Rodents as pets

Last updated March 25, 2024

The most common rodents kept as household pets are hamsters (golden hamsters and dwarf hamsters), gerbils (Mongolian jirds and duprasi gerbils), common degus, fancy mice,^[1] fancy rats,^[1] common chinchillas, and guinea pigs (cavies).^{[lower-alpha 1]}

The domestication of small mammals is a relatively recent development, arising only after large-scale industrialization. Historically, Western society was more agrarian than today, with rodents as a whole seen as vermin that were carriers for disease and a threat to crops. Animals that hunted such pests (e.g. terriers and cats) were prized.

Some of these small rodents are prohibited from being kept as pets in certain areas for being invasive; California,^[3] Hawaii, Alberta and New Zealand have strict regulations to protect their native environments and agricultural operations. Gerbils, degus, and domesticated rats have various prohibitions on their ownership.

Characteristics

Comparison of pet rodents
Species	Size (in grams)	Prohibitions	Tail	Circadian rhythm	Lifespan in years
Guinea pig	910	No	0 - No	Crepuscular (Active during twilight)	5-7
Mouse	35	No	3 - Long	Nocturnal/Crepuscular	2
Rat	450	One	3 - Long	Nocturnal	2
Hamster	160^[4]	No	1 - Very short	Nocturnal/Crepuscular	2
Hamster, dwarf	40	No	1 - Very short	Nocturnal/Crepuscular	2–3^[5]
Gerbil	90	Some	4 - Yes	Crepuscular	3
Degu	300	Yes	4 - Yes	Diurnal (Active during daytime)	6
Chinchilla	700	No	3 - Long	Crepuscular	10

Guinea pig

Guinea pigs (cavy) have perhaps been kept the longest as pets among rodents. While historically they served as a food staple for the native Inca people, they were imported to Europe as early as the mid-16th century, shortly after Spain conquered Peru. As an oddity from the New World, they were afforded a special status, and seen as house pets, rather than vermin or food. While their popularity was initially limited to the wealthy, their prodigious reproductive habits ensured that they spread throughout the middle classes shortly after their introduction; guinea pig burial places (not scattered bones—as would be found with an eaten animal) have been found in archaeological digs in early modern middle-class suburbs.^[6]

Guinea pigs do not store their food. They typically travel in groups, or herds, scavenging for grass and other vegetation. They are commonly active during dawn or dusk when they are less likely to encounter predators (crepuscular). As pack animals in the wild, the domestic Guinea pig also thrives when kept with one or more companions (except boars in the presence of a sow). They live off a diet consisting of grass hay and food pellets, typically synthesized from timothy hay. Like humans, Guinea pigs cannot synthesize their own vitamin C, making their food intake their only source of vitamin C;. A lack of vitamin C will often cause fatal scurvy. At merely four weeks old, female Guinea pigs become fertile and may produce as many as four to five litters a year. With an average gestation period of 59–72 days, a female Guinea pig may become pregnant again in as few as 6 hours after giving birth. However, there are a lot of concerns related to Guinea pig pregnancy. Guinea pigs live to be around 4 to 5 years old.^[7]

Fancy mouse

Young pet mouse Petmouse.JPG — Young pet mouse

Fancy mice were popular pets in Japan during the 18th century, due in large part to the abundance of color mutations in wild mice. In 1787, a book on this hobby, The Breeding of Curious Varieties of the Mouse, was published by Chobei Zenya, a Kyoto money exchanger. Over time, the tradition spread from Japan to Europe, and in 1895 the National Mouse Club was established in England.^[8]

Fancy mice are nocturnal animals who utilize burrowing and hiding to evade predators due to their general defenselessness. Mice also utilize burrows to avoid light whenever possible. Mice live in families with developed social structure and territorial boundaries between families. Male mice organize themselves into a social hierarchy in which the most dominant mouse becomes the "lead buck", or the one at the top of the social ladder. Only the lead buck mates during mating season; all other mice are restricted by the lead buck or downright rejected by the female mice.^[9] Mice possess highly developed senses of smell, hearing, and feeling; however, their sense of sight is poor due to the odd location of their eyes on their head. Mice can hear pitches inaudible to the human ear and communicate with squeaks, some of which reach pitches humans cannot hear, detectable through the use of a microphone and oscilloscope.

