Class pets

[NewHopePoultry]

The thing to remeber about petstores is,they will do anything to earn a extra buck.
If they think the blues will sell for more,they will stick the name "fancy" on the cage and rise the price for them,even though they came from the same place as the feeder rats.
Another example is the hamsters.
Black bears, teddy bears,etc are all the same thing, they are syrains, but they call them different things and ask for differnt prices for them.

 

[BantyHugger]

Good point. I think i'll just ask to hold it before buying. If it freaks out i'll get a different type.

 

[silkiechicken]

Yeah, really. I would never buy one of their "panda hamsters" for 25 if I can get an equally cute, furry, and NICE young hammy that is too light to be called "panda" for 8.

 

[patandchickens]

BantyHugger, I don't know about your area, but where I've lived, animal shelters generally have rats that need homes on a pretty regular basis. It would be a great act of kindness to take adopt one of THEM, rather than to perpetuate the pet-shop problem.

Just a thought,

(e.t.a. -oops, forgot this was about getting a class pet. I don't think a shelter will adopt one out for that. Sorry 'bout that! However what about all the rats that people periodically try to get rid of on craigslist and so forth)

Pat

 

[greenthumb89]

i know that everyone votes for a rat and i agree they are nice animals but i have to clear some things about the smaller rodents.

Gerbils are diurnal, im not going to say they dont bite but usually they just nibble to show affection. they like being picked up and pet. BUT they must be socialized from young on.

Hamsters are nocturnal, they are KNOWN for biting because most people try and pick them up during the day which is their sleeping time.

Hamsters ARE NOT Gerbils

gerbils also need different requirments then hamsters.

anyway, my vote is for a ferret, the kids are older and the ferret will live longer, and at school we got one that came from a pet store, it wasnt all that nice to begin with but you have to work at it to make an animal trust you, some people dont like the smell but if they cage is cleaned 2x a week like i did for the animals at school there really isnt a smell. the ferret was also very funny to watch and play with.

this is also a vote AGAINST chinchillas. nasty little evil things

 

[BantyHugger]

Greenthumb , how long do ferrets live? I was looking at craigslist and the only small animals other than rabbits were ferrets. I'm not sure how long of a commitment we want but i can certainly suggest it if i have info on the animal.

marebear07
I can't find any 'homeless' rats in need around here so i'm gonna have to get it from the pet store.

 

[greenthumb89]

they can live anywhere from 4 to 10 years if kept properly

 

[CountryMom]

I sell a LOT of our pet guinea pig stock to teachers this time of year. They make very good cuddly pets and really noise and care are minor. We have only ever had one that bit - and that is out of a lot over the past year of showing and raising these guys. They usually live on average 5 years. And from the return teacher customers, one kid usually ends up taking the pet home for good over the summer. Therefore making room for another the next year.

I have been around and known friends that had rats as pets (and bred for snake food also), but I still (call me silly) can not get myself past the tail! LOL