Which Small Animal Is the Best Pet for You?
There are many different kinds of small pets, but which is the best for you?
List of 29 of the Best Small Pets You Can Own
So you've decided you want a small animal but aren't sure which kind would best suit your life. Below are many different ideas—some of which are more common, as well as some that are more unusual. These animals represent a range of personalities, possibilities, space requirements, and budgets, but hopefully, you will find at least one or two ideas to explore further.
Axolotls are becoming more popular pets, especially since people started breeding a range of colors.
1. Axolotl
Axolotl are cute little amphibians that can make for great starter pets. They’re about the same maintenance and habitat as a fish, but you get something that’s a little more unique, and as you can see by the photos, they can smile.
They were originally bred in labs for scientific research but have made their way into the pet population, where breeders have worked on new colorful mutations. They can be kept singly but probably prefer to be kept in pairs or groups. The smallest cage you’d want for two is a ten-gallon tank. Common colors can be on the cheap side to buy at pet stores and such, costing maybe $15 each. More unusual colors can be bought from breeders for a range of prices, some new mutations exceeding $100.
On the negative side of axolotl keeping: if you obtain a male-female pair, their breeding can be hard to predict, but when they do lay eggs, you may have 500 of the little ones to deal with, and they go through a “cannibalistic stage” until they are 6 inches long. These are not animals for newbie breeders. These critters should not be confused with “mud puppies,” which look very similar but get larger, tend to be too aggressive to live in pairs or groups, and who bark during the breeding season.
Chinchillas were first brought into captivity by ranchers who wanted them for their soft pelts. Today they're more often seen as pets.
2. Chinchillas
Chinchillas are animals that were first brought into the United States so that they could be bred for their fur. Since these animals were not being bred for pets, many of them were fierce biters. However, now that the pet market is separated almost entirely from the fur ranchers, they are usually more docile than this.
Chinchillas are fairly large, fairly expensive, and fairly aloof. They can be very gentle creatures and interact well with humans, but they do not like to be cuddled. Rather, they would prefer you let them run around so they can bounce up to you.
They require fairly large cages, and males do best in pairs. Females are the more aggressive sex and are OK to be housed singly. Their diet needs to be precise as too much sugar and treats can actually kill them. They are prone to depression when their cage mate dies and this can also kill them. That being said, they are lovely creatures with sweet dispositions and very soft fur. Even better is they have almost no smell at all. They do, however, require dust baths to keep their fur in good condition.
Chinchillas can be purchased from pet stores and breeders for as little as $50 or over $200, depending on color. The investment isn’t a short-lived one, however, as these animals can live 15-20 years. Their breeding cycles are also slow. They tend to have one to two kits anywhere from 1 to 3 times a year when they feel the time is right.
Degus have been used for many years in laboratory research looking into the effects of diabetes and cataracts. These animals have a natural sensitivity to sugar and can easily become diabetic in a pet home where too many treats are given.
3. Degus
Degus (pronounced Day-goo) are related to chinchillas but are smaller. They are usually brown in color, but very recently, blue ones have emerged, as well as tan and piebald. They were used originally in laboratories to study diabetes and cataracts, which they are very prone to.
Like the chinchillas, you cannot feed them sugary foods at all. This being said, they are very social, love to hang out with their other degu buddies, and can be very interactive with their humans. They also live up to eight years and have sporadic breeding cycles resulting in litters of up to 10 babies. They sometimes make very funny noises when “talking” to each other, which I find very endearing.
You can occasionally find them at pet stores for $40 or so a piece. Breeders sometimes have them for cheaper. Like chinchillas, they love a dust bath!
Duprasi are still a somewhat unusual rodent pet in the US. They're soft, cute, and often sociable but their tails can come off with rough handling.
4. Duprasi
Duprasi, or “fat-tailed gerbils,” are fairly rare, but you can sometimes find them. Depending on their lineage and the amount of socialization they get, they can be nippy or docile. They are active creatures that love a wheel and can be kept in a 10-gallon tank. They love a dust bath to keep their coats in condition. Males can be kept happily in same-sex groups or pairs, whereas females much prefer to live a solitary life, only seeing a male companion when they are in the mood to breed. They are small animals with very soft fur and can live up to five years.
Dwarf hamsters have been a staple in the pet trade for many years. They come in hundreds of colors and coat patterns and even several species.
