Cost of keeping a house rabbit

Froom2

A_Phoenix_of_Tangerine wrote: »

I had a couple of rescue gerbils which were MUCH healthier than any other small pet I've owned; one died from old age at the age of around 5, and the other I believe is still going strong. They were both always bright eyed, inquisitive & spent their time burrowing new networks of holes (definitely buy a 'gerbilarium' cage, so they have an extra tank for digging!). They kept themselves occupied, rather than going cage-crazy.

I really adore gerbils - we had two when I was younger. We gave them several packs of that pet sawdust stuff in a four foot aquarium and they used to make the most amazing tunnels in it - it was always sad to have to change it out after a couple of weeks.
Sadly, the aquarium was given away and I wouldn't want to keep a pair in anything smaller, having seen them enjoying the burrowing so much... and they aren't cheap.

I'll have a think, I'd not go for a russian hamster as I had a bad experience with one when I was little... it bit my thumb and wouldn't let go! Poor little thing must have been terrified of me to do that.

Even though hamsters are nocturnal, can you wake them up in the evening to say hello? I know it's not going to be the most sociable creature, but I'd rather start with something conservative rather than leap into something that takes more commitment and then discover that I can't look after it as I would like to. I want a pet, but I want to be responsible about it.

Froom2

violettasomerset wrote: »

If you're not sure about your finances, have you considered fostering an animal for a rescue centre? They will usually cover things like vet bills, and it might be a way to "try out" a few different types of pets that you might not have considered. It will depend on how attached you will get though - and whether you'll be happy to pass it on to its permanent home.

I've enquired about this! I thought it could be a really good idea too, but I got very little response from anyone. I might ring round after this weekend and ask directly rather than send emails. I think I'd feel really good about giving a creature a temporary home without the commitment of very long term.

A_Phoenix_of_Tangerine

OP, Freecycle / Freegle and eBay are brilliant resources for finding unwanted old pet cages and runs - you can often find amazing deals, which means you may be able to afford bigger and better cages than you'd otherwise think. Definitely worth a look!

Person_one

A_Phoenix_of_Tangerine wrote: »

OP, Freecycle / Freegle and eBay are brilliant resources for finding unwanted old pet cages and runs - you can often find amazing deals, which means you may be able to afford bigger and better cages than you'd otherwise think. Definitely worth a look!

Good point, I sold my huge £150 cage for £50 on a rat forum, it was in good condition, there are bargains to be had.

chocdonuty

Guinea pigs?
I have guinea pigs and they are great :j They are in indoor cages, have lovely personalities and talk (well squeak) at me when they want something or I rustle a bag as they think it's veg time!
They also handle better than scratchy rabbits or lightning quick and wriggly hamsters/gerbils
You could also rehome a pet and any equipment from preloved/free ads ect, I don't really approve but if you can offer a good home then it's got to be good.
Also look at ebay, I bought a 120cm cage plus bits and bobs for £15 local pick up only and the cage alone was worth £100 new!

Froom2

So how much do you reckon a pair of rats would cost on a monthly basis, being fairly liberal with vet/insurance costs etc?

Funnily enough, I seem to vaguely remember my OH mentioning that he's really not keen on rodents with tails.... hehehehehe but tbh I have always loved creatures with tails, and regardless, unless he has a real phobia... and anyway who knows, he might not be around in two years. Rats probably would.

Fosterdog

For a pair or trio of rats you'd probably want to put maybe £10-£15 aside as an emergency vet fund.

Depending on what you feed £2-3 a month dry and fresh on top, they can have most table scraps as treats with a few exceptions. (for dry food I buy 15kg bag of rabbit mix and add supermarket value range breakfast cereals and dog kibble, the whole lot costs maybe £15 and used to last ten rats over six months, I'm now down to my last two and the stock of food I have will outlive them, storage is the only issue I'm lucky to have good storage space) I often sell my own mix at £1 per kg and lots of people with large numbers of rats do the same so may be worth looking into other ratters in your area.

The biggest expense can be toys/beds/hammocks, they destroy everything and getting inventive with recycling is essential. I can give you some ideas if you do get rats.

Theres not really much else they need apart from the initial outlay of a cage and all the bits to go with it.

If you've never had rats I'd recommend getting a pair from a good breeder (contact the NFRS for a breeder list of reputable breeders) or from a rescue that has had a litter handled from a young age, older rescues are not always the best for first time owners as your nerves can make them almost unhandleable.

It's also worth check the NFRS for a rat show in your area (or midlands/ northern rat clubs if they are your area) you'll get to meet some furrys and they quite often have a cage setup with rats for the public to meet and handle.

Lastly depending on the type of pet you want will depend on your choice of male/female
Boys tend to be more laid back and will love to cuddle up in a hoodie with you and just generally be extra sweet but they do come with a smell that is an acquired taste and tend to scent mark a lot, every surface they touch will get peed on.
Girls are much bouncier, a lot more fun to watch and play with (they will actually play with you) they tend to be faster and more inquisitive and don't have the same smell and scent mark less (but do still do it)

Of course there are always exceptions and I've had my share of outgoing boys and lazy girls)

Froom2

Thanks guys!
I am going to aim to get a pair of rats when things are a bit more settled.

I have decided in the meantime to get a hamster, I know they aren't the best pets in the world but I think he will make up for it with ease of care and being pretty transportable incase of holidays, and he won't live too long and I won't need pet insurance for him.
And I can still cuddle him in the evening when he wakes up

my OH thinks this is a good idea too, and seems really keen! So we'll pop to the shop in a couple of weeks after our weekend away and pick Mr Hammy up. (No that's not what we'll call him)

Thanks for all your help and suggestions!

~Froom~

krlyr

May I suggest you approach a hamster breeder or a small animal rescue for Mr Hammy? I know it may seem a little OTT when it's "just" a hamster but in the small-furry world, petshops are suppliers by rodent farms - the equivelant of puppymills
http://www.brecklagh.com/petshops.html (based on rats but equally applicable to hamsters)
http://www.britishhamsterassociation.org.uk/locate_breeder.php

Your local RSPCA branch may have hamsters in, or many small rescues have an online presence, either their own website or on forums. You may find a litter that was born in rescue so has been raised with the handling and socialisation needed for a lovely, friendly hamster - better than the nervous, nippy babies that you'll find in most petshops.

Also bear in mind that many of the hamster cages on the market are totally unsuitable size-wise. The Rotastak etc. provide very little floor area for a species that would wander miles per night in the wild. I think PAH sell a cage called the "Cambridge", which is the minimum size I'd suggest for a hamster. A low-level rat cage may perhaps be easier to find and more suitable than most cages aimed at hamsters.

Froom2

Ooh I like the look of the cambridge cage, that looks exactly like what I have had in mind! I will do some proper investigation next week

I will definitely check out local rescue places. The might know some good local breeders too. I'll check on gumtree too for a local critter.