Best Small Furry Pet

[Trip]

I've had fish before, I am not a fan.

I've owned a dog before when I lived with my parents. I know how to care for animals, that isn't the issue. I definitely want another dog, but now is not the right time for one. Just trying to find something small. I would really like to try ferrets, but she doesn't want them. So I think I have it narrowed down to a bunny, chinchilla, or a guinea pig. I think we are going to go to the pet store and see what breeds of bunnies they have and ask some questions.

[AquaPython]

Originally Posted by Rider

Salt water aquarium. You don't have to deal with fur all over the place or the possibility to having an allergy to the animal. Low maintenance really compared to cats and dogs, you dont have to walk them and you can leave for a few days and notr have to hire a pet sitter or take them to a kennel. If they get sick you can let them die and just buy more. No expensive vet bills.. and the biggest reason. It is very relaxing to watch the fish swim around.

i keep a 6 foot reef tank.
it all depends on what kind and size of tank he gets. it is a great hobby, but it can be a lot more maintenance, and you are limited to only a few days vacation, before you need a tank sitter to drop by.
if you go this route, i will help you out.

what about the fucking skunks? am I chopped liver?

[Digifox]

Originally Posted by AquaPython

i keep a 6 foot reef tank.
it all depends on what kind and size of tank he gets. it is a great hobby, but it can be a lot more maintenance, and you are limited to only a few days vacation, before you need a tank sitter to drop by.
if you go this route, i will help you out.

what about the fucking skunks? am I chopped liver?

Saltwater>Fresh water

I loved my Salt tank. till it started growing this unkillable crap
Killed everything and know one knew what it was

[the chi]

Originally Posted by AquaPython

i keep a 6 foot reef tank.
it all depends on what kind and size of tank he gets. it is a great hobby, but it can be a lot more maintenance, and you are limited to only a few days vacation, before you need a tank sitter to drop by.
if you go this route, i will help you out.

what about the fucking skunks? am I chopped liver?

I'd love a skunk, but between the dogs and the ferrets, Id like my own home too!! Currently the hubby is using his creative talents to build an create larger and more interesting things for our babies to play with, soon to move us to the garage so they can have the house Im sure! What I'd REALLY love is a fennec fox!

[Curb]

Originally Posted by The Chi

What I'd REALLY love is a fennec fox!

my roommate in college had one of those...i wanted to kill the fucker. i didn't know that he got it, one day i hear what i thought a was hyena...needless to say it didn't last long

[tommymac]

Originally Posted by Triple

American alligators are actually about the best crocodilian you can raise. They are much more docile than, say, what I used to raise (spectacled caiman). American alligators are the ones you always see people holding in their laps without muzzles. Try that with a caiman, lose your fingers...

Plus, baby american alligators are beautiful. Only reason I never got one for myself is because they grow too large. I've been wanting to build an outdoor enclosure for one now that I have this property (and pond), but the wife worries about her pug.

I haven't had a reptile in the house since 2004... it's about time I got something new.

Thats interesting, from the little I have read the caimans were the prefered crocodilian since they stay small compared to an american gator. I saw a show a long time ago where a family had a prety much full grown american alligator that just wandered the house and was super tame.

Tom

[101lifts2]

Originally Posted by Triple

American alligators are more docile, but can get very large (especially males).

Caiman remain small (most no more than six feet), but are mean, angry bastards straight from the egg. No amount of handling ever tamed mine.

I don't mean to be ignorant, but isn't the brain size of a gator pea size? Leaving the thing only wanting food? It would seem like if the thing is hungry...Triple would be din din. lol

[101lifts2]

I used to hate cats until I lived with this chick for about 6 months who had 2 cats..The things grew on me cause they were playful, but they didn't need too much attention and basically maintainence free. The only thing I hated though was every so often the thing would sit on my face in the middle of the night. Flung it against the wall once...

[Archren]

Originally Posted by Triple

My experience has been just the opposite. Every hedgehog I've met or cared for has been a violent little asshole. They bite and they are covered in spines.

I've only had one rat bite, and that was at the end of her life, when she was sick and dying. My rats always had enclosures large enough that they only required cleaning once or twice a week.

If we didn't have so many damn dogs right now, I'd probably go buy another rat. Cheap furry fun-ness.



So were my alligators and monitors.

I only had one rat that liked to bite, but he was one that was a rescue from a research lab (they had trained him, but couldn't use him for their research anymore, so I took him in).. he wasn't very well socialized, and generally only bit when I tried to hand him a treat.

The hedgehogs I had one was very well socialized and only bit me once or twice (thought my finger was food ). The other one was another rescue (one of my mom's friends didn't want her anymore), and yeah, she was a mean little bugger and really didn't like being handled. But I imagine that boils down to that whole socialization thing again..

I would still rather have rats if I were to choose.. they're a lot smarter and that whole lack of spines thing is nice when you want to pet them.

ETA: The biting thing I mentioned because while I only got bitten once or twice by either, rat bites leave scars.. my hedgehogs never even broke the skin when they bit me.

[Curb]

did anyone mention sugar gliders? i didn't really read every post through. they're pretty cool...just make sure you do extensive research on them...they tend to imprint on one person...they are nocturnal...the males have a sent gland that you would want removed, if you don't the smell isn't that bad but it also makes them go bald. those are some of the things you will need to know...you'll learn more as you do your research