Re: Need advice re: small animals/hamsters
 

Quick update. We went to the pet store today to look at some animals.

We found a super cute mouse and tried to play with him, and it was way too skittish. Plus, I can't get my "fluffy pet play" fix from something that's so small.

They didn't even have any teddy bear hamsters. Just the weird Russian and Chinese ones. We didn't like them.

The rats ... eh, we weren't feeling much love for them. Plus, all they had were males, who have these huge nuts they drag all over.

The guinea pigs were awesome. They let us hold them and cuddled into our chests. We decided to sleep on it.

As we left the store, my wife rubbed her eye. Uh oh. Bright red, burning, won't stop tearing. It appears that wifey is allergic to guinea pig fur.

No small rodent pets for me, not in the near future, anyway. :(

Thanks for all the advice, though.

Re: Need advice re: small animals/hamsters
 

That's too bad about your wife being allergic to other furry animals....you could get a turtle and put a wig on its shell or some faux fur.....if you do please post pics.:r

Re: Need advice re: small animals/hamsters
 

Christian, I'm not sure that's "allergic". I don't think there's anyone that can touch a guinea pig and touch their eyes and not have that happen.
Certain rabbits cause the same problem.
Usually people will tell you to wash your hands. I'm not sure why they didn't tell you that at the pet store, but it comes with the territory.
I'd always thought it was from the bedding, because cedar and pine is aromatic and irritates eyes anyways. We've kept pigs on the ground (my daughter used to buy them at auction and bring them home a dozen at a time to sell them) and it goes a long way toward alleviating the problem. Bedding them in newspaper helps a lot, too.

Re: Need advice re: small animals/hamsters
 

I thought newspaper was bad because the ink was poisonous? Well, maybe not poisonous, but definitely not good for them.