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16 Responses to HELP I seriously need help choosing a new pet, with a good explanation why.?
Well if you don’t want a chinchilla… How about a rat? They live about 2 – 4 years and you can bond with them very easily. They are a lot of entertainment and easy to take care of. They can even be taught tricks and can come to their own name. I’d recommend getting 2 so they don’t get lonely.
I’d still say chinchilla though…
I have 5 chinchillas, 3 rats, 2 snakes, and a 55 gal fish tank!
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have you thought about a ferret?? most people don’t get them because they stink…. but they don’t they make a 5 in 1 shampoo to keep that from happening besides if you take care of it. it shouldn’t stink. they are awesome pets. very mischevious and curious and they ALWAYS make you laugh.. maybe you should look into those they are pretty neat!
I have 5 chinchillas, 3 rats, 2 snakes, and a 55 gal fish tank!
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Rats sound like the absolute perfect pet for you.
1. They form a strong bond with you, their owner.
2. They are very smart and are easily trainable.
3. They are very hardy animals that are easy to take care of. I know of a middle school teacher who has rats and every weekend she leaves them with enough food for two days and they are just fine.
4. They also are not super long living animals. They usually only live to be 2 to 3 years old. Perfect for a college student.
5. They are exotic as you said you would prefer.
6. Last but not least they are not dirty, noisy, or smelly. So they are perfect for dorm rooms or shared living arrangements.
I have 5 chinchillas, 3 rats, 2 snakes, and a 55 gal fish tank!
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have you thought about fancy rats?
they are considerably easy upkeep requireing less space than a glider and certianly less in terms of dietary needs.
they are extreemly social (buy in pairs) and will bond very strongly to a kind gentle handler.
they are VERY inteligent (they can be taught tricks as easily as any dog!), love to play and be heald (get females if you like a more active pet, males if you want snuggle buddies!)
they do have a bad rep of being “dirty” and “gross” hwoever these couldnt be further from the truth, they clean themselves and you just like cats do.
their cages, just like any rodents need cleaning frequently, but they are not as messy as gliders (who need soft food and insects this food tends to spoil quickly and they kick them everywhere)
rats are diurnal, meaning theyll sleep when your not around but be ready to play whenever you are.
ive owned a total of 8 rats over my lifetime thus far and LOVE them!
i love gliders, but unfrotunalty as pets they tend to be a labour of love, they are extreemly messy, dont realy “bond” like a rat does (your more their tree than their person) and tend to take up more time and devotion than most people are willing to give…unfortunatly they are not suitable for 99% of people, and 90% of people who take these guys on end up rehoming them after a year.
gliders also should be bought in pairs. you are simply not enough.
gliders are also noctournal. and need an unusually large cage for their body size.
i dont know much about flying squirrels other than they are illegal in many states (as are gliders and most “exotic” smalls)
like gliders they need an extreemly large amount of space compared to thier body size.
short tailed oppossums and hedgehogs are NOCTOURNAL, unless you work nights and are generally awake between the hours of 12am and 5am, they can live on a haigh quality dog/cat food however prefer a diet including insects and overripe fruits, because of this thier cages tend to stinck quickly and must be cleaned daily ect to keep any smell down…neither are realy “active” pets…and both are solitary animals, meaning they arnt going to bond with you…
ive never had or owned a duprasi but am told they are behaviourally alot like gerbils
chipmonk tend to be more of a cage and watch kind of pet, most dont realy become accustomed to handling and prefert o be with other chipmonks rather than people. they also need ALOT of room.
personally i dont feel squirrels of any kind make good pets…
id serisouly ocnsider fancy rats, they might be a good start and if you like them you could consider something more advanced from their if you wanted…most people however beccome addicted to ratties.
good luck
currently have 2 female rats and 6 rescued suggar gliders…
id choos ethe rats as PETS over the gliders anyday…the gliders are more an interest than a pet.
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I’ve had several different types of rodents as pets over the years, and if you’re looking for one with tons of personality – you’ve got to reconsider a guinea pig! We have two, and they are wonderful. They “talk” when they hear us open the produce drawer in the refrigerator. You won’t get that kind of interaction with any other rodent!
currently have 2 female rats and 6 rescued suggar gliders…
id choos ethe rats as PETS over the gliders anyday…the gliders are more an interest than a pet.
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Boring! Sugar gliders are cool, but they only are awake at night or evenings and get really pissed off if you wake them during the day! Try some mice! A small group of females are easy to care for and don’t cost a lot! They are very smart(just like rats!). I keep mine in my bedroom. They wake up when I get up and come out to see me. They know their names and don’t require much maintenance at all. Very friendly creatures! But rats are cool too! Anyway, you are the only one who can decide what you want. Whatever it is, please do the homework first, so you know exactly what to look for and what healthy animals should look like…Here’s a few of my links(below) I always wanted a prairie dogs!
