Small pets

Everything for your small companions: hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, chinchillas, birds, fish, reptiles and turtles.

How to care for your small pets: the essentials and what not to use

Just because an animal is small doesn't mean it is easy to care for. This is what veterinarians and animal welfare organisations recommend today. Every species is different, so your vet always has the final say.

The essentials

Hamsters: live alone and need at least 100 × 50 cm of continuous floor space and 25 cm of bedding for burrowing. The wheel should be smooth and large: 20 cm or more for dwarf hamsters and 30 cm or more for Syrian hamsters.
Rabbits and guinea pigs: live in pairs or groups and need hay always within reach, solid flooring and plenty of space. Guinea pigs also need vitamin C from fresh vegetables.
Ferrets: need hours out of their cage every day, solid flooring and temperatures between 15 and 24°C, as they cannot tolerate heat.
Birds: the cage should be at least twice their wingspan wide, and they need to fly freely in the home for at least 6 hours a day.
Fish: the size of the aquarium depends on how many fish you have and their size. As a guide, 1.5–2 litres per centimetre of tropical fish and 4 litres per centimetre of goldfish, always with a filter. The larger the tank, the more stable: the RSPCA recommends more than 40 litres and 60 litres per goldfish.
Reptiles and turtles: need controlled heat and UVB light suitable for their species. Glass and plastic filter out UVB, so sunlight through a window is not sufficient.

What not to use

Hamster exercise balls: the RSPCA does not recommend them. They can cause stress and injure their legs.
Small or wire wheels: small wheels can curve their backs, and their legs can get caught in wire wheels.
Cotton, kapok or other fluffy bedding: it can get tangled around their legs and, if ingested, can cause fatal blockages.
Wood shavings, sawdust and scented bedding: can cause respiratory problems. Paper or dust-free fibres are better.
Wire flooring: damages their paws.
Collars, clothes, harnesses and leashes for rabbits: the RWAF advises against them due to the risk of injury, escape and stress. RSPCA Australia also warns that wheels and leashes are not suitable for guinea pigs.
Muesli-style mixes for rabbits: they choose what they like and end up with dental problems.
Rubber toys for ferrets: they can cause blockages.
Ball fishbowls: they hold little water, filters do not fit properly and very little oxygen enters.
Sandpaper perches for birds: they can cause irritation and sores on their feet.
Non-stick pans near birds: if overheated, their fumes can be fatal. Keep your birds away from the kitchen.