SEPT. 2006

Small Pets at a Glance

By Tamara Sevigny

Rabbits

Diet: Herbivorous. Rabbits will eat many kinds of fruits, vegetables, fresh greens and hay. They may need vitamin supplements. Purchase from a pet store or veterinarian.
Active: Both day and night time.
Lifespan: 7-12 years.
Other: Rabbits love to play and have "out of cage" time, but watch out - they learn to "beg" like a dog when you have something yummy to eat. They like to live in pairs. Rabbits are smart and can be litter box trained.
More information: 3 Bunnies Rabbit Rescue, www.3bunnies.org, 413-427-7345.

Guinea pigs

Diet: Herbivorous. Being vegetarians, guinea pigs will eat many kinds of fruits, vegetables and fresh greens. They may need vitamin supplements. Purchase from a pet store or veterinarian.
Active: Both day and night time.
Lifespan: 4-8 years.
Other: Guinea pigs are communal animals and do well in pairs, but two or more males can't live together if there's a female with them. They love interaction, playing and exploring.
More information: The Critter Connection, Inc., www.ctguineapigrescue.org, info@CTGuineaPigRescue.org.

Ferrets

Diet: Carnivorous. They do well on dry kitten or ferret chow with 30-40% crude protein and 15-20% fat. They may need vitamin supplements, check with your veterinarian.
Active: Both day and night time.
Lifespan: 8-11 years.
Other: Ferrets have a musty odor, so their living quarters should be kept clean and they should be well groomed when needed. They have animated personalities, love to seek out shiny objects, so watch where you leave your keys! Litter box training is an option with ferrets, they are smart pets. They do very well in pairs, loving companionship.
More information: Ferret Association of Connecticut, Inc. www.ferret-fact.org; 860-247-1275.

Mice

Diet: Herbivorous. A standard rodent mix containing an assortment of grains is adequate for most adult mice. They will also enjoy supplements of fruits and vegetables.
Active: Nighttime.
Lifespan: 1.5-2.5 years
Other: Get two - mice are social animals and it is very unnatural for them to live alone. Mice need nesting material in their cages for warmth and comfort. They enjoy exercise wheels and tunnels and tubes in their cages.
More information: www.peteducation.com.

Gerbils

Diet: Herbivorous. Pet gerbils are usually fed a mixture of seeds, grains, and rodent pellets. They also enjoy fruit and vegetables.
Active: Nighttime.
Lifespan: 3-5 years.
Other: Gerbils build nests to provide shelter and to keep warm while sleeping. Many people give their gerbils bits of burlap or cotton fabric, which are quickly shredded into a warm, fluffy nest. They enjoy exercise wheels and tunnels and tubes in their cages.
More information: www.peteducation.com.

Hamsters

Diet: Herbivorous. A standard rodent pellet diet; they also enjoy fruit and vegetables.
Active: Nighttime.
Lifespan: 3-4 years.
Other: Hamsters, like Gerbils, like to build nests to provide shelter and to keep warm while sleeping. Offer burlap or cotton fabric, which they will quickly shred it into a warm, fluffy nest. The cheek pouches are a relatively unique anatomic feature of hamsters. These pouches are used to store food and allow the hamster to transport food from where it is gathered to the hamster's den or nest; it is a lot of fun to watch. They enjoy exercise wheels and tunnels and tubes in their cages.
More information: www.peteducation.com.

Chinchillas

Diet: Herbivorous. Chinchilla pellets as well as supplements of fresh greens, rolled oats, and small amounts of fruit.
Active: Nightime.
Lifespan: 10-15 years.
Other: Given ample room to romp, chinchillas will put on a show, bouncing off walls, vaulting each other, devising their own little play-obstacle course out of whatever is available, including you if you happen to position yourself as part of the scenery. With their little prehensile hands, chins love to pick things up and take a closer look. Chinchillas do enjoy the company of each other, but may need to take time to get to know each other before rooming in together.
More information: Forever Feisty Chinchilla Rescue, www.foreverfeistychinchilla.org,
foreverfeistychins@sbcglobal.net.

Hedgehogs

Diet: Carnivorous. Commercial complete hedgehog diets are just becoming available. Diets should be fairly high in protein and low in fat. A hedgehog's main diet can consist of a good quality maintenance dry cat food. Supplement with a variety of extras; try cooked chicken, apples, corn, rice, beans, crickets and mealworms.
Active: Nighttime.
Lifespan: 5-6 years.
Other: Many hedgehogs will forage for spiders and insects in the home. Hedgehogs will use exercise wheels, but do not "play" with toys as do many other small mammals. They are solitary animals except for mating, and usually must be housed separately even if raised with a same-sex littermate.
More information: Hedgehog Welfare Society, www.hedgehogwelfare.org.

Rats

Diet: Herbivorous. A standard rodent pellet diet and supplements of fruit and vegetables.
Active: Nighttime.
Lifespan: 2-5 years.
Other: They enjoy living with other rats. They have a lot of personality and will play with you like a dog or cat. Keep them busy by making them work for their food; hide it in their cage so they have to burrow or climb to find it. They enjoy exercise wheels and boxes to burrow in.

More information: www.peteducation.com.