Written by Diana Geiger
The holidays are upon us. Many children receive pets for gifts. These youngsters know less about caring for the pet than their parents do. This is scary. Many of these pets end up in shelters unwanted or worst, dead. Before purchasing any animal do your research, learn all you can about the pet. Ask yourself some serious questions. Is my child ready to take on this responsiblity? What special care does this pet require? Am I willing to clean the cage or pen? Can we afford the cost involved in caring for the pet, vet bills, food, and other special costs? Is our lifestyle or home right for the pet I am considering? Give giving a live animal as a gift a tremendous amount of thought.
Rodents, including the rat, hamster, gerbil and mouse are increasing in popularity because they require no vaccinations and take up very little space. Each rodent is similar in many ways but each is different from each other. Rats and gerbils rarely bite but do on occasion. Hamsters can be a bit nippy and will on occasion deliver a rather nasty bite. Mice fall in between. Gerbils should have coined the term "fearless" and because of this fearless nature are rather easy to tame. Gerbils main downfall is that there awful gnawers and scratcher. They can and will gnaw and scratch through a plastic cage. Hamsters stress easily while gerbils don't. Rats are inquisitive and have a very friendly nature. The only down side to a rat is their kleptomaniac nature. Mice are affectionate tiny little pets and enjoy sitting in your hand. Female mice make the best pet because the male mouse has very strong smelling urine. While all rodents are very active the gerbil and hamster seem to expend the most energy. All should have a rodent wheel suitable for their particular size.
Rodent's life spans are no longer than 5 years. The rat will live from 2 to 3 years. The gerbil will live three to five years. The hamster will live approximately 2 years and the mouse from 1 to 2 years. For your little friend to live the longest possible lifespan keep his cage and accessories clean and disinfected. Use caution using strong smelling cleaners and disinfectants without rinsing completely and airing out the cage. Stay away from pine and cedar bedding material this will injure their respiratory systems. Stick with aspen bedding. Make sure you feed them a good balanced diet according to the particular rodent's needs. Always have plenty of fresh water available.
All rodents need to gnaw to keep their ever-growing teeth worn down. Provide them with rodent chew sticks, safe sticks and twigs. All rodents love to have fun and need toys to play with. All rodents need and enjoy love and affection and all are capable of strong bonds with their owners.
Gerbils are an unusual rodent in that they will mate as a pair or a triad for life. Other rodents aren't as picky. Gerbils will become sexually mature at the age of two months. They will have litters of one to eight. The average being two to four. Mice become sexually mature at 8 weeks old, and they can deliver a litter of up to twelve babies in three weeks. Hamsters begin breeding at a little over two months and will have 4-6 young in a litter and the gestation period is fifteen to eighteen days. The rat reaches sexual maturity at two and a half to three months and can deliver six to twelve young with the gestation period being about twenty-three days.
Gerbils are much more social than hamsters. Gerbils can be housed together in the same cage. Hamsters should be housed separately. Rats too are very social and can be housed together. While mice are social it is best to keep two females together because two males together can be a bitter battle.
Hamster
How to Choose a Hamster
Buy a Hamster from a reputable pet store or hamster breeder. The best time of day to purchase a hamster is in the late afternoon or evening when the hamster is active and alert. The hamster's fur should be clean, no bare patches and shiny. The body should be healthy, smooth and well rounded. Check the hamster’s ears. The ears should be clean. If the ears are dirty in appearance this could be a sign of infection or mite infestation.
Pet Hamsters
The breeder or pet store will supply you with a cardboard carrying box. If you're traveling more than a short distance bring a plastic container with air holes and a secure lid. Hamsters can chew out of the cardboard box. Add a small amount of bedding to the bottom of the container. Sprinkle a small amount of food on the bottom of the container.
Male and female hamsters are both equally easy to tame. Some variety of hamsters can be kept in one cage together if they have been littermates. The social species of Hamsters are Dzungarian Dwarf Hamsters, Short Dwarf Hamsters and Russian Hamsters. Other varieties of Hamsters should be kept in separate cages since they will fight and injure or even kill each other.
Check with the pet store or breeder to find what variety of food the Hamster is accustomed to. It's a good idea to continue feeding the same food and gradually changing to another variety if you choose to do so.
Housing and Accessories
Example of Cages
Make sure you have purchased the cage you want to use for your hamster before purchasing the hamster. It's always a good idea to have everything clean, and set up before bringing home the hamster. This creates far less stress on the hamster and you. The cage should be disinfected with a mild disinfectant. Rinse the cage completely and dry the cage. Many of the disease and afflictions that plague the hamster can be avoided with proper and frequent disinfecting and cleaning of his cage and materials.
There are many cages for the hamster available for purchase. The best cages are rigid wire tops with a plastic base. This is my favorite because it is easy to clean and disinfect. I also like this type of cage because the bedding isn't as likely to get all over outside of the cage.
