Which small critter for me?

[Blackrose]

As three of my small critters (a Guinea Pig, and two Hamsters) are becoming older, I've been researching different small animals so when the time comes that I want to get another one, I'll know what I want.

I'm looking for something that I've never owned before as I want to "try something new". Bad analogy, but oh well. I don't necessarly want something exotic, but just new to me.

I have two different types of criteria that would be a good match for me. But, sadly, there are no "small animal" selectors like there were when I was burying myself in research about what breed of dog would fit into my life.

In about three years I will be moving out of the house and into my own apartment. I will be in college until I'm 26. Currently, I'm a senior in highschool. Moving out with me will be my puppy (who will then be an adult) and my two ferrets. Depending on whether or not my ferrets live to the higher end of their average lifespan, it may just be me and the dog (she is a Collie/Aussie mix, if she gets bigger than 40lbs I'll be shocked, and she gets along well with other small animals once she realizes I'm not going to let her eat them).

Keeping all of this in mind, here is the criteria that I've come up with:
1. Must be legal in the state of Indiana (if considering an exotic pet)
2. Small to medium in size. Nothing bigger than house cat.
3. Social
4. Doesn't require a hard to come by, super expensive diet
5. Must be able to live in an apartment and/or a large room
6. Upkeep won't cost more than a small dog (or two ferrets. )
7. Something with a medium lifespan - around four years being the minimum, but nothing that is going to out live me (like a parrot).
8. Preferably not completely nocturnal.
9. Can preferably be litter box trained

After those eight basic criteria, things get a little fuzzy and is where I'm open to different possibilities. Here are the two sets of ending criteria:

Option number one:
10. Would be able to handle being in a cage all day (if cage isn't small).
11. Calm
12. While being able to not go bonkers if kept in a cage, will also be cuddly and friendly with handling.

Option number two:
10. Can have out of cage time each day
11. MUST be able to co-exist with a dog and/or ferrets (supervised, of course)
12. MUST be able to be litterbox trained (or be taught to not poop all over the floor)
13. MUST not be any more destructive than a ferret
14. Nothing that needs more social interaction than a dog.

I realize those are some "picky" criteria, and I also realize that I may have already exhausted all of the options when it comes to what kind of pet suits my lifestyle. If this is the case, I'll happily stick to my Ferrets, but I wanted to look around anyway.

Two animals that have caught my eye are both exotics. One is the Short Tailed Opossum (Option one) and the other is the Fennec Fox (Option Two).
The STO is what I'm leaning towards, and I can't find any good info on Fennec Foxes.

If anyone has any thoughts, please feel free to share. So sorry his was such a long post, but it took a lot to get my thoughts organized. LOL

[IRescue452]

It's likely a fennec fox is illegal in your area. If not, then probably in your building. Fennecs require as much socialization and human care as a puppy, their entire lives. They can be destructive, males spray and all fennecs dig wherever they can, including carpet. They are nocturnal by nature as well. Honestly, I think they shouldn't be pets.

STO are like slightly larger gerbils. I don't think one will be as cuddely as you want. They certainly can't be out playing with the dog or ferrets. They have a little more demanding dietary needs than your average rodent pet.

You'll need to also find a vet that treats exotics if you got one, before you got one. This can be more expensive than a dog or cat vet.

[BitsyNaceyDog]

Have you considered a pair of rats? What about a reptile, maybe a Leopard Gecko?

[Blackrose]

It's likely a fennec fox is illegal in your area. If not, then probably in your building. Fennecs require as much socialization and human care as a puppy, their entire lives. They can be destructive, males spray and all fennecs dig wherever they can, including carpet. They are nocturnal by nature as well. Honestly, I think they shouldn't be pets.

Thank you for saying this. As I said, I hadn't been able to find information on them, so it was more of an attraction than anything. I found an informative website and have crossed them off of my "thinking about" list. And to tell you the truth, taking a wild animal and keeping it as a pet, unless they are tying to domesticate it, bugs me as well. Espeically when people just buy them for status symbols or because they are cute and then don't understand why their pet is acting like a wild animal.

STO are like slightly larger gerbils. I don't think one will be as cuddely as you want. They certainly can't be out playing with the dog or ferrets. They have a little more demanding dietary needs than your average rodent pet.

If the pet is able to stay in a cage except when I'm handling it, then it won't be around my other animals. But if the animal needed extensive out of cage time, then it would have to share the floor with the pup and the ferts.
From what I've read about their diets, they require meal worms (or wax worms, maybe?) along with fresh fruit and veggies. That isn't very much different than suplementing my Guinea Pig's and Cockatiel's diet.

You'll need to also find a vet that treats exotics if you got one, before you got one. This can be more expensive than a dog or cat vet.

Another thing that I had over looked. However, I did some searching, and there is an exotic vet about twenty minutes away from me. They treat ferrets, birds, cats, and other "exotic" animals.

Have you considered a pair of rats? What about a reptile, maybe a Leopard Gecko?

Actually, I haven't looked into rats. Thanks for the suggestion. I've always thought they were cute, but my mom is the kind of person who yells, "OMG, a rat, kill it!" I just looked up a bit about them and read a very small discription of them and they sound interesting.

