aside from the nutrients hamsters need, which u can google...animal crackers to an animal?.thats cannibalism, it might be ok for his diet, but its gonna **** its head up
Are all rats...?
really sensitive to noise? My rats jump or freak out at every small or semi-loud noise, such as paper or if you set something down, even almost the clicking of the keyboard. I do understand if they could be because of their big ears, but i wasn't sure if it was just a rat thing or if they're more skittish.
Answers:
As soon as we brought each of our girls home we immediately got to work on socializing them with humans and human noises (socialization with other rats is delayed until quarantine). They got used to our usual noises very quickly, including talking at regular volume, the occasional loud radio downstairs, dropping of items because we are clumsy. They usually wake up if I try to sneak into their room and catch a glimpse of the adorable rat pile (u never know what a tangle they will be in each time). DARN!
They know the difference between us walking down the hall past the room and walking into the room. They know when we are coming home and are all excited to see us if we have been away for the weekend.
Try giving your rats treats when you expose them to regular common noises. Maybe that will help them get used to them. Or you could just keep them in a quieter room and bring them into the noise on your person in free-range time.
every animal is differant ( even if its the same speices ) for yours it might have better hearing then the other rats but who knows realy you shoudl go to a vet or a pet store for more info good luck if this helps
i dunno, i'm scared of rats lol.
Yes they are, just like rabbits, as they are prey. Most animals are after them and they know this.
my rats arnt but i have loud dogs so they might be use to it
Yea, they have phenomenal hearing. Plus their instincts kick in to tell them to hide when they hear a noise. My rats usual grow out of it the older they get.
your rat is skittish compared to most..
rats can carry blue bonnet plague ..and you have one of the nasty varmint for a pet..get a life get a bird of a fish tank...
Apparently stanleymcqueen doesn't realize that domestic rats don't carry diseases. Anyways, I know that my rats recognize my footsteps when I come to feed them, but they don't seem to freak out at loud noises. As some other people have said, yours could just have more sensitive hearing than other rats.
I would say that's pretty skittish. We have 3 and they are in my sons room. He's 9 and far from quiet, plus he always has the TV on.
Are your rats male or female? My female rats seem to be a lot more skitish than the males and will jump at noises like you described. My male rats are much more laid back and will generally be curious about what the noise is and investigate.
All my ratties are pretty desensitized except for the two younger ones, Ozzy and Frosty. They're always around people and other animals, so they're pretty used to a rambunctious household.
not all rats are jumpy to sounds but they are more sensitive to them because of their ears and not having good eye site. they may be jumping because they can't identify the sound.
my 2 rats are not skittish. they can sleep threw the vacuum cleaner.
No. I think where ever you got your rat was not the best place. they were not handled often enough so then you got a shy scared rat. Try to play with your rats more to tame them.
Answers:
As soon as we brought each of our girls home we immediately got to work on socializing them with humans and human noises (socialization with other rats is delayed until quarantine). They got used to our usual noises very quickly, including talking at regular volume, the occasional loud radio downstairs, dropping of items because we are clumsy. They usually wake up if I try to sneak into their room and catch a glimpse of the adorable rat pile (u never know what a tangle they will be in each time). DARN!
They know the difference between us walking down the hall past the room and walking into the room. They know when we are coming home and are all excited to see us if we have been away for the weekend.
Try giving your rats treats when you expose them to regular common noises. Maybe that will help them get used to them. Or you could just keep them in a quieter room and bring them into the noise on your person in free-range time.
every animal is differant ( even if its the same speices ) for yours it might have better hearing then the other rats but who knows realy you shoudl go to a vet or a pet store for more info good luck if this helps
i dunno, i'm scared of rats lol.
Yes they are, just like rabbits, as they are prey. Most animals are after them and they know this.
my rats arnt but i have loud dogs so they might be use to it
Yea, they have phenomenal hearing. Plus their instincts kick in to tell them to hide when they hear a noise. My rats usual grow out of it the older they get.
your rat is skittish compared to most..
rats can carry blue bonnet plague ..and you have one of the nasty varmint for a pet..get a life get a bird of a fish tank...
Apparently stanleymcqueen doesn't realize that domestic rats don't carry diseases. Anyways, I know that my rats recognize my footsteps when I come to feed them, but they don't seem to freak out at loud noises. As some other people have said, yours could just have more sensitive hearing than other rats.
I would say that's pretty skittish. We have 3 and they are in my sons room. He's 9 and far from quiet, plus he always has the TV on.
Are your rats male or female? My female rats seem to be a lot more skitish than the males and will jump at noises like you described. My male rats are much more laid back and will generally be curious about what the noise is and investigate.
All my ratties are pretty desensitized except for the two younger ones, Ozzy and Frosty. They're always around people and other animals, so they're pretty used to a rambunctious household.
not all rats are jumpy to sounds but they are more sensitive to them because of their ears and not having good eye site. they may be jumping because they can't identify the sound.
my 2 rats are not skittish. they can sleep threw the vacuum cleaner.
No. I think where ever you got your rat was not the best place. they were not handled often enough so then you got a shy scared rat. Try to play with your rats more to tame them.
Are African pygmy mice legal?
Are they covered by the 2003 CDC ban on African rodents? The ban specifically lists tree squirrels (Sciurus), rope squirrels (Funisciurus), dormices (Graphiurus), Gambian giant pouched rats (Cricetomys gambianus), brush-tailed porcupines (Atherurus africanus), and striped mice (Typomys). If African pygmy mice (Mus Minutoides) aren't on the list, are they legal?
Answers:
These are examples of animals that are not permitted to be imported or possessed in California as pets pursuant to California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 671.
Gars
African clawed frog
Alligators
Caimans
Snapping turtles
White-eyes (Zosterops)
Monk (Quaker) parakeet
Short-tailed opossum
Sugar glider
Hedgehogs (all types)
Degu (trumpet-tailed rat)
All gerbils and jirds (such as Duprasi)
Dormouse (all types)
Flying squirrels
All chipmunks and squirrels
Prairie dogs
Gambian giant pouched rat
African striped grass mouse (zebra mouse)
African pygmy mouse
Egyptian spiny mouse
Raccoon
Ringtail
Cacomistle
Coatimundi
Skunks (all types)
Arctic fox (blue fox)
Fennec fox
Wolf-dog hybrids*
Ferret
African lion
Serval
Monkeys, chimpanzees
i don't know how to speak English? do you wanna be my friend?
Not until they're 18 years old in mouse years.
yes i think they r
no idea what you are talking about
hope I helped
Answers:
These are examples of animals that are not permitted to be imported or possessed in California as pets pursuant to California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 671.
Gars
African clawed frog
Alligators
Caimans
Snapping turtles
White-eyes (Zosterops)
Monk (Quaker) parakeet
Short-tailed opossum
Sugar glider
Hedgehogs (all types)
Degu (trumpet-tailed rat)
All gerbils and jirds (such as Duprasi)
Dormouse (all types)
Flying squirrels
All chipmunks and squirrels
Prairie dogs
Gambian giant pouched rat
African striped grass mouse (zebra mouse)
African pygmy mouse
Egyptian spiny mouse
Raccoon
Ringtail
Cacomistle
Coatimundi
Skunks (all types)
Arctic fox (blue fox)
Fennec fox
Wolf-dog hybrids*
Ferret
African lion
Serval
Monkeys, chimpanzees
i don't know how to speak English? do you wanna be my friend?
Not until they're 18 years old in mouse years.
yes i think they r
no idea what you are talking about
hope I helped
Aquarium, wire cage, or plastic cage for 2 Gerbils?
I know that the plastic ones are hardest to clean, hamsters and Gerbils can bite through them sometimes and find ways to escape through the attachments.
With the metal cages (wire/metal) there is usually a wheel installed with it but you can completely smell everything because of how open it is. Plus, it's metal so it makes a lot of noise with the wheel and everything.
The aquarium looks the most boring, but it smells the best and has less of a chance that the pet can escape, plus you can buy a food dish and water dish, wheel, and other toys that make it look better. Plus they're the easiest to clean.
This is what I have found out through coustomer reviews and experience.
If you have GERBILS, since they bite on things in their cage so much, what things did you do?
If you have a GERBIL, did yours ever bite through or escape in a plastic or metal cage? That's why I am thinking that an aquarium would be the best idea- it's the biggest and easiest to clean, right? :-)
Answers:
Gerbils are BRILLIANT escape artists, high jumpers, and energetic diggers/burrowers. A glass aquarium with a screen top will accomodate all of these issues. I've kept gerbils on and off for several years and I've always used a glass aquarium. Yes, they are very easy to clean and they don't have to be boring at all. Right now, my cage has a wooden gerbil house, a nice big gerbil safe wheel (they need a large one to accomodate for their tails), an edible hollowed out tree stump (fake, of course), a large chew that can be rolled around the cage, and a food dish and water bottle. It's a pretty neat looking set-up.
If that's still a little boring for you, follow this link to a really cute decorating idea that you attach to the outside of cage:
http://www.twinsqueaks.com/tips-archive/...
EDIT:
Forgot to tell you how I clean it! Once a week, I take everything out and rinse it really well with hot water and dry it completely before I put it back together with fresh bedding (my gerbil sits on my shoulder while I do it--cutie pie that she is!). Twice a month, I wipe the cage and everything that goes in it with a small pet safe disinfectant. It never smells!
OMG
dontttttttt get two gerbils they will kill eachother!!
But aquarium works the best just try to find something that fits on the bottom so you can just pick it up and clean that.
An aquarium or storage bin cage would be best. See this link for info and instructions on how to make a bin cage:
http://www.petwebsite.com/article_read.a...
The answer depends on you. Plastic = NO. Just cost your more $ replacing %26 can make them sick.
Aquarium would be more convenient for you.
Wire is better for them. They have better air flow to breathe. If you are concerned on odor - - clean it frequently which is good for both them %26 you; use cedar chips. Wheels don't have to be noisy - - talk to pet shop %26 get a good one.
or . . don't get them at all. Even a cat pan will smell if not cleaned regularly.
first of all, to the person that said gerbils will kill eachother is wrong, gerbils prefer to have a buddy
and anyone of these cage is perfect for your rodents, it shouldnt smell bad if you clean it often enough
and i think the plastic or metal would be the best there ismor ventalition in the metal wich is good,
i used a 10 gallon tank with an extenion lid that had for levels they loved that and it allowed them to get air without leaving but it can be around 40$
With the metal cages (wire/metal) there is usually a wheel installed with it but you can completely smell everything because of how open it is. Plus, it's metal so it makes a lot of noise with the wheel and everything.
The aquarium looks the most boring, but it smells the best and has less of a chance that the pet can escape, plus you can buy a food dish and water dish, wheel, and other toys that make it look better. Plus they're the easiest to clean.
This is what I have found out through coustomer reviews and experience.
If you have GERBILS, since they bite on things in their cage so much, what things did you do?
If you have a GERBIL, did yours ever bite through or escape in a plastic or metal cage? That's why I am thinking that an aquarium would be the best idea- it's the biggest and easiest to clean, right? :-)
Answers:
Gerbils are BRILLIANT escape artists, high jumpers, and energetic diggers/burrowers. A glass aquarium with a screen top will accomodate all of these issues. I've kept gerbils on and off for several years and I've always used a glass aquarium. Yes, they are very easy to clean and they don't have to be boring at all. Right now, my cage has a wooden gerbil house, a nice big gerbil safe wheel (they need a large one to accomodate for their tails), an edible hollowed out tree stump (fake, of course), a large chew that can be rolled around the cage, and a food dish and water bottle. It's a pretty neat looking set-up.
If that's still a little boring for you, follow this link to a really cute decorating idea that you attach to the outside of cage:
http://www.twinsqueaks.com/tips-archive/...
EDIT:
Forgot to tell you how I clean it! Once a week, I take everything out and rinse it really well with hot water and dry it completely before I put it back together with fresh bedding (my gerbil sits on my shoulder while I do it--cutie pie that she is!). Twice a month, I wipe the cage and everything that goes in it with a small pet safe disinfectant. It never smells!
OMG
dontttttttt get two gerbils they will kill eachother!!
But aquarium works the best just try to find something that fits on the bottom so you can just pick it up and clean that.
An aquarium or storage bin cage would be best. See this link for info and instructions on how to make a bin cage:
http://www.petwebsite.com/article_read.a...
The answer depends on you. Plastic = NO. Just cost your more $ replacing %26 can make them sick.
Aquarium would be more convenient for you.
Wire is better for them. They have better air flow to breathe. If you are concerned on odor - - clean it frequently which is good for both them %26 you; use cedar chips. Wheels don't have to be noisy - - talk to pet shop %26 get a good one.
or . . don't get them at all. Even a cat pan will smell if not cleaned regularly.
first of all, to the person that said gerbils will kill eachother is wrong, gerbils prefer to have a buddy
and anyone of these cage is perfect for your rodents, it shouldnt smell bad if you clean it often enough
and i think the plastic or metal would be the best there ismor ventalition in the metal wich is good,
i used a 10 gallon tank with an extenion lid that had for levels they loved that and it allowed them to get air without leaving but it can be around 40$
Aquarium Vs Hamster Cage?
Which One Is Better I Saw A Small Aquarium That Made It easy to See And Reach, Where As The Cage Has A Lot Os Little Toys Toy Play With
Answers:
now i have a hamster and she is goin to get a bought 8 inches and at first we were gonna put her in an aquarium because there is very poor ventaltion and no much room for toys and such.hamsters love to chew and with cages that are good that have huge metal gaps and it can cause bummblefoot.but we do have a 10 gallon aquarium but we found a cage topper with 3 floors which gives my hammy love of room for toys and such and so much ventilation!they are perfect for hammys becase the gaps r not big and there is lots of room and it give them great exercise.here is the link to the topper we bought my my baby oreo.
http://www.petco.com/product/10806/small...
it's at a great price and is any amzing cage for any animal like rats or mice or gerbils!and hammy's of course!=)
hope this helps!!
cages rule Aq. have poor ventalation
i think the cage, with a wheel
Id go with the hamster cage . Easier to clean , more air flow , because with no air flow it well get stinky . Plus its easier to pet them and they get fresh air .
You want there to be things for the hamster to chew on otherwise he'll chew on the adhesive on the aquarium, so you'll probably be better off going with the cage. They also make small animal cages with "petting zones" which make it really easy to grab the animal as well as see what they're doing throughout the entire cage. It all depends on what type of cage you get but the aquarium isn't a good idea.
I would go with cage, to help with the smell need air flow.
I have an aquarium for my son's hamster, and have a wheel in it and also the ball I put it in once a week.
I like aquariums, no cedar chips can fall out
I always used aquariums, because they're MUCH easier to keep clean than the wire cages or the habitrail type things. The aquarium can just be dumped out, and washed easily in the sink or bathtub when it really gets filthy.
The ventilation is an issue, though. With an aquarium, you can NOT use cedar chips. Get pine, or something else that's unscented. Cedar, without ventilation, will eat up your little pet's sinuses.
You can get a wheel that will fit inside an aquarium. Also, you have to have a lid, because sometimes the little guys climb up the water bottle %26 get out, so be careful.
It depends on what kind of hamster you are thinking about getting, or what kind of hamster that you have!
If you have a dwarf hamster: I would go for the Aquarium. Dwarf hamsters like only one level in their cage. So, an Aquarium would be the best for a Dwarf Hamster.
Syrian, Teddy Bear, ect. hamsters: like cages with 2 levels or even more levels! So, a cage with 2 levels or more, would be best for any larger sized hamsters (compared to the dwarf hamsters)!
I hope that this helps answer your question! Remember, you can always add wheels, and toys and such to both cages and aquariums. Good Luck!
Even though aquariums seem great, they aren't so great for hamsters. i suggest a cage with tubes and things. Even if you did put toys in the aquarium, I heard somewhere that hamsters and gerbils/etc dont like it. they like to have open, fresh air.
Cage. Aquariums provide poor ventilation and are VERY hard to clean. They are much more likely to be a breeding ground for bacteria and stink a lot more. Just remember how bad those pet smart aquariums smell with the rodents in them. Just be sure that when you get a cage. Dont get the kind with the wire floor. It hurts the rodents feet.
a crittertrail from petsmart they have many models to choose from. aquariums aren't well ventilated, and the urine builds up and turns into mold and bacteria.
Answers:
now i have a hamster and she is goin to get a bought 8 inches and at first we were gonna put her in an aquarium because there is very poor ventaltion and no much room for toys and such.hamsters love to chew and with cages that are good that have huge metal gaps and it can cause bummblefoot.but we do have a 10 gallon aquarium but we found a cage topper with 3 floors which gives my hammy love of room for toys and such and so much ventilation!they are perfect for hammys becase the gaps r not big and there is lots of room and it give them great exercise.here is the link to the topper we bought my my baby oreo.
http://www.petco.com/product/10806/small...
it's at a great price and is any amzing cage for any animal like rats or mice or gerbils!and hammy's of course!=)
hope this helps!!
cages rule Aq. have poor ventalation
i think the cage, with a wheel
Id go with the hamster cage . Easier to clean , more air flow , because with no air flow it well get stinky . Plus its easier to pet them and they get fresh air .
