Quote Originally Posted by Wenisrubber
What do you think about a gerbil? I've had a gerbil for a week now and he's GREAT.
Well, I've never had a gerbil, but have been thinking about getting one for my brother, so I'm kind of in the same situation as you . Gerbils probably have the same maintenance as hamsters, but I understand they're quicker than hammies and escape easily from your hands. It sounds as if you really like your gerbil, so you're probably more experienced than me on this one

Quote Originally Posted by Wenisrubber
Are they of relatively low maintenance?
I really don't recommend chinchillas as a first pet. They can have rather highly strung temperaments and need a very large cage, so there's a lot of cleaning out to do, and they also need daily dust baths. They are also not that easy to tame accordinmg to some who have kept them in the past. They are beautiful to look at and have lovely soft fur, which does need special grooming. Of course there will be chins out there that are little angels, but not necessarily the majority. They're also pretty expensive too, over here you can pay well over £100 for one, that's just for the chinchilla, and they need a regulated diet to prevent them from getting ill. After my first rabbit died, I decided to have a look at chinchillas. Whilst I found them very sweet, holding them was as easy as holding wet soap. At the time I was 10 years old, but even now at 14 I don't know how well I could hold onto them. Also, a family friend who bred chinchillas for shows DID NOT recommend them as a young person's pet. One of the things she did say is that they are pretty much a life long commitment, apparently it's not unusual for chins to live well into their twenties, so unless your sister is prepared to care for a chin into life where she may be going to university and maybe even getting married, then maybe they're not the pet for her.