Small Animal Encyclopedia — 78 Species Directory
Encyclopedia of popular small animal species with care guides, traits, and pricing.
Featured Small Animal
Showing 28 of 78 species(1–24)
© Ilyusha isakov / CC BY-SA 4.0Abyssinian Guinea Pig
Cavia porcellus
Distinctive guinea pig with rosettes (swirled fur patterns) all over the body. Active and curious personality.
© Cat19y / CC BY-SA 4.0Californian Rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus
Medium-sized rabbit with distinctive black markings on ears, nose, feet, and tail against a white body. Docile and easy to care for.
© Tristanspotter / Public domainChinese Hamster
Chinese hamster
Slim hamster with a notably long tail. Gentle and affectionate, endearingly wraps around fingers when held.

Crested Guinea Pig
Cavia porcellus
Short-haired guinea pig with a single rosette (crest) on the head. American Crested has a white crest. Easy to care for.
© Philipp Salzgeber / CC BY 2.5Djungarian Hamster
Phodopus sungorus
Popular small hamster with a gentle temperament. Easy to tame and ideal for beginners. Some individuals develop a winter coat.
© Sahrazad at Czech Wikipedia ( Original text: sahrazad ) / Public domainDutch Rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus
Classic two-tone color pattern rabbit breed. Gentle and social temperament, great for families with children.

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

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

Fancy Mouse
Mus musculus
Tiny and adorable pet mouse with many color varieties. Compact housing needs and curious, active personality.
© No machine-readable author provided. Pemelet assumed (based on copyright claims). / Public domainFancy Rat
Rattus norvegicus
Highly intelligent and affectionate pet rat. Can learn tricks and responds to its name. Clean, social, and an underrated companion.
© Adamjennison111 at English Wikipedia / CC BY 2.5Golden Hamster
Mesocricetus auratus
The most popular and beginner-friendly hamster. Docile, easy to handle, and available in many color varieties.

Guinea Pig
Cavia porcellus
Gentle and social small animal. Communicates through various vocalizations and bonds closely with owners. Cannot synthesize vitamin C, so diet management is essential.
© Lynn Gardner / CC BY 2.5Harlequin Rabbit
Harlequin rabbit
Unique rabbit with distinctly different colors on each side. Clown-like color patterns with a bright, sociable personality.
© SableSteel / CC BY-SA 3.0Himalayan Rabbit
Himalayan rabbit
White body with dark points on nose, ears, feet, and tail. Color changes with temperature. Calm and gentle breed.
© shogun1192 / Public domainHolland Lop Rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus
Adorable small lop-eared rabbit breed. Sweet, affectionate temperament with a compact round body and signature floppy ears.
© shogun1192 / Public domainMini Lop Rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus
Slightly larger lop-eared rabbit with a muscular, stocky build. Many enjoy being held and are very affectionate.
© Maeda1901 / CC BY-SA 3.0Mini Rex Rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus
Renowned for its unique velvety plush coat. Calm, friendly temperament with a wide range of color varieties.
© Alastair Rae from London, United Kingdom / Public domainMongolian Gerbil
Mongolian gerbil
Active and friendly desert rodent that loves tunneling. Entertaining to watch and produces minimal odor due to low urine output.
© JJ Harrison / CC BY-SA 3.0Netherland Dwarf Rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus
One of the world's smallest rabbit breeds. Adorable round face with short ears. Active, curious, and available in many colors.
© The original uploader was Francorios at English Wikipedia . / Copyrighted free use-linkNew Zealand Rