Just a note re Djungarian hamsters, unlike other hamsters they are social and can be kept in social groups, though they do reproduce readily so attention must be paid to gender…although nocturnal, they are also active for brief periods during the day.
Sounds like appropriately sexed gerbils may do it for you, Jive…but a slightly larger cage might get you a guinea pig or rat, more companion for the space!
Most rodents, it is not that difficult to determine sex. Just look closely, feel, etc.
Gerbils cannibalize each other. :dead:
[QUOTE=Jive;7107833]
Wow lots of input.
Above someone mentioned a 10 gallon tank. I saw a neat setup with a tank and then a ramp leading to a wire cage attached to the top of it.[/QUOTE]
Please don’t keep any small rodents in glass cages - they end up with ammonia damaged lung tissue (for those who will insist that it’s a perfectly reasonable way to keep these animals, please read the scientific published journal articles).
There are some species of hamsters that are sociable with each other & their human caretaker (sorry I don’t recall the species).
Check out the small animal forums, before you decide on a pet species & how to keep them (approach with caution anything that Hartzzzz tells you will be perfect for your mouse/hammie/bunny/ferret etc).
For healthy, socialized small animals (& reptiles & birds :lol: ) do look for local fanciers/breeders rather than the big box pet stores - they also tend to be much more efficient (& correct!!!) about the sexing.
Check out the fancy mice forum - there are some gorgeous fancy bred mice, most are well socialized & friendly & not fragile at all.
They are my favourite :yes:
Great advice for most rodents, but not gerbils. They are desert animals and barely pee at all. Glass tanks are absolutely the best set up for them, with a mesh top. They obsessively dig and chew, much more than other rodents and will quickly chew/dig through any plastic. The wire cage topper is ok because they can dig in the bottom, but keep an eye that they aren’t obsessively chewing the bars, which will damage their teeth.
They like LOTS of bedding (no cedar). Burying small cardboard boxes and toilet paper tubes will provide underground tunnels and chewing opportunities. Some will chew a bit, others can destroy a tube in under 2 minutes. Toilet paper will give them some excellent nesting material, they love making really fluffy nests. For cleaning, just swap out 1/2 the bedding every other week. If you just give them a thin layer, change it all once a week. They are the lowest smell and cleanest of the small animals I’ve owned.
An all metal wheel (mesh, not wire rungs) is best, preferably one that hangs on the side so they don’t just bury it.
Don’t know much about hedgehogs, but if you want a dwarf hamster get a Chinese dwarf or a winter white! Russian dwarfs are notoriously bad tempered and Robo Dwarfs are just to neurotic to make good interactive pets. When you do get shopping, find a breeder or ask the pet store what day they get their animal shipments in. You want the youngest hamster you can find! If you handle a young hamster everyday it is far less likely to develop the bad attitude.
As far as cages, most big box pet stores have a selection of suitably sized options.
For other rodents-
It may be useful to look at rats, if you can deal with the smell, they are very smart and perhaps the most interactive,
Gerbils are characteristically non-aggressive, but very active and as someone mentioned before, no smell.
Guinea Pigs can be fun, but require more space.
I used to work at Petsmart taking care of all the animals who lived there.
Hamsters are a-holes! All of them! :lol:
Chinchillas are darling but much more complicated to care for.
I agree that gerbils are a best bet. Very cute and not too stinky. I especially liked the fat-tailed breed.
Plus they don’t tend to bite like hamsters. (Can you tell I hate hamsters?)
If I were not a nice person I would have drop kicked every damn one of them that sunk its teeth in to me! Too bad we were not allowed to feed them to the ball pythons. :winkgrin:
Find a reputable, local pet store and go find someone to help you:) Its our job to show you everything and help you find the best pet! A reputable store should be able to sex an animal (mistakes do happen, but rarely!), easily handle it (if not, it’s a feeder!) and give you the lowdown on its requirements.
In America pet stores HAVE to, by law, keep health records, and if you ask us for them, we have to show them to you. I don’t know about Canada though, I know our governing body is PIJAC, contact them? Petco is notorious for selling sick animals or inappropriate animals, so when people bitch about our prices, I tell them to ask Petco for their records. I generally get those customers back 
You could also try Degus which look like giant gerbils but act like a cross between a gerbil and a chinchilla.
[QUOTE=enjoytheride;7109441]
You could also try Degus which look like giant gerbils but act like a cross between a gerbil and a chinchilla.[/QUOTE]
They are really cute… and in some places not legal to own, so check that first.
[QUOTE=enjoytheride;7109441]
You could also try Degus which look like giant gerbils but act like a cross between a gerbil and a chinchilla.[/QUOTE]
They are extremely fragile animals and require very specialized care. They are not good for pets and are illegal in many states.
I think I have been convinced that gerbils are the way to go.
I have a hedgehog. She’s pretty great. She plays with me and my H and my son. She’s friendly and active during the day if we wake her. She’s a rescue and we adore her blind self (lost her eyes due to neglect).
You have to be careful picking her up due to her quills, but not THAT careful. She’s a lot friendlier and has more personality than any hamster I’ve had.
You do need to be careful with the temp and lighting set up.
And after I’ve been convinced of gerbils a friend is trying to convince me not to go with them as “they’re so loud and hyper and you can hardly even hold them”.
(of course shes had Dwarf hamsters and is trying to convince me to go with them lol).
[QUOTE=Jive;7111580]
And after I’ve been convinced of gerbils a friend is trying to convince me not to go with them as “they’re so loud and hyper and you can hardly even hold them”.
(of course shes had Dwarf hamsters and is trying to convince me to go with them lol).[/QUOTE]
Pfft. This is false.
I had a lovely female Gerbil named Rice-a-Roni as a kid and she was awesome. Super, super sweet. We had a TON of them in middle school (make sure you sex them!) and never did anyone get bit; they’re very non-aggressive. You can handle them but they are active. They aren’t going to sit and let you love on them, but really, no rodents are.
I had a single one but really, they do better in pairs. I find the females to be nicer.
I had an awesome ferret growing up, too. Sounds like maybe you aren’t set up for one currently, but I LOVED mine; he was so funny, and interactive with the cats and dogs, too
I second the chinchilla. They are not that hard to care for, they just need a large cage and dust baths. Mine also has a gigantic wheel to run on. They can live a long time - mine is 21! I think he is immortal.
See what is available at the shops in your area then, with permission, handle a few gerbals, guinea pigs, hedgies, and maybe a tortoise(great pets). See which animal you bond with. Let us know!
[QUOTE=Jive;7111580]
And after I’ve been convinced of gerbils a friend is trying to convince me not to go with them as “they’re so loud and hyper and you can hardly even hold them”.
(of course shes had Dwarf hamsters and is trying to convince me to go with them lol).[/QUOTE]
They are quite active, but not loud at all (the wheel can be loud if you get a crappy one that isn’t lined up straight). Really, small rodents aren’t going to just sit there and get attention. Mice, hamsters, and gerbils will all move around. Rats too, but they are better about chilling. If you want something cuddly and easy to hold, GP are more suitable, but even they like to book it when they get excited.
Do you live in an apartment? I was going to suggest a chicken or two - at least there is return on investment 
(I’m still the only dissenter here, aren’t I?)
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