Skip to main content

Small Animal Encyclopedia — 78 Species Directory

Encyclopedia of popular small animal species with care guides, traits, and pricing.

Featured Small Animal

Showing 78 of 78 species(124)

Abyssinian Guinea Pig

Cavia porcellus

Beginner

Distinctive guinea pig with rosettes (swirled fur patterns) all over the body. Active and curious personality.

Beginner-friendlyRosettesActive
Acacia Rat

Acacia Rat

Acacia rat

Intermediate

Small African rodent with large eyes and ears, nocturnal. Excellent climber preferring vertical cage setups. Can become shoulder-tame with patience.

NocturnalArborealAfrican origin
African Dormouse

African Dormouse

Advanced

Palm-sized tiny rodent with large eyes and a bushy tail. Nocturnal and quick, best enjoyed as an exotic pet to watch.

AdvancedTinyNocturnal

American Fuzzy Lop

Oryctolagus cuniculus

Intermediate

Small lop rabbit with fluffy long fur. Bred from Holland Lop with Angora coat. Affectionate and cuddly personality.

IntermediateLong-hairedLop-eared

Angora Rabbit

Angora rabbit

Advanced

Large rabbit with extremely long, fluffy wool-like coat. Strikingly fluffy appearance but requires daily grooming — for experienced owners.

AdvancedVery long coatFluffy
Baldwin Guinea Pig

Baldwin Guinea Pig

Cavia porcellus

Advanced

Rare hairless guinea pig that loses all fur within weeks of birth. Different genetics from Skinny pigs. Temperature management is critical.

HairlessRareAdvanced

Belgian Hare

Oryctolagus cuniculus

Advanced

Athletic rabbit resembling a wild hare with a lean body and rich chestnut coat. Very active and best suited for experienced owners.

AdvancedActiveHigh exercise needs

Bennett's Wallaby

Advanced

Small kangaroo family member from Australia. Bennett's wallaby is most common as pets. Tame individuals bond with owners but need vast space.

MarsupialLargeOutdoor keeping

Californian Rabbit

Oryctolagus cuniculus

Beginner

Medium-sized rabbit with distinctive black markings on ears, nose, feet, and tail against a white body. Docile and easy to care for.

MediumDocileBeginner-friendly

Campbell's Dwarf Hamster

Phodopus campbelli

Intermediate

Close relative of the Djungarian with many color varieties. Can be feisty but tames down with patience.

IntermediateSmallMany colors
Chinchilla

Chinchilla

Chinchilla lanigera

Intermediate

Famous for the softest fur in the animal kingdom. Exceptionally long-lived for a small animal at 15-20 years. Nocturnal and active. Daily dust baths keep them clean.

IntermediateLong-livedSoftest fur
Chinese Hamster© Tristanspotter / Public domain

Chinese Hamster

Chinese hamster

Beginner

Slim hamster with a notably long tail. Gentle and affectionate, endearingly wraps around fingers when held.

Beginner-friendlySmallAffectionate

Coatimundi

Advanced

Raccoon family member with a long snout and banded tail. Curious, intelligent, and social but strong — for experienced owners.

AdvancedExoticIntelligent
Coronet Guinea Pig

Coronet Guinea Pig

Cavia porcellus

Advanced

Guinea pig with a single rosette on the head and long flowing coat. Sheltie-type with an added crest for an elegant look.

AdvancedLong-hairedCrested
Crested Guinea Pig

Crested Guinea Pig

Cavia porcellus

Beginner

Short-haired guinea pig with a single rosette (crest) on the head. American Crested has a white crest. Easy to care for.

Beginner-friendlyShort-hairedCrested
Degu

Degu

Octodon degus

Intermediate

Highly intelligent and social rodent from Chile. Called the singing mouse of the Andes for its vocalizations. Diurnal and easy to bond with.

IntermediateIntelligentSocial

Djungarian Hamster

Phodopus sungorus

Beginner

Popular small hamster with a gentle temperament. Easy to tame and ideal for beginners. Some individuals develop a winter coat.

Beginner-friendlySmallHandleable
Dutch Rabbit© Sahrazad at Czech Wikipedia ( Original text: sahrazad ) / Public domain

Dutch Rabbit

Oryctolagus cuniculus

Beginner

Classic two-tone color pattern rabbit breed. Gentle and social temperament, great for families with children.

Beginner-friendlyTwo-toneGentle
Dwarf Hotot Rabbit

Dwarf Hotot Rabbit

Oryctolagus cuniculus

Beginner

Small rabbit with distinctive black eyeliner markings on white fur. Active, curious, and popular for its compact size.

Beginner-friendlySmallEyeliner markings
English Guinea Pig

English Guinea Pig

Cavia porcellus

Beginner

The most common standard guinea pig breed. Short-haired and easy to groom. Gentle and ideal for first-time owners.

Beginner-friendlyShort-hairedGentle
English Lop Rabbit

English Lop Rabbit

Oryctolagus cuniculus

Intermediate

Rabbit breed with the longest ears, often touching the ground. Gentle, affectionate, and easy-going despite their large size.

LargeLop-earedGentle
Fancy Mouse

Fancy Mouse

Mus musculus

Beginner

Tiny and adorable pet mouse with many color varieties. Compact housing needs and curious, active personality.

Beginner-friendlyCompactMany colors
Fancy Rat© No machine-readable author provided. Pemelet assumed (based on copyright claims). / Public domain

Fancy Rat

Rattus norvegicus

Beginner

Highly intelligent and affectionate pet rat. Can learn tricks and responds to its name. Clean, social, and an underrated companion.

Beginner-friendlyIntelligentSocial

Fat-tailed Gerbil

Pachyuromys duprasi

Intermediate

Gerbil with a distinctive fat, club-shaped tail. Also called Duprasi. Docile desert rodent that tames easily.

IntermediateFat tailDocile

Small Animal FAQ

Can beginners keep small animals?
Hamsters and guinea pigs are relatively easy to care for and popular with beginners. Rabbits and chinchillas are also tame-friendly; choose gentle individuals for a smooth start.
How much do small animals cost?
Hamsters cost 1,000-3,000 yen, rabbits 10,000-50,000 yen, guinea pigs 5,000-15,000 yen, chinchillas 30,000-80,000 yen, and hedgehogs 15,000-40,000 yen depending on species.
How long do small animals live?
Hamsters live 2-3 years, rabbits 7-12 years, guinea pigs 5-7 years, chinchillas 15-20 years, hedgehogs 3-5 years, and ferrets 6-10 years.
What supplies do small animals need?
Basics include a cage, bedding, food dish, water bottle, and a hideout. Depending on species, you may also need a wheel (hamsters), chew sticks (rabbits), or a dust bath (chinchillas).
What should I check when buying small animals?
Look for a shiny coat, active behavior, clear eyes and nose, and a clean rear. Getting parent information and temperament details from the breeder is reassuring.