Here you will find information and advice on the most popular small pets i.e. rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters & gerbils.  The advice is based on our experience of owning and breeding them and I hope it helps you make the right decision about what pet will be best for you and your family and the best place to buy it.  If you would like more specific advice or want to find a local breeder you can email me, my contact details are on the home page.

RABBITS

Baby Mini Lops that we bred.

Rabbits are the third most popular pet in the UK but they are also the most neglected.  You must think carefully before purchasing a rabbit or rabbits as pets as although they are cheap to buy they are quite expensive to look after properly.  Please do not buy a rabbit for a child under 10 unless you are prepared to take full responsibility for its care and welfare.  Children can quickly get bored of a new pet once the novelty has worn off.  They are not cuddly toys and adult rabbits do not usually like to be picked up so may bite and scratch.  Rabbits can live up to 10 years old and are therefore a long term commitment so please think carefully before buying.  See these links for more information Rabbits and Children and Rabbits and Easter. 

If your rabbit is to live outdoors you should buy the biggest hutch possible with a run attached.  The recommended hutch size by the Rabbit Welfare Association is 6ftx2ftx2ft but I feel it depends on the size of the fully grown rabbit.  Please do not buy a hutch smaller than 4ft long are they are only really suitable for guinea pigs.  Rabbits can tolerate cold very well but for your comfort and convenience I suggest keeping rabbits indoors during the the winter months (a shed or unused garage is ideal).  I prefer rabbits to be kept as indoor pets, please see this link for more information www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk.

Grass or hay is a rabbits main food and they must have unlimited access at all times.  Not only is it the perfect food but it also keeps their teeth worn down.  Many health problems in rabbits are caused by overgrown teeth.  Never feed lettuce as it has a toxin which is harmful to rabbits.

Rabbits love company so it is best to get 2 same sex babies together.  Guinea pigs should never be used as companions for rabbits.  Guinea pigs have different feeding needs from rabbits and adult rabbits can often harass guinea pigs causing them deep distress and sometimes injury or death.  You can sometimes bond 2 adult rabbits but they must both be neutered first.  It can take a long time to bond 2 adults and doesn't always work.  NB:  Once rabbits are bonded do no separate them for any reason (even when going to the vets) as they may fight once reunited.

Vaccinations for Myxomatosis and VHD are essential for outdoor rabbits and are also recommended for indoor rabbits.  All rabbits should be neutered when old enough (4-6 months old).  Aside from preventing breeding, castration stops males spraying urine and decreases mounting behaviour, whilst spaying females prevents the development of uterine and associated cancers which are very common in female rabbits, as well as also deceasing aggression linked to the hormone cycle.  In Aberdeen the average cost of vaccinations is £30 per year and to neuter a male rabbit is £50 and to spay a female is £65.  See this link for more information spay-neuter.

Guinea Pigs

[Breeding pair of pedigree 'Teddy' guinea pigs]

Guinea pigs make excellent pets.  They don't need vaccinations or neutering and will very rarely bite.  They will usually sit quite still on your lap while being stroked and are therefore much easier for children to handle than rabbits.  They also make cute squeaky noises which children love.  They are great lawn mowers and if given outdoor access in a secure run will do a great job of keeping your grass short.  Guinea pigs can be kept outdoors in the warmer months but again I prefer them to be indoor pets as they will get more attention.  As with any pet adult supervision is required and no child under 10 should be expected to look after a pet on their own.  Guinea pigs are highly sociable and need company of their own kind.  A pair of baby males or a small group of females will usually live happily together.  Always keep pets in same sex groups and never breed unless you have done lots of research first and can find good homes for all the babies. Never put a guinea pig in to live with a rabbit as they have different feeding requirements and rabbits often harass and can even kill them.  Guinea pigs are a long term commitment and can live up to 7 years old so please think carefully before buying.

Hamsters

[Our Syrian hamster - Hammy]

Syrian hamsters are usually a good first pet.  They are soft and cuddly and don't move as quickly as some of the other smaller pets so are easier for younger children to handle.  Dwarf hamsters are very cute to look at but are not easy to handle as they are so small and they move very fast.  All hamsters can give a nasty nip though and once a young child has been bitten he/she will rarely want to handle it again.  Hamsters on average live to about 2 years old.

Gerbils

[Gerbils Max & Suma - sadly no longer with us]

Gerbils are fun pets and live to about 4 years old.  They should be kept in single sex pairs as they need company.  They are more suitable for older children though as they move very fast.  Gerbils like to dig and need a tank type cage with lots of wood shavings so they can make tunnels.  If kept in a normal hamster cage with a wire top they will make a lot of mess.

Rats

[Rats Ant & Dec - sadly also no longer with us]

Rats make great pets.  They are very intelligent and will learn tricks easily.  They should also be kept in single sex pairs or small groups as they need company.  Male rats do tend to smell a bit but they can be bathed and as long as you keep the cage clean this shouldn't really be a problem.  They also need a very large cage which can cost approx £100.  Once the initial set up is bought ongoing costs are minimal.  Rats usually live to between 1 & 2 years old.

Pet Shop/Breeder or Rescue?

Most people looking for a new small pet will just go to the local pet shop.  Pet shops are not the best places to buy animals these days as they tend to use commercial breeders.  Commercial breeders breed animals for money and do not always care about the welfare, health or how friendly the animals they sell are.  The baby animals in pet shops are not usually handled at all before being sold and will be harder to tame.  If buying from a pet shop ask if the animals are local bred and if they have been handled at all.  If the answers are no then we would advise going elsewhere.  We prefer to use local hobby breeders and have a list on the Animals for Sale page.  Also try local animal rescue's as they sometimes have baby animals or friendly adults looking for good homes.

Holiday Boarding
We can board rabbits, guinea pigs and other small animals so please get in touch if you are going away and need someone reliable to look after your pet. 
Click here for more details and prices.