Caring for your rodents

The rodent family has a number of members, including gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice and rats.

A rodent is basically a small mammal which has large front teeth for gnawing food. They make popular choices as pets and like any other animal kept as a pet, need responsible care and attention.

Let's take a look at some of the main considerations, starting with their housing. Rodents like clean and interesting habitats, and they should be given as much space as possible. Bear in mind that guinea pigs need quite a lot of floor space to explore; hamsters and gerbils prefer to bury in material; and, rats love to climb.

When designing and building a house, or purchasing one, think about it from your pet's perspective for a moment. Would you like the house you are about to buy, if you were a particular kind of rodent? Bored rodents make unhappy rodents, so give this some thought.

And there is nothing worse than a rodent that is not regularly cleaned out. Not only are the rodents dismayed by having to live in dirty conditions, but you will not like the smell of accumulated rodent urine and faeces.

Always choose to line your rodent house with either clean, untreated wood shavings, or some other material that is suitable for rodents. And provide them with a nesting box, or some other kind of hideaway, where they can retreat and be themselves.

Again, take a look at your rodent accommodation and think about giving them an activity. This might include tubes, small rubber toys, or anything that might gain and hold their attention.

When it comes to food, it's best to buy a ready prepared food from the pet shop. This will have been specifically formulated for your type of rodent and ensures that your pet gets the right balances of protein, carbohydrates and minerals. Make sure that clean and fresh water is always available.

Make sure that you regularly check your rodent, as problems can often be picked up in behavioural patters. For example, chewing the bars of the cage, or excessive grooming, can be signs of boredom.

You should also try and regularly handle your rodent, as this should build a bond between you and your pet. Remember that rodents can bite, but only really when threatened, or frightened. So gentle handling will allay their fears and lessen the risk of any injuries; remember that rodents are mostly small, fragile creatures.

Also, don't let your rodents breed, either voluntarily, or involuntarily, as this will cause you problems when finding homes for the new arrivals.

Rodents live roughly for around two to five years, and are susceptible to illnesses and injuries like any other animal. So, you best keep an eye on their general condition. Be particularly on the look out for diarrhea, which is a bad sign in a rodent.

So, much joy and pleasure can be had from having a rodent as a pet, just try to give it the best accommodation and feed you can provide, as it's only fair.


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