You want there to be things for the hamster to chew on otherwise he'll chew on the adhesive on the aquarium, so you'll probably be better off going with the cage. They also make small animal cages with "petting zones" which make it really easy to grab the animal as well as see what they're doing throughout the entire cage. It all depends on what type of cage you get but the aquarium isn't a good idea.
I would go with cage, to help with the smell need air flow.
I have an aquarium for my son's hamster, and have a wheel in it and also the ball I put it in once a week.
I like aquariums, no cedar chips can fall out
I always used aquariums, because they're MUCH easier to keep clean than the wire cages or the habitrail type things. The aquarium can just be dumped out, and washed easily in the sink or bathtub when it really gets filthy.
The ventilation is an issue, though. With an aquarium, you can NOT use cedar chips. Get pine, or something else that's unscented. Cedar, without ventilation, will eat up your little pet's sinuses.
You can get a wheel that will fit inside an aquarium. Also, you have to have a lid, because sometimes the little guys climb up the water bottle %26 get out, so be careful.
It depends on what kind of hamster you are thinking about getting, or what kind of hamster that you have!
If you have a dwarf hamster: I would go for the Aquarium. Dwarf hamsters like only one level in their cage. So, an Aquarium would be the best for a Dwarf Hamster.
Syrian, Teddy Bear, ect. hamsters: like cages with 2 levels or even more levels! So, a cage with 2 levels or more, would be best for any larger sized hamsters (compared to the dwarf hamsters)!
I hope that this helps answer your question! Remember, you can always add wheels, and toys and such to both cages and aquariums. Good Luck!
Even though aquariums seem great, they aren't so great for hamsters. i suggest a cage with tubes and things. Even if you did put toys in the aquarium, I heard somewhere that hamsters and gerbils/etc dont like it. they like to have open, fresh air.
Cage. Aquariums provide poor ventilation and are VERY hard to clean. They are much more likely to be a breeding ground for bacteria and stink a lot more. Just remember how bad those pet smart aquariums smell with the rodents in them. Just be sure that when you get a cage. Dont get the kind with the wire floor. It hurts the rodents feet.
a crittertrail from petsmart they have many models to choose from. aquariums aren't well ventilated, and the urine builds up and turns into mold and bacteria.
Aquarium for my robo dwarf hamster?
I am planning on using an aqarium to put my robo dwarf hamster in. Because i already have one, so it's cheaper. Where can i find a screen top to close it?
Some people say it's fine to keep hamsters in an aquarium but i also heard there's not good ventilation.
Answers:
I personally feel quite the opposite to the poster above about using aquariums for dwarf hamsters. I currently have 5 Roborovski's and keep them in aquariums and have done for a few years with no problems.
The observation about ventilation is a valid one, however as these little guys produce very little in the way of ammonia it's not as much as a problem keeping on top of the cleaning as it would be on species which produce quite a fair amount of ammonia and have sensitive respiratory systems such as rats.
The beauty of it is too is that you can produce an environment for them which is more like a natural environment instead of keeping them in a plastic or wire cage which is to be honest, quite boring for the hamster because they cannot burrow or exercise all of their behaviours (it's the same with gerbils too).
I bed my aquariums down with at least 8 inches of substrate and "bulk" it so that the hamsters can create their own burrow systems. Again this gives the hamster something very natural and something which couldn't be created in a wire cage - it also makes an unusual and attractive display in your house!
I made my own tops for mine using wire aviary mesh and a wooden frame and made it to size, however if you've got a standard size aquarium you could try asking some of the manufacturers who make mesh lids if they may have one that fits - there is a company called Perfecto who makes a range of glass tanks with mesh fitting lids and also makes them seperately so they may be able to help.
Hope this helps :)
I have 2 dwarf hamsters and I keep them both in aquariums. I do not keep a top on the aquarium so it is perfect ventilation. the only reason I leave it off is they are very short. If you think your hamsters can get out you can get an aquarium top at the pet store.
Unless you plan on cleaning it VERY regularly (like 2x a week) I would recommend not using an aquarium. They can get very stinky very fast. And if you think the smell is bad for you, imagine how bad it is for the little guy. You can find really cheap cages at places like Wal-Mart, or even E-Bay (just make sure it is new, cause otherwise it might be chewed or otherwise damaged and your hamster might escape).
Some people say it's fine to keep hamsters in an aquarium but i also heard there's not good ventilation.
Answers:
I personally feel quite the opposite to the poster above about using aquariums for dwarf hamsters. I currently have 5 Roborovski's and keep them in aquariums and have done for a few years with no problems.
The observation about ventilation is a valid one, however as these little guys produce very little in the way of ammonia it's not as much as a problem keeping on top of the cleaning as it would be on species which produce quite a fair amount of ammonia and have sensitive respiratory systems such as rats.
The beauty of it is too is that you can produce an environment for them which is more like a natural environment instead of keeping them in a plastic or wire cage which is to be honest, quite boring for the hamster because they cannot burrow or exercise all of their behaviours (it's the same with gerbils too).
I bed my aquariums down with at least 8 inches of substrate and "bulk" it so that the hamsters can create their own burrow systems. Again this gives the hamster something very natural and something which couldn't be created in a wire cage - it also makes an unusual and attractive display in your house!
I made my own tops for mine using wire aviary mesh and a wooden frame and made it to size, however if you've got a standard size aquarium you could try asking some of the manufacturers who make mesh lids if they may have one that fits - there is a company called Perfecto who makes a range of glass tanks with mesh fitting lids and also makes them seperately so they may be able to help.
Hope this helps :)
I have 2 dwarf hamsters and I keep them both in aquariums. I do not keep a top on the aquarium so it is perfect ventilation. the only reason I leave it off is they are very short. If you think your hamsters can get out you can get an aquarium top at the pet store.
Unless you plan on cleaning it VERY regularly (like 2x a week) I would recommend not using an aquarium. They can get very stinky very fast. And if you think the smell is bad for you, imagine how bad it is for the little guy. You can find really cheap cages at places like Wal-Mart, or even E-Bay (just make sure it is new, cause otherwise it might be chewed or otherwise damaged and your hamster might escape).
Approximate cost for a pair of gerbils and their accesories?
I'll be getting a pair of gerbils sometime in August (hence my username--I'm really excited ;)! ), and I was wondering what the price would be, more-or-less, for the following:
-Bag of food
-A water bottle
-A small nesting box
-A solid-material wheel
-Chinchilla dust to bathe in
-A run-around ball (like a hamster ball)
-The two gerbils themselves
...And perhaps a climbing toy.
I already have their tank, so that's fine. I live in Canada, though, so please give Canadian prices if possible. Thanks!
Answers:
Some pet centers offer specials - meaning you buy the cage and all the goodies in it and they will give you the hamster/or gerbil. I think the last time I set myself with all it cost about $50 - $75. But that is all up front stuff. The costs associated with keeping a gerbil is minimal - just food, maybe treats, and whatever you will use to line the cage with: cedar chips or saw dust. . .
$250-300, it costs alot! I am always broke now!
food is about 3 pounds
cage is about 30 pounds
accsesories is about 10 pounds
animals are about 14 pounds for two
be prepared for vet bills can be up to 200 pounds at a time
congrats! i just got my 2 gerbils in january, they are a lot of fun! i live in the u.s. but it can't be that much different. i remember that the gerbils themselves were about $12 each. and it came up to about $200 in all. i had to save up to buy mine and i had to pay for them, that's why i remember.
you may want to go to the pet store and bring a calculator and add up the prices for everything you see that you want to buy.
-Bag of food
-A water bottle
-A small nesting box
-A solid-material wheel
-Chinchilla dust to bathe in
-A run-around ball (like a hamster ball)
-The two gerbils themselves
...And perhaps a climbing toy.
I already have their tank, so that's fine. I live in Canada, though, so please give Canadian prices if possible. Thanks!
Answers:
Some pet centers offer specials - meaning you buy the cage and all the goodies in it and they will give you the hamster/or gerbil. I think the last time I set myself with all it cost about $50 - $75. But that is all up front stuff. The costs associated with keeping a gerbil is minimal - just food, maybe treats, and whatever you will use to line the cage with: cedar chips or saw dust. . .
$250-300, it costs alot! I am always broke now!
food is about 3 pounds
cage is about 30 pounds
accsesories is about 10 pounds
animals are about 14 pounds for two
be prepared for vet bills can be up to 200 pounds at a time
congrats! i just got my 2 gerbils in january, they are a lot of fun! i live in the u.s. but it can't be that much different. i remember that the gerbils themselves were about $12 each. and it came up to about $200 in all. i had to save up to buy mine and i had to pay for them, that's why i remember.
you may want to go to the pet store and bring a calculator and add up the prices for everything you see that you want to buy.
Anything besides vegies and fruits I can feed my hamster?
Just wondering...
Answers:
yah they have hamster treats. My hamsters love cheetos and other chips. They love cheese. They love bread dunked in milk.
Ok so everyone is saying that you cant feed your hamsters chips. But they are all wrong. Chips like cheetos and doritos are fine for hamsters. They LOVE them and they arent bad for them. If they were bad for them I'd know. I have had over 150 hamsters. They all lived about 2 and 1/2 to 3 years. they all had healthy litters(none deformed or anything). If they were bad for them they would have died people! You guys are retarded honestly I want someone to find me some sights that says HAMSTERS CANT HAVE CHEETOS. They can! Its just like feeding them cheese! They Love it! Oh yah also if you feed them dry plain oatmeal everyday or every other day it helps them smell better. And plus oatmeal is a natural antibiotic for hamsters. Like if the get wet tail or just get sick. They love it! Dont believe me try it out yourself. Ask the freakin vet they'll tell yah.
you can go to the pet store and get some hamster food...it has sunflower seeds and all kinds of goodeys your hamster will LOVE!!
Insects. My hamster loves meal worms. They are a great source of protein and it is actually recommended that you feed them insects. In the wild hamsters search for them as a major food source.
They like to eat home grown wheat grass, and also if you purchase a small bag of timothy hay it will last a long time and your hamster will love it.
Just make sure the insects are store bought and meant for pet consumption (so the hamster doesnt get parasites).
Just to clarify:
Hamsters should NEVER be fed junk food. By doing that, you are just shortening their already short life span. And I dont know about you, but I want my hamster to live the longest she possibly can. We have developed a close bond.
They can have hamster treats like yogurt drops which you can buy from a pet shop.They can also have clovers and dandelion leafs,but make sure you they don't have any pesticide on them and wash them under the tap for about 5 mins. My hamsters like clovers and dandelion leafs better than hamster treats.
Hope it helps
small amounts of fresh vegetables such as carrots, cabbage, celery, cauliflower, and broccoli. Fresh fruits should only be given in very small amounts as treats. A handful of timothy hay should be given 2-3 times a week. Avoid foods such as raw beans, potato eyes, iceberg lettuce, citrus fruits, green potatoes, tomatoes, garlic, chocolate, as well as sugary or salty foods.
Uhhh you could feed them mealworms from the oet store and WTH U CANT FEEED CHIPS OR JUNK FOOD TO YOUR HAMASTERRR!
Well there is some hamster treats that you can get my hamster loves Snix Snax. It has a variety of snacks in it! Hamsters love sunflower seeds so you can give them that!
Go to http://www.petwebsite.com/hamsters/hamst...
Quite alot .They can eat pellets u can find them in woolworths.They cant eat this but apple cores r full of nutrition and for their teeth!Sultanas dried bananas raisons .And sunflowers seeds there is a big box of this variaties in ur local shops.
cheerios, dry spaghetti, hardboiled egg pieces, dog biscuit pieces, bread soaked in milk, remove as soon as they finish.
well, aside from their pellet food.
Cheerios are a favorite, but not the ones with honey!
Answers:
yah they have hamster treats. My hamsters love cheetos and other chips. They love cheese. They love bread dunked in milk.
Ok so everyone is saying that you cant feed your hamsters chips. But they are all wrong. Chips like cheetos and doritos are fine for hamsters. They LOVE them and they arent bad for them. If they were bad for them I'd know. I have had over 150 hamsters. They all lived about 2 and 1/2 to 3 years. they all had healthy litters(none deformed or anything). If they were bad for them they would have died people! You guys are retarded honestly I want someone to find me some sights that says HAMSTERS CANT HAVE CHEETOS. They can! Its just like feeding them cheese! They Love it! Oh yah also if you feed them dry plain oatmeal everyday or every other day it helps them smell better. And plus oatmeal is a natural antibiotic for hamsters. Like if the get wet tail or just get sick. They love it! Dont believe me try it out yourself. Ask the freakin vet they'll tell yah.
you can go to the pet store and get some hamster food...it has sunflower seeds and all kinds of goodeys your hamster will LOVE!!
Insects. My hamster loves meal worms. They are a great source of protein and it is actually recommended that you feed them insects. In the wild hamsters search for them as a major food source.
They like to eat home grown wheat grass, and also if you purchase a small bag of timothy hay it will last a long time and your hamster will love it.
Just make sure the insects are store bought and meant for pet consumption (so the hamster doesnt get parasites).
Just to clarify:
Hamsters should NEVER be fed junk food. By doing that, you are just shortening their already short life span. And I dont know about you, but I want my hamster to live the longest she possibly can. We have developed a close bond.
They can have hamster treats like yogurt drops which you can buy from a pet shop.They can also have clovers and dandelion leafs,but make sure you they don't have any pesticide on them and wash them under the tap for about 5 mins. My hamsters like clovers and dandelion leafs better than hamster treats.
Hope it helps
small amounts of fresh vegetables such as carrots, cabbage, celery, cauliflower, and broccoli. Fresh fruits should only be given in very small amounts as treats. A handful of timothy hay should be given 2-3 times a week. Avoid foods such as raw beans, potato eyes, iceberg lettuce, citrus fruits, green potatoes, tomatoes, garlic, chocolate, as well as sugary or salty foods.
Uhhh you could feed them mealworms from the oet store and WTH U CANT FEEED CHIPS OR JUNK FOOD TO YOUR HAMASTERRR!
Well there is some hamster treats that you can get my hamster loves Snix Snax. It has a variety of snacks in it! Hamsters love sunflower seeds so you can give them that!
Go to http://www.petwebsite.com/hamsters/hamst...
Quite alot .They can eat pellets u can find them in woolworths.They cant eat this but apple cores r full of nutrition and for their teeth!Sultanas dried bananas raisons .And sunflowers seeds there is a big box of this variaties in ur local shops.
cheerios, dry spaghetti, hardboiled egg pieces, dog biscuit pieces, bread soaked in milk, remove as soon as they finish.
well, aside from their pellet food.
Cheerios are a favorite, but not the ones with honey!
Anyone who has a rat?
My rat,ester boo,died 2 days ago in my hands. I held her and pet her head while she was passing. My brother was here while this happened and I was crying,obviously,because she was my baby. He told me to quit crying over a rat and when I told other people about it they were like "so get another one" or similar things. I just want to know how some people can be so insensitive to the lose of a pet no matter what kind. Most people with pets think of them as family as I did. Do you guys have any bad experiences with people minimizing your love for your rat? Or people telling you how gross they are? How do you deal with it? What do you say to them? I am sorry this is so long I am just frustrated and still upset that she is gone. Thanks
Answers:
Sorry for the loss of your sweet baby. I haven't had to go through the loss of one of our rats yet but we just lost our guinea pig. My husband told me that it was only a guinea pig and to get over it and I told him that I loved that guinea pig like it was family and that it was quite insensitive of him to make my feelings seem like they didn't matter just because he didn't feel the same way that I did. Some people just don't get as attached to certain animals as others do. Lots of people also think that rats are a disposable pet and that you can replace them at any time. I don't think that these people have ever been loved by or loved a rat. I get told that rats are gross and get that why the **** do you have rats question all the time. I just introduce them to my boys and about seven out of ten times they win them over.
I'm sure that you will heal in time and be able to give your love to another rat. Thank you for being with her to help her cross the bridge. She'll be waiting on the other side to greet you when you finally get to be together again.
Your emotions about your rat is very normal. Many people are not rodent lovers. Those who do not get excited about rats are rude with statements. Of course you are upset; and you will feel better soon. Most rats don't live very long meaning they live around 4 years maybe more. It all depends on circumstances. It is hard when you loose a pet, but I have always told my kids that their pet has had a wonderful life with all the care possible. We have had several rats thr the years with much enjoyment.
I have a rat too Her name is Snowi I also would be upset if she died, i've had alot of dreams of my rat dying! I'm So sorry about Boo!!!!!!!!