Their sense of smell is highly developed and many mice can recognize if another mouse is part of their family groups based on smell alone. Their sense of touch is also highly developed; due to their poor eyesight a lot of movement is interpreted through the utilization of whiskers and guard hairs to orientate themselves and determine their surroundings. Female mice have a gestation period of 19 to 21 days and may have up to 15 litters a year, due to their ability to become pregnant again within 24 hours of giving birth. The average litter size is 10 to 12 pups who are born deaf and blind; within two weeks the litter will resemble small adult mice.^[10]

Fancy rat

Fancy rats first became popular pets in 19th-century England when selectively bred for unusual colouration.^[11] They are prohibited in Alberta, Canada, outside of schools, laboratories, and zoos. Fancy rats enjoy the company of their own kind; it is common to keep domestic rats paired together with companions of the same sex; rats housed with the opposite sex will breed rapidly. Whereas mice prefer independence, domestic rats enjoy the company of their owner. Female rats may become pregnant as early as five weeks old; producing a litter of about eight young each time, and are able to become pregnant again within 24 hours.^[12] Rats have sharp teeth that never stop growing, and will chew objects such as wood to shave down their teeth to an appropriate length. Wild rats have different diets depending on location. Rats are opportunistic eaters; in the wild, rats are herbivores, as they will scavenge for seeds, plants and fruits. Due to a lack of easily accessible produce in the city, city rats will eat nearly anything, including trash and meat. Domestic rats live slightly longer than wild rats, with life spans of around two years.^[13]

Hamster

Hamsters first gained popularity as pets in the 1930s, with virtually all modern Syrian hamsters (the most common pet species) tracing their lineage back to a single litter of hamsters taken to Palestine for scientific research in 1930. Shortly thereafter, in 1938, hamsters were introduced to the United States.^[14] Dwarf hamsters are also popular pets. Wild hamsters are typically found in open areas such as deserts, plains, steppes, and fields. Hamsters scavenge for food, with a diet consisting primarily of grain and insects. Hamsters temporarily store their food in their large cheek pouches for transport to their burrows, where they maintain hoards.^[15] Territorial by nature, hamsters will react aggressively towards a member of their own species.

Domestic hamsters that are caged together will act aggressively towards one another as they get older, usually fatally. Syrian hamsters are strictly solitary; while Roborovski dwarf hamsters can rarely be kept in pairs, this is strongly not advised. They typically are nocturnal or crepuscular, though they may be active during both night and day if their sleep schedule is disturbed. Hamsters produce two to four litters a year. Gestation takes 15 to 22 days and newborns only require nursing for approximately three weeks. The domestic hamster population is large; however, despite a rapid reproduction rate, wild hamster populations are diminishing due to habitat destruction and their place near the bottom of the food chain.^[16]

Gerbil

Gerbils became established in the pet industry in 1964. They are prohibited in California. As desert dwellers, gerbils dig long burrows in order to escape the harsh temperatures; however, unlike hamsters, gerbils are not nocturnal. Gerbils are active most during the evening and morning, times in which the weather is calmest, making them primarily crepuscular. Gerbils are naturally curious, social, and nonviolent animals, making them more suitable for children than most pocket pets.^{[ citation needed ]} Gerbils have an average lifespan of two to four years. Adult male gerbils are very territorial; typically the larger the gerbil, the larger their burrow and the more territory they scent mark. Gerbils communicate through the use of thumping their back legs and whistling sharply; thumping can be both a communication of excitement and anxiety.^[17]

Degu

After initial interest in common degus as research subjects, they have become popular as pets, though until recently they were seldom found in pet shops. Degus are social animals and thrive with a partner when kept as pets. Degus love to run around, exercise, and explore tight locations. Domestic degus require some form of bedding so that they may store their food similarly to wild degus. Degus' incisor and molar teeth never stop growing, so they need access to items to regularly chew on. They are naturally active during the day and rest during night, unlike most other pocket pets.^[18] They consume a diet heavy in fiber and require constant access to hay, and small amounts of pellets and leafy vegetables. They are prone to diabetes, so degus need a diet that is low in sugar and fat; fruits and vegetables high in sugar content such as carrots should not be provided. Degus occasionally eat their own droppings to obtain certain nutrients that keep their digestive system healthy.^[19] They are prohibited in California.^{[ citation needed ]}