There are many other cages available in pet stores. Some cages have multiple levels and tunnels. These cages can be quite costly and difficult to clean. These cages can also be a tight fit for some of the larger varieties of hamsters such as the Syrian hamster.
Both glass and plastic aquariums can be used as housing. Make sure the aquarium has a well ventilated, secure lid. The Hamster needs fresh air. A well-ventilated lid is also necessary to keep condensation from building up inside the cage. Aquariums can get very warm keep them out of the direct heat and sunlight.
Comfortable and healthy bedding is a must for the hamster. They must build a comfortable nest out of safe materials. Don't ever use cotton or wool bedding because it can cause harm if the hamster ingests it or becomes entangled in the material. Many hamsters have died because of this "fluffy material". The hamsters that died at the result of this fluffy bedding material died of blockages and choking. Cedar chips and pine chips should also be avoided. Pine and cedar have strong oils and are odorous. Pine and cedar can cause respiratory problems in Hamsters. A good wood shaving bedding material is Aspen shavings. Paper based shavings are also available and are safe.
Good nesting material is torn up paper towels, cardboard, hay, (not straw) and toilet paper. The material should be torn into small strips. Hay works great as long as it is clean, not moldy or dusty. Straw can be too sharp and can injure the Hamster.
A good water bottle is a must. Pick out a high quality water bottle because the cheaper ones are susceptible to leakage. An exercise wheel should also be provided. Most hamsters will use an exercise wheel but not all. The exercise wheel should be of the solid variety and not the runged variety. The runged variety can be dangerous because the Hamster can get his little legs caught in the wheel rungs or slip and fall and get injured.
Many miscellaneous accessories can be made or purchased. Toilet paper rolls make great toys. A piece of apple wood can be hooked between the cage bars so the Hamster can climb on it. Check out the pet stores for different accessories to provide extra stimulation and fun for your Hamster.
Feeding
There are many commercial hamster foods available. You can purchase either a mix or a pellet. The pellets meet the hamster's nutritional needs but they do not offer much variety. If you use the pellets be sure to supplement with other varieties of foods. The mixes usually have a variety of foods such as crushed oats, barley, rodent pellets, sunflower seeds, peanuts, maize and dog biscuits. They usually include other foods as well.
Supplement any of the commercial foods with fresh fruits and vegetables. Be sure to remove any uneaten fresh foods from the cage so it doesn't grow old and moldy and cause your Hamster to become ill. Fresh fruits and vegetables also make a good treat. Sugary treats are not good for a Hamster.
Lists of foods to supplement Commercial Foods
Acorns, biscuits, boiled potatoes, bread, breakfast cereals, cooked fish or chicken, cheese, crickets, currents, dog biscuits, cooked eggs, mealworms, nuts, raisins, apple, banana, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chicory, clover, corn, cucumber, dandelion, dock, grapes, kale, lettuce (not iceberg), parsley, pear, raspberry plant leaves, spinach, sweet corn, turnip and watercress.
Never feed Your Hamster these foods.
Chocolate, Garlic, buttercups, onions, rabbit mix (it contains antibiotics, raw kidney beans, sugar or toffee.
Purchase and feed a vitamin supplement. Provide your hamster with fresh water everyday.
Help with Rodents
Bonding and training
The first day you bring your Hamster home talk to him calmly. Put him in the cage and let him relax and adjust to his environment. Don't put off handling your Hamster. It is much easier to tame them when they are babies. Talk to him frequently. Offer him healthy treats in his cage. This will allow him to get use to your hand. Leave your hand in the cage while he is eating. At this point begin leaving the food in the palm of your hand. He will climb up into your hand. Now you can get your Hamster used to being picked up. Cup him gently in your hand. Play with him close to the ground in case he happens to fall. Have him walk to one hand to the other. Handling him and playing with him will increase both yours and his confidence. You will form a trusting bond.
Rats
How to choose a rat
Pet Rats
In the wild rats belongs to colonies and is very social. They like to play together and cuddle up and sleep together. It is a good idea to purchase two rats instead of one. It should be two rats of the same sex for obvious reasons.
Make sure you pick out a healthy and a happy rat. Make sure they are friendly. A friendly rat will be inquisitive. Rats rarely bite. Though baby rats will nibble your fingers. This nipping is very normal and is not biting. If a rat comes up and licks your hand you have found a very sweet rat.
Check out the rat's coat, make sure it is glossy and healthy looking. Make sure there is no discharge coming from the nose, mouth or eyes. Is he listless or hunched up with a ruffled looking coat? This is an unhealthy rat. Go to another pet store.
Male rats are larger than the female rat. The rat's lifespan is from 2-3 years.