:-*(
I can sympathize with your situation. I had a hairless rat a couple years back , and she too died in the palm of my hands. I cried and cried and everyone thought I was out of my mind. But she was very important to me. Dont let people minimize your feelings about your pet. A pet is a pet is a pet.doesnt matter if it is a dog or horse or cat...you loved her and thats all that matter. I am truly sorry that you lost your little pal.take care.
I've had many pets "family members" die and a few in my hands. One I'll never forget is the first male rat I ever had, His name was Two-Tone because he was black but had a white "lightning bolt" down his tummy...I had him for 2 years before he went into convulsions in my hands, all I could do was cry into him because I knew there was nothing that could save him :( To most of the people who saw him he was just a gross, ugly, rat but to me he was a loyal friend (who slept on my pillow, sat on my shoulder, went everywhere with me [sometimes even to school]) he was a great companion and I think I was able to give him a wonderful life. In his 2 years he had a wife (Gabrielle) who was albino, had one daughter that looked like momma (Hope) and 15 that had his markings and I can't remember how many went on from there :) I gave him a viking funeral (buried him at sea so to speak...we let him float into the Twin Lakes where we live) I still miss him almost 10 years later but he'll always be in my heart with my other pets who have passed. I am sorry for your loss...and I feel people who say "just get another one" are heartless :(
I'm so sorry that you've lost your little one. People have been insensitive to me about my sweet rats %26 other "gross" companions. It used to really upset me %26 hurt my feelings but now I just let it be %26 kind of feel bad for the person b/c it's sad for them to be so insensitive that they don't allow themselves the joy %26 love of small animals.
It sounds like there has been a lot of love between you %26 your little one. She is fortunate that you were with her as she passed.
I'm sorry you're precious pet rat died. One of mine died last month too.
It is too bad that so many people are so closed minded about rats. They seem to almost have it hardwired to think the myths are true about the nasty rat, or the scary movies about the vicious rat.
Those of us fortunate enough to have known and loved rats find it almost incredulous that a creature who is as smart, clean,sweet, loving, and cute as a rat is so misunderstood.
I don't let it get to me although I do try to enlighten them.
There is one guy in the apartments where I live that tells other people in front of me, that he would shoot one. Since he is a Veteran of the Vietnam war, I understand because he told me they give him nightmares.
It seems that the rat is getting to be more accepted and loved as a pet. Since websites life you tube, more people are seeing how charming they are. They are being discovered that with their small size and relative ease of care, they fit into many people's lifestyles.
Go ahead and cry for your dear rattie, then when it feels right, go get a same sex pair. Now that you have had rats, they are too good to do without!
I know how you feel. When my pet mouse died I was so upset, I couldn't stop crying, then when I got to school I told some people how my mouse had died and they all just kept saying omg why do you care it's just a rodent or ewww thats disgusting you have a mouse as a pet?! When they said this to me I just ignored them and walked off. Don't worry about what other people say to you, you know how much you loved ester boo and she will always be in your heart, if people say rude things about the situation just ignore them.
R.I.P ester boo.
I own a rat named Buddy and I have the same feelings for him. He is getting to be very old and I'm scared I'm going to lose him very soon. So how you feel about her is totally normal. I would get a new pet maybe not a rat for a while but something i could pet and care for again. Hope all is well and I'm sorry for your loss!
I'm so sorry for your loss.
Unfortunately...most people just don't "get" it. I don't talk about my pets much with people, but I was lucky enough that the people who knew I had rats, weren't disgusted by that fact. At least...they never shared their rude comments with me. Which is all that really matters: I don't expect everyone to like my choice of pet, but when they are vocal about their disgust, THAT is when I get annoyed.
Years ago, I had to have my very first hamster put to sleep. I had a person--someone I had never really talked to much before--tell me that it was stupid to bring a hamster to the vet to put it to sleep, I should have just left him alone to die. Even when I told her he was *suffering* she said it doesn't matter, it's only a hamster. But minutes before, she was sooo sorry another girl had her cat put to sleep. When she told me this, we were only 12 years old...I thought kids were more sensitive and a little more compassionate, but apparently not. I just can't wrap my brain around how someone could say that just because something is small and only costs $7, they deserve to suffer. =[
People think rats are gross, and unless you're dealing with a very open-minded person, they're probably not really going to pay much attention to what you say about them. I just tell people rats are like dogs in a rodent body and they only get as dirty as you allow them to.
I usually ignore the super ignorant comments. Nothing ever change's anyone's mind. Or I just simply tell them that rat/whatever was as important to me as their precious little dog is to them. Does it make them feel bad for their comments? Probably not. But it hopefully makes them stop and think a little.
i'm sorry to hear about the loss of your dear boo.
i too recently lost one of my girls (alexa- 6-6-07) this past year. unfortunately my poor girl wasn't as lucky to go the way yours did. i didn't notice that she'd had an infection and was on the way to get her to the vet and it was too late :((
i was extremely traumatized and felt like a really bad mommy, and still do when i think of her.i called my boyfriend at work and he had to suck back the tears (big burley mechanics aren't suppose to cry you know) we spent a good part of that night crying. its still hard for us, she was very much apart of our family. she was an indignant witch a lot of the time and set in her own ways, but still had her sweet side.
as for people that think there gross, or are uneducated about them, i ask them if they want to learn about them and tell them things that my girls know and can do.
as for the people that think there gross, maybe there gross too!!
i remember one of my boyfriend's cousins squeaking and scaring the crap out of my girls and i told him that if he didn't stop he would have to leave. he thought that he'd be a funny guy and do it just one more time.
he was getting ready at our place to catch a flight because we live close to the airport. he was brushing his teeth and squeaking away. i grabbed all his things and threw them out my front door. told him that he could finish doing whatever he needed at the airport and not to come back... that was more then a year ago and he hasn't been back to my house.
and thats what i do with the people that disrespect me, and my girls!!
as for the mourning part of this, the pain will go away in its own time and its something that you're going to have to cry over i'm sure a few more times.
((((hugs to you))))
well i am sorry as well about your pet!!
i know what it is like to love an animal and to have such a cool one at that..
but people in this world are so cruel and you know they are even your own family can hurt your feelings at a time of sadness.. you have to be strong and stick with the ones that share the common sympathy as yourself..
hang in there my love..
Answers:
Sorry for the loss of your sweet baby. I haven't had to go through the loss of one of our rats yet but we just lost our guinea pig. My husband told me that it was only a guinea pig and to get over it and I told him that I loved that guinea pig like it was family and that it was quite insensitive of him to make my feelings seem like they didn't matter just because he didn't feel the same way that I did. Some people just don't get as attached to certain animals as others do. Lots of people also think that rats are a disposable pet and that you can replace them at any time. I don't think that these people have ever been loved by or loved a rat. I get told that rats are gross and get that why the **** do you have rats question all the time. I just introduce them to my boys and about seven out of ten times they win them over.
I'm sure that you will heal in time and be able to give your love to another rat. Thank you for being with her to help her cross the bridge. She'll be waiting on the other side to greet you when you finally get to be together again.
Your emotions about your rat is very normal. Many people are not rodent lovers. Those who do not get excited about rats are rude with statements. Of course you are upset; and you will feel better soon. Most rats don't live very long meaning they live around 4 years maybe more. It all depends on circumstances. It is hard when you loose a pet, but I have always told my kids that their pet has had a wonderful life with all the care possible. We have had several rats thr the years with much enjoyment.
I have a rat too Her name is Snowi I also would be upset if she died, i've had alot of dreams of my rat dying! I'm So sorry about Boo!!!!!!!!
:-*(
I can sympathize with your situation. I had a hairless rat a couple years back , and she too died in the palm of my hands. I cried and cried and everyone thought I was out of my mind. But she was very important to me. Dont let people minimize your feelings about your pet. A pet is a pet is a pet.doesnt matter if it is a dog or horse or cat...you loved her and thats all that matter. I am truly sorry that you lost your little pal.take care.
I've had many pets "family members" die and a few in my hands. One I'll never forget is the first male rat I ever had, His name was Two-Tone because he was black but had a white "lightning bolt" down his tummy...I had him for 2 years before he went into convulsions in my hands, all I could do was cry into him because I knew there was nothing that could save him :( To most of the people who saw him he was just a gross, ugly, rat but to me he was a loyal friend (who slept on my pillow, sat on my shoulder, went everywhere with me [sometimes even to school]) he was a great companion and I think I was able to give him a wonderful life. In his 2 years he had a wife (Gabrielle) who was albino, had one daughter that looked like momma (Hope) and 15 that had his markings and I can't remember how many went on from there :) I gave him a viking funeral (buried him at sea so to speak...we let him float into the Twin Lakes where we live) I still miss him almost 10 years later but he'll always be in my heart with my other pets who have passed. I am sorry for your loss...and I feel people who say "just get another one" are heartless :(
I'm so sorry that you've lost your little one. People have been insensitive to me about my sweet rats %26 other "gross" companions. It used to really upset me %26 hurt my feelings but now I just let it be %26 kind of feel bad for the person b/c it's sad for them to be so insensitive that they don't allow themselves the joy %26 love of small animals.
It sounds like there has been a lot of love between you %26 your little one. She is fortunate that you were with her as she passed.
I'm sorry you're precious pet rat died. One of mine died last month too.
It is too bad that so many people are so closed minded about rats. They seem to almost have it hardwired to think the myths are true about the nasty rat, or the scary movies about the vicious rat.
Those of us fortunate enough to have known and loved rats find it almost incredulous that a creature who is as smart, clean,sweet, loving, and cute as a rat is so misunderstood.
I don't let it get to me although I do try to enlighten them.
There is one guy in the apartments where I live that tells other people in front of me, that he would shoot one. Since he is a Veteran of the Vietnam war, I understand because he told me they give him nightmares.
It seems that the rat is getting to be more accepted and loved as a pet. Since websites life you tube, more people are seeing how charming they are. They are being discovered that with their small size and relative ease of care, they fit into many people's lifestyles.
Go ahead and cry for your dear rattie, then when it feels right, go get a same sex pair. Now that you have had rats, they are too good to do without!
I know how you feel. When my pet mouse died I was so upset, I couldn't stop crying, then when I got to school I told some people how my mouse had died and they all just kept saying omg why do you care it's just a rodent or ewww thats disgusting you have a mouse as a pet?! When they said this to me I just ignored them and walked off. Don't worry about what other people say to you, you know how much you loved ester boo and she will always be in your heart, if people say rude things about the situation just ignore them.
R.I.P ester boo.
I own a rat named Buddy and I have the same feelings for him. He is getting to be very old and I'm scared I'm going to lose him very soon. So how you feel about her is totally normal. I would get a new pet maybe not a rat for a while but something i could pet and care for again. Hope all is well and I'm sorry for your loss!
I'm so sorry for your loss.
Unfortunately...most people just don't "get" it. I don't talk about my pets much with people, but I was lucky enough that the people who knew I had rats, weren't disgusted by that fact. At least...they never shared their rude comments with me. Which is all that really matters: I don't expect everyone to like my choice of pet, but when they are vocal about their disgust, THAT is when I get annoyed.
Years ago, I had to have my very first hamster put to sleep. I had a person--someone I had never really talked to much before--tell me that it was stupid to bring a hamster to the vet to put it to sleep, I should have just left him alone to die. Even when I told her he was *suffering* she said it doesn't matter, it's only a hamster. But minutes before, she was sooo sorry another girl had her cat put to sleep. When she told me this, we were only 12 years old...I thought kids were more sensitive and a little more compassionate, but apparently not. I just can't wrap my brain around how someone could say that just because something is small and only costs $7, they deserve to suffer. =[
People think rats are gross, and unless you're dealing with a very open-minded person, they're probably not really going to pay much attention to what you say about them. I just tell people rats are like dogs in a rodent body and they only get as dirty as you allow them to.
I usually ignore the super ignorant comments. Nothing ever change's anyone's mind. Or I just simply tell them that rat/whatever was as important to me as their precious little dog is to them. Does it make them feel bad for their comments? Probably not. But it hopefully makes them stop and think a little.
i'm sorry to hear about the loss of your dear boo.
i too recently lost one of my girls (alexa- 6-6-07) this past year. unfortunately my poor girl wasn't as lucky to go the way yours did. i didn't notice that she'd had an infection and was on the way to get her to the vet and it was too late :((
i was extremely traumatized and felt like a really bad mommy, and still do when i think of her.i called my boyfriend at work and he had to suck back the tears (big burley mechanics aren't suppose to cry you know) we spent a good part of that night crying. its still hard for us, she was very much apart of our family. she was an indignant witch a lot of the time and set in her own ways, but still had her sweet side.
as for people that think there gross, or are uneducated about them, i ask them if they want to learn about them and tell them things that my girls know and can do.
as for the people that think there gross, maybe there gross too!!
i remember one of my boyfriend's cousins squeaking and scaring the crap out of my girls and i told him that if he didn't stop he would have to leave. he thought that he'd be a funny guy and do it just one more time.
he was getting ready at our place to catch a flight because we live close to the airport. he was brushing his teeth and squeaking away. i grabbed all his things and threw them out my front door. told him that he could finish doing whatever he needed at the airport and not to come back... that was more then a year ago and he hasn't been back to my house.
and thats what i do with the people that disrespect me, and my girls!!
as for the mourning part of this, the pain will go away in its own time and its something that you're going to have to cry over i'm sure a few more times.
((((hugs to you))))
well i am sorry as well about your pet!!
i know what it is like to love an animal and to have such a cool one at that..
but people in this world are so cruel and you know they are even your own family can hurt your feelings at a time of sadness.. you have to be strong and stick with the ones that share the common sympathy as yourself..
hang in there my love..
Anyone want to use my guinea oig for breeding?
Nice
Answers:
Personally no. But what you might look into is getting involved showing your cavies. There are many Rabbit and Cavy shows nationally and locally.
I hate to be *that* person, but I'm totally doing it.
http://search.petfinder.com/search/searc...
Look at all these abandoned, homeless animals. There's no need for more. Please.
*steps off soapbox*
Do you really think that you are doing the world a favor by wanting to breed guinea pigs when there are so many homeless and abandoned pets? You need a reality check!!!
Please, look through these websites!
http://search.petfinder.com/search/searc...
http://www.cavyspirit.com/
Rethink what you are asking, please!!
I do. I have the cutest male guinea pig he's got this crazy hair. and he's very friendly. we had a female in the cage with him but, some reason she passed away. he would be a good one.
Answers:
Personally no. But what you might look into is getting involved showing your cavies. There are many Rabbit and Cavy shows nationally and locally.
I hate to be *that* person, but I'm totally doing it.
http://search.petfinder.com/search/searc...
Look at all these abandoned, homeless animals. There's no need for more. Please.
*steps off soapbox*
Do you really think that you are doing the world a favor by wanting to breed guinea pigs when there are so many homeless and abandoned pets? You need a reality check!!!
Please, look through these websites!
http://search.petfinder.com/search/searc...
http://www.cavyspirit.com/
Rethink what you are asking, please!!
I do. I have the cutest male guinea pig he's got this crazy hair. and he's very friendly. we had a female in the cage with him but, some reason she passed away. he would be a good one.
Anyone reckon there's a chance my male gerb will accept his son?
I separated the parents about a week before the birth. If there's a male baby i would like to put it in the same cage as its father. I held the babies up to the bars and he was very interested. He was sniffing them and he put his little paw on them, without scratching them. But I am pretty sure he won't accept a baby. Is there anyone out there who knows better than me on this one?
Answers:
Most male animals won't accept young, they will try to kill them. Keep them apart till the young one is big enough to defend itsself.
Sometimes father gerbils and sons will fight for dominance. We
did that with our hamsters and the son bit the dad so bad he died. I would NOT try it .
I'm not sure about gerbils, but with dwarf hamsters, the dad will usually accept the pup IF the pup is young, like no more than a month old, but don't introduce them when the pup is older as 2 older males WILL usually fight. Hamsters won't hurt a baby, but I'm not sure if it is the same with gerbils.
Good luck. :)
If he has been taken away then theres not much chance im affraid they will constantely fight..
Answers:
Most male animals won't accept young, they will try to kill them. Keep them apart till the young one is big enough to defend itsself.
Sometimes father gerbils and sons will fight for dominance. We
did that with our hamsters and the son bit the dad so bad he died. I would NOT try it .
I'm not sure about gerbils, but with dwarf hamsters, the dad will usually accept the pup IF the pup is young, like no more than a month old, but don't introduce them when the pup is older as 2 older males WILL usually fight. Hamsters won't hurt a baby, but I'm not sure if it is the same with gerbils.
Good luck. :)
If he has been taken away then theres not much chance im affraid they will constantely fight..
Anyone need advice on rabbits,cuz' i have 2.?
Lemme know if ya do!
Answers:
Just owning a couple of rabbit doesn't make you an expert on them, I rescue small animals including rabbits and I'm by far an expert on them myself. I still need to look up information on things for myself or others when I'm asked about them. I never rely on my memory for information. I keep a book and a binder with information on them and still need my vets advice at times.
