Basic Small Animal Care

Small animals make great pets because they are so much fun , generally very playful and can be so lovable. All small animals are not the same, however.  Some are calmer and easier for a small child to hold, while others are frisky and take more attention.  The housing and feeding requirements are unique to each animal, just as each animal is unique.   Take a little time to learn about the pet that is right for you. Your reward will be a very happy pet and you will have a great friend.

A cage or habitat needs to suit the pet your putting in it .  That means the right size and the right accessories .  A full size bunny needs a much bigger home than a dwarf bunny.  A mouse can live in a much smaller cage than a guinea pig.  A wire cage needs to have small enough spacing so that your pet animal cannot get its head through it.  If the cage has a wire bottom, the spacing needs to be small enough so that the animal's feet cannot slip through it. We Carry Hagen Critter Pens, Aquariums, and a large variety of cool spaceship or safari kits, with ad-on tubes and rooms.

The cage needs to have a spot for your pet to sleep, a place for his food, water and treat dishes, and some space to play and run around.  If your pet is out of its cage during the day to play and exercise, the cage can be smaller to accommodate just a sleeping place, food and water.

A nest box or sleeping hut is often appreciated although not always absolutely necessary.  Many small animals are nocturnal.  That means they like to sleep during the day and run around at night.  A hut can help your pet feel more comfortable during the sunlight hours while it is sleeping.

Dishes for food and treats should be solid crocks with straight sides. They can be either ceramic or hard plastic.  Other types and shapes of dishes can cause problems.  Round bowls will tip over and spill easily.  Lightweight dog dishes that are not solid can trap small animals when they burrow underneath and this can kill them.  Water should be put into a water bottle that is mounted on the side of the cage, either inside or outside.  Bowls can be used, but often small animals will foul the water so it must be changed all the time.  A water bottle usually works out alot better and only needs to be refilled daily.  Do watch that your pet does not run out of water, or it may chew up your bottle!

Make sure your cage is escape proof .  Some small animals are escape artists.  Chewing holes through plastic or biting through soft wire can happen, so check your cage regularly.  Escaped pets are very vulnerable and can get hurt or killed when they are on their own.

Diet and feeding

Small animals should be fed and watered everyday .  Their feeding requirements vary depending on the pet.  Each pet has their own food mix and that is what they should be fed.  Generally one type of small animal food cannot be substituted for the wrong type of animal for very long without causing problems.  For example, guinea pigs cannot be sustained on rabbit pellets because they won't get enough vitamin C and can develop scurvy.  They must be fed guinea pig pellets.  Another example is feeding mice and rats only a hamster mix.  They can develop skin problems because it is too rich in seeds for their dietary requirements.

Fresh fruits and vegetables such as, apples, romaine lettuce, and oranges are great extras for may small animals and help to balance their diets.   Always rinse these foods before you offer them to remove any insecticides or other chemicals.  These tidbits should also be removed after a few hours before they start to go bad or sooner if your pet loses interest in them.

Treats are a great and fun way to interact with your pet.  There are all sorts of bars, wafers, drops and mixes available as treats.  Be careful to feed the right types of treats, for example hamster treats are for hamsters but not for bunnies.  Also be careful not to overfeed treats.  Look at the size of your pet and give him what would be about the same size to him as a couple of oranges would be to you.  Keep the treats to less than about 10% or 20% of your pets total diet.  

Exercise and Activities

Gnawing is a favorite activity for lots of small animals.   There are vegetable flavored or plain wood chew toys in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes available, as well as hard alfalfa cubes.  Some pets like bunnies, guinea pigs and chinchillas, must chew.  Their teeth keep growing just like your hair and fingernails do.  Gnawing is how they keep their teeth trimmed.  With trim teeth they can keep chewing their food.  If they don't have chew toys they will chew on their food bowls and even on their cages.

Scampering around is another favorite activity for most small animals, especially hamsters and mice.  No matter when they like to run around, an exercise wheel or a variation of the wheel, a spinning disc, is a great choice for smaller pets.  Another variation of the exercise wheel is an exercise ball.   Your pet can climb into the ball and roll around the floor or on specially made tracks.  Your pet can overexert itself, so don't keep it in the ball for more than 15 or 20 minutes at a time.

Burrowing and tunneling are natural activities for many small animals and some, such as the ferret, are very curious.  Great toys for these activities are funnels and hiding places.  Generally you can find them made of   plastic, wood, hemp or rope.  They come in many colors, shapes and sizes.

Some small animals, such as ferrets, sugar gliders and rats like to climb on limbs.  Climbing branches, bird perches and bird swings work well.  They may get chewed up, but that's part of your pet's play, too!

Harnesses and leads work well with small animals that you want to take outside.  They allow you to keep your pet from getting away from you and from getting into things.  Most harnesses can be adjusted to fit the size of animal that you have.  Some animals are simply too small or get too wild with a harness while others do great.  Some bunnies, ferrets and guinea pigs can even be harness trained when they are young.