There are several types of pet rodents that have won the hearts of many. If you are looking for a small pet then a rodent maybe a good choice for you.
In this article we will talk about 8 cute and very warm types of pet rodents that make great companions.
Pet rodents are not only easy to care for but also easy to tame and keep. They are friendly and enjoy human interaction. This makes them ideal pets and thus are great for children.
Types of Pet Rodents (Species Overview)
Hamsters
Hamsters are fun animals which enjoy exploring their environment. They are nocturnal and thus have large eyes specialized for functioning in lower light.
There are 24 species of hamsters which vary in size and belong to the family Cricetidae.
They have self-sharpening teeth which never stop growing and are primarily omnivorous. The Russian Dwarf Campbell, Roborovski and Syrian breeds are the popular breeds that are kept as pets. [1]
Species Overview
- Length: 6 inches (15.24 cm)
- Weight: 3 to 5 ounces (100 to 120 g)
- Lifespan: 2 to 3 years
- Physical Characteristics: Stout-bodied; thick and silky fur; black, gray, white, brown, red or yellow coats.
Gerbil
Gerbils have been domesticated since the 1800s and are today being bred such that there are more than 30 different coat colors.
As they are very warm and social animals thus make great types of pet rodents. Solitary is bad for them and can shorten their lifespan. They are fragile creatures and should be handled carefully.
Gerbils are omnivorous but largely feed on plants. They often sleep for an hour or two at a time and rarely stick to routine sleeping schedules.
Species Overview
- Length: 4 inches (11 cm)
- Weight: 2 to 4 ounces (56 to 114 g)
- Lifespan: 3 to 4 years
- Physical Characteristics: Soft and dense fur; gray, tan brown coats
Guinea Pig
Guinea pigs, also known as cavies, are small and sociable rodents. They are a great choice of a first pet for children.
Guinea pigs have a round body, short legs and no tail. They originated from the Andes Mountains in South America. There are various types of guinea pigs.
They are highly active creatures and only sleep for short periods. In the wild, they like to live in groups of five to ten.
Species Overview
- Length: 8 to 15 inches (20 to 40 cm)
- Weight: 32 to 42 ounces (900 to 1200 g)
- Lifespan: 5 to 6 years
- Physical Characteristics: white, tan, cream, reddish, chocolate brown, black fur.
Mouse
Mice are very sociable and enjoy being kept with other mice. They are omnivorous. Mice can be quite sensitive and thus require to be handled gently. Mice have very long tails, as long as their body.
They use their whiskers to sense their surroundings and thus are capable of operating in the darkness too.
Pet mice are sporty and enjoy activities such as balancing, climbing, jumping and swimming. The first mouse to be cloned was ‘Cumulina’ in 1997 and lived for 2 years and 7 months. [2]
Species Overview
- Length: 5 to 8 inches (2 to 3 cm)
- Weight: 1 to 1.6 ounces (29 to 44 g)
- Lifespan: 1 to 2 years
- Physical Characteristics: slender body; scantily haired; prominent eyes; narrow hind feet.
Rat
Rat pets are affectionate and loving mammals. They are loyal and extremely clean pets. If properly socialized, they make for the very social and trainable companion animals. Rats have incisors that grow all through their lives and thus enjoy chew toys.
Rats have scent glands located at the bottom of their feet which act as territory markers and help rats to retrace their footsteps.
There are a wide variety of rats such as hairless, dumbo and Siamese among other types. Rats are highly active at night but can easily adjust to their owner’s schedule.
Species Overview
- Length: 9 to 11 inches
- Weight: 12 to 23 ounces (350 to 650 g)
- Lifespan: 1.5 to 3 years
- Physical Characteristics: brown, black, tan, gray, white coats.
Chinchilla
Chinchillas are found in the rocky slopes of the Andes Mountains in South America. They have a wide range of vocalizations and have the ability to jump up to 5 feet.
These types of pet rodents are mostly active at dawn and dusk. They are very social, gentle in nature and have a lot of energy thus make great pets.
Chinchillas like to be cuddled and carried and have a lot of energy. They also require special attention and should be handled with care. [3]
Species Overview
- Length: 9 to 14 inches (23 to 36 cm)
- Weight: 28 to 30 ounces (800 to 1000 g)
- Lifespan: 10 years
- Physical Characteristics: thick fur coat; black, brown and white fur
Common Degu
Degus are native to northern and central Chile. They like living in large groups in the wild. To ensure they are happy, degus should be kept in pairs or groups.
They are playful and like to chew on things. Degus are very social creatures and thus should not be left or kept alone. Their need for exercise demands that they are kept in a large space.
Species Overview
- Length: 10 to 12 inches (25 to 31 cm)
- Weight: 6 to 14 ounces (170 to 400 g)
- Lifespan: 5 to 8 years
- Physical Characteristics: silky coats; brown or white furred
African Dormouse
Also known as a micro squirrel, the African Dormouse is a tiny rodent that resembles a squirrel and has some mouse features.
They are native to subtropical and tropical regions of eastern and southern Africa.
These mammals are highly active and can make them quite difficult to handle. They require exercise and thus should be kept in a large space.
While they are social animals, they can have territorial aggression and require to be socialized from an early age.
Species Overview
- Length: 3 to 8 inches (6 to 19 cm)
- Weight: 0.5 to 7 ounces (15g to 180 g)
- Lifespan: 2 to 5 years
- Physical Characteristics: brown, gray, black, white, gold and tan fur.
Types of Pet Rodents (List)
| Type of Pet rodent | Why they make good pets |
| Hamsters | Small, cute and friendly. They are easy to tend to and inexpensive to care for. |
| Gerbil | Active, sociable and intelligent and are best suited to owners who do not like to hold their pets. They are affordable to buy and care for. |
| Guinea Pig | Have great personality and allow their owners to know their individual identities. They are fun to play and bond with. They live for several years hence their owners will have a long time with them. |
| Mouse | They have great personalities, provide a lot of laughs and have little grooming abilities. |
| Rat | Low maintenance and are very comfortable on their own thus do not require a lot of attention. |
| Chinchilla | Do not produce much dander as other pets and thus are great for pet owners prone to allergies. Their dense fur repels fleas and mites. |
| Common Degu | Friendly and outgoing pets. They are intelligent and highly sociable animals that like to play and explore thus making them interesting pets to have. |
| African Dormouse | They are fun and interesting to watch but are not good as a casual pet. |