5. Dwarf Hamsters
Dwarf hamsters come in several different species and probably hundreds of colors. Unlike their larger cousins, the Syrian hamsters, these guys generally do best in pairs or groups of any sex or combination. Be careful, though, as they are very prolific breeders! A pair can live happily in a 10-gallon tank, and if properly bred and socialized, these guys can be super sweet and enjoy handling. Their diet isn’t particularly fussy, and a commercial seed mix is usually fine by them.
Downfalls are that they do have an odor and don’t live particularly long, maybe two years at their max. That being said, they’re one of the cheapest pets on this list, often being found for $5-10.
Incontinence and a strong ammonia smell has been bred into fancy mice but a drop of vanilla in the male's water bottle can reduce this odor.
6. Fancy Mice
Fancy mice can be fun little pets. They come in all sorts of colors, fur and ear variations. They come in curly fur, satin fur, long fur, normal fur, and no fur, just as an example.
They can live happily in a cage as small as a 10-gallon tank, and females can get along great in groups, whereas males generally don’t get along with each other and are quite suited to be single pets. Some love exercise wheels, and they can be very interactive and sweet with their humans.
Unfortunately, their lifespan is only 1.5-2 years, and they have an outrageous smell, particularly the males. A couple drops of vanilla in the male’s water bottle may help with this, but it’s still quite offensive and the reason why I didn’t pursue mice longer! They are prolific breeders and are often sold in pet stores as food for other animals—so they are usually very cheap, $2 or so for an adult.
Dumbo rats have large round ears on the side of the head - a mutation that makes them look more like mice. It is a popular variety amongst the fancy rat pet population.
7. Fancy Rats
Fancy rats are probably my personal favorite, as they are personable, energetic, and intelligent. They are intensely social animals that, in the wild, can have up to 500 recognizable rat friends. This is why I always suggest they should be adopted as same-sex cage mates. Females are very alert and active, and males tend to be big and lazy.
Be careful when selecting a rat as a pet, and if possible, go to a breeder. Rats that are skittish or bite or often hard to tame down, but the ones that come friendly can be like little puppies, running to their cage door to lap at their human’s fingers. They also make for great shoulder pets.
They breed prolifically and therefore are usually on the cheap side, though some mutations from breeders can reach up to $50 or more. $5 is more likely at a pet store. Be careful, though, as bad breeding (i.e., a pet store that just breeds them as food for other pets) can lead to aggressive temperaments and a lot of health problems like tumors and cancer.
They usually live 2-2.5 years. They do have an odor, but it doesn’t come close to their fancy mice relatives. They do NOT mix well with other pets, especially those smaller or the same size as themselves. I have heard many horror stories of pet rats attacking and killing other pets, such as other small rodents and birds. Just keep them away!
Ferrets were originally bred to hunt down vermin on farms and their services could be rented by traveling ferret wranglers who'd release them into the area for the day. Today ferrets are usually neutered, descented, and kept indoors as pets.
8. Ferrets
Ferrets are wonderfully active creatures when they’re not sleeping, which is a good amount of the time. They require large cages and do best in pairs or groups.
Most ferrets bought from pet stores and breeders are already spayed or neutered, so you don’t have to worry about babies. They will also generally be descented—but don’t let this fool you, as they will still smell pretty bad.
On the positive side, they are litter box trainable and great pets that can run around the house with supervision. They will steal small objects and hide them, run at full speed, and make all sorts of adorable “dook-dook” noises.
Ferrets used to have long lifespans of eight or more years, but sadly, the biggest puppy mill type breeder of ferrets, Marshall Farms, supplies almost every pet store, and their bad breeding practices have shortened the ferrets’ lifespan by years. Now they generally last to be two or three.
A good way to avoid this is to find a breeder with better lines. Many import ferrets from longer-lived European lines. Expect to pay around $80 or more per ferret and make sure to handle them before buying. Although most ferrets are very amiable towards humans, I’ve also come across some truly vicious biters, which is usually the result of abuse or rough handling earlier in their life.
Guppies are a popular freshwater fish that come in hundreds of colors and even can be seen with different tail shapes.
9. Freshwater Fish
Freshwater fish are great if you want something you can watch but don’t necessarily want something to cuddle or play with. They are great for starter pets or for the experienced hobbyist, depending on what you get. Many people love to breed live bearers like guppies, while other people like to have big display tanks and see how large their fish can get. You can also add plants and do landscaping. It can be as simple or complicated as you want, and it can take as little or as much space as you want. Betas are often kept alone in half-gallon tanks, whereas big display fish will swim in tanks that can be hundreds of gallons.