Small Animal Breeds

My Hamsters

Advantages: They're cute and cuddly, need little care and don't take up much room.
Disadvantages: They can bite (very hard), smell if not cleaned out and only live about 2 years.

...as brief as possible. Syrian Hamsters, as their name suggests, come from Syria. The original hamsters, from which all domestic hamsters in the world came from (before more wild hamsters were caught much later), were a mother and her litter of 11 babies. I find it fascinating how the millions of domestic hamsters kept today all came from one small group - it has a sort of "Adam and Eve" feel to it. They were kept in labs for a while until people ...
...they were actually caught but they made very few observations on them. Conclusion Syrian Hamsters are excellent pets. Requiring very little care and attention, they are affectionate and, more importantly, cute. They are easy to breed and have an interesting history. I recommend them to anyone as a pet. ...

tb240904 11.09.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Syrian Hamster

Rats : Not a pet, a friend

Advantages: Friendly, loving and adorable
Disadvantages: they die

Rats make fantastic pets. I dont understand people who don't like them, or even are scared of them. Especially people who have no problems with a hamster or gerbil. So let's dispel a few myths. Rats are dirty and disease ridden. Sure wild rats have been know to carry diseases, (plague, anyone?), they're wild animals so they're bound to have fleas and tics, and invariably rats (wild and domestic) go where the food is. That means that in towns and ...
...not the only ones. Otherwise rats are perfectly clean animals. They'll spend ages grooming themselves musch like a cat. They usually will designate certain areas in their cages as toilets to avoid too much sleeping in their own waste. Yes their wee and poo smells but in my opinion no worse than a hamsters. If you clean them out regularly and thoroughly they shouldn't cause anymore than the faintest pong. Now another common issue is that of biting. ...

dextermummy 11.03.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Rats

Things you must know about Guninea Pig Castration

Advantages: None
Disadvantages: Major risk of death

Castration in Guinea Pigs is probably the worst thing any owner can do to their little piggy, which I found out the hard way! Risks definately outweigh the benfits and since the uneccessary death of 'Bubbles' my vets has reveiwed the proceedures connected with castration, all owners now must see a vet before hand to discuss the reasons behind the castration and to inform the owner of the real dangers of this operation - in fact the vet does try to ...
...I was not told is Guinea Pigs are extremely likely to suffer with a hernia whereby they spill thieir intestines even as far down the line as 3 months on. He had not even chewed out his stapels which makes this all that bit stranger but it even happens even after the wound heals. Anyway this happened to my little lad and hence he had to be PTS much to my distress and I can tell you if I had been armed with all the facts there is no way I would have ...

kath3r1n3 29.09.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Guinea Pigs

Gerbils and All their Glory

Advantages: Good family pet, entertaining, friendly, can be tame and can be trained, oderless, cute
Disadvantages: Can be expensive if your not careful, only live for a few years, can be noisy

Gerbils are a good family pet to have, but for slightly older children, since they are more active and jumpy than your regular hamster! They like to burrow and chew a lot! So, a gerbilarium is a good thing to keep them in, because the sand/fine peat or whatever you put at the bottom of the tank is good for their burrowng and it keeps then entertained for a while. You have to make sure you put wooden toys and even toilet tubes in their home for chewing ...
...is gerbils chewing the bars of the upper part of their cage. This means that they have nothng to do. You have to stop this because it can damage their teeth because the bars will be too hard. Buy them some new toys! Gerbils can become very tame if they are handled a lot. They will soon enjoy being handled by you, and completely bite free! If you want, you can even train them to go over mini jumps and obtsicals but this is very hard to do! Go on ...

Suzi1996 07.11.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Gerbils

A lovely pet that doesn't need too much looking after.

Advantages: N/A
Disadvantages: N/A

...Before buying a rabbit as a pet you need to buy the equipment I suggest that you buy a reasonably large hutch that has two compartments one for living and one for sleeping. You also need bedding I suggest hay or straw for the bedroom and sawdust for the living area. A bowl for the food and a water bottle for his or her water. You may also need to purchase an enclosed run depending on the area you live in and what other animals you have. Rabbits need ...
...sharp I would let my rabbit have as much exercise as possible and with regards to their teeth a branch off of an apple tree for them to knaw on seems to do the trick. Rabbits have a life span of approximately 8 years. A great pet for all the family but please think carefully before purchasing any animals. ...

roxy280714 21.10.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Rabbit