Chinchillas are squirrel-like animals from the mountains of Chile. Their name Chinchilla means "little chincha".

Ironically their name was derived from people from the Andes who are distinctly known for wearing garments made from the Chinchillas fur. In 1923, Engineer Mathias Chapman brought eleven wild Chinchillas to the United States to preserve their species by breeding and domestication.


There are two kinds of Chinchillas. Royal Chinchilla (Chinchilla Brevicaudata) Short-tailed, stockier in build and more rounded to the eye. These species still live in the mountains and domestication of this specie is rare.
Chinchilla Lanigera or the Long-tailed are streamlined in appearance and have been kept as pets in the United States since the 1960's. Only recently has the popularity began to skyrocket.

Keeping Chinchillas as pets requires the same commitment and dedication as other pets. These species are nocturnal in nature; they are rarely active in daytime and reserve their energy for playtime at night 'till dawn. Chinchillas are skittish and very playful, making them suitable pets for adults and adolescents but not younger children. These species aren't like dogs that appreciate being hugged. These furry creatures are curious by nature and need to be let out of their cages often to exercise and satisfy their eagerness.

Chinchillas have their own communication; they make a different noise depending on how they feel. These noises range form calm chirping, aggressive barks or startled/ excited squeaks. When housed with other Chinchillas, they are generally peaceful and don't fight among each other.

Chinchillas are voracious chewers, having chew toys and wood pieces help satisfy their habit. Wood chips should be Birch, Willow or Apple. It is best to avoid wood like Cedar since they contain toxic resins that can harm Chinchillas digestive tract. Chew toys are available in material that suits Chinchillas; it is advisable to give one, which is recommended for your pet. Housing them requires a wire cage and be sure to avoid plastics in any part of their cage. It is important to note that Chinchillas don not sweat. So their cage must have good air circulation, or else your Chinchilla can suffer from heat stroke.

Chinchillas come in gray, beige, ebony, silver and sometimes with markings. They keep clean by taking dust baths with store bought Chinchilla dust. This is a special mixture that replicates the dust a Chinchilla will have available to it in the wild. These creatures treasure their bath time since this is one way they clean themselves. Rolling in the dust makes their fur soft and bright. Another reminder for future Chinchilla owners, giving them water baths causes their fur to grow fungus. This would in turn cause an infection in the Chinchillas respiration system. In case your pet accidentally gets wet, emergency treatment would be blow-drying in low setting until its fur is relatively dry.

Chinchilla's digestive systems are rather sensitive. They cannot digest sweets or fatty foods making them prone to diabetes. A strict and rigid diet of hay pellets must be followed. Though they are close relatives of Squirrels, nuts are not to be given to Chinchillas due to it's fatty content. Just like most pets, regular hydration is required. Keep a bottle of clean water near your Chinchilla at all times.

Chinchillas live for around 15 to 20 years and can be a very loving pet. As soon as you choose your little Chinchilla, it is best to handle it gently. This initial contact is like a child's formative years, it is imprinted and makes training easier to do.

Gerbils belong to the family of rodents and are a favorite pet nowadays. They have a resemblance with rats but there are certain facial features that are different. The weight of a gerbil is approximately 500 grams and they have red or brown eyes.

Gerbils are available in various colors. They are very social animals, since they do not have a tendency to bite. They are very entertaining pets and can play around with adults as well as the kids of the family.

The Mongolian gerbil is very popular though there are many kinds that are available. To keep your gerbil happy and healthy it is necessary that you take good care of it. The gerbil care guidance is not very common since they are not as common pets as dogs and cats. But here we have some guidelines for you so that you can take care of your gerbil in the best way possible.

Tips for Gerbil Care

Remember to provide food and water for the gerbil in its cage so that it has enough to eat whenever it is hungry.

Whenever you want to buy food for them make sure that you buy good quality fruits or seeds since these animals eat very less so whatever they eat should be nutritious.

Clean the cage of the gerbil after two weeks and if it requires cleaning early then do so. Unclean pets might bring many kinds of diseases so it is better to keep them and their surroundings clean.

Do give them things to play. Give them such toys on which they can climb and gnaw on it so that their teeth do not overgrow and they are not bored.

Try not to expose your gerbil to excess light. They like a place where they can silently hide and sleep peacefully.

