Rabbit hay alternative?

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Koi require weekly water changes, large ponds, and heavy duty multi stage filtration that can move hundreds or thousands of gallons an hour. I love mine, but they are far from low maintenance. My betta are easier, lol.

I would imagine haha.

 

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Not sure how much they are there, they are more than rabbits for sure though! I've had several nice ones that were only 100-150. I know right now that seems like a lot though.

That's not too bad considering the ones I am finding here are $200+

 

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Rabbits absolutely have to have hay. It makes up a large percentage of their diet, and is crucial to proper digestive health as well as their teeth. As far as I know, there isn't anything else that keeps their teeth healthy.

Edit: I forgot to add that all pet rabbits should be spayed or neutered. This can be an expensive surgery, but a million times worth it as far as changing their behavior for the better and reducing the likelihood of health issues down the road.

The only other animals that fit what you're seeking and that I have personal experience with are hamsters and rats. I've had Syrian hamsters and one dwarf. The dwarf was very nippy and too small to really be cuddly, so I'll focus on the Syrian hams.

Rats are by far more intelligent and friendly with people. Don't let pet stores fool you with different names - fancy rats and dumbo rats are both the same species. There are some big differences between the genders, too. Males are less energetic and cuddlier with people, but they can sometimes develop aggression issues with other males, which requires neutering. Not all vets can or will perform this surgery. However, you can't keep a single male in hopes of preventing this, as rats are so social that they often turn to self-harming behavior when kept alone. Males smell a little worse and will pee a little on whatever they walk on to mark territory. Females are cleaner and get along better with each other, but they're typically not as cuddly with people and many females will develop tumors in their lifetime. I've had around fifteen rats over the years, both genders, and I vastly prefer females. A friend of mine does rat rescue and has had hundreds of rats, and she prefers males by a long shot. Rats live anywhere from 1.5 to 3.5 years. They're less healthy than hamsters, as they're very prone to getting respiratory issues (and the cancer in females). Rats require larger cages than hamsters. Google the "Critter Nation" cage - it's the best cage for rats, and a single unit of that is a good size for just a couple of rats. Rats are less likely than hamsters to bite you, but they are larger and have larger teeth, so a serious bite from a rat could be more dangerous than a hamster bite.

Syrian hamsters are less expensive and easier to care for, but they are less people-friendly and more unpredictable. Many hamsters go their whole lives without illness, and they live from about 2 to 4 years. They absolutely have to live alone, regardless of gender pairing. They will kill one another. I do think dwarf hamsters can be kept together if raised together, but I'm not positive. Syrian hamsters need a minimum of a 20-gallon aquarium. Hamsters shouldn't live in wire cages, as they tend to chew on the bars, and this can cause neurological damage long-term. Personally, I have had five female Syrian hamsters and one male. The male was very aggressive, even though I got him at a young age and tried to tame him. He would bite terribly. None of the females were ever truly aggressive. Even the cuddliest hamster is still not as people-friendly as the average rat, though. I think that rats have more stable temperaments whereas hamsters can go from sitting perfectly fine in your hand to nipping and running away the next second.

I like both personally, so I couldn't choose a favorite.

I have heard of rabbit neuter/spay, and I wonder if any vet would do it and how it compares to the price of say fixing a cat or dog.

I had a Syrian hamster before. She was good, never bit us kids and was super cuddly.

My friend got 2 dwarf hamsters. They didn't fight, but it was rare she even wanted to hold them. They were not snuggly.

Good to know about rats, too.