I'd rather stay away from reptiles. I like them, but I'm more of a mammal person. I've just have no urge to own one.

[IRescue452]

STO apparently have a problem drinking from water bottles as youngsters and often get a mash of fruits to help them get their water intake. There is food specific to opossums online which would make up most of its diet, but I don't see it being sold in stores anytime in the near future.

You'd really enjoy rats. They are very smart and fun to interact with. They are also much more easier to care for than exotics. I think you'll find that once you are out on your own, you'll have less time and energy for all the pets that you'd love to have right now. Life changes, keep this in mind and wait a little while after you move to decide if the time is right for more pets.

[Chilli]

I was going to suggest rats, aswell.

Afterall, how could you resist the little guys?

I have eight at the moment, and couldn't ask for a more rewarding rodent. My boys are very cuddly and affectionate.. the girls like to just do more of their own thing. All of them are very smart. If you have any specific questions, just say so. I'll be happy to throw in any advice.

[Argranade]

How about a Hedgehog?

There really cute and easy to take care of, they come in different colours.

Life span from 4 to 6 years.

Here's a link of information.

http://oror.essortment.com/hedgehogpet_reqk.htm

There's also sugar gliders (nocturnal) and chinchillas.

[jesse_3]

I have a hedgehog, Kokomo, and she is great! You have to be careful though, you want to meet your hedgehog BEFORE you say you designate yourself to keeping it. They all have very different personalities, and some are not what I would call cuddly. If you take care of them really well, I have heard of some living up to ten years also...

[Genny]

Hey, Hedge Hogs are neat animals; I use to have one, but they aren't too cuddly if you're wanting an animal that likes to be loved and hugged on

I have NEVER had a fox of any kind and I don't know anyone that has. That would be a big challenge to own one of those. It would be really neat, but way more than I would want to handle right now! Besides it would probably be illegal

Sugar Gliders are very cute and sweet. My nephews had one for several years until it died and it was gentle and liked to be held most of the time.

But I'd say a rat sounds like a good choice for you. They seem to fit everything you said you wanted in a pet just about. I use to have one and he was really neat. Everyone here that has them seems to really be crazy about them. Plus they don't HAVE to be out with you ALL the time, especially if you get 2.

I thought about maybe a rabbit? Or do you want something a little more exotic than that!

[jackie]

Chinchilla!

[mousie]

I have two ratties at the moment and absolutely love them. I really do think you should look into rats

[inlovewithanimals]

what about a sugar glider or even a mouse??


Justin

[IRescue452]

Don't sugar gliders do best in groups?

[Genny]

IRescue452

Don't sugar gliders do best in groups?

I think they do ok without another one. Any that I've ever seen as pets have always been without another of the same kind. but I'm not sure.

[Blackrose]

Thank you all for the suggestions.

Life changes, keep this in mind and wait a little while after you move to decide if the time is right for more pets.

I am most definitally keeping this in mind. It is just going to be so weird after I move out because I'm going to be going from almost ten pets to one (or three if my ferts are still around - in three years Casey will be 6 and Dameon will be 5. That's old for a ferret). From my viewpoint, if I can handle ten critters, with five of them being high matinence animals, as well as highschool, work, and basketball, then having two during college wouldn't be too challenging. Whenever I'm fully confident about the amount of care I can give an animal, I'm rarely wrong.

If you must have an exotic animal to show off to your friends please adopt a Furby; they can't die of loneliness, or starve.

Okay, this quote from that hedgehog article made me laugh. LOL I must say that Furbies make excellent pets, and if you think they can't starve, you've never had to listen to one say, "Feed me! I'm hungry!" over and over again. And mine was a very big talker in the "Ah, me scared" department when left in the dark. LOL They are also a good watch pet - just set it in front of the door and if someone comes in it will wake up with a happy "Cockadoodledoo! Sun up!"

How about a Hedgehog?

I breifly thought about that, but from what I've read, they don't seem like an "interactive" pet. I must admit what turned me off was when an article about them said they tended to be "grumpy".

I thought about maybe a rabbit? Or do you want something a little more exotic than that!

I don't know if a rabbit is my cup of tea. I thought about it breifly (I LOVE Holland Lops ) but I guess I don't know enough about them. I cared for a school rabbit over winter break, but that wasn't a good experience because it wasn't tame, kicked all of the time, and was in WAY to small of a cage.

Chinchilla!

Too spastic for me. I've been around a couple and they are cute, but they are so HYPER! Like a giant Gerbil. lol

what about a sugar glider or even a mouse??

I also thought about a mouse, but their lifespan is so short. Granted they are cheap, but I wouldn't want to get attached to a cute little mouse and then have it die on me a year later.

Sugar Gliders I'm still poking around with. I've read that if you can't devote three hours with them each evening or night then you shouldn't get one, and I wouldn't be able to devote to that kind of neediness and also spend time with my dog. I've also read that they can't be litterboxed trained, so letting one run around a room for a while wouldn't be good as I'd find poop and pee everywhere afterwards.


Does anyone know of any good Rattie links? I'm going to google about them, but any favorite links would be helpful.