If you have the oppportuinity, get a fancy rat, they are bigger than a mouse and glider but affectionat and fun to have.

If you are looking for something smaller, try a gerbil. They are really fun to have and suit hostel life well since they don't need much care, are active almost throughout the day and never smell like hamsters. Also tamer than hamsters....

Aiyoh, pet rats should live in cages.. so they won't pee and poo everywhere lah. But they are affectionate. Tame and it's like having a large glider around but they are just stinky. Hehehh... me also rat year lah. They won't attract the feral rats and mice.... Well, I had 30 mice before and there were no feral ones that came near them heheh...


Gerbils aren't stinky at all. Cheap too.... I think you can get it cheap in New Zealand... in other countries, common coloured gerbils are less than $15... depends on the country lah... here in Malaysia, they are not common.

I can't say gerbils are as smart as rats... they are nice to handle but can't learn tricks. Very lifely and they love to socialise. Best get a pair of the same sex so that there is no over breeding. If you want to lean more about gerbils, do click my signature on the gerbil forum.

This post has been edited by crazymouse_yyh: Jun 18 2006, 10:18 AM