Mouse or hampster?

[EsmeraldaX]

Rats!

I know they sound weird, but of the 4 most common little fuzzy pocket pets, rats are probably the most gentle, easy to handle and interactive of the lot.

The most common four are probably :

Hamsters. Cute, but some can be very tempermental and snippy. Occasionally one will be a sweetheart though.

Mice. Cute, but delicate, don't generally like to be held. They are fun to watch, esp. in groups.

Gerbils. Slightly more gentle than a hamster, not quite as cute

Rats. Large enough to be handled easily, generally gentle and curious, and enjoy attention. Do okay alone or in groups.

I've kept all 4 at different points in my life and of them all Rats are the only ones I have any desire to keep again. They are just such sweet little critters.

If you want something slightly larger, and not a guinea pig:

some bunnies make excellent house pets, so do ferrets.

Ferrets are more similiar to a cat or a dog, but with that comes higher vet bills, and essentially the same costs and care as a cat. Both can be litter trained, ferrets more easily. Ferrets are illegal in some places.

If you want something a little more exotic:
sugar gliders are very sweet and gentle, however they are illegal in some states and run about the same costs as a ferret.

Chinchillas are also very sweet, fun to watch, some are very cuddly and gentle. Some are skittish though.

Hedgehogs are absolutely adorable and fun to watch. Trained ones are very gentle. However, they can be prone to illness, expensive to obtain, illegal in your area or aggressive. You don't want to be nipped by one. Trust me.

Prairie Dogs. The only one of the above I have not kept for some point of time. Only legal in certain states. Probably, from my knowledge of them, the most interactive of the small pets.

There are also more exotic forms of hamsters, gerbils, rats and mice.

I love small animals. Unfortunately, if I tried to get one now, my dogs would eat it.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I had my Pet Rat for about 4 years. Got him a Rabbit Lease and off we went, him on my shoulder.
He especially liked to snuggle. Find a warm spot on you and go to sleep. Not going to find a hampster or mouse to do that.
I found the Rat to be more "Mellow"

My last rat had one of those too. She loved to be on your shoulder.

 

[PatsGirl]

Eeeewwwhhh!! Mice, rats, gerbils and hamsters

Fed mice to our snake, think of rats in city garbage areas, let a hamster go on Aprils Fools Day because it bit me one too many times and gerbils, well, just another rodent

We're gonna try bunnies, one male and one female. Hutch in in the beginning stages. God, I hope this isn't like the rest of em. I'm a dog person myself (not ankle biters, the real thing ) -- especially fond of golden retrievers and german shepherds. We do have "Spike" the iguana who won't stop growing

Good luck with whatever you choose. A pet is a great thing. A pet that doesn't bite, stink, eat other pets is a WONDERFUL thing.

Brenda

 

[Jessie]

I personally wouldnt have either. Anything smaller than a rabbit gives me the willies.

 

[Planecrazy4dis]

Aside from my cool dog Elvis, the best small pet I've ever had was a beige and white hooded rat named Rickey. He lived a good 4 years. I also had a pretty little mouse, but I have to say the mouse was nervous and jittery. Not much fun. No offense Mickey. The rat was diffidently way more mellow and he loved to play like a kitten. He was so smart that he was litter box trained. I have fond memories of Rickey The Rat. Today they have come along way in selective breeding fancy rats. If the tail turns you off they now have a tailless variety. Check out some of the fancy rat breeders on the net.

 

[mickeysaver]

I am not fond of rats or mice, but I am totally nuts about our hamster, Chip. He is just the sweetest ball of fur on the planet. I have had several hamster....none of them were biters....one was an escape artist. Chip has major personality and has never nipped either of us. For being handled as little as he is, he is very comfortable with spending time with us. I think when it comes to rodents, it's kind of like breeds of dogs.....it's all about what you are looking for as to which one will be more suited to you. IMHO Maggie