Small Animal Encyclopedia

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

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

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

The most common pet hedgehog worldwide, also known as the four-toed hedgehog. Adorable when curled up, with growing color varieties.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

World's smallest fox from the Sahara Desert. Large ears serve as heat regulators. Active and curious but can be nervous. For experienced owners.

Curious and playful pet with an elongated body. Can play and bond with owners like cats and dogs. Has a distinctive musky scent.

One of the world's largest rabbit breeds, weighing 6kg+. Known as a gentle giant with a calm, friendly nature.

The most common pet hedgehog species. Adorable when curled up, and relaxes on your hand when tamed. Nocturnal omnivore with a preference for insects.

Large lop rabbit, one of Holland Lop's ancestors. Calm and laid-back personality. Can weigh over 5kg — an impressive breed.

The most popular and beginner-friendly hamster. Docile, easy to handle, and available in many color varieties.

Gentle and social small animal. Communicates through various vocalizations and bonds closely with owners. Cannot synthesize vitamin C, so diet management is essential.

Unique rabbit with distinctly different colors on each side. Clown-like color patterns with a bright, sociable personality.

One of Europe's smallest mice, also native to Japan. Adorable climbers using their prehensile tail. Best as a pet to watch.

White body with dark points on nose, ears, feet, and tail. Color changes with temperature. Calm and gentle breed.

Adorable small lop-eared rabbit breed. Sweet, affectionate temperament with a compact round body and signature floppy ears.

Adorable gliding squirrel with large eyes and fluffy fur. Nocturnal and shy but bonds with patient owners.

Small rabbit with fluffy wool-like coat. Quiet and gentle disposition with an adorable compact appearance.

Tropical rainforest mammal from Central/South America in the raccoon family. Prehensile tail, large eyes, nocturnal, and loves sweets.

Small rodent from the South American Andes. Named for large leaf-shaped ears. Native to arid regions and enjoys sand baths for grooming.

Small Madagascar mammal resembling a hedgehog but actually a tenrec, an entirely different order. Has a hibernation instinct in cooler months.

Distinctive lion-like mane of fur around the head. Active, friendly small rabbit growing in popularity for its unique look.

Cross between Lionhead and Lop breeds. Features a fluffy mane and floppy ears. Known for a sweet, affectionate temperament.

Long-haired curly guinea pig from Sweden, a Peruvian mutation. Covered in coarse, voluminous curls giving a unique wild appearance.

Highly social mongoose from southern Africa. Known for their upright sentinel posture. Live in groups, so keeping multiples is recommended.

Cross between Crested and Texel guinea pigs. Features a rosette on the crown with soft curly fur all over. Gentle and bonds well with owners.

Selectively bred miniature pig. Highly intelligent, can be litter trained. Social and bonds with owners, though may grow larger than expected.

Slightly larger lop-eared rabbit with a muscular, stocky build. Many enjoy being held and are very affectionate.

Renowned for its unique velvety plush coat. Calm, friendly temperament with a wide range of color varieties.

Miniature version of the Satin Rabbit with the same lustrous coat in a compact size. Lively and curious with many color varieties.

Active and friendly desert rodent that loves tunneling. Entertaining to watch and produces minimal odor due to low urine output.

One of the world's smallest rabbit breeds. Adorable round face with short ears. Active, curious, and available in many colors.

Hardy large breed available in white, red, and black. Originally a utility breed but excellent as pets due to their calm disposition.

Large South American rodent resembling a cross between a rabbit and a small deer. Forms strong monogamous pair bonds. Requires ample space.

Guinea pig with extremely long flowing coat that can grow over 30cm. Beautiful but requires dedicated grooming.

Small, compact rabbit with a rounded body. Calm and composed temperament. Popular as a show rabbit and elegant breed.

Grassland-dwelling ground squirrel from North America. Highly social with complex vocalizations and dog-like affection toward owners.

Small goat from West Africa. Hardy, disease-resistant, and friendly. Loves jumping and playing, best suited for homes with outdoor space.

Tiny marsupial from Australia with large dark eyes and fluffy fur. Nocturnal, feeds on insects and nectar. Rare exotic pet.

Guinea pig covered in short, dense curly fur. Similar to Teddy but with coarser texture. Sturdy build with a calm temperament.

Medium rabbit breed known for its plush, velvety fur. Intelligent and sociable with a beautiful coat texture.

North American ground squirrel similar to prairie dogs but smaller. Easy to tame with an adorable standing pose gaining popularity.

The world's smallest hamster. Extremely fast and active, best enjoyed by watching. Shy but can be kept in groups.

General term for small dwarf hamster varieties. Active and curious with multiple color variations. Compact and adorable.

Known for its uniquely lustrous coat with a satin-like sheen due to a special hair shaft structure. Gentle temperament, popular for showing.

Australian rosette guinea pig with a shaggy yak-like coat. Active and curious with a uniquely charming unkempt appearance.

Small marsupial from South America. Solitary and omnivorous, eating insects and fruits. Curious and tames well with handling.

Small striped squirrel with beautiful back markings. Active and fast-moving, entertaining to watch. May become aggressive in autumn/winter.

Small hamster from cold climates. Distinctive colors like sapphire blue and pearl. Hardy, cold-tolerant, and relatively easy to keep.

Guinea pig with silky long fur flowing backward. Also called Sheltie. Gentle, friendly, and admired for beautiful coat.

Large rabbit with stunning silver-tipped fur that stands upright when stroked. Known for a gentle, docile temperament ideal for handling.

Nearly hairless guinea pig breed with warm, smooth skin. Requires careful temperature management due to lack of fur.

Unique mouse with spiny, stiff fur on the back. Highly social and can live in groups. Known for remarkable skin regeneration.

Small marsupial that glides using a membrane. Sweet-loving and bonds closely with owners. Nocturnal and highly social.

Desert rodent similar to gerbils but larger. Gentle temperament and easy to tame. Medium-sized and handleable.

Beautiful two-tone rabbit with dark upper body and tan underside. Active and energetic medium-sized breed.

Long-haired variety of Golden Hamster. Fluffy coat resembles a teddy bear. Gentle and easy to tame, ideal for beginners.

Plush-like short curly coat resembling a stuffed teddy bear. Round body with a sweet, gentle temperament.

Gorgeous guinea pig with long curly hair covering the entire body. Silky curls make it popular in shows.

Djungarian subspecies that often turns entirely white in winter. Beautiful pearl white color with a gentle disposition.