Does that make you a bunny expert though?
LOL! Um, well, hmmm.do rabbits die quickly, like what is their life span?
ok. my male rabbit keeps humping my female and pulling out her fur. i dont know what to do! how can i stop him!
that doesnt really make you an expert. i have had rabbits throughout my life and have even started breeding. i think that makes me more of an expert than you.
i do wish i knew of something i could put over my old lady rabbits eye because her blind eye kinda freaks me out. i know its something i need to get used to but looking at it also kinda makes me feel sorry for her. ive never had an old or half blind rabbit b4 so im not experienced w/them.
Do rabbits dream?
GIRL, them animals r so syco, dat they friggen bite da heck outta people. dats why on tv there cute and evil..
Answers:
Just owning a couple of rabbit doesn't make you an expert on them, I rescue small animals including rabbits and I'm by far an expert on them myself. I still need to look up information on things for myself or others when I'm asked about them. I never rely on my memory for information. I keep a book and a binder with information on them and still need my vets advice at times.
Does that make you a bunny expert though?
LOL! Um, well, hmmm.do rabbits die quickly, like what is their life span?
ok. my male rabbit keeps humping my female and pulling out her fur. i dont know what to do! how can i stop him!
that doesnt really make you an expert. i have had rabbits throughout my life and have even started breeding. i think that makes me more of an expert than you.
i do wish i knew of something i could put over my old lady rabbits eye because her blind eye kinda freaks me out. i know its something i need to get used to but looking at it also kinda makes me feel sorry for her. ive never had an old or half blind rabbit b4 so im not experienced w/them.
Do rabbits dream?
GIRL, them animals r so syco, dat they friggen bite da heck outta people. dats why on tv there cute and evil..
Anyone near Dallas TX want a baby rat?
I have 5 girls and 5 boys.
http://dallas.kijiji.com/c-pets-pet-adop...
Answers:
ooo i do i do
Awwwwww! I would love one, but I'm in New York, sorry...
No, sorry, but there are a few ways you can try to sell them or give them away. Try your local Petco. They are always willing to take animals and give them up for adoption. It is a simple way to give them up, and you know they will be well taken care of. Or, you could take them to your local humane society. Check to see if they take rats, I know the one by me does.
If you weren't planning on giving them away, and rather selling them, try to put an ad in the newspaper. A small classified is very inexpensive. You might be surprised to hear from all the people who would love one of your baby rats. You could also put up fliers around your area saying that you have baby rats to sell.
Good luck!
I would love too except I live on the east coast AND I have a guinea pig. My mom wouldn't let me.
You can put them up for adoption on the web.
Or give them to Petco. They will gladly take them in and find them a good home. I had to do it with my lizard and a few days later, they called saying they had found him a home!
You could also post an ad at your local store or where ever there is a bulletin board.
You could also submit a newspaper ad.
Hope I helped!
i know some one who would love him or her but we live in new Jersey!
y do u have so many rats?
http://dallas.kijiji.com/c-pets-pet-adop...
Answers:
ooo i do i do
Awwwwww! I would love one, but I'm in New York, sorry...
No, sorry, but there are a few ways you can try to sell them or give them away. Try your local Petco. They are always willing to take animals and give them up for adoption. It is a simple way to give them up, and you know they will be well taken care of. Or, you could take them to your local humane society. Check to see if they take rats, I know the one by me does.
If you weren't planning on giving them away, and rather selling them, try to put an ad in the newspaper. A small classified is very inexpensive. You might be surprised to hear from all the people who would love one of your baby rats. You could also put up fliers around your area saying that you have baby rats to sell.
Good luck!
I would love too except I live on the east coast AND I have a guinea pig. My mom wouldn't let me.
You can put them up for adoption on the web.
Or give them to Petco. They will gladly take them in and find them a good home. I had to do it with my lizard and a few days later, they called saying they had found him a home!
You could also post an ad at your local store or where ever there is a bulletin board.
You could also submit a newspaper ad.
Hope I helped!
i know some one who would love him or her but we live in new Jersey!
y do u have so many rats?
Anyone looking for a hamster forum?
My friend and I started a hamster forum because the others we found to join weren't updated. We have forums discussing hamsters in genral, hamster health, housing, breeding,etc. Even if you don't have a hamster, you can join in "chit chat" and discuss your other pets. We're hoping to get people to join because it'll be awsome! The website will be updated everyday and will be full of useful information. Why not try it? It's free and you can meet people with the similar intrest in hamsters. Try it out! Hope to see you in the forums!
Here is the website address: http://z11.invisionfree.com/hamster_have...
Answers:
Thanks
Here is the website address: http://z11.invisionfree.com/hamster_have...
Answers:
Thanks
Anyone like ferrets as pets?
i like ferrets i have 2 of em, one is a 4 year old male other is a 2 year old female.
Answers:
i have 3 of them and they are all under 6 months. i love my little ferrets and would not trade them for anything.
DO MAKE GOOD PETS ASK MISS HILTON
STILL BETA CHASIN RABBITS
yeah they are fine if you get the gland that makes them stink removed
i dont know about tht son.but you should get some pitbull puppies man.train them rite and these dogs get vicious
yeah they all right i prefer rats but you know- my aunt has a pet skunk, with the gland that makes them smell removed.
no. but i know someone who is NUTS about ferrets. has 2 of them.
I also have two ferrets. They are 5 months old. They are both girls. And are named sugar and spice. They are really sweet. I really like ferrets as pets. I had one for 3 years but she died from a tumor that was in her stomach. Her name was toots and she was at one time wild but she was the tamest thing we ever found. Ferrets are amazing.
Yew! What a smell! :P
would love to have them, even have an enclosure suitable but having agreed to the rats, hubby has threatened divorce over anything else
:(
love them!
i had one once it was so cute! found it hoping down the road. it was hard for me to find the perfect name for it but once i named it my parents gave it to away which really sucked. but now i have rats whick sort of have the same personalities.
what is that guy talking about? pitbulls are the most retarded dogs in the freaken world! ferrits are way smarter.
I love them! My brother has one and the ferret is so cute and very very playful!!!! Although the ferret does steal a lot of my stuff! But i love to play with him he never bit me and is sooooooooo sweet!!!!!
Answers:
i have 3 of them and they are all under 6 months. i love my little ferrets and would not trade them for anything.
DO MAKE GOOD PETS ASK MISS HILTON
STILL BETA CHASIN RABBITS
yeah they are fine if you get the gland that makes them stink removed
i dont know about tht son.but you should get some pitbull puppies man.train them rite and these dogs get vicious
yeah they all right i prefer rats but you know- my aunt has a pet skunk, with the gland that makes them smell removed.
no. but i know someone who is NUTS about ferrets. has 2 of them.
I also have two ferrets. They are 5 months old. They are both girls. And are named sugar and spice. They are really sweet. I really like ferrets as pets. I had one for 3 years but she died from a tumor that was in her stomach. Her name was toots and she was at one time wild but she was the tamest thing we ever found. Ferrets are amazing.
Yew! What a smell! :P
would love to have them, even have an enclosure suitable but having agreed to the rats, hubby has threatened divorce over anything else
:(
love them!
i had one once it was so cute! found it hoping down the road. it was hard for me to find the perfect name for it but once i named it my parents gave it to away which really sucked. but now i have rats whick sort of have the same personalities.
what is that guy talking about? pitbulls are the most retarded dogs in the freaken world! ferrits are way smarter.
I love them! My brother has one and the ferret is so cute and very very playful!!!! Although the ferret does steal a lot of my stuff! But i love to play with him he never bit me and is sooooooooo sweet!!!!!
Anyone know where my gerbil has gone its disappeared from it's cage?
Answers:
Try behind the most difficult piece of furniture to move and where you can't reach the gerbil without having to move it!
could be any where leave some chocolate down it will come out for that
Try some place dark, and quiet, where there may be food!
My hammy gets out all the time, but she usually goes straight for the bathroom, or to the bird cage where she can sneak in and get a free meal!
If you set out it's food bowl, it might come back to get his grub on! And if you happen to see him, catch him and put him back in his cage!
I sure hope you find your Gerbil!
Good Luck!
i've just eaten it! very tasty too!
If your house has nooks and crannies, look there first. They like refrigerator bottoms for some reason.
Hi, I bet that cute little guy is hiding under your bed. Go on check your bedroom! Lol they are fun little creatures.
poppy1
Check under the funierture in corners of the house and rooms. Really weird spots. also listen in the walls. I had a hamster that broke out of its cage and somehow got into the walls of my house then got trapped in the wall and we had to cut a hole in the wall to get it out. Hopefully thats not where your gerbil is but look in random places and leave some of its food or favorite snack out good luck : )
I do not know but Furry, my cat, is looking very pleased with herself.
Check to make sure that the little tuft of fur from the end of his tail isn't still in the cage, It is a little known fact that if a Gerbil is left alone too long and gets bored it will eat itself but can never quite manage to get that tuft.
You're going to want to check all dark secluded places in your home. Places like under the dressers, behind washer/dryer, etc.
Do you have any air/heat vents in the floor? That could be an issue.
they will usually come if u leave some chocolate, done try looking for them for too long, they could be anywhere..
Alien abduction again
Contact the FBI agents Mulder and Scully willl open another X File .
i had a hamster too. but its probably the same. last time my hamster disapperaed, i found it behind a cupboard. it is probably still in ur house. search for dark places. u should be able to find it=)
My daughter's hami has been missing for a week. Last time it made it all the way down our spiral staircase! My cat and puppy found him. Luckily I got to him before they did! Wish us luck too!
buy a humane rat catcher, put choc in it and hopefully you'll catch him. good luck. but be prepared never to see him again. ours got out and we never did locate him.
when ours got out,i put abit of food in each corner of the room seen the one he was eating from, and put the cage there with in an hour he was back safe in his little cage...good luck
Try a very active search rather than waiting for him to show up.
Check the back of closets, and under furniture. Gerbils are most awake in the morning and evening and take their deepest naps at noon and midnight. If you sit quietly in the room you might see him run around.
Start in the room he was lost in and look in every gerbil sized hiding place. Close the door to the room and move to the next room.
Put a piece of carrot and some gerbil food in each room to see which get eaten and where he is.
Make sure to put cats and dogs in a separate part of the house so they don't eat him. Good luck.
Yeah I think I can see its tail.
try inside your sofa or check dark quiet corners as we had a hamster who dug his way thru our skirting board in the wall(they are very good diggers).failing that leave some food out and check for droppings,good luck
aww that sucks, check all over the house he could be anywhere, all the corners of the house and behind things and in your furniture, put a bucket with some of his fav foods in it, put that somewhere in your house with a ramp leading up it to it and he should go in there and wont be able to get out! im not to sure if that works but ive heard of it. if you have pets, i hope they didnt get him, but if they are acting different and are trying to get at something, it could be yur lil gerbil, good luck!
Anyone know where I can find a well priced hamster cage?
I need help finding a hamster cage. I have a sylerian hamster. He is way too fat to fit in the tube cages, and plus I heard they're hard to clean. Right now he has a ten gallon cage and it's just too small and boring for him, so is there any chance anyone knows where or what kind of cage to get? I want one with multiple levels in it.
Answers:
My hamsters are both is 2 level cages from Meijer that cost about $25 each. But they really aren't any larger than the 10 gallon. If he's bored, he probably needs more to do to keep him occupied. A Syrian needs about an 8 inch wheel to handle his size so if you have something smaller he's squeezing himself to fit and not stretching out for a good run. He also needs things to chew on and attention from you. You might throw in some extra toys. They don't need to be expensive store bought, he'll like the stuff you can make yourself, and almost all hamsters love to have a spare paper tube to chew on or use as nesting material.
Petsmart,Petco, or Uncle Bills
Get a plastic trash bin and throw some small cardboard boxes in there for him.
Check out this site. Bet you can find something here.
http://www.smarter.com/---se--qq-habitra...
I used to work in a pet store and the siberians were always in the wheel--definitely get a wheel, no matter what cage he's in.
petsmart has several nice crittertrails, as well as petco.
Have you considered a bin cage? You make them yourself using the plastic bins from WalMart. It is much cheaper, you just have to keep an eye out for chew spots. Also, if he is big enough, have you tried the ferret tubes? They are bigger than the hamster tubes, you just can't attach them to the hamster cages. Good luck!
Answers:
My hamsters are both is 2 level cages from Meijer that cost about $25 each. But they really aren't any larger than the 10 gallon. If he's bored, he probably needs more to do to keep him occupied. A Syrian needs about an 8 inch wheel to handle his size so if you have something smaller he's squeezing himself to fit and not stretching out for a good run. He also needs things to chew on and attention from you. You might throw in some extra toys. They don't need to be expensive store bought, he'll like the stuff you can make yourself, and almost all hamsters love to have a spare paper tube to chew on or use as nesting material.
Petsmart,Petco, or Uncle Bills
Get a plastic trash bin and throw some small cardboard boxes in there for him.
Check out this site. Bet you can find something here.
http://www.smarter.com/---se--qq-habitra...
I used to work in a pet store and the siberians were always in the wheel--definitely get a wheel, no matter what cage he's in.
petsmart has several nice crittertrails, as well as petco.
Have you considered a bin cage? You make them yourself using the plastic bins from WalMart. It is much cheaper, you just have to keep an eye out for chew spots. Also, if he is big enough, have you tried the ferret tubes? They are bigger than the hamster tubes, you just can't attach them to the hamster cages. Good luck!
Anyone know of any baby rabbits for sale in the shrewsbury area.?
I am after a netherland dwarf but after excessive searching for a breeder for the last 3 months i'm out of ideas. If anyone can help i would be so gratefull.
xx
Answers:
Have you checked shelters in your area? There could be some private rescues too..
http://www.ctguineapigrescue.org/aboutus...
www.petfinder.com
Good Luck!!
I have lived in an area where I could not find a breeder. I had to get mine from a different country and get it shipped here. Go to SPCA centre in your country, and see if they have a rabbit you like. If u cant find any, go to your country rabbit society, ask for a breeder list and get it from a breeder.
go in a pet shop, often associated with a garden center.
try your local 'buy and sell' magazine. it is free amd usually has a lot of rabbit breeders in the pet section i know of some in cheshire but thats prob a bit far for you
xx
Answers:
Have you checked shelters in your area? There could be some private rescues too..
http://www.ctguineapigrescue.org/aboutus...
www.petfinder.com
Good Luck!!
I have lived in an area where I could not find a breeder. I had to get mine from a different country and get it shipped here. Go to SPCA centre in your country, and see if they have a rabbit you like. If u cant find any, go to your country rabbit society, ask for a breeder list and get it from a breeder.
go in a pet shop, often associated with a garden center.
try your local 'buy and sell' magazine. it is free amd usually has a lot of rabbit breeders in the pet section i know of some in cheshire but thats prob a bit far for you
Anyone have the scoop on rats for pets?
I'm mildly interested and am perfectly capable of researching them on my own, however, the one thing researching DOESN'T get you is an owners personal experiences and opinions.
So...is have a rat/rats working out for you?
Answers:
Personally, I would not be without rats......rats are like potato chips, you can't have just one.
I have fallen head over heels in love with these animals that combine the intelligence and activities of a human child, a dog, a cat, and a monkey all rolled into one small furball. I've had other rodents as pets over the years, but once I found rats I can't see myself enjoying this lifestyle I have now with any other critter.
Of course my rat-keeping opinion is going to be different then those who keep one to six rats, as I have chosen to live with more then 50 rats at any given time. And I admit, I have gone beyond the call of duty with my love and devotion to pet rats...
http://spazrats.tripod.com
A couple of rats are very easy to keep, not expensive, very gentle, and delightfully funny. I swear these rodents have a sense of humor. The biggest difference with rats is that they crave your company, they want you around. I've never known any other rodent that will actually fall asleep in your arms while you pet it, much like a cat or dog would.
Check out my profile, I have answered hundreds of questions and you might find some of your research questions answered by doing so.
You want the big scoop on keeping rats as pets? Start your research at my group Holistarat, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/holistarat... and talk to other rat-experts on a rat-only forum.
I suggest a rat-only forum because here at Y!A I have come across the most rude, cruel, and inappropriate answers when it comes to pet rats.
These are the most important websites you can bookmark.
The search for healthy rats:
http://www.ratster.com/
The care of rats:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=ca...
Housing pet rats:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=ho...
Feeding pet rats:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=fe...
Toys for pet rats:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=to...
The health of your rat:
http://ratguide.com/
The behavior of your rat:
http://www.ratbehavior.org/
And of course, you can always e-mail me and we can talk about rats:
spazrats@yahoo.ca
I promise, I'll get you hooked on rats in no time.
spazrats
"my life has gone to the rats"
I don't recommend it
GET A CAT
My dog loves his pet rat.