It is important to spend some time with your pet and play with them otherwise they would not be tamed and used to you or the environment.


Get some tissues for them to sleep on. This way they can sleep on something that is comfortable and also you can throw the tissues away if they have dirtied them.

Gerbils are such pets for which you do not need to visit the vet time and again but then they are also living creatures and are prone to diseases, if you find anything unusual in the behavior of the gerbil or in its health conditions, do consult a vet. Follow these tips and have a happy time with your cute gerbil!!

Despite what many people think, buying a pet hamster is not a decision that should be taken lightly. Though it is a small and inexpensive pet whose care is relatively easy, one must be prepared to give that hamster the best care possible including possible veterinary visits if the need arises. Unfortunately, many people today are buying hamsters on impulse for their children or for themselves without careful considerations.

If you're considering adding a hamster to for family, there are a number of things you must keep in mind before making this decision. Though it may seem to be a small decision to you, it's that little hamster's whole life you're deciding!


Do I have time?

Though hamsters don't require the time that a cat or a dog might need, they still take time and energy. Their cages must be kept clean, water must be changed, food must be kept fresh, and they must get some play time outside their cages every day or two as well. If you want your hamster to become tame when held, it takes a long time for it to become used to you and the concept of being picked up. Before buying a hamster, make sure you'll have enough time to care for the little guy or gal.

Do I have the money?

Hamsters don't cost much to keep, but you must be prepared to pay veterinary costs in case your hamster were to fall ill. Like a cat, dog, or other pet, a hamster deserves proper medical attention when it gets sick. Just because the vet bill might be more expensive than the hamster itself doesn't mean that a vet bill isn't worth it! It's necessary for your hamster's well being.

Do I have the patience?

Most pet store hamsters (though I highly recommend looking in to adoption instead) are not tame upon purchase. Taming takes time and practice. Some hamsters are more tamed than others at first, but almost all hamsters will come around eventually if you are patient enough to work with them.

Will he/she get along with the kids?

It should be noted that hamsters are NOT good pets for small children. A small child could easily hurt a creature as delicate as a hamster and if they hold the hamster wrong and spook it there's a possibility of the child being bit. A child aged eight or older can handle a hamster but should not be left solely responsible for its care.

Will my dog/cat get along with the hamster?

This depends on your dog or cat, but the hamster should be physically kept away from dogs and cats at all times. Some dogs and cats will ignore the hamster's cage or possibly sniff it and nothing else. Others will do whatever they can to get in that cage. Unless you've got a space where the dog or cat is unable to access, you should reconsider buying a hamster. You wouldn't want to come home and discover your hamster has become somebody's snack!

What can I expect from my hamster?

Hamsters bring so much joy to the lives of their owners! They like to be pet, which is beneficial for relaxation and lowering blood pressure in humans. They are often fun to watch as each hamster will have its own amusing antics and habits that will make you laugh over and over. They are curious and will enjoy exploring as they crawl all over you. Most importantly, they are among the cutest little pets there are!

If you're considering bring a hamster in to your life, don't forget to keep these questions in mind. If you feel you're ready, don't forget to do extensive research on proper hamster care and choosing a healthy hamster. There are a number of excellent books available as well as sites on the Internet, too. The more you learn, the better hamster caretaker you'll be. Most importantly, however, is that you enjoy the company of your cute new pet

Cute and small, the hamster is a great and a rather quiet pet. However it is fun! This furry little friend comes in a variety of types so you have where to choose from!


The hamster is probably one of the cutest pets, although the hamster is also one of the smallest pets you can find. There are several types of hamsters you can get to be your best buddy; the best known species is the Syrian hamster (or golden hamster) you can find the Syrian hamster under several names though because pet stores have taken to calling them by different names depending on their color and if they have short hair or long hair.
Note: the long hair variety usually needs special care because it can grow quite long.

There are several other types of hamster though, not just the Syrian; there are four other types or species to be more exact. There is Campbell’s Dwarf Hamster, some people call this the Russian Dwarf, there is also the Winter White Russian Dwarf Hamster; a very interesting hamster actually because this hamster’s coat turns white during the winter when the days become shorter. A true athlete of the hamster world is the Roborovski Hamster, he is without a doubt the most active out of all hamster species, and the only hamster that has a real tail is the Chinese Hamster.

