BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Exotic Pets New pet.

Hi. I would like to get some sort of small exotic pet. One that can be caged during most of the day. I also own a cat and don't want the exotic to get mauled/eaten by the cat.:/
I have thought of trying a hedgehog but don't have a lot of money right now. I could easily afford bedding and food and stuff, just the first cost for the animal itself would be difficult.
I have had hamsters, gerbils, fancy mice, Egyptian spiny mice, and a degu before.
Any ideas for an easy, first small exotic pet?
Thanx.

I have over the past two years enjoyed being the owner of fancy rats!! Yes, rats! They were not my first choice then, but I have found them to be amazing, smart, loving pets. For a "squishy" pet that loves to be loved and hangout on the couch to watch tv - try a male (rats do better if you purchase two as buddies). Some males will get a bit aggressive with their buddy around 6 months and need to be neutered. Mine, however, have not needed it.

For a fast, busy, bit more self-sufficient type get a female rat. They are sweet and smart, but don't always seem to need the same attention as a male. Females love to run mazes, play in tubes and various other toys.

I have listed a few info sites for rats below.
Yahoo! Group - ratlist
with over 850 members/rat owners from all over the world
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Shoot I never thought to mention it but it seems I'm allergic to rats.:/ I had two rats and I had to readopt them out cuz my allergies were too uncomfortable. I couldn't handle the rats much, and of course they were unhappy, having to be in their cage all the time. It's very odd, cuz I've never been allergic to any other animal with fur...rodent or otherwise.

Perhaps a guninea pig. Odd on the rat, never heard of that. Could it have been the bedding or something else the rat was came in contact with? That would of been my choice too. Or, perhaps a gerbil.When is a Pig NOT a Pig? When it is a Guinea Pig!
Diana

My daughter now 8 1/2 had a white mouse. We discovered I was very allergic to it. Fortunately, it died. My daughter wasn't big on cleaning it's cage or picking it up anyway.

A couple of weeks ago on Martha Stewart they had hermit crabs. It looked like you didn't need to clean their cages much and I doubt I'm allergic to them! We are going to look into them as a pet when my daughter gets her own room or when we put heat into the homeschool room.

Thanx for the ideas! I'll look into the guinea pigs and hermit crabs!

Sorry about the rats - yes, there are those that seem to be allergic to them. Also, many who find there bedding is actually the cause of their distress. There are hairless rats, but THAT's a completely different look and their care is much more temperature regulated, etc. It was unfortunate that you had to readopt your rats out, but I am so glad that you did!! Rats (I have found) are unlike their tiny cousins (dwarf and teddy bear hamsters) in that you MUST keep handling hamsters for them to remain socialized. Rats, once socialized, will shamelessly beg for attention but usually don't revert. I found that when I work, a larger cage with more "things" to explore keeps them busy.

Anyway, I also have hermit crabs. It is true that they don't require much daily care - however, you will need to keep their enclosure clean to avoid bugs, ants, and smell. They eat crab food, dried/flaked shrimp, etc. and require only a bit of water. Some of them have quite the personality and they will crawl around your hands and arms. However, should you live in a cold climate or one that has a harsh winter season, be certain to keep them at a warm temperature. Though hermies don't usually get a "cold" per se, they can suffer adversely from abrupt temperature changes and cold temps.

Enjoy!!! I have a menagerie in my TN home: Great Dane, cat, tropical fish (not saltwater), rats, hamsters, dwarf hamsters, hermit crabs, rabbits, and, of course, the husband and son! LOL....

For some great info and live cam shots of guinea pigs - visit http://www.cavycam.com !! Good luck and let us know which pet/s you select!

Oh, by the way, I have also had reptile pets. My last was an 8-foot boa constrictor that I found as a juvenile and brought home with me from the Republic of Panama (went to high school there). He is now living (very well I might add) at the zoo in Memphis, TN, and I get to visit often. He has been there for nine years now (donated him when I was just pregnant) and has grown to some 12 feet!!

I love reptiles too, they just require much more equipment, time and expense than I have available at present.

I had hermit crabs also, but it turned into an awful habit of traveling all over looking for new shells. They loved to move into their new shells. I got a kick out of them, they would hold on to their old shell, until they completly checked out the new one to make sure it was suitable, then and only then would they let go of the old shell.

Reptiles are very expensive to maintain, but incrediable animals.
The bearded dragon is my favorite.
Popular Reptile With a Spectacular Display the Bearded Dragon
Diana

ferrets tend to get along really well with cats. You just need to watch it when you look at animals that your cat would consider "prey". Anyway, we have 2 cats, 3 dogs, 4 budgies, 1 cockatiel, and 3 zebra finches. We had a ferret at one point, and my cat LOVED him. Now my cat likes the dog. Just don't go with rabbits. rabbits are allergic to cats, and the scratches can become infected.