Sometime he even takes a nibble off of him..
鈾?It's soo cute!! :) 鈾?
aww i used to have a pet rat, i loved her so much there really easy to take care of easy to feed and manage. they dont bite unless your mean to them they make great petsss. but my rat sadly passed away last year from old age =[ it was sad.
I love rats. THey are really intelagent(soory for the bad spelling). Some will actually come to there name! I thin they are wonderful pets!
I have never had one, but my old coworker did and she said it was one of the best pets she ever had.
I do not have a rat but a friend of mine in college did. He loved his rat. He set up this really elaborate tubing system that he suspended from his ceiling. She would run through it and poke her head out every now and then. I personally and freaked out by rats but apparently they can be great pets.
I had one and it was a sweetheart. She would run on my bed and was litter box trained. she tried to nurse on my cat but she was spayed. they got along great.
seh did go into a cage wehn i went to bed because I was afraid I would roll over on top of her.
They are great pets.
My son had several rats when he was in high school. They are very nice pets! They will let you hold them, pet them and they'll cuddle with you. I never got bit by one and they are easy to feed. He had one for a few years and when I noticed it dying, I held it and pet it until it died. My vote is yes, get a rat and give it a nice home!
I have four and I love them. They each have their own distinct personality. Max likes to be petted and waits for treats. Flash runs around like a puppy dog and loves attention. Scruffy is independent but likes to explore. Cary is a wild one- she loves to climb and explore, and has a strong spirit (she suffered a major injury when she was young).
I like them. I never would have considered them until my girlfriend introduced me to rats. I have never been bitten, just nipped as they learn to get treats. They are very gentle animals as far as I am concerned. Smart, and aware of us and what we are doing and how we feel.
If you get some, make sure to get at least two (same sex) so they have company. Get rat blocks for the majority of their diet, and fresh fruits and veggies for treats. And let them out and clean their cage on a regular basis. Good luck.
ditto to your serious answerers; a former friend of mine always had white rats for pets and said they were fantastic. i've heard they are very smart, among other things.
Your home will always smell of urine and when they touch your flesh you get a rash. Oh - and one of them started eating the other after one died.
Other than that they're great.
Owning a rat is like owning a little dog or cat. You can train them to listen to commands and if they have the right temperment they'll sit quietly on your lap while you pet them. I had one that used to fetch. I've never had one bite me or scratch me which I can't say the same for owning a cat or dog.
They require a lot of attention and loving everyday though, so if you don't have the time for that I would suggest getting a different pet. The females tend to act more excited and run around like crazy while the males I had acted more sedated and calm.
Have fun with your rattie if you get one.
I had pet rats and they were awesome! The only bad things about them are
1) if they crawl on you they will accidentally scratch you (just little scratches) unless you trim their nails
2) at first they will pee and poo outside of their cage when you play with them but not always (their poo is small like rabbit poo and mine stopped doing this on their own just don't let them go on your bed with out something covering it!)
3) they get tumors (I've only had one with this problem out of the 4 I've had)
otherwise they are very smart and become very attached to you. I used to cuddle with mine all the time and they love sitting on your shoulder or crawling under your clothes where its dark and warm. They're very sweet little things and I want one again so bad!
I've never had a rat.But I know muckh about them
THINGS NOT TO LIKE ABOUT RATS:
they don't live very long(2-3- years)
female rats go into the the heat evry 4 to 5 days,they seem very restless at this time
most are very active at night
maintenance pets
THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT RATS:
very cuddlely
easily tamed
very intellingent
very social animals(to other rats which will make most people happy to have 2 or more rats)
easy to care for
require a fair amount of attention
wants exercise out of the cage(about an hour)
sex (male or female) pairs are wonderful together
This is what I think and knoew about rats,
hope this helps!
they r so0o0o fun my comes when i call its name if he is on the floor %26 get a guy cause girls have WWAAAYYYYY more health problems %26 stuff but yah rats r a cool pets 2 have
i have a hairless full grown female dumbo rat
shes my lil pink ball of love
i love her to death!!
very sweet and affectionet
loves to b around ppl 24/7
never has bitten me or n e one els
she loves to go where ever i go
not trained at all and loves sitting on my shoulders
and easy to care for
yes its working out great!! i still love my gerbil (is now dead) but my rat is much more nicer..
have a great day
Rats make great pets! They are very smart and for the most part they are very tame. They one and only time I have ever been bit by a rat is when I accidently cornered a female with babies when I put her food dish in her cage.
They live longer than your average hamster or gerbil also.
They're great!
I have one female and she's terriffic. She's a little picky though. Not in a bad way. She just likes certain types of fruit.
Anyway, she's very friendly. She likes to run around the bed and is great with my sheperd/sheep dog cross.
I totally think you should go for it.
One thing, I had a male before. He was not as sociable or energetic as my female.
Rats are the best small animals ever!
In my time i have had gerbils, guinea pigs and hamsters...
A rat easily beats all of them!
They are cute, loving and you can actually train them to do things.
i am currently teaching my 4 month old buck to stand on his hind legs and jump through a small hoop (which is actually a cellotape hoop!)
They are easy to handle and love to ride around on your shoulder..
Bascially; they are amazing animals! If you get one then you will understand what i mean!
; ]
Hope this helped you!
x
So...is have a rat/rats working out for you?
Answers:
Personally, I would not be without rats......rats are like potato chips, you can't have just one.
I have fallen head over heels in love with these animals that combine the intelligence and activities of a human child, a dog, a cat, and a monkey all rolled into one small furball. I've had other rodents as pets over the years, but once I found rats I can't see myself enjoying this lifestyle I have now with any other critter.
Of course my rat-keeping opinion is going to be different then those who keep one to six rats, as I have chosen to live with more then 50 rats at any given time. And I admit, I have gone beyond the call of duty with my love and devotion to pet rats...
http://spazrats.tripod.com
A couple of rats are very easy to keep, not expensive, very gentle, and delightfully funny. I swear these rodents have a sense of humor. The biggest difference with rats is that they crave your company, they want you around. I've never known any other rodent that will actually fall asleep in your arms while you pet it, much like a cat or dog would.
Check out my profile, I have answered hundreds of questions and you might find some of your research questions answered by doing so.
You want the big scoop on keeping rats as pets? Start your research at my group Holistarat, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/holistarat... and talk to other rat-experts on a rat-only forum.
I suggest a rat-only forum because here at Y!A I have come across the most rude, cruel, and inappropriate answers when it comes to pet rats.
These are the most important websites you can bookmark.
The search for healthy rats:
http://www.ratster.com/
The care of rats:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=ca...
Housing pet rats:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=ho...
Feeding pet rats:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=fe...
Toys for pet rats:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=to...
The health of your rat:
http://ratguide.com/
The behavior of your rat:
http://www.ratbehavior.org/
And of course, you can always e-mail me and we can talk about rats:
spazrats@yahoo.ca
I promise, I'll get you hooked on rats in no time.
spazrats
"my life has gone to the rats"
I don't recommend it
GET A CAT
My dog loves his pet rat.
Sometime he even takes a nibble off of him..
鈾?It's soo cute!! :) 鈾?
aww i used to have a pet rat, i loved her so much there really easy to take care of easy to feed and manage. they dont bite unless your mean to them they make great petsss. but my rat sadly passed away last year from old age =[ it was sad.
I love rats. THey are really intelagent(soory for the bad spelling). Some will actually come to there name! I thin they are wonderful pets!
I have never had one, but my old coworker did and she said it was one of the best pets she ever had.
I do not have a rat but a friend of mine in college did. He loved his rat. He set up this really elaborate tubing system that he suspended from his ceiling. She would run through it and poke her head out every now and then. I personally and freaked out by rats but apparently they can be great pets.
I had one and it was a sweetheart. She would run on my bed and was litter box trained. she tried to nurse on my cat but she was spayed. they got along great.
seh did go into a cage wehn i went to bed because I was afraid I would roll over on top of her.
They are great pets.
My son had several rats when he was in high school. They are very nice pets! They will let you hold them, pet them and they'll cuddle with you. I never got bit by one and they are easy to feed. He had one for a few years and when I noticed it dying, I held it and pet it until it died. My vote is yes, get a rat and give it a nice home!
I have four and I love them. They each have their own distinct personality. Max likes to be petted and waits for treats. Flash runs around like a puppy dog and loves attention. Scruffy is independent but likes to explore. Cary is a wild one- she loves to climb and explore, and has a strong spirit (she suffered a major injury when she was young).
I like them. I never would have considered them until my girlfriend introduced me to rats. I have never been bitten, just nipped as they learn to get treats. They are very gentle animals as far as I am concerned. Smart, and aware of us and what we are doing and how we feel.
If you get some, make sure to get at least two (same sex) so they have company. Get rat blocks for the majority of their diet, and fresh fruits and veggies for treats. And let them out and clean their cage on a regular basis. Good luck.
ditto to your serious answerers; a former friend of mine always had white rats for pets and said they were fantastic. i've heard they are very smart, among other things.
Your home will always smell of urine and when they touch your flesh you get a rash. Oh - and one of them started eating the other after one died.
Other than that they're great.
Owning a rat is like owning a little dog or cat. You can train them to listen to commands and if they have the right temperment they'll sit quietly on your lap while you pet them. I had one that used to fetch. I've never had one bite me or scratch me which I can't say the same for owning a cat or dog.
They require a lot of attention and loving everyday though, so if you don't have the time for that I would suggest getting a different pet. The females tend to act more excited and run around like crazy while the males I had acted more sedated and calm.
Have fun with your rattie if you get one.
I had pet rats and they were awesome! The only bad things about them are
1) if they crawl on you they will accidentally scratch you (just little scratches) unless you trim their nails
2) at first they will pee and poo outside of their cage when you play with them but not always (their poo is small like rabbit poo and mine stopped doing this on their own just don't let them go on your bed with out something covering it!)
3) they get tumors (I've only had one with this problem out of the 4 I've had)
otherwise they are very smart and become very attached to you. I used to cuddle with mine all the time and they love sitting on your shoulder or crawling under your clothes where its dark and warm. They're very sweet little things and I want one again so bad!
I've never had a rat.But I know muckh about them
THINGS NOT TO LIKE ABOUT RATS:
they don't live very long(2-3- years)
female rats go into the the heat evry 4 to 5 days,they seem very restless at this time
most are very active at night
maintenance pets
THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT RATS:
very cuddlely
easily tamed
very intellingent
very social animals(to other rats which will make most people happy to have 2 or more rats)
easy to care for
require a fair amount of attention
wants exercise out of the cage(about an hour)
sex (male or female) pairs are wonderful together
This is what I think and knoew about rats,
hope this helps!
they r so0o0o fun my comes when i call its name if he is on the floor %26 get a guy cause girls have WWAAAYYYYY more health problems %26 stuff but yah rats r a cool pets 2 have
i have a hairless full grown female dumbo rat
shes my lil pink ball of love
i love her to death!!
very sweet and affectionet
loves to b around ppl 24/7
never has bitten me or n e one els
she loves to go where ever i go
not trained at all and loves sitting on my shoulders
and easy to care for
yes its working out great!! i still love my gerbil (is now dead) but my rat is much more nicer..
have a great day
Rats make great pets! They are very smart and for the most part they are very tame. They one and only time I have ever been bit by a rat is when I accidently cornered a female with babies when I put her food dish in her cage.
They live longer than your average hamster or gerbil also.
They're great!
I have one female and she's terriffic. She's a little picky though. Not in a bad way. She just likes certain types of fruit.
Anyway, she's very friendly. She likes to run around the bed and is great with my sheperd/sheep dog cross.
I totally think you should go for it.
One thing, I had a male before. He was not as sociable or energetic as my female.
Rats are the best small animals ever!
In my time i have had gerbils, guinea pigs and hamsters...
A rat easily beats all of them!
They are cute, loving and you can actually train them to do things.
i am currently teaching my 4 month old buck to stand on his hind legs and jump through a small hoop (which is actually a cellotape hoop!)
They are easy to handle and love to ride around on your shoulder..
Bascially; they are amazing animals! If you get one then you will understand what i mean!
; ]
Hope this helped you!
x
Anyone have a pet rat? Tell me about it. Funny stories? Interesting things about these critters.?
I want to get one.
Answers:
I had a pet rat, he passed away a few years ago at the age of 3. His name was Mr. Monty, and he was the greatest! I got him and a female, who were housed together, from a coworker. I separated them as soon as they came to live with me, but it was too late; three weeks later they had babies! When it was time to separate the males from the females, the males who didn't have homes yet lived with Mr. Monty. He absolutely loved the babies! He washed them, played with them, and gave them the best sleeping spots in the cage. He was brilliant, in my opinion. He litter-box trained himself, he would come when he was called, and he went on walks outside with me! He had a little harness, and he would ride on my shoulder when I went for walks outside. Mr. Monty got along very well with my dogs, too; nothing scared him. He got baths every week when his cage was washed. He didn't like that so much, but he tolerated it. He was one of the greatest pets I've ever had the privilege of sharing my home with. I highly recommend rats as pets. I wish you the best!
Rats are fun; my kids had one. They taught it to jump. Unfortunately, the rat cage was next to a curtain, and the curtain wound up with holes!
There was a project in school that we had, and it involved a mouse and a hamster.
The hamster chased after the mouse, and it ate it.
err, so, that was just interesting.
i had a pet rat for about 3 years and she was awesome! her name was sunshine she was one of the smartest animals i have had. she knew her name, i could let her out of her cage for hours at a time (in a closed room of course) and she stay around then would come when i called her. rats are nocturnal so i trained her to not make noise at night . when she would make noise i would tap the cage and go shhhh it took a couple of weeks but after that anytime she made noises in the night all i would do is shhhh and she would stop. awesome pets the only downfall is that rats are cross bread sooo much that they develop different cancers easily and unlike a cat or dog the life expectancy is only 2 to 3 years. don't let that discourage you they are great pets!
ive had 3 rats they make very good pets. you can even train them. they are very loyal much like a dog.
Ahh, rats. Lovely little things. They love climbing up and down your arms. Oh, also, they love to eat different things. Veggies, fruit, there are even little wheels of cheese that I used to give to my little Lumierre. (Yeah,yeah, stupid name, I know...)
i had a pet rat once.. his name was chester... he was grey... i used to put him on my shoulder or on top of my head and my mom would get so freaked out lol u should try it.
We have 11 rats at this time, but some are up for adoption. One is 6 months old (male), 5 months (female), 3 months (female), 2 males and a female that are 2 1/2 months, and 5 brothers that are 6 weeks. They are all so adorable. The babies wrestle each other to see who is going to be held first, they love attention and are so friendly. The oldest 2 are the parents and they too love their attention, the dad loves to ride on my shoulder everywhere around the house, even when I'm at the computer. The middle 4 were brought in from a place that housed them incorrectly and never gave them any attention so they all are taking some extra time to get used to being touched and handled. They've been here since easter and are still skittish, but like to held for a litle while, my youngest daughter claimed the younger female (Candy) for her own, we're also keeping the Rex mix since he has a tendancy to lose his hair from being housed in pine shavings. The oldest of the 4 is up for adoption and so will the other male once I can get his allergies under control and get his respiratory infection cured. My oldest daughter and oldest adult son claimed 2 of the babies as theirs, so I said that 2 of the new rescues must be found homes along with the remaining 3 baby brothers. The 2 female sisters we had went to one home together last weekend.
One thing we found is they love to chew on plastic cages, so I'm investing in some all wire ones that stack. I don't like housing them in tanks since they love to climb so much. I can make cheap hammacks and tunnels from scrap material instead of buying $15 at the pet stores so they have a cozy place to sleep. If they get chewed up (which they will), I'll just make another one for them. I use cloth dog toys or stuffed animals I get for 75% off after holidays are over for them to play with and chew on, we just remove any button, eyes, ribbons, etc before giving them.
Rats are best when gotten in same sex pairs at the same time. They are very social animals that need attention and if you have work or school, them 2 will help here so they won't be bored.
Our oldest male rat likes to play with our 9 month old rabbit too. The funniest thing (not so funny for me) was that the male oldest rat peed all down my back while on my shoulder, my kids all thought it was so funny. I must admit it's been a good while since I got peed on, like since my kids were babies and their 21-11.
With warmer weather coming around, we're going to start trying to teach all the rats some tricks. They're just as intelligent as a dog (maybe smarter then some).
Oh, you'll need a cage with 1/2" spacing to start for a young rat, but will need to get a larger cage with no more then 1" spacing after 6-7 months old and a cage that is about 24"x24"x18" or 30"x18"x18" for no more then 2 rats.
Just love them and have fun with them. Also when it comes to the litter to use, only use a paper product litter. Cedar and pine emit toxic fumes when mixed with the urine and cause respiratory infections. Pine, aspen, and other woods cause allergies in the rats. I know this because of some that I have from private people and pet stores that housed them in pine. They all were treated for allergies and one with a respiratory infection (still under care).