Housing and Accessories
An aquarium with a secure screened top works great. Metal cages are ok, except that they can corrode and the bedding gets all over. Rat's little legs can become trapped in wire cages where the gauge is too small. If the gauge is too big they can escape. They do make cages especially for rats now that is wire, but are safe. They have shelves that are easy to clean and the animal can't get trapped. Make sure the cage is plenty big enough. I've seen far to many rats housed in cages that are much too small. They need room for their little sleeping house, a running wheel, feed dishes and a water bottle. Plus additional room to run around. Remember that the rat is intelligent and needs toys and interesting things to do.
Bedding material has to be non toxic. Never use cedar or pine it will cause damage to the rat's respiratory system and can cause serious damage to his vital organs. There is some great hardwood shavings that are safe for the rat's use. They also like to take old cloth and make into bedding. I had a rat in a wire cage once she was due to have a litter of babies. I had undressed for bed and tossed my T-shirt next to her cage. It had to have taken her all night, but in the morning the T-shirt was torn to smithereens and made into a very comfy and cozy bed. Not only did she accomplish this feat, but also had also given birth to several beautiful babies, who were all tucked in my shredded T-shirt. The ingenuity of rats!
The food dish needs to be heavy enough so not to tip over. The water bottle should have a chew guard designed for a rat. An excellent bed for your pet is a Quaker Oats box. Be prepared to change it periodically since the box can be transformed into bedding. Custom by rat! Time to get reacquainted with cooked oats. Rats like to chew. In fact rats have to chew, it will hone down their teeth. Rat gnawing blocks are great to hone down teeth. You can also use dog biscuits, rawhide bones and cooked soup bones. Your rat will need an exercise wheel, make sure it is big enough for a rat, about 14 inches in diameter.
Make sure the cage is not in direct sunlight or in too hot of a location. Especially if he is housed in a glass container, it gets hot, quick, very much like a car with the windows closed.
Sanitize the cage once a week. Clean and sanitize the food and water container once a day. The rat's bedding should be changed every couple days if your rat wants you to or not. If he has a stash of real important stuff, you can sort it out for him and return it to the cage. Don't use pine cleaners or any cleaner that can injure your pet's respiratory system. Ask the pet store or the pharmacy what would be a safe sanitizer to clean you rat's cage and accessories with. Some people use peroxide and vinegar combinations, This combination works great in the kitchen too.
Toys are important to you rat, they are much more complex and intelligent than some people give them credit for. Toy’s such as ladders, PVC tubes, wooden bird toys and boxes are great toys. My rats just loved the bird toys that had a treat hidden inside. It takes them awhile to figure the puzzle out, but they will get it.
Feeding
There are plenty of rodent foods on the market. This is the correct nutritional requirements for the rat and should be available for him all the time. You should supplement the rodent food with fresh fruits, vegetables and greens. Make sure you wash all fresh fruits and vegetables. You can also give your rat whole grain breads. If in a pinch you don't have access to rodent food you can feed a very high quality dog food, make sure the fat percentage is not over 8%. Cat food is too high in fat and protein for a rat. Make sure he has plenty of fresh water. Change it daily.
Bonding and Training
The first couple days leave the rat in his cage, but spend small amounts of time talking to him. After he adjusts to his new home start offering him treats with your hand. Treats like banana or cheerios. It may take a little time before he'll take the food from you. Speak his name when offering him food. He will get to know it and will come to you when called. After awhile you can begin training him to come when called. Put him down on your bed or floor, a short distance away. Take a treat and hold it out to him, calling him by name. Soon you can substitute some of the treats with hugs and kisses and he will be every bit as delighted.
Gerbils
Care for Gerbils
Gerbils are also very social animals. It is better to have two to four gerbils. Both females and males get along with each other. Though a female and male together will be very prolific and it is best to keep the genders separated. Having more than one female together or more than one male requires that they are from the same litter or they will kill each other. Pick out a healthy gerbil from a reputable pet store or breeder. Females tend to be more social than the males.
Make sure the pet store has clean surroundings. Look to see that the gerbil is healthy that the coat is soft and not greasy or oily. Ask to hold the gerbil. He should not be lethargic and should be bright and curious acting.
Housing and accessories
Never put a gerbil in a plastic cage. They will scratch and chew it apart, escape or swallow the plastic pieces and injure or kill him. Glass aquariums are best. The gerbil is very active and will need a good size aquarium of at least ten gallons but bigger is better. You will need an escape proof, tight secure screened lid. Do make sure the lid is well ventilated. A welded wire cage works great for a gerbil. Welded wire is good because it has plenty of ventilation.