Chinchilla

Chinchillas have been used in research since the 1950s. They are popular pets, but require much care. The domestic chinchilla is descended from Chinchilla lanigera, the long-tailed Chinchilla, and so have thinner bodies, longer tails and larger ears. Wild chinchillas roam in herds, so domestic chinchillas also like to have a companion and can live to be over 10 years old. They subsist on a diet of grass, hay, and grass-based chinchilla pellets. Their teeth never stop growing, so they rely on their food to wear down their teeth to the appropriate length. An improper diet can lead to serious dental disease. Chinchillas may eat small amounts of dried fruit and root vegetables as treats, but too much can lead to serious health issues such as obesity. They are typically nocturnal and require a lot of free space to roam around. They average two kits per litter and gestation lasts around 110 days. They can breed at 6–9 months of age. The females are seasonally polyestrous and come into heat every 30 to 90 days during the year. They can have up to three litters in a year if the female breeds soon after giving birth.^[20]

Notes

↑ The term "pocket pet" is used for a small, pocket-sized mammal (sometimes also categorized as a "small and furry" in the pet industry)^[2] commonly kept as a household pet.

Related Research Articles

Hamsters are rodents belonging to the subfamily Cricetinae, which contains 19 species classified in seven genera. They have become established as popular small pets. The best-known species of hamster is the golden or Syrian hamster, which is the type most commonly kept as a pet. Other hamster species commonly kept as pets are the three species of dwarf hamster, Campbell's dwarf hamster, the winter white dwarf hamster and the Roborovski hamster.

A mouse is a small rodent. Characteristically, mice are known to have a pointed snout, small rounded ears, a body-length scaly tail, and a high breeding rate. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse. Mice are also popular as pets. In some places, certain kinds of field mice are locally common. They are known to invade homes for food and shelter.

The guinea pig or domestic guinea pig, also known as the cavy or domestic cavy, is a species of rodent belonging to the genus Cavia in the family Caviidae. Breeders tend to use the name "cavy" for the animal, but "guinea pig" is more commonly used in scientific and laboratory contexts. Despite their name, guinea pigs are not native to Guinea, nor are they closely related to pigs. They originated in the Andes region of South America. Studies based on biochemistry and hybridization suggest they are domesticated animals that do not exist naturally in the wild, descendants of a closely related cavy species such as C. tschudii. They were originally domesticated as livestock for a source of meat, and are still consumed in some parts of the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fancy rat</span> Domesticated brown rat subspecies

The fancy rat is the domesticated form of Rattus norvegicus, the brown rat, and the most common species of rat kept as a pet. The name fancy rat derives from the use of the adjective fancy for a hobby, also seen in "animal fancy", a hobby involving the appreciation, promotion, or breeding of pet or domestic animals. The offspring of wild-caught specimens, having become docile after having been bred for many generations, fall under the fancy type.

Chinchillas are either of two species of crepuscular rodents of the parvorder Caviomorpha, and are native to the Andes mountains in South America. They live in colonies called "herds" at high elevations up to 4,270 m (14,000 ft). Historically, chinchillas lived in an area that included parts of Bolivia, Peru and Chile, but today, colonies in the wild are known only in Chile. Along with their relatives, viscachas, they make up the family Chinchillidae. They are also related to the chinchilla rat.

The common degu, or, historically, the degu, is a small hystricomorpha rodent endemic to the Chilean matorral ecoregion of central Chile. The name degu on its own indicates either the entire genus Octodon or, more commonly, just the common degu. Common degus belong to the parvorder Caviomorpha of the infraorder Hystricognathi, along with the chinchilla and guinea pig. The word degu comes from the indigenous language of Chile, Mapudungun, and the word dewü, meaning 'mouse' or 'rat'.