Here are a couple of good sites on rats. Also I have a list of approved foods to give and not to give to a rat. I will email it to anyone who requests it from me by direct emailing me through they're own email provider and no through Yahoo!Answers. Yahoo!Answers email system doesn't allow enough spaces for all my feeding information.
ny friend had a rat that peed alot if you moved it. so my friend took his rat in his hands and moved his hand and it peed all over. hehehe
Rats are excellent. I've yet to have my own, but housemates I've lived with have had them so I feel like I know a fair bit.
They're so intelligent, it's like having little dogs! They follow you around the room, and will even answer to their name! They really seem to like being stroked and cuddled. I've also known of a couple that liked to sleep in their owners hoods!
I've kept mice myself, as they take up less room. Also excellent little creatures - one of my mice, Mr Jingles, was the best pet I've ever had, apart from my cat of course. I used to keep him in my room during the day as there was nowhere for him to escape to, I'd just have him in his cage at night - I used to leave his cage open on the floor, and he'd wander in and out to eat, drink and poo! If I ever put a bought something like a muffin, I'd put it on my bed and he'd appear out of nowhere and start ripping through the packet! He would also curl up and sleep on my beanbag, or my pillow.
My favourite memory was when I took a nap in the middle of the day once, and he was asleep on my beanbag. I woke up with his little whiskers tickling my nose! He was a DUDE.
Rodents rule! Just make sure you do your research into their care before you get one!
Chalice
I have far too many amusing rat stories to tell here, but the most recent one involved my youngest (3 months old) rat, Luna.
She is very mellow, and would fall asleep on my shoulder, or just inside the neck of my shirt. She would stay there for hours on end, if I was laying down reading or watching TV. One day I dozed off, and woke up to her practicing rodentistry (cleaning my teeth). Unfortunately I got a couple scratches on my lower lip trying to pry her claws off.
Ok, I know it sounds gross, but rats will clean each others teeth when they've bonded, and often they will groom their human too.
Oh rats! We currently have 17 and I adore each and everyone of them. They are the best caged pets, barre none. They are really good for apartment dwellers because most landlords will allow a rodent in a cage.
They are super intelligent and quite goofy. One of our girls, Chelsea, likes to think she is my hairstylist and dentist. She is an excellent groomer and thinks I am just one of her rat buddies needing some tending to.
We have a few Egyptian spiny mice, and once a new mother unexpectedly died. I hand raised one of the babies (the other unfortunately didn't make it since they were only 2 days old when their mommy passed). Anyhow, Chelsea, who is definitely the silliest of our ratties, really liked Baby (the mouse). I had them both on the bed when Baby was about a week or so old to introduce them formally, and while Baby was understandably frightened of the 'giant' rat, Chelsea went right to her and immediately started cleaning her. It was adorable.
I would deinitely suggest getting rats! I'd do some research first and maybe buy a book or two to get an idea of what you're getting into. They do have short life spans (2-3 years), and are prone to respiratory diseases and tumors. However, the benefits far outweigh the bad bits.
Answers:
I had a pet rat, he passed away a few years ago at the age of 3. His name was Mr. Monty, and he was the greatest! I got him and a female, who were housed together, from a coworker. I separated them as soon as they came to live with me, but it was too late; three weeks later they had babies! When it was time to separate the males from the females, the males who didn't have homes yet lived with Mr. Monty. He absolutely loved the babies! He washed them, played with them, and gave them the best sleeping spots in the cage. He was brilliant, in my opinion. He litter-box trained himself, he would come when he was called, and he went on walks outside with me! He had a little harness, and he would ride on my shoulder when I went for walks outside. Mr. Monty got along very well with my dogs, too; nothing scared him. He got baths every week when his cage was washed. He didn't like that so much, but he tolerated it. He was one of the greatest pets I've ever had the privilege of sharing my home with. I highly recommend rats as pets. I wish you the best!
Rats are fun; my kids had one. They taught it to jump. Unfortunately, the rat cage was next to a curtain, and the curtain wound up with holes!
There was a project in school that we had, and it involved a mouse and a hamster.
The hamster chased after the mouse, and it ate it.
err, so, that was just interesting.
i had a pet rat for about 3 years and she was awesome! her name was sunshine she was one of the smartest animals i have had. she knew her name, i could let her out of her cage for hours at a time (in a closed room of course) and she stay around then would come when i called her. rats are nocturnal so i trained her to not make noise at night . when she would make noise i would tap the cage and go shhhh it took a couple of weeks but after that anytime she made noises in the night all i would do is shhhh and she would stop. awesome pets the only downfall is that rats are cross bread sooo much that they develop different cancers easily and unlike a cat or dog the life expectancy is only 2 to 3 years. don't let that discourage you they are great pets!
ive had 3 rats they make very good pets. you can even train them. they are very loyal much like a dog.
Ahh, rats. Lovely little things. They love climbing up and down your arms. Oh, also, they love to eat different things. Veggies, fruit, there are even little wheels of cheese that I used to give to my little Lumierre. (Yeah,yeah, stupid name, I know...)
i had a pet rat once.. his name was chester... he was grey... i used to put him on my shoulder or on top of my head and my mom would get so freaked out lol u should try it.
We have 11 rats at this time, but some are up for adoption. One is 6 months old (male), 5 months (female), 3 months (female), 2 males and a female that are 2 1/2 months, and 5 brothers that are 6 weeks. They are all so adorable. The babies wrestle each other to see who is going to be held first, they love attention and are so friendly. The oldest 2 are the parents and they too love their attention, the dad loves to ride on my shoulder everywhere around the house, even when I'm at the computer. The middle 4 were brought in from a place that housed them incorrectly and never gave them any attention so they all are taking some extra time to get used to being touched and handled. They've been here since easter and are still skittish, but like to held for a litle while, my youngest daughter claimed the younger female (Candy) for her own, we're also keeping the Rex mix since he has a tendancy to lose his hair from being housed in pine shavings. The oldest of the 4 is up for adoption and so will the other male once I can get his allergies under control and get his respiratory infection cured. My oldest daughter and oldest adult son claimed 2 of the babies as theirs, so I said that 2 of the new rescues must be found homes along with the remaining 3 baby brothers. The 2 female sisters we had went to one home together last weekend.
One thing we found is they love to chew on plastic cages, so I'm investing in some all wire ones that stack. I don't like housing them in tanks since they love to climb so much. I can make cheap hammacks and tunnels from scrap material instead of buying $15 at the pet stores so they have a cozy place to sleep. If they get chewed up (which they will), I'll just make another one for them. I use cloth dog toys or stuffed animals I get for 75% off after holidays are over for them to play with and chew on, we just remove any button, eyes, ribbons, etc before giving them.
Rats are best when gotten in same sex pairs at the same time. They are very social animals that need attention and if you have work or school, them 2 will help here so they won't be bored.
Our oldest male rat likes to play with our 9 month old rabbit too. The funniest thing (not so funny for me) was that the male oldest rat peed all down my back while on my shoulder, my kids all thought it was so funny. I must admit it's been a good while since I got peed on, like since my kids were babies and their 21-11.
With warmer weather coming around, we're going to start trying to teach all the rats some tricks. They're just as intelligent as a dog (maybe smarter then some).
Oh, you'll need a cage with 1/2" spacing to start for a young rat, but will need to get a larger cage with no more then 1" spacing after 6-7 months old and a cage that is about 24"x24"x18" or 30"x18"x18" for no more then 2 rats.
Just love them and have fun with them. Also when it comes to the litter to use, only use a paper product litter. Cedar and pine emit toxic fumes when mixed with the urine and cause respiratory infections. Pine, aspen, and other woods cause allergies in the rats. I know this because of some that I have from private people and pet stores that housed them in pine. They all were treated for allergies and one with a respiratory infection (still under care).
Here are a couple of good sites on rats. Also I have a list of approved foods to give and not to give to a rat. I will email it to anyone who requests it from me by direct emailing me through they're own email provider and no through Yahoo!Answers. Yahoo!Answers email system doesn't allow enough spaces for all my feeding information.
ny friend had a rat that peed alot if you moved it. so my friend took his rat in his hands and moved his hand and it peed all over. hehehe
Rats are excellent. I've yet to have my own, but housemates I've lived with have had them so I feel like I know a fair bit.
They're so intelligent, it's like having little dogs! They follow you around the room, and will even answer to their name! They really seem to like being stroked and cuddled. I've also known of a couple that liked to sleep in their owners hoods!
I've kept mice myself, as they take up less room. Also excellent little creatures - one of my mice, Mr Jingles, was the best pet I've ever had, apart from my cat of course. I used to keep him in my room during the day as there was nowhere for him to escape to, I'd just have him in his cage at night - I used to leave his cage open on the floor, and he'd wander in and out to eat, drink and poo! If I ever put a bought something like a muffin, I'd put it on my bed and he'd appear out of nowhere and start ripping through the packet! He would also curl up and sleep on my beanbag, or my pillow.
My favourite memory was when I took a nap in the middle of the day once, and he was asleep on my beanbag. I woke up with his little whiskers tickling my nose! He was a DUDE.
Rodents rule! Just make sure you do your research into their care before you get one!
Chalice
I have far too many amusing rat stories to tell here, but the most recent one involved my youngest (3 months old) rat, Luna.
She is very mellow, and would fall asleep on my shoulder, or just inside the neck of my shirt. She would stay there for hours on end, if I was laying down reading or watching TV. One day I dozed off, and woke up to her practicing rodentistry (cleaning my teeth). Unfortunately I got a couple scratches on my lower lip trying to pry her claws off.
Ok, I know it sounds gross, but rats will clean each others teeth when they've bonded, and often they will groom their human too.
Oh rats! We currently have 17 and I adore each and everyone of them. They are the best caged pets, barre none. They are really good for apartment dwellers because most landlords will allow a rodent in a cage.
They are super intelligent and quite goofy. One of our girls, Chelsea, likes to think she is my hairstylist and dentist. She is an excellent groomer and thinks I am just one of her rat buddies needing some tending to.
We have a few Egyptian spiny mice, and once a new mother unexpectedly died. I hand raised one of the babies (the other unfortunately didn't make it since they were only 2 days old when their mommy passed). Anyhow, Chelsea, who is definitely the silliest of our ratties, really liked Baby (the mouse). I had them both on the bed when Baby was about a week or so old to introduce them formally, and while Baby was understandably frightened of the 'giant' rat, Chelsea went right to her and immediately started cleaning her. It was adorable.
I would deinitely suggest getting rats! I'd do some research first and maybe buy a book or two to get an idea of what you're getting into. They do have short life spans (2-3 years), and are prone to respiratory diseases and tumors. However, the benefits far outweigh the bad bits.
Anyone ever try this with a hamster?
just thought id see if any of you that keep hamsters have tryed this with them.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=kuopoah2x6i%26amp;m...
Answers:
OMG!
YOU SICK MEAN DISCUSTING PERSON!!!!!!!! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU! GOD ITS PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT GIVE petqna.com A BAD NAME!!!!!!!!!!... JEEZE
omg you sick xxxxxxd you should be reported to the rspca
Thats animal abuse you fu!#ing FREAK!
No.
I wouldn't feed my snake live food. I wouldn't feed it a hamster mice are better for it.
Just for the record, feeding a snake a hamster isn't animal abuse.
umm not not a hamster and it's not something I would celebrate by filming it. I had a snake and yes I fed it mice but I didn't enjoy watching it twitch. Yeah its part of the circle of life and blah blah. You have a snake and 90% of the time the food is live. I get all that. I still think these guys need to get out more or something. It seems a little twisted to me to film it. Not to mention that is an expensive way to feed your snake.
While it's not truly animal abuse, hamsters are not the typical choice of snake food. If the hamster was a pet that is really sick of you to feed it to your snake. I too had a boa but I fed him mice and rats. When he was so big that he was moving on to larger mammals I gave him away. There is no glory in what you filmed, only misery and death that shouldn't be filmed for your entertainment or anyone else's for that matter.
That is sick and you are digusting for putting something like that up there! Yes I have hamsters I have a lot of hamsters and I would NEVER do ANYTHING that sickining!!
You ought to be ashamed of yourself!
OMG! wat is wrong with u! u don't do that! that is sooo mean! u don't do that! u have to have the a cold heart to do that! hamsters r cute fuzzy PETS! not food. so if u do beware for karma!
THAT IS SO DISGUSTING! YOU ARE A VER SICK PERSON! THAT IS VERY VERY CRUEL YOU SICK PERSON!!!!
I didn't even bother to look judging from the reponses you already got, which is what you were after anyway wasn't it you loser?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=kuopoah2x6i%26amp;m...
Answers:
OMG!
YOU SICK MEAN DISCUSTING PERSON!!!!!!!! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU! GOD ITS PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT GIVE petqna.com A BAD NAME!!!!!!!!!!... JEEZE
omg you sick xxxxxxd you should be reported to the rspca
Thats animal abuse you fu!#ing FREAK!
No.
I wouldn't feed my snake live food. I wouldn't feed it a hamster mice are better for it.
Just for the record, feeding a snake a hamster isn't animal abuse.
umm not not a hamster and it's not something I would celebrate by filming it. I had a snake and yes I fed it mice but I didn't enjoy watching it twitch. Yeah its part of the circle of life and blah blah. You have a snake and 90% of the time the food is live. I get all that. I still think these guys need to get out more or something. It seems a little twisted to me to film it. Not to mention that is an expensive way to feed your snake.
While it's not truly animal abuse, hamsters are not the typical choice of snake food. If the hamster was a pet that is really sick of you to feed it to your snake. I too had a boa but I fed him mice and rats. When he was so big that he was moving on to larger mammals I gave him away. There is no glory in what you filmed, only misery and death that shouldn't be filmed for your entertainment or anyone else's for that matter.
That is sick and you are digusting for putting something like that up there! Yes I have hamsters I have a lot of hamsters and I would NEVER do ANYTHING that sickining!!
You ought to be ashamed of yourself!
OMG! wat is wrong with u! u don't do that! that is sooo mean! u don't do that! u have to have the a cold heart to do that! hamsters r cute fuzzy PETS! not food. so if u do beware for karma!
THAT IS SO DISGUSTING! YOU ARE A VER SICK PERSON! THAT IS VERY VERY CRUEL YOU SICK PERSON!!!!
I didn't even bother to look judging from the reponses you already got, which is what you were after anyway wasn't it you loser?
Anyone elses hamster ever go bald?
Answers:
yes iv had two hamsters that have gone bald. when i took them to the vets he said it could be mites, treated them for this and said to keep them on paper bedding rather than sawdust or shavings. he also said they can sometimes go bald through old age like humans!! i changed their bedding and their hair grew back but not as thick as it had been.
I work at a pet shop and NEVER seen a bald hamester
poor thing!!
!
probably old age
Anybody know any tricks to keep a single guinea pig happy and healthy?
I had another question I asked for pretty much the same thing but do to my bad phrasing i got a lot of answers telling me about about a different subject .
Now i am home a lot of the time and will have time to give a pet the attention it deserves. I have a Hamster who is past the two year mark and is unfortunately on her way out. but if I get the guinea pig (I don't have it yet) before my hamster dies i could put there cages beside each other so they could "talk". I live in a rural area so i could take it with me when I go for my daily walks and such because we have no neighborhood dogs or cats. Though my family has three cats and a dog and for now a hamster too (see why I can only get one?) The cats are trained to stay AWAY from my pets, the cat's don't really like me anyway especially since they've been banned from my room for all the years I've had hamsters. Any games or toys or tricks that are good would be enormous help! Also any tips for starting out would be immensely helpful
Answers:
You should take her/him out every day for cuddles, if you could do this where most of the family is so that she can get used to the family it would be good. For example in front of the tv when everyone is watching.
Floor time should be done every day for as long as possible, especially considering you are only able to get 1. This should be done in a piggy safe room, for at least 1 hour. You will need to pick up any cables, block off any unwanted areas and pick up just about everything of the floor.
You should also attempt to get the biggest cage possible. It is said that 7.5sq ft is a good size for 1 guinea pig but if you could get a bigger cage it would be even better. This way you put lot's of things in the cage so that your piggy will not become lonely. A cubes and coroplast cage is cheap, effective, big, easy to clean, modify and build. It is built to be used inside and does not have a roof so you will have to watch out for your cats. I would also reccommend that you get another (a slightly smaller cage) cage that has a roof, this could be like your guinea pigs day cage and could be placed out amongst the traffic of your house. I don't know, it was just an idea. Being amongst the traffic of my house usually makes my guinea pigs feel safer and they just generally enjoy it more.
Toys can be made from home using things like paper bags, plain cardboard boxes and 4 inch diameter PVC pipes. There are heaps of toy ideas on the following site:
http://www.guineapigcages.com/toys.htm...
If you want to know anything else let me know.