Supply bedding material. Aspen wood shavings work the best. Pine or cedar can cause respiratory problems. Supply a water bottle preferably one of those rodent bottles that can't be chewed up. Though gerbils don't require a lot of water it is important to always provide fresh, clean water. A heavy food dish is important because gerbils are very active and dig a lot and food dishes get tipped over easily. They are very active animals and love to play. Provide lots of toys. Safe toxic free sticks and twigs are great to chew on, as are rodent chew sticks. Hardwood parrot toys make exceptionally good toys for gerbils. They like toilet paper rolls or even tissue boxes. Gerbils like exercise wheels but make sure it is a metal wheel. Since gerbils love to dig it's best to hang the wheel from the cage top other wise it will become quickly buried in bedding material. Do make sure the water bottle isn't dripping in the cage. This makes the cage smelly and is not healthy for the gerbil.
Keep the cage very clean. Clean it out a once a week and disinfect every couple of weeks. Rinse and dry the cage completely. Do use pine cleaners. Clorox can be used but air the cage out before returning the gerbil to the cage.
Feeding
Stores sell gerbil pellets or mixes of pellets and seeds. Supplement the diet with fresh fruits or vegetables given in small amounts at about once a week. The gerbil is a desert creature and too much of the fruits and vegetables can give him diarrhea. The gerbil can have a few sunflower seeds but only as a treat. Sunflower seeds are very fattening to a gerbil. They will beg a potato chip or other junk it's not good for them. Always remove any uneaten food that evening.
Bonding and training
With any rodent give the gerbil time to adjust when you bring him home. The next day when you feed him would be a good time to begin getting acquainted. Place the food in your hand and place your hand in the cage. He will smell the food and scratch at your hand. This will get him use to your hand and the smell of your hand beginning the bonding process. Place the food in his dish. If he nibbles on your hand don't pull back and frighten him he will most likely only nibble. See if he will step unto your hand. Gently pick up the gerbil but never by the tail because the tail can break off easily. He will enjoy climbing up your arm. Over time he will learn to trust and love you as you he. They can become very charming and friendly pets. As with any pet and he is a social animal spend a lot of time with your pet everyday.
Mice
How to choose a mouse
Pet Mice Care
Choose a reliable and reputable breeder. Some pet stores carry mice. Make sure he is healthy with shiny fur and bright eyes. Check to make sure he is active, alert and not lethargic. Two females can be housed together. Females make better pets the males. The male has very strong smelling urine. Two males together will fight and injure and kill each other. Use caution because mice will bite if frightened.
Housing and accessories
Mice don't need a lot of space but a cage of at least twelve inches is necessary. Glass aquariums work will but make sure it is secure with a metal grate lid and has plenty of circulation. If you use a wire cage do have a solid floor because mice are prone to foot sores. A plastic cage is fine as long as it has plenty of circulation. There are many hamster houses available that will work fine for a mouse.
Provide the mouse bedding material. Again use aspen wood shavings and not pine nor cedar. Hay and shredded paper is nice to bed in. He will enjoy a small dish or tunnel to sleep in. They do like enclosed places to sleep.
Provide a heavy food dish and a water bottle. Always provide fresh water daily.
He will enjoy toys. Give him rodent chew sticks and twigs and sticks making sure they are non-toxic and safe. All rodents have ever growing teeth and have to chew. He will enjoy toilet paper rolls. Provide your mouse with an exercise wheel. They love cotton ropes to climb on.
Clean the cage out once a week and disinfect every couple of weeks. Do not use pine cleaners. Use bleach but after rinsing dry and air out the cage before returning the mouse to the cage.
Feeding
A basic diet of whole or rolled oats, hamster food and seed can be fed. Little pieces of wheat bread and a small amount of vegetable or fruit can be bed occasionally. Don't fed the mouse a bunch of junk it will only shorten his lifespan. A piece of dog food and dog biscuits can be fed.
Bonding and training
Get the little mouse use to your hand by giving him food in his cage. Allow him to investigate your hand. See if he won't crawl up onto your hand. Being gentle and calm is the key. Associate your hand with food by bringing him occasional treats. Soon he will crawl up on to your hand and begin cleaning himself. This will be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Summary
Keep your rodent's cage and accessories clean. Feed them a variety of nutritious foods. Give him plenty of fresh water. Watch out for dangers, falls and toxic substances. Following these suggestions will prolong your companion's life.
Rodents are sweet natured and intelligent. They are easy and inexpensive to keep as pets. Perfect for the urban home, requiring very little space. Rodents make sensational pets for children. Especially the 8-12 year olds that really need a trusted companion to share his life with. A rodent is a good pet to teach your kids responsibility. Treat the rodent with love and you will have a wonderful little companion. Never hit or strike a rodent he will become mean and scared.
Give him plenty of toys and rotate them frequently so that he does not become bored. More than anything spend time with your rodents so they don't become lonely and get sick. They need your time and attention like every other pet. Make sure you and your youngsters are ready to take on the responsibility of a pet before giving a pet as a gift!
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