The golden hamster or Syrian hamster is a rodent belonging to the hamster subfamily, Cricetinae. Their natural geographical range is in an arid region of northern Syria and southern Turkey. Their numbers have been declining in the wild due to a loss of habitat from agriculture and deliberate elimination by humans. Thus, wild golden hamsters are now considered endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. However, captive breeding programs are well established, and captive-bred golden hamsters are often kept as small house pets. They are also used as scientific research animals.

The Mongolian gerbil or Mongolian jird is a rodent belonging to the subfamily Gerbillinae. Their body size is typically 110–135 mm, with a 95–120 mm tail, and body weight 60–130 g, with adult males larger than females. The animal is used in science and research or kept as a small house pet. Their use in science dates back to the latter half of the 19th century, but they only started to be kept as pets in the English-speaking world after 1954, when they were brought to the United States. However, their use in scientific research has fallen out of favor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cricetidae</span> Family of rodents

The Cricetidae are a family of rodents in the large and complex superfamily Muroidea. It includes true hamsters, voles, lemmings, muskrats, and New World rats and mice. At over 870 species, it is the either the largest or second-largest family of mammals, and has members throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nesomyidae</span> Family of rodents

The Nesomyidae are a family of African rodents in the large and complex superfamily Muroidea. It includes several subfamilies, all of which are native to either continental Africa or to Madagascar. Included in this family are Malagasy rodents, climbing mice, African rock mice, swamp mice, pouched rats, and the white-tailed rat.

Heteromyidae is a family of rodents consisting of kangaroo rats, kangaroo mice, pocket mice and spiny pocket mice. Most heteromyids live in complex burrows within the deserts and grasslands of western North America, though species within the genus Heteromys are also found in forests and their range extends as far south as northern South America. They feed mostly on seeds and other plant parts, which they carry in their fur-lined cheek pouches to their burrows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eumuroida</span> Clade of rodents

The Eumuroida are a clade defined in 2004 by Steppan et al. to describe a group of muroid rodents. The clade is not defined in the standard taxonomic hierarchy, but it is between superfamily and family.

A fancy mouse is a domesticated form of the house mouse, one of many species of mice, usually kept as a type of pocket pet. Fancy mice have also been specially bred for exhibiting, with shows being held internationally. A pet mouse is inexpensive compared to larger pets, and even many other pet rodents, but mice are comparatively short-lived: typically only 2 to 3 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spiny mouse</span> Genus of rodents

The term spiny mouse refers to any species of rodent within the genus Acomys. Similar in appearance to mice of the genus Mus, spiny mice are small mammals with bare tails which contain osteoderms, a rare feature in mammals. Their coats are endowed with unusually stiff guard hairs similar to the spines of a hedgehog; this trait is the source of the common name, spiny mouse.

A hamster wheel or running wheel is an exercise device used primarily by hamsters and other rodents, but also by other cursorial animals when given the opportunity. Most of these devices consist of a runged or ridged wheel held on a stand by a single or pair of stub axles. Hamster wheels allow rodents to run even when their space is confined. The earliest dated use of the term "hamster wheel", located by the Oxford English Dictionary, is in a 1949 newspaper advertisement.

The fat-tailed gerbil, also called the duprasi gerbil or doop, is a rodent belonging to the subfamily Gerbillinae. It is only species in the genus Pachyuromys. They are frequently kept as pets.

Perognathinae is a subfamily of rodents consisting of two genera of pocket mice. Most species live in complex burrows within the deserts and grasslands of western North America, They feed mostly on seeds and other plant parts, which they carry in their fur-lined cheek pouches to their burrows.

Hamster balls are hollow spheres made of clear plastic into which hamsters, gerbils, degus and other small rodent pets are placed, allowing them to run around outside their cages without the risk of running away or getting lost under furniture. They are designed to provide hamsters with exercise. Balls produce an audible rumble across most surfaces, making them easier to locate even when out of sight.

Rodents are mammals of the order Rodentia, which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are native to all major land masses except for New Zealand, Antarctica, and several oceanic islands, though they have subsequently been introduced to most of these land masses by human activity.

The National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) is a British organisation that represents the voice of its members from within the animal medicine industry in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

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