Good Luck!!
i used to own a hamster and they never squeek unless they are hurt so i dont think they would talk. also hamsters are nocturnal and guinea pigs are not so that wouldnt work. I'm getting a guinea pig too. im only allowed to have one so im going to let it settle in and once it has been there for a few months im goning to ask my parents if i can get it a friend (sooner if it seems lonly). maby u should get one now and then consider getting it a friend later on. also please adopt those guinea pigs really need u. good luck with ur new pet!
ps im sorry to hear about ur hamster.
I had my guinea pig for six years and i had got her when she was one and I basically just took her out everyday and changed the cage once a week. Also, you should have an outdoor area that has a lot of timothy hay. They love to bury themselves into it. It actually seems that it's good for them to be exposed to dogs and cats as long as they have a spot to hide where they can't get in. In fact, we recently got a new kitten and it loved to go into the cage with the guinea pig and would just watch it. But, if you do take my advice, and you introduce them, watch them because every pet is different and it may be that way for your animals. Hope it helps! Alli P.S. If you have any more questions just ask!
Now I don't know all that much about guinea pig.But I do know what rodents loooooooove to do they love to :
chew, crawl through tunnels, eat yummy treats, and play with there owner or as i like to say adopted mom or dad. So i would recomend getting some chew toys and some really good treats and some healthy treats and a harness to go on walks and play alot with you guinea pig hope that help out a bunch!!
Hey You,
I always reccommend two or more guinea pigs, but if you are equipped to give it all the attention it needs and deserves, then one will be just fine.
Keep in mind that guinea pigs require lots of space. Buy a cage pretty close to the minimum of 7.5 sq. feet. If you cannot afford, or you don't have room, for a cage that big, try to get as near that dimension as possible.
Be ready to give it plenty of little toys, something to chew on. Remember that the balls that rats and hamsters love to play in, are dangerous for a guinea pig, as are cage wheels. Guinea Pig backs aren't designed to bend like that.
I think walks are a good idea, but I would think twice about leashes because if something is around, your pig will be gone before you can blink an eye...try instead, a baby sling so you can keep your pig secure by your chest.
Also, keep in mind that guinea pigs cannot cool themselves down as other animals do. It will not tolerate direct sunlight either indoors or out, and the temperature range should stay between 65-75 degrees. Anything above 78 degrees can cause a heatstroke.
Now i am home a lot of the time and will have time to give a pet the attention it deserves. I have a Hamster who is past the two year mark and is unfortunately on her way out. but if I get the guinea pig (I don't have it yet) before my hamster dies i could put there cages beside each other so they could "talk". I live in a rural area so i could take it with me when I go for my daily walks and such because we have no neighborhood dogs or cats. Though my family has three cats and a dog and for now a hamster too (see why I can only get one?) The cats are trained to stay AWAY from my pets, the cat's don't really like me anyway especially since they've been banned from my room for all the years I've had hamsters. Any games or toys or tricks that are good would be enormous help! Also any tips for starting out would be immensely helpful
Answers:
You should take her/him out every day for cuddles, if you could do this where most of the family is so that she can get used to the family it would be good. For example in front of the tv when everyone is watching.
Floor time should be done every day for as long as possible, especially considering you are only able to get 1. This should be done in a piggy safe room, for at least 1 hour. You will need to pick up any cables, block off any unwanted areas and pick up just about everything of the floor.
You should also attempt to get the biggest cage possible. It is said that 7.5sq ft is a good size for 1 guinea pig but if you could get a bigger cage it would be even better. This way you put lot's of things in the cage so that your piggy will not become lonely. A cubes and coroplast cage is cheap, effective, big, easy to clean, modify and build. It is built to be used inside and does not have a roof so you will have to watch out for your cats. I would also reccommend that you get another (a slightly smaller cage) cage that has a roof, this could be like your guinea pigs day cage and could be placed out amongst the traffic of your house. I don't know, it was just an idea. Being amongst the traffic of my house usually makes my guinea pigs feel safer and they just generally enjoy it more.
Toys can be made from home using things like paper bags, plain cardboard boxes and 4 inch diameter PVC pipes. There are heaps of toy ideas on the following site:
http://www.guineapigcages.com/toys.htm...
If you want to know anything else let me know.
Good Luck!!
i used to own a hamster and they never squeek unless they are hurt so i dont think they would talk. also hamsters are nocturnal and guinea pigs are not so that wouldnt work. I'm getting a guinea pig too. im only allowed to have one so im going to let it settle in and once it has been there for a few months im goning to ask my parents if i can get it a friend (sooner if it seems lonly). maby u should get one now and then consider getting it a friend later on. also please adopt those guinea pigs really need u. good luck with ur new pet!
ps im sorry to hear about ur hamster.
I had my guinea pig for six years and i had got her when she was one and I basically just took her out everyday and changed the cage once a week. Also, you should have an outdoor area that has a lot of timothy hay. They love to bury themselves into it. It actually seems that it's good for them to be exposed to dogs and cats as long as they have a spot to hide where they can't get in. In fact, we recently got a new kitten and it loved to go into the cage with the guinea pig and would just watch it. But, if you do take my advice, and you introduce them, watch them because every pet is different and it may be that way for your animals. Hope it helps! Alli P.S. If you have any more questions just ask!
Now I don't know all that much about guinea pig.But I do know what rodents loooooooove to do they love to :
chew, crawl through tunnels, eat yummy treats, and play with there owner or as i like to say adopted mom or dad. So i would recomend getting some chew toys and some really good treats and some healthy treats and a harness to go on walks and play alot with you guinea pig hope that help out a bunch!!
Hey You,
I always reccommend two or more guinea pigs, but if you are equipped to give it all the attention it needs and deserves, then one will be just fine.
Keep in mind that guinea pigs require lots of space. Buy a cage pretty close to the minimum of 7.5 sq. feet. If you cannot afford, or you don't have room, for a cage that big, try to get as near that dimension as possible.
Be ready to give it plenty of little toys, something to chew on. Remember that the balls that rats and hamsters love to play in, are dangerous for a guinea pig, as are cage wheels. Guinea Pig backs aren't designed to bend like that.
I think walks are a good idea, but I would think twice about leashes because if something is around, your pig will be gone before you can blink an eye...try instead, a baby sling so you can keep your pig secure by your chest.
Also, keep in mind that guinea pigs cannot cool themselves down as other animals do. It will not tolerate direct sunlight either indoors or out, and the temperature range should stay between 65-75 degrees. Anything above 78 degrees can cause a heatstroke.
Anybody know about rats???
im taking care of my friends rat, and i usually use normal wood shavings that i get at a woodshop, but she uses store bought pine wood shavings.will i hurt her rat if i begin to use the stuff i use on her rat? (ive heard changing their bedding type can affect them?)
Answers:
I have had rats for many years and have used all kinds of different kinds of bedding. They way I look at it is wood shaving are wood shavings! LOL It won't hurt the rat though.just make sure that you keep the cage very clean and also make sure that the shavings you are useing do not contain a lot of dust particles because this can give them repiratory problems. Make sure if the cage allows it to keep the food seperate from the shavings.this will help with sanitation. I think the rat will be fine :-)
rats are digusting little runts or animal s that stay and run around in peoples house and apartment. THEY are fexlible so it's hard to kept them out of the house cause they can squeezed threw the tineest pieces of spaces it's actually amazing but freaky at the same time.
u should not use pine or ceder shavings with rats. it is not good for them.
Should be okay as long as the shavings are not from plywood; that stuff is really toxic due to the glue.
well sometimes such a change can surprise or harm the rat. It is better to get certain kinds of bedding for your rat to remain healthy. I recommend, to be safe, to go with the stuff your friend is using. She would know! Plus, sometimes wood shavings from a wood shop are not good! they could have bacteria and other stuff that could make the rat sick on them. Not a good idea. Hope I helped.
I just did some research and it said to not use the pine stuff!! It is not good for rats.
I've heard that it is NOT good to use pine wood shaving or cedar wood shavings. I have a rat and I use shredded construction paper. The rat can easily move the paper around and fix their little house however they like it.
i own a pet rat, and everything i have ever read online, or anything i have ever been told about rats is that cedar or pine bedding is really really bad for their health. something to do with their respiratory system.
use anything but cedar or pine bedding
i just got pet rats and i changed their bedding and they had no effect on it that i could tell sometimes if the bedding is dusty it mike make them sneeze more than usual hope this helped a little
You really shouldn't use wood from the wood shop...there could be alot of things in the wood that could harm the rat...
The best bedding is Aspen wood shavings that you buy from the pet stores...its safe for the rats and it's not that exspensive...
Changing their bedding type only hurts them if you give them bad bedding...
Hope this helps...GOOD LUCK!
Alright, firstly your friend needs to know that she is shortening her rats lifespan by using pine shavings. The stuff that makes them smell good to us are called phenols and are dangerous to rats very sensitive respiratory systems. If you must use wood, aspen is a readily available alternative that is safe.
It depends on what type of wood shavings you usually get as to whether or not they are safe.
So the best bet is to spend the $3 or 4 and get a bag of aspen shavings at Wal-Mart or Petsmart.
Both kinds of wood shavings are not good to use. There is dust and oils that can be harmful for the respiratory system. Between the two, the store bought is the less harmful, because there won't be chemicals, as much dust, or bacteria present. Do not use woodshop shavings for bedding!
rats have a hight intollerance to dust etc. i use kittylitter, but the clumpy stuff. you should never every use dusty litter, wood shavings etc. i can do alot of harm to their little lungs. try anyhting that says hypo-alangenic. (sorry for the spelling errors.)
DO NOT USE WOOD SHAVINGS, they can be very harmful to rats, expecially pine and cedar. Any vet or person with knowlege about rats will tell you this. Use carefresh or any other bedding you find at a petstore that does not contain pine or cedar. You will deffinately hurt and possibally kill your friends rat by using wood shavings from the woodshop.
Answers:
I have had rats for many years and have used all kinds of different kinds of bedding. They way I look at it is wood shaving are wood shavings! LOL It won't hurt the rat though.just make sure that you keep the cage very clean and also make sure that the shavings you are useing do not contain a lot of dust particles because this can give them repiratory problems. Make sure if the cage allows it to keep the food seperate from the shavings.this will help with sanitation. I think the rat will be fine :-)
rats are digusting little runts or animal s that stay and run around in peoples house and apartment. THEY are fexlible so it's hard to kept them out of the house cause they can squeezed threw the tineest pieces of spaces it's actually amazing but freaky at the same time.
u should not use pine or ceder shavings with rats. it is not good for them.
Should be okay as long as the shavings are not from plywood; that stuff is really toxic due to the glue.
well sometimes such a change can surprise or harm the rat. It is better to get certain kinds of bedding for your rat to remain healthy. I recommend, to be safe, to go with the stuff your friend is using. She would know! Plus, sometimes wood shavings from a wood shop are not good! they could have bacteria and other stuff that could make the rat sick on them. Not a good idea. Hope I helped.
I just did some research and it said to not use the pine stuff!! It is not good for rats.
I've heard that it is NOT good to use pine wood shaving or cedar wood shavings. I have a rat and I use shredded construction paper. The rat can easily move the paper around and fix their little house however they like it.
i own a pet rat, and everything i have ever read online, or anything i have ever been told about rats is that cedar or pine bedding is really really bad for their health. something to do with their respiratory system.
use anything but cedar or pine bedding
i just got pet rats and i changed their bedding and they had no effect on it that i could tell sometimes if the bedding is dusty it mike make them sneeze more than usual hope this helped a little
You really shouldn't use wood from the wood shop...there could be alot of things in the wood that could harm the rat...
The best bedding is Aspen wood shavings that you buy from the pet stores...its safe for the rats and it's not that exspensive...
Changing their bedding type only hurts them if you give them bad bedding...
Hope this helps...GOOD LUCK!
Alright, firstly your friend needs to know that she is shortening her rats lifespan by using pine shavings. The stuff that makes them smell good to us are called phenols and are dangerous to rats very sensitive respiratory systems. If you must use wood, aspen is a readily available alternative that is safe.
It depends on what type of wood shavings you usually get as to whether or not they are safe.
So the best bet is to spend the $3 or 4 and get a bag of aspen shavings at Wal-Mart or Petsmart.
Both kinds of wood shavings are not good to use. There is dust and oils that can be harmful for the respiratory system. Between the two, the store bought is the less harmful, because there won't be chemicals, as much dust, or bacteria present. Do not use woodshop shavings for bedding!
rats have a hight intollerance to dust etc. i use kittylitter, but the clumpy stuff. you should never every use dusty litter, wood shavings etc. i can do alot of harm to their little lungs. try anyhting that says hypo-alangenic. (sorry for the spelling errors.)
DO NOT USE WOOD SHAVINGS, they can be very harmful to rats, expecially pine and cedar. Any vet or person with knowlege about rats will tell you this. Use carefresh or any other bedding you find at a petstore that does not contain pine or cedar. You will deffinately hurt and possibally kill your friends rat by using wood shavings from the woodshop.
Any1 have a picture of a hamsters feet?
Just the bottom. I can never see my hamsters feet.
Answers:
How's this
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chmurka/303...
lol no but ill look
cant you just find one on google?
Pick him up and look,not to hard.
no i dont i have a bunny not a hamster!
here you go
http://y2u.co.uk/knowledge_information/i...
i just thought this whas funny too
http://neighborsgo.beloblog.com/archives...
Answers:
How's this
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chmurka/303...
lol no but ill look
cant you just find one on google?
Pick him up and look,not to hard.
no i dont i have a bunny not a hamster!
here you go
http://y2u.co.uk/knowledge_information/i...
i just thought this whas funny too
http://neighborsgo.beloblog.com/archives...
Any tips on taming guinea pigs and does shredded paper make good bedding material?
i want to tame two guinea pigs i've got although they aren't nasty the hate been picked up adn when i put them in their run it takes me ages to catch them to go back in their hutch
Answers:
ok where can i start umm
Guinea pigs can make lovely, tame pets with just a bit of time and kindness. They all have different personalities though, and whilst many piggies can be tamed to the point that they will come running over to see you when you approach, some will always prefer to sit somewhere safe. A guinea pig in the wild makes a good, hearty meal for a number of predators and as such an instinct to be scared of sudden movement and strange environments is a good survival instinct. Remember if you loom over your piggie, his instinct will tell him that an eagle is attacking and if you crash around nearby it could be a predator jumping through the undergrowth.
There are two main factors in taming any small animal. The first is not doing anything unpleasant to them when they are being brave, and the second is naked bribery. Because there are lots of foods that guinea pigs really like that they can have quite a bit of they are actually quite easy to tame. I use dark green salad leaves for treats, but also nice fresh grass and dandelions from the garden in the summer (don't overdo dandelions as they are diuretic). If you don't have access to a garden why not grow some nice fresh grass or greens on the window ledge!!
When you first get your guinea pigs it is best to leave them alone as much as possible for the first couple of days. It is very tempting to keep picking them up and showing them to people but this is very stressful for them when they are in a new environment so please resist this until they have settled in.
Make sure that each guinea pig has a nice house to hide in. Otherwise when they are startled the more dominant piggie will kick the other one out of the box and this can cause fights particularly amongst males. If possible don't disturb your pet when he is in his box as this will make them feel more secure. It is sometimes necessary to catch them by tipping over the box but do this as little as possible in the early days.
Feed your guinea pigs at the same time every day. They will soon learn to assoicate the sounds of feeding with something nice happening. Ours squeak when they hear rustling and/or the frige opening. Also have times a couple of times a day when you give them treats.
At first you may have to just put a treat outside the door of the nest box and move away but over time you should be able to get a guinea pig to take it from your hand. This is the most difficult part of the process and it is worth persevering. I spent a lot of time at this stage with Charm. I had to have a rule that if he didn't come and get it in a reasonable period of time I take it away again. This is because he had learnt that I would eventually give up and leave it and wouldn't take it.
Once you have a guinea pig feeding from your hand it is often quite a quick process to get them to come further and further out of the box and eventually come to the edge of the cage to be fed. Before long your guinea pig will be standing ready for a treat. It is absolutely essential that you don't use a treat to catch the guinea pig at this point as it will stop them trusting you. Once they get to trust you really well you will be able to pick them up. As mentioned above both Truffle and Smudge will come over and be picked up now.
If you are interested in psycology this process is called shaping. It involves rewarding your pet when he does each small step towards what you want him to do. Or in technical speak "produces novel behaviour by reinforcing closer and closer approximations to the desired response"(Westen 2002). It also works for other animals, students, children and alledgedly husbands. Some piggies learn in a matter of days, the majority in a couple of weeks but a small minority may take a lot longer. There isn't a guinea pig out there that you can't get tamer in this way.
Guinea pigs are pets that you can sit on your lap and stroke but it can take a while for them to get used to it. A very frightened guinea pig will sit very still and even quiver. When they are a little less nervous they make a purring noise to indicate that they are unhappy - people often mistake this for the purring cats make when they are happy but it actually means the opposite.
