Pros, cons of small pets

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Rabbits

Advantages: Can learn to use litterbox; different personalities; don't need yard if they have indoor exercise space; social animals.

Disadvantages: Don't like to be picked up; should live indoors and have plenty of out-of-cage time; physically delicate; can bite; sensitive to changes in routine and noise; can be destructive with chewing and digging; requires cage-cleaning.

Life expectancy: 5 to 10 years.

Tips for choosing: Medium to large breeds are easier to pet because they have larger heads; adult rabbits are more easily house-trained. Baby rabbits are active, often nippy and chew everything. Dwarf breeds tend to be more excitable, energetic and aggressive.

Source: House Rabbit Society

Rodents/guinea pigs

Advantages: Take up very little space; do not require regular shots; rats are highly intelligent.

Disadvantages: Require cage cleaning; relatively short life expectancy; can be noisy (and nocturnal); social animals that do well living with more than one.

Life expectancy: Mice, 1-2 years; rats, 2-3 years; guinea pigs, 4-6 years.

Tips for choosing: Rats need more maintenance than some other small pets but can become very affectionate and attached to their owners. Gerbils are entertaining, easy to keep, friendly animals. Rats and some types of hamsters need to come out of their cages regularly so they don't get bored.

Sources: American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association; www.petsestore.com.

Reptiles

Advantages: Some kids love reptiles; quiet; frogs and turtles are relatively low-maintenance.

Disadvantages: Children must be taught to thoroughly wash their hands with antibacterial soap and hot water after handling any reptile to minimize the risk of disease transmission (they also must be taught never to kiss their pet). If they are hungry, large snakes will strike at, bite and constrict any warm-blooded creature, including other household pets and even children. Reptiles are sensitive to changes in environment.

Life expectancy: Can be long-lived but varies with each animal. Box turtles can live 30 to 40 years.

Tips for choosing: Ask what a reptile eats before purchasing it. Some eat live animals, while others eat only lettuce. Small reptiles such as geckos require gentle hands. Iguanas can get 6 feet long, have many health problems and can bite very hard. Captive-bred animals usually live longer than those caught wild. Suggestions for new owners include lizards such as water or bearded dragon or leopard gecko; snakes such as corn, rat and kingsnakes; box turtle; and red-footed or leopard tortoises.

Source: www.exoticpetvet.net; www.reptileman.com

Birds

Advantages: Can be affectionate; range from small to large so easy to find one that fits into your home; some can mimic, sing or whistle; have personality.

Disadvantages: Birds can bite and peck; large birds especially can be dangerous until they are fully trained and socialized. Many birds require a lot of social interaction. Many can be messy and noisy, and some have destructive tendencies when left alone. They can be quite expensive, with parrots costing in the thousands of dollars. Cages need to be cleaned often.

Life expectancy: Larger species can live 30 years or much longer, and even small birds average 8 to 15 years.

Tips for choosing: Lorikeets (or lories) tame easily; finches are relatively easy to care for; and cockatiels are generally happy birds with soft whistles. Parakeets (or budgies) and cockatiels work well for older children with the time and patience for training them.

Sources: www.oldworldaviaries.com; www.petco.com

Fish

Advantages: Don't require veterinary care; quiet; don't need outside time; can live in children's rooms; watching fish can be very relaxing.

Disadvantages: Tanks must be cleaned and maintained; some fish may be very short lived.

Tips for choosing: Setups range from a simple bowl to elaborate saltwater tanks.

Source: www.small-house-pets.com

— Compiled by Stephanie Dunnewind, Seattle Times reporter

Copyright © 2003 The Seattle Times Company