How to Care for a Pet Rodent

A rodent can be a great pet to have. They are fairly low maintenance, but you must still care for them properly. Use this guide to give your pet rodent the longest and happiest life possible by providing it with the proper care.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Buy a cage or an aquarium that is big enough for your pet and of an appropriate variety. The cage should allow room for your pet to run around, and it should be tall enough to accommodate bedding and any toys you put in.
2. Line the bed of the cage with some form of bedding. Different species prefer different types of bedding, but for most rodents wood shavings are a good choice.
3. Feed your pet a food designed specifically for your species of rodent. Watch your pet's eating habits to ensure that it is eating the food you provide, especially if you feed it a seed mixture. Many rodents will pick out their favorite pieces, such as sunflower seeds, and leave the more nutritious pellets behind.
4. Provide water for your pet in a water bottle that has a ball at the tip of the spout. Do not attempt to give your pet water in a dish.
5. Keep a piece of wood or other chew toy in your pet's cage for it to file its teeth on. Rodents' teeth grow constantly, so your pet needs to have something to wear them down on. Buy the wood at a pet shop rather than simply picking up a piece from your yard.
6. Add toys to your pet's cage that are appropriate for its size and species. These will keep your animal entertained and give it somewhere to hide.
7. Check your pet's food and water supply daily, making sure that it always has fresh water available.
8. Clean out the cage on a regular basis-about once a week-to give your pet a clean home and to prevent potential disease caused by bacteria buildup.

Tips & Warnings

• The best choice for bedding is either aspen shavings or a paper litter in the chip variety.
• Opt for a ceramic food bowl, as opposed to plastic or metal. Rodents can't chew through or flip over a ceramic bowl as easily as others.
• Ask your veterinarian or a pet specialist about any special needs your particular species of rodent might have. Though many rodents require the same general care, they still have their own unique needs.
• Do not use cedar shavings in your rodent's cage. The oil from the wood is an irritant to rodents and can cause serious health complications, possibly even death.
• Do not try to give your pet water in a dish; it will knock over the dish and kick bedding into it, but it most likely will not drink from the dish.
• If you buy your pet a running wheel, get one without spokes, since your pet's tail can get trapped within the spokes.