When you first handle your guinea pig do so in a quiet room without a lot going on around. Turn off the TV and don't have the washing machine or hoover in the background. Sit them quietly and see if you can get them to eat their favorite treat - it can take a little while for them to feel safe enough to eat but if you are patient they will get happier about being handled. Make sure you always pick them up with their back end supported and don't walk around with them to start off with as the height makes them nervous. If you get them used to being handled and associate it with something nice happening (the treat) it will be easier later on when they need their toenails clipped or have to go to the vet.
If you have a long haired guinea pig be very careful not to snag her fur when you are combing her. I think that Angel's owners let her get very tangled and she became very, very nervous about being combed. I just keep her fur cut short so I don't have to put her through it anymore. She is the sandy coloured pig in the top photo and originally she looked like Dougal but used to squeal and jump when combed.
If you have indoor piggies consider making a door in their run so that they can be let out for floor time without having to be caught. This way they can let themselves in and out and will feel more secure because they can run back home if they are scared. You can then encourage them to come out with a rustling bag. This is what is happening in the top photo on this page. I have sat down and rustled a salad bag and they have come running. If you cannot let the piggies have their own door make sure that they have somewhere to hide to start off with so they can come in and it. This also applies to runs in the garden. Always give them a box to run into as you never know when the neighbour's cat might frigten them by sitting on the run.
If you take the time to slowly get your guinea pig used to you, then you will be rewarded with a happy, friendly pet. Although they won't all get to the stage where they run up and say hi when you enter the room, all guinea pigs can be taught that people are nice and present no threat and so have a much calmer, happier life. A happy pig will also get tamer quicker so have a look at the Guinea Pig Cages and Guinea Pig Toys pages.
Ours all vary in their tameness. Truffle is known as black labrador pig, as he will quite happily sit down and be picked up or scratched behind the ear. I think I would run away and hide from something before he would!! Smudge is very friendly and exceedingly vocal. It isn't possible to eat an apple in peace in our house as she'll be there looking at you making herself heard until you give her some. She will also come and be picked up, but will run away if you make her jump. Angel is reasonably tame and will come to the edge of the cage for a treat and will tolerate being scratched behind the ears sometimes. But she won't let you pick her up and will leg it if you move suddenly. Charm prefers to hide in his box when there are people about. He came to us with ringworm and had to be bathed and taken down the vet and I don't think he's ever forgiven us for it.With a great deal of time and patience I finally got him to come to the door of his box and take a treat from me and then just this week he will actually come half way out to get it. A great achievement.
You shouldn't use paper for their bedding. They eat it and it's bad for their digestion.
Hay is the best bedding.
Guinea pigs hand tame easily. You need to take each pig out alone hold it in your hands and give it a treat. They will learn that you will give them treats if they are in your hands.
Paper is the only bedding I recommend for any small animal. Wood bedding has aromatic oils and even the ones which say they don't break down rapidly causing respiratory distress. Another bedding which can be used is carefresh. I use only paper bedding in my home. I had 3 guinea pigs all of whom lived to be almost 8 years old. I used only paper bedding.
use cedar chips as they absorb odor.paper will work ,but use the funny section so they can laff.
I've never known a 'pig to be mean but it's not uncommon for them to be shy and avoid getting caught. You'll either have to handle them daily (gently please) or just get good at catching them quickly.
Shredded paper bedding is probably okay for the short-term but you should really have them on either composit rodent bedding (sorry, I can't remember what it's called but they make gray and white varietites and most pet-stores carry it [also, supposedly bio-degradable]) or pine (yellow wood-shavings).
DO NOT PUT THEM ON CEDAR! Cedar (red and yellow shavings) smells great but it's toxic to rodents.
Remember to double-check with your vet if you're unsure of anything.
pay more attention to them paper is not good because of the ink
u cant tame guinea pigs, even though they can learn how 2 open their cage if the door is from the front...and about catching them all Wat u Harv 2 do is 2 sit down on the ground with some fresh vegetables in ur opened hand (tomato,lettuce)and they will come 2 u themselves.
all guinea pigs hate 2 be picked up but they may calm down if u picked up the m a little bit more gentle and kept talking 2 them in a low calm voice while putting them on ur lap.
and yes shredded paper make a good bedding..i put shredded newspapers 4 mine and they become very happy with it beside they some times eat it :)
We only had a guinea pig for 2 days at our rescue, so I can't help with the taming other then hold them daily and hand feed treats to gain their trust. I've provided a site on taming for you below.
The litter is why I'm answering. Like I said we have a small animal rescue and only will use the paper litter like many others do. Animals suffer from respiratory infections, toxic poisoning, and allergies from using wood shavings. I have an older daughter with wood allergies so that makes it better for her as well. You can also use hay or straw for bedding, but this they will eat also.
Paper is fine for bedding to keep them warm... but newspaper underneath that is best. And of course they need hay to sleep in as well as to eat. Paper is NOT bad for them to eat - as long as it doesn't have too much ink on it. Mine have always been fine eating their newspaper, and so have many others I know.
How long have you had your guinea pigs and how old are they? Guinea pigs who have only been with you for a few weeks or months are bound to be very frightened. They need to learn to gain your trust gradually. Babies are more quick and shy than adults (1 year +) I find.
Some of mine still run away when I try to pick them up but that is just down to the fact that they are, after all, prey animals. It is their instinct! Some are fine though and love being picked up - they even place their paws on my arm to help me lift them!
To "wrestling queen's" advice (above), I would add:
Talk gently to your guinea pigs as you approach the cage. Guinea pigs' vision isn't great, but their hearing is. If they hear you talking as you walk up to the cage, they know *you're* coming and not a predator. Also, your arrival at the side of their cage is not a surprise to them.
And a small clarification:
There are two kinds of "purring" sounds that guinea pigs make. One is pronounced, sustained, and usually coincides with physical contact with a beloved human...a nice back rub, a good scritch behind the ears, a lovely snuggle up next to your neck. Not uncommon for a stretch and yawn to follow. Not uncommon for eyes to be half-closed in bliss. *This* purring is a compliment, a sign of contentment.
The other is pronounced, short, usually accompanied by widened fearful eyes, and follows an unfamiliar or sudden sound (e.g., a cell phone with a loud ringtone, a smoke detector going off in the kitchen at the other side of the house, hands suddenly clapping at something on TV), or sudden movement in the room (e.g., someone whisking in and out to pick something up). You need to reassure them with a nuzzle, a few strokes on the back, a scritch behind the ears, gently talking to them.
You might also try holding them in a towel or a cozy sak that they can cuddle up. Guinea pigs who act insecure and fearful on your lap will invariably settle down when they have something warm to snuggle in. You can easily make fleece saks on your own, or buy them. If you want to buy, check http://www.cozycavy.com and http://www.cavymadness.com.
In time, they'll settle down. Mine often sit on my lap contentedly for the duration of a 90-minute movie.
yes its good bedding, the only down side is that you have to change it more often and make sure they dont eat it
Answers:
ok where can i start umm
Guinea pigs can make lovely, tame pets with just a bit of time and kindness. They all have different personalities though, and whilst many piggies can be tamed to the point that they will come running over to see you when you approach, some will always prefer to sit somewhere safe. A guinea pig in the wild makes a good, hearty meal for a number of predators and as such an instinct to be scared of sudden movement and strange environments is a good survival instinct. Remember if you loom over your piggie, his instinct will tell him that an eagle is attacking and if you crash around nearby it could be a predator jumping through the undergrowth.
There are two main factors in taming any small animal. The first is not doing anything unpleasant to them when they are being brave, and the second is naked bribery. Because there are lots of foods that guinea pigs really like that they can have quite a bit of they are actually quite easy to tame. I use dark green salad leaves for treats, but also nice fresh grass and dandelions from the garden in the summer (don't overdo dandelions as they are diuretic). If you don't have access to a garden why not grow some nice fresh grass or greens on the window ledge!!
When you first get your guinea pigs it is best to leave them alone as much as possible for the first couple of days. It is very tempting to keep picking them up and showing them to people but this is very stressful for them when they are in a new environment so please resist this until they have settled in.
Make sure that each guinea pig has a nice house to hide in. Otherwise when they are startled the more dominant piggie will kick the other one out of the box and this can cause fights particularly amongst males. If possible don't disturb your pet when he is in his box as this will make them feel more secure. It is sometimes necessary to catch them by tipping over the box but do this as little as possible in the early days.
Feed your guinea pigs at the same time every day. They will soon learn to assoicate the sounds of feeding with something nice happening. Ours squeak when they hear rustling and/or the frige opening. Also have times a couple of times a day when you give them treats.
At first you may have to just put a treat outside the door of the nest box and move away but over time you should be able to get a guinea pig to take it from your hand. This is the most difficult part of the process and it is worth persevering. I spent a lot of time at this stage with Charm. I had to have a rule that if he didn't come and get it in a reasonable period of time I take it away again. This is because he had learnt that I would eventually give up and leave it and wouldn't take it.
Once you have a guinea pig feeding from your hand it is often quite a quick process to get them to come further and further out of the box and eventually come to the edge of the cage to be fed. Before long your guinea pig will be standing ready for a treat. It is absolutely essential that you don't use a treat to catch the guinea pig at this point as it will stop them trusting you. Once they get to trust you really well you will be able to pick them up. As mentioned above both Truffle and Smudge will come over and be picked up now.
If you are interested in psycology this process is called shaping. It involves rewarding your pet when he does each small step towards what you want him to do. Or in technical speak "produces novel behaviour by reinforcing closer and closer approximations to the desired response"(Westen 2002). It also works for other animals, students, children and alledgedly husbands. Some piggies learn in a matter of days, the majority in a couple of weeks but a small minority may take a lot longer. There isn't a guinea pig out there that you can't get tamer in this way.
Guinea pigs are pets that you can sit on your lap and stroke but it can take a while for them to get used to it. A very frightened guinea pig will sit very still and even quiver. When they are a little less nervous they make a purring noise to indicate that they are unhappy - people often mistake this for the purring cats make when they are happy but it actually means the opposite.
When you first handle your guinea pig do so in a quiet room without a lot going on around. Turn off the TV and don't have the washing machine or hoover in the background. Sit them quietly and see if you can get them to eat their favorite treat - it can take a little while for them to feel safe enough to eat but if you are patient they will get happier about being handled. Make sure you always pick them up with their back end supported and don't walk around with them to start off with as the height makes them nervous. If you get them used to being handled and associate it with something nice happening (the treat) it will be easier later on when they need their toenails clipped or have to go to the vet.
If you have a long haired guinea pig be very careful not to snag her fur when you are combing her. I think that Angel's owners let her get very tangled and she became very, very nervous about being combed. I just keep her fur cut short so I don't have to put her through it anymore. She is the sandy coloured pig in the top photo and originally she looked like Dougal but used to squeal and jump when combed.
If you have indoor piggies consider making a door in their run so that they can be let out for floor time without having to be caught. This way they can let themselves in and out and will feel more secure because they can run back home if they are scared. You can then encourage them to come out with a rustling bag. This is what is happening in the top photo on this page. I have sat down and rustled a salad bag and they have come running. If you cannot let the piggies have their own door make sure that they have somewhere to hide to start off with so they can come in and it. This also applies to runs in the garden. Always give them a box to run into as you never know when the neighbour's cat might frigten them by sitting on the run.
If you take the time to slowly get your guinea pig used to you, then you will be rewarded with a happy, friendly pet. Although they won't all get to the stage where they run up and say hi when you enter the room, all guinea pigs can be taught that people are nice and present no threat and so have a much calmer, happier life. A happy pig will also get tamer quicker so have a look at the Guinea Pig Cages and Guinea Pig Toys pages.
Ours all vary in their tameness. Truffle is known as black labrador pig, as he will quite happily sit down and be picked up or scratched behind the ear. I think I would run away and hide from something before he would!! Smudge is very friendly and exceedingly vocal. It isn't possible to eat an apple in peace in our house as she'll be there looking at you making herself heard until you give her some. She will also come and be picked up, but will run away if you make her jump. Angel is reasonably tame and will come to the edge of the cage for a treat and will tolerate being scratched behind the ears sometimes. But she won't let you pick her up and will leg it if you move suddenly. Charm prefers to hide in his box when there are people about. He came to us with ringworm and had to be bathed and taken down the vet and I don't think he's ever forgiven us for it.With a great deal of time and patience I finally got him to come to the door of his box and take a treat from me and then just this week he will actually come half way out to get it. A great achievement.
You shouldn't use paper for their bedding. They eat it and it's bad for their digestion.
Hay is the best bedding.
Guinea pigs hand tame easily. You need to take each pig out alone hold it in your hands and give it a treat. They will learn that you will give them treats if they are in your hands.
Paper is the only bedding I recommend for any small animal. Wood bedding has aromatic oils and even the ones which say they don't break down rapidly causing respiratory distress. Another bedding which can be used is carefresh. I use only paper bedding in my home. I had 3 guinea pigs all of whom lived to be almost 8 years old. I used only paper bedding.
use cedar chips as they absorb odor.paper will work ,but use the funny section so they can laff.
I've never known a 'pig to be mean but it's not uncommon for them to be shy and avoid getting caught. You'll either have to handle them daily (gently please) or just get good at catching them quickly.
Shredded paper bedding is probably okay for the short-term but you should really have them on either composit rodent bedding (sorry, I can't remember what it's called but they make gray and white varietites and most pet-stores carry it [also, supposedly bio-degradable]) or pine (yellow wood-shavings).
DO NOT PUT THEM ON CEDAR! Cedar (red and yellow shavings) smells great but it's toxic to rodents.
Remember to double-check with your vet if you're unsure of anything.
pay more attention to them paper is not good because of the ink
u cant tame guinea pigs, even though they can learn how 2 open their cage if the door is from the front...and about catching them all Wat u Harv 2 do is 2 sit down on the ground with some fresh vegetables in ur opened hand (tomato,lettuce)and they will come 2 u themselves.
all guinea pigs hate 2 be picked up but they may calm down if u picked up the m a little bit more gentle and kept talking 2 them in a low calm voice while putting them on ur lap.
and yes shredded paper make a good bedding..i put shredded newspapers 4 mine and they become very happy with it beside they some times eat it :)
We only had a guinea pig for 2 days at our rescue, so I can't help with the taming other then hold them daily and hand feed treats to gain their trust. I've provided a site on taming for you below.
The litter is why I'm answering. Like I said we have a small animal rescue and only will use the paper litter like many others do. Animals suffer from respiratory infections, toxic poisoning, and allergies from using wood shavings. I have an older daughter with wood allergies so that makes it better for her as well. You can also use hay or straw for bedding, but this they will eat also.
Paper is fine for bedding to keep them warm... but newspaper underneath that is best. And of course they need hay to sleep in as well as to eat. Paper is NOT bad for them to eat - as long as it doesn't have too much ink on it. Mine have always been fine eating their newspaper, and so have many others I know.
How long have you had your guinea pigs and how old are they? Guinea pigs who have only been with you for a few weeks or months are bound to be very frightened. They need to learn to gain your trust gradually. Babies are more quick and shy than adults (1 year +) I find.
Some of mine still run away when I try to pick them up but that is just down to the fact that they are, after all, prey animals. It is their instinct! Some are fine though and love being picked up - they even place their paws on my arm to help me lift them!
To "wrestling queen's" advice (above), I would add:
Talk gently to your guinea pigs as you approach the cage. Guinea pigs' vision isn't great, but their hearing is. If they hear you talking as you walk up to the cage, they know *you're* coming and not a predator. Also, your arrival at the side of their cage is not a surprise to them.
And a small clarification:
There are two kinds of "purring" sounds that guinea pigs make. One is pronounced, sustained, and usually coincides with physical contact with a beloved human...a nice back rub, a good scritch behind the ears, a lovely snuggle up next to your neck. Not uncommon for a stretch and yawn to follow. Not uncommon for eyes to be half-closed in bliss. *This* purring is a compliment, a sign of contentment.
The other is pronounced, short, usually accompanied by widened fearful eyes, and follows an unfamiliar or sudden sound (e.g., a cell phone with a loud ringtone, a smoke detector going off in the kitchen at the other side of the house, hands suddenly clapping at something on TV), or sudden movement in the room (e.g., someone whisking in and out to pick something up). You need to reassure them with a nuzzle, a few strokes on the back, a scritch behind the ears, gently talking to them.
You might also try holding them in a towel or a cozy sak that they can cuddle up. Guinea pigs who act insecure and fearful on your lap will invariably settle down when they have something warm to snuggle in. You can easily make fleece saks on your own, or buy them. If you want to buy, check http://www.cozycavy.com and http://www.cavymadness.com.
In time, they'll settle down. Mine often sit on my lap contentedly for the duration of a 90-minute movie.
yes its good bedding, the only down side is that you have to change it more often and make sure they dont eat it
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