Everybody knows that in the dog world you have "show" quality dogs and "pet" quality dogs….did you know that this is true in the hamster world as well? That’s right, there are hamster breeders out there that are breeding towards producing hamsters of excellent health and temperament. If you are looking for a hamster to buy but don’t want to give the extra money on a show quality hamster do not despair because there are plenty of people out there that are breeding their pet quality hamster…and if all else fails there is always the petshop.

There are two types of cages that you can get for your hamster one is the normal everyday cage, you know with bars and everything else the other is the terraria (looks like a fish tank). Both types of housing have their pluses and their minuses, the cage provides plenty of climbing (the bars) but the fish tank keeps all the litter inside and provides a more sheltered interior then the ordinary cage does. I guess you can always get both and connect them with one of those hamster tubes, that way your pet has the best of both worlds.

Regardless of the cage type you decide to get for your little friend, make sure that he is kept in a nicely lit room that has a constant temperature….too much heat and your friend can die of heat stroke, or a temperature that constantly varies can make your hamster sick and animals that small usually do not do too well when they are sick.

One way to make sure that the little guy is nice and comfortable in his home is to make sure that he has a nice thick bed of litter, there are a lot of different types that you can get from your local pet store, try to get something that has not been perfumed…never use cat litter as it can seriously injure your animal.

To avoid serious health issues get an exercise wheel for the little guy because hamsters are usually hyper active and they love to run and run and run, this not only keeps them in shape physically but mentally as well. Avoid wheels that have individual rungs because this will provide unsure footing and it is possible that the hamster will hurt himself. Some people just put their hamster in plastic pet balls for a while to provide the necessary exercise, but if you are going to do this, make sure that you are going to keep a close aye on your pet because he can injure himself very easily.

Food that can be bought at any pet shop usually consists of dried seeds and sometimes fruits, but it is always a good idea to supplement their diet by giving them vegetables and fruits.

The hamster may be little but he makes up for it in the happiness he brings to anyone that wants to take care of him; even if they don’t make a sound during the day the hamster sure will make up for it as soon as the lights go out!

Cockatiels are the smallest member of the cockatoo family and are native only to Australia where they are found largely in arid or semi-arid country, but always near water. Sometimes hundreds will flock around a single such body of water.

Male cockatiels do not display any obvious courtship rituals. Females do not talk, however, male cockatiels can learn to talk and are quite vocal.

Male cockatiels often have a very deep yellow face and bright orange cheek patches at maturity. Female cockatiels will retain their immature coloration and the barring of the underside of the tail.

Both males and females that share incubation responsibilities. Cockatiels are prolific breeders and they will breeding in captivity all year long, if allowed to do so. However, clutches should be limited to no more than 2 per year, the amount that avian veterinarians consider normal.

Playful and easily amused with simple toys cockatiels are a lot easier to care for because of their size. You don't need a very large cage like you would need if you had a cockatoo. However, cockatiels live for about 20 years, so a long term commitment is required.

Cockatiels are playful birds, and adding toys such as bells and mini ladders (a cockatiel favorite) are important. Because cockatiels love to chew, toys must be free of toxic metals, hooks, sharp objects or small, easily consumed components. A cockatiel will gladly entertain themselves in front of a mirror for hours while whistling or talking. Keep your cockatiels *away* from any electrical wires and equipment!

Cockatiels are naturally dusty birds because of the powder down they produce. It wouldn't be a bad idea to have a HEPA filter running near the cage, especially if a member of the household has asthma, allergies, or respiratory disease. One or two birds that are bathed often and whose cages are kept very clean are not much of a problem, but of course the amount of dust will increase with each additional bird.

Cockatiels are reluctant to accept new foods and will accept few fruits and vegetables. They do tend to enjoy whole wheat bread, grated carrots and shredded greens. Lots of water and sun light are needed to keep cockatiels happy.

Cockatiels are very susceptible to strong smells such as insecticides, smoke and air fresheners. Their respiratory system is so delicate some of these can kill a cockatiel.

Cockatiels are a great first bird along with the Budgie and Parakeet. A tame hand-fed cockatiel will most likely be loving and gentle. Cockatiels are the gentle ambassadors of the bird world. Many aviary lovers owe their passion for birds to a pet Cockatiel they owned or encountered in childhood.