Small Pets
Hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils and other small pets — lifespan, housing, handling, diet and how suitable each one is for children and first-time owners.
10 entries
Guinea Pig
Gentle, vocal and sociable — the small pet that genuinely needs your company.
- Size
- Medium
- Weight
- 2–3 lb (0.7–1.2 kg)
- Lifespan
- 4–8 years
Syrian Hamster
Solitary, nocturnal and surprisingly complex — the hamster that deserves better than a small cage.
- Size
- Small
- Weight
- 3.5–7.1 oz (100–200 g)
- Lifespan
- 2–3 years
Ferret
Mischievous, energetic and endlessly entertaining — the pet that will never let you be bored.
- Size
- Large
- Weight
- 2–4 lb (0.7–2 kg)
- Lifespan
- 6–10 years
Chinchilla
The softest fur on earth, attached to an animal that must never get warm.
- Size
- Small
- Weight
- 1–2 lb (0.4–0.8 kg)
- Lifespan
- 10–20 years
Fancy Rat
The most underrated pet in the world — clever, affectionate and heartbreakingly short-lived.
- Size
- Small
- Weight
- 1 lb (0.3–0.6 kg)
- Lifespan
- 2–3 years
Roborovski Hamster
The smallest and fastest hamster — fascinating to watch, almost impossible to hold.
- Size
- Small
- Weight
- 0.7–0.9 oz (20–25 g)
- Lifespan
- 3–4 years
Mongolian Gerbil
A desert burrower that is awake when you are — social, tidy and endlessly busy.
- Size
- Small
- Weight
- 2.1–4.6 oz (60–130 g)
- Lifespan
- 3–5 years
Degu
A diurnal, highly social Chilean rodent that must never eat sugar.
- Size
- Small
- Weight
- 6–10.6 oz (170–300 g)
- Lifespan
- 6–9 years
Winter White Dwarf Hamster
A small dwarf hamster whose coat can turn white in winter.
- Size
- Small
- Weight
- 0.7–1.6 oz (20–45 g)
- Lifespan
- 1–2 years
Fancy Mouse
A small, curious and social rodent that's fascinating to watch.
- Size
- Small
- Weight
- 0.7–1.4 oz (20–40 g)
- Lifespan
- 1–2 years