Good Luck!
dave<:3 }~...OWNER/ SHAGGYMOUSE YAHOO GROUP
http://www.psyeta.org/hia/vol8/lawlor.html
http://www.awionline.org/pubs/cq02/Cq-rats.html
http://www.sugarglider.com/
http://www.opossum.org/
http://bellaratta.com/
http://www.animalhospitals-usa.com/small_pets/prairie_dogs.html
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i like mice and i am getting one soon
http://www.psyeta.org/hia/vol8/lawlor.html
http://www.awionline.org/pubs/cq02/Cq-rats.html
http://www.sugarglider.com/
http://www.opossum.org/
http://bellaratta.com/
http://www.animalhospitals-usa.com/small_pets/prairie_dogs.html
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Well to tell you the truth I think a hamster would best fit for you. Although you said you don’t form a strong bond, but actually you do. I got my little fellow a year ago when she was like 3 weeks old, and we formed a bond. Everytime I get home from school and I look at my cage. I see my little hammy standing up and waiting for me to open up her cage. Also they dont bite if they know the person who raised them. Also their very easy to take care of, U just give them food, shelter, water, and ofcourse love; which we all can do. I was once skeptical also on buying a per, then i realized I made the right choice for choosing my little hammy. Also their very clean animals, they have different behaviors than rats. But I really really recomend you buying a hamster.
http://www.psyeta.org/hia/vol8/lawlor.html
http://www.awionline.org/pubs/cq02/Cq-rats.html
http://www.sugarglider.com/
http://www.opossum.org/
http://bellaratta.com/
http://www.animalhospitals-usa.com/small_pets/prairie_dogs.html
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A guinea pig because they’re sooo cuddly, affectionate, and playful!!!!!!!
i have an adorable, brave one!!!!
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I was searching the internet, and I found these types of exotic pets for you:
Red Squirrel = http://www.angelfire.com/tx2/Critter/RedSquirrel.html
Fox Squirrel = http://www.angelfire.com/tx2/Critter/FoxSquirrel.html
Tufted Ear Squirrel = http://www.angelfire.com/tx2/Critter/TuftEarSquirrels.html
Giant Red Flying Squirrel = http://www.angelfire.com/tx2/Critter/GiantFlyRedSq.html
Mexican Ground Squirrel = http://www.angelfire.com/tx2/Critter/MXGroundSquirrel.html
Woodchuck = http://www.angelfire.com/tx2/Critter/Woodchucks.html
Sugar Glider = http://www.angelfire.com/tx2/Critter/SugarGliders.html
Pika = http://www.angelfire.com/tx2/Critter/Pika.html
Lemming = http://www.angelfire.com/tx2/Critter/Lemming.html
Northern Flying Squirrel = http://www.angelfire.com/tx2/Critter/NorthFlySquirrel.html
North American Badger = http://www.angelfire.com/tx2/Critter/NABadger.html
I hope that this helps! If you would like to check out some more, here is the website that I got all of the links above from:
http://www.angelfire.com/tx2/Critter/
Thanks,
~ Future Vet
i have an adorable, brave one!!!!
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Have you ever considered an exotic Hedgehog? They come in a range of different colours, shapes and sizes. Really sweet animals, great characters. You MUST, however, get a hedgehog who has been socialised to humans since a very young age (if you want a sociable hedgie!)
Rats are fabulous too, I have owned rats for many years now and I breed and show them. Although they are ‘exotics’ they are not particuarly rare now.
Also, Skunks? Never really heard much of them here but I have heard they are very popular in certain areas of America. If you treat them well they will never never…um…’stink’ you. You can also have their scent glands removed.
Do you want more specialised animals?
i have an adorable, brave one!!!!
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i think you should get a teddy bear hamster. they’re low maintenance and they’re nice. my hamster has never bitten me once, and i’ve had him for 3 years. plus they’re cute, and if you play with it everyday it will learn to like you.
i have an adorable, brave one!!!!
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Hey i own two degus and they are awesome. they are kinda like a chincilla but they look more like squirrels. Their pictures are everywhere online. They are playful and smart and don’t require a lot of work. I live in Oklahoma and I am getting a cat and I am afraid she will eat them so, I put them up for sale. They come with everything you would need for them including a book about them. If you are interested you can email me. I think my email is up on my profile.
i have an adorable, brave one!!!!
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Here is alot of information that will help you make a decision about getting a chinchilla
http://www.thechinbin.org
i have an adorable, brave one!!!!
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Get a rat, they are extremely smart, learn easily, you can acquire a strong bond with them, and they can be just down right adorable!
i have an adorable, brave one!!!!
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easy pair of rats males-calmer and femails are scatty so for youa pair of femailes would be great
there great animals
4 rats – 4 guinea pigs – 13 fish – 1 kitten – 1 hamster – 1 giant afrikan land snail
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