What to get?

[dragon ranch]

I've made a few posts before to give me ideas but my first buy was going to be a snake, this unfortunely hasnt worked out so I am looking at a mammal sooner rather than later.

Hopefully you can help me decide, I will give you my spec now and see if anything will fit it.

* I have a space in my room which is about 5ft wide, 3ft deep and about 6ft high. This is where it will go so nothing bigger and nothing that needs to be outside.

* I have carpets so prefer something which wont leave a permenant stain, so a mess is fine aslong as it wont stain, eg a substrate that will stain or that they will faeces out of the cage. I have seen cages with guards to catch the faeces.

* I work around 7/8 till 4/5/6/7 so something that will be active in the evening. I wont mind nocturnal aslong as it wont keep me awake, it is in my room.

* I want something that I can handle and will happily run around my room. I'd prefer something that won't chew through my cables but I suppose this can't be helped.

* I would like a small group so 2- 5 of the animal depending on what it is.

* I do not want to breed so it will be all males or all females to prevent breeding.

* I would like something that is entertaining, so doesnt sleep all the time, so quite active.

* Cost isn't an issue but it has to be within reason, eg hundreds not thousands.

* I would like to get them young so I can watch them grow and tame them myself.

* Finally based on the other posts I think these may fit the above:
Degus
Chinchillas
Sugar Gliders
Rats
Chickmunks
Pygmy Hedgehog

My favourite of the lot are Sugar Gldiers.

Would 5ft wide, 3ft deep and about 6ft high be enough for them? I would let them out in my room as much as possible.

[Amalthea]

Sugar gliders are great, as long as you're willing to put the time and effort in That space is a great size for a glider cage, as well. They can bond very closely with their human, but have quite a complicated diet. If you think you are interested in them, please have a read through the various stickies on: www.sugar-glider.co.uk/forum (especially diet). Although, gliders can be quite noisy, so if you are a light sleeper, not really the best pet for in your bedroom.

Another one that ticks all of your requirements and is quite a bit easier to care for is a group of rats They are fantastic pets and so under-rated! So very personable, easy to train, snuggly, usually happy to come out around you (so when you can get them out, regardless of the time of day, they are happy... gliders are very nocturnal), etc etc etc.

[dragon ranch]

Originally Posted by Amalthea

Sugar gliders are great, as long as you're willing to put the time and effort in That space is a great size for a glider cage, as well. They can bond very closely with their human, but have quite a complicated diet. If you think you are interested in them, please have a read through the various stickies on: www.sugar-glider.co.uk/forum (especially diet). Although, gliders can be quite noisy, so if you are a light sleeper, not really the best pet for in your bedroom.

Another one that ticks all of your requirements and is quite a bit easier to care for is a group of rats They are fantastic pets and so under-rated! So very personable, easy to train, snuggly, usually happy to come out around you (so when you can get them out, regardless of the time of day, they are happy... gliders are very nocturnal), etc etc etc.

How much are they to buy each? I would probably be looking at a pre-made cage unless you surgest otherwise. Pre-made seem to be around 2x2x6, so how many would fit in there happily? I was thinking 3?

I am actually a very heavy sleeper, I'm more worried that my TV with surround sound would scare them? I am not bothered about them nocturnal as I am usually in around 6 and go to sleep anywhere between 10 and 2 in morning.

If I let them out ar ethey likely to faeces everywhere? ad is it easy to get off? Do they move around a lot quite fast? As I think it would be hard to keep an eye on 3 of them at the same time, so elt 1 out at a time?

[Amalthea]

*lol* I woulda come to reply once I was back at my computer... No need to send me a PM with a link unless it's been seveal days

You can get bigger cages than that and I'd try to aim for something a bit wider than two feet. The height is good, though

Depending on where you get them from, you are looking between £100-150 each. A group of three is a great group. You'd be best with either three neutered boys or three girls, (or a mixture of the two) though. Breeding gliders can be quite stressful and not to be taken lightly (especially with a brand new keeper)

[dragon ranch]

Waht about the TV? would it bother them?

If I let them out are they likely to faeces everywhere? and is it easy to get off? Do they move around a lot quite fast? As I think it would be hard to keep an eye on 3 of them at the same time, so let 1 out at a time?

Im jsut worried that my bedroom wouldn't be suitable to let them out in.

[Nerys]

If I let them out are they likely to faeces everywhere?

yes

and is it easy to get off?

yes, reasonably so.. depends where it goes!

Do they move around a lot quite fast?

YES!!!

As I think it would be hard to keep an eye on 3 of them at the same time, so let 1 out at a time?

umm.. you can try that i guess... tho i would think it more fun to watch them all bouncing about.

Im just worried that my bedroom wouldn't be suitable to let them out in.

you would have to glider proof it to some extent first... make sure no holes they can get down, nothing harmful about and so on..

hth

N

[Draven]

Originally Posted by Amalthea

Sugar gliders are great, as long as you're willing to put the time and effort in That space is a great size for a glider cage, as well. They can bond very closely with their human, but have quite a complicated diet. If you think you are interested in them, please have a read through the various stickies on: www.sugar-glider.co.uk/forum (especially diet). Although, gliders can be quite noisy, so if you are a light sleeper, not really the best pet for in your bedroom.

Another one that ticks all of your requirements and is quite a bit easier to care for is a group of rats They are fantastic pets and so under-rated! So very personable, easy to train, snuggly, usually happy to come out around you (so when you can get them out, regardless of the time of day, they are happy... gliders are very nocturnal), etc etc etc.

gliders are totally ftw! they're great as pets and a complete joy to look after IMO

[Amalthea]

They can't be potty trained, no. So they will poo and pee everywhere. It's realtively easy to clean up, though. I use diluted F10 for all my crittery cleaning and it's brilliant!

Letting them out one at a time isn't really a good idea. They need eachother as a colony and will feel uncomfortable without the rest of their group around.

As long as they are brought up around the noises of a TV, that shouldn't be a problem, either.

[dragon ranch]

If they poo on the carpet or wall will it stain? Do they do it often or is it once a blue moon.

My room has loads of places they could get to
- Under wardrobe
- Under TV stand
- Under computer desk
- Under bed
etc

Would I be able to keep them under control or should I find a room with less things in?

[Amalthea]

They poo and pee a lot... Not once in a blue moon at all.

I'd personally, find a room with less "stuff". My critters have their own room and they can mess that up as much as they like. Gliders do have a smell that is uniquely theirs and are known for flinging food, so if you are house proud, they are not the pet for you. And due to the high fructose content of their diet, their wee is pretty sticky.