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» Care Sheets     » FAQ's

FAQ's SMALL ANIMALS

DEGUS

Q.
What is a Degu?
A. Degus are a small rodent that comes from Chile in South America. They are quite similar to chinchillas, which also come from the same area.
   
Q. Should I have a friend for my Degu or is it ok to just have one?
A. It is very highly recommended that you have more than one. They can get extremely lonely and depressed if they are alone.
   
Q. What do Degus eat?
A. Degus mainly eat a specialized degu pellet food, along with timothy hay and the occasional leafy greens or veggies. Their diet should have very little or no sugar in it. They can easily develop diabetes.
   
Q. Why is my degus teeth orange?
A. Having orange teeth is actually a sign of good health!

FERRETS

Q.
 Are your ferrets de-scented?
A. Yes!
   
Q. Can I feed my ferret cat food?
A. Ferrets can be fed a high quality cat food, but ferret food is much more beneficial for them

GERBILS

Q.
 Can I keep more than one gerbil in the same cage together?
A. Yes! Gerbils are very social and enjoy living in small colonies. They can be kept in pairs (male & female or 2 of the same sex) or triages (2 female & 1 male or all the same sex). We have found it best to keep sister together.
   
Q. How old should my child be to own a Gerbil?
A. Gerbils, Hamsters, and Rats are one of the best “beginner” pets for children. Children of most ages can care for them (with some help from parents).

GUINEA PIGS

Q.
 What should I feed my guinea pig?
A. Guinea Pigs need a pellet food that has a high amount of vitamin C. Also, they should have access to timothy hay at all times. You may feed them up to 1-2 cups of chopped veggies and occasional fruits as a treat.
   
Q. How long do Guinea Pigs live?
A. On average, they will live to be 4-6 years old.
   
Q. What age should my child be to own a guinea pig?
A. Guinea Pigs are great for kid 6 years old and up. They will still need parent supervision when handling the guinea pig. They are a good pet to help teach responsibility.

HAMSTERS

Q.
 Can I keep more than one hamster in a cage together?
A. It is usually not a good idea (except for breeding purposes). More often than not, when the hamsters reach breeding age (1-2 months old) they will become quite territorial and fight. If you think you may want more than one hamster we would recommend getting them at the same time and make sure they came from the same cage. Keeping females together is the safest way to go.
   
Q. How old should my child be to own a hamster?
A. Hamsters, Gerbils, and Rats are one of the best “beginner” pets for children. Children of most ages can care for them (with some help from parents).

HEDGEHOGS

Q.
 Can a hedgehogs “quills” come out like a porcupines would?
A. The “quills” on a hedgehog are actually more hair-like. They only come out when the hedgehog sheds the old ones to grow new ones. They will not get stuck in you if you touch a hedgehog.

RABBITS

Q.
 What should I feed my new rabbit?
A. Young rabbits should be kept on a diet of a basic alfalfa-based pellet food and plenty of alfalfa hay. When they become 4 to 6 months od you should switch to a timothy hay-based pellet food and change to timothy hay instead of alfalfa. You may also begin introducing vegetables, fruits, and other green into their diet at this time.
   
Q. How much should I feed my rabbit?
A. Baby rabbits are allowed to eat as much as they want, an adult rabbit (once they reach 4 to 6 months) should have their diets restricted. Only ¼ to ½ cup of pellets and up to 2 cups of chopped vegetables (per 6 lbs. Of rabbit’s weight). Timothy hay should be at least 80% of their diet and should be available at all time.
   
Q. How long do rabbits live?
A. An unaltered (not fixed) rabbit will usually live between 7-10 years. A neutered or spayed rabbit will live anywhere from 9-12 years.
   
Q. Can I keep a rabbit & guinea pig in the same cage together?
A. NO! Rabbits and guinea pigs have very different diets and nutritional needs. Also, almost all rabbits (as much as 85%) naturally carry a bacterial organism called Pasteurella Multocida. This bacteria is highly contagious and very deadly to guinea pigs.
   
Q. Is it possible to litter train a rabbit?
A. Yes! The best time to do this is when the rabbit is at least 3 months of age. They will usually go on the opposite side of the cage from where they sleep.
   
Q. What age should my child be to have a rabbit?
A. Rabbits are better for children that are about 10 years old. Rabbits are a large responsibility and are not low-maintenance.

RATS

Q.
 Do rats make good pets?
A. Yes, rats make great pets. They are very social and extremely smart. They love attention and being handled. Rats make really good family pets.
   
Q. How old should my child be to own a Gerbil?
A. Rats, Hamsters, and Gerbils are one of the best “beginner” pets for children. Children of most ages can care for them (with some help from parents).

SUGAR GLIDERS

Q.
 What is a sugar glider?
A. They are a marsupial that comes from Australia. They are very nocturnal. The body structure is very similar to that of a flying squirrel.
   
Q. What should I feed my sugar glider?
A. Their diet consists of a sugar glider pellet food, as well as fresh fruits, yogurt, baby food, and canned cat food are also good food options. They also need a good amount of protein and calcium in their diet. This can be obtained by feeding them crickets or mealworms coated with a calcium powder. Cooked eggs are also a good source of protein and make a great treat.

 

 













 
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