Pet advice: Small animal with most personality

[chadbang]

I think my son is finally ready for his first pet. We're renter and not allowed to have a cat, dog or bird. But a "pocket pal" is allowable. I want to get a nice furry mammal (sorry no insects or lizards) and I'm interested in people's advice for the best small pet with personality and friendliness. I'm making a poll, but if I miss anyone, please feel free to add it! Thanks.

 

[corpse_linguini]

when i was younger i had a Gerbil. They are cute, small and easily maintained... provide them with a cage or even 5 gallon aquarium, Hamster bedding, water bottle and some gerbil/hamster food and thats it.

 

[LawnGnome]

Hedgehog.

Don't get a Guinea Pig, they squeal and smell bad.

 

[dbfreak]

I'd go with a Furby.

 

[Uncle Erik]

I had several parakeets growing up. They do have personality but generally aren't the cuddly and affectionate type. Never had any of the small mammals, but many friends did. A former classmate had a sugarglider which was pretty cool. A few had ferrets, also good, and one even had a pet opossum. No joke. Very clean critter, will use a litterbox, gentle, liked being held, and they are soft. Only drawback is that they're mostly nocturnal so they snooze a lot.

Though none of them really compare to a cat. Are you sure the landlord won't make an exception for a cat, maybe with an extra deposit? Easily my favorite pet. Loads of personality and the vast majority can be turned into lap cats. That's the best. I've reached a compromise with mine - left leg is for cats, right leg is for laptop.

 

[TheMarchingMule]

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Mysterious mammal caught on film

 

[fat pat]

rat, no contest. rats are the smartest, most playful and social small animal youre going to be able to find. they can learn tricks, be called by name, and will be happy to see you everyday when you get home. they are very clean also

 

[pdennis]

Rats do make excellent pets, and will become very socialized if a human spends a lot of time with them from early on.

Ferrets are also fun, but some states (or is it just California?) have made it illegal to own them, because of potential threats to native species if they escape and breed.

I've never met a pet hedgehog, but they do look cute!

EDIT:

Mice, gerbils, hamsters and guinea pigs definitely don't have as much personality as rats.

 

[EyeAmEye]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdennis /img/forum/go_quote.gif Ferrets are also fun, but some states (or is it just California?) have made it illegal to own them, because of potential threats to native species if they escape and breed.

Ferrets make terrific pets, and are very playful and loving, but need a ton of supervision (at least mine did). If you have the time and diligence, they are wonderful. If you don't, they can be a large, messy headache.

 

[The Actual]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdennis /img/forum/go_quote.gif ... will become very socialized if a human spends a lot of time with them from early on.

I particularly agree with this.

I had two mice in middle school and they were pretty nice to me, but it didn't get that way until I had been around them for a while. I also had a bird a year later, but didn't really spend enough time with him and he never really got too social with me.

I really liked my mice. Not sure if things would turn out the same way for you and your son however.

What is your son's first choice?

 

[ecclesand]

Get a Chinchilla...

 

[blessingx]

Watch Ratatouille with your rat.
I don't have one, but a friend of mines climbs up on his speaker when he plays good music and they even share an occasional beer (bottle - friend, cap - rats).

 

[ken36]

I've never considered any of these little animals. I wonder how a rat would act in my house. Good stuff.

 

[appophylite]

Rabbits make an excellent first pet too, especially the ones that don't grow much larger than 6-9 pounds. They are patient, quiet animals, they love to be held and petted and they can be trained. I was never able to do it, but one of my high school teachers was able to train hers to live in the house outside of their cages. They only returned to their cages to eat, drink water and drop a load. We used to let outs roam free in the house for short intervals and short of picking her up when it looked like she needed to go, or keeping her away from cable nests, there was little problem with keeping her.

 

[BigAmish]

Any appropriately sized small rodent should do, just clean their cage frequently or they get pretty stinky fast. Mice & rats are good cheap options. Siberian hamsters are super cute & tiny, but they can be nippy if you don't handle them on their own terms.

The hedgehog suggestion intrigues me! Just be sure to get one young enough (~6-8 weeks old) so it is more likely to form a bond with you.