Rodents as Pets Australia

The term rodent is used to describe a group of small(with the exception of the Capybara which can grown to weigh more than 100kgms) mammals the include mice, rats, gerbils, hamsters and perhaps guinea pigs(the scientific community is not in agreement on whether they should be classified as rodents). These mammals are characterised visually by their small size, but more importantly by the continual growth of their incisors. Rodents have one pair of incisors in each jaw
All mammals have incisors - these are the cutting and shearing teeth at the front of the mouth. Carnivores have specialised large incisors for grasping and cutting prey. Plant eaters have less developed incisors and more developed molars grinding vegetable matter. Omnivores such as Bears have got both developed incisors and molars.

Rodent incisors are made for gnawing, and thus they continually grow or they'd be worn away. If a rodent is unable to gnaw on hard plant matter such as carrots, wood, stick, etc, its incisors will grow out of its mouth and prevent it eating. So rodents when kept as pets, always need something to chew on.

Rodents are prey animals, and in the wild of always very wary of being eaten. Whereas when domesticating some animals, removal of undesirable aggression is required, in rodents its will be overcoming timidity. Domesticated rodents are now bred for such "bravery" and curiosity and many will seek our your company rather than hide from it.

Rabbits are similar to rodents in many way, they also have continually growing incisors that require them to constantly wear them down by chewing - the difference is rabbits have two pairs of incisors in the upper jaw as opposed to the rodents' single pair in EACH jaw. Rabbits and hares are in fact lagomorphs, rather than rodents

Rodents can be seen as somewhere between a companion animal and hobby animal. They are not going to necessarily come when called, will not wag their tail or purr happily to see you. They will not require a walk around the block and will not fetch a Frisbee. They will however, be more social and friendly with you, than say...a .fish? Some people keep rats as companion animals, taking them everywhere they go. Rodents will bond with an owner, and show affections in a rodents way, mainly by allowing close contact and sniffing/nuzzling their owner.

Your pet rodents space and social interaction requirements will differ greatly depending on the different types - compare the below rodent information to see which one might best suit you.

Guinea Pigs

Hamsters

Mice as Pets

Rats as Pets

<< Previous Reptiles as Pets | Back to Animal Types - which type of animal for your Pet | Next >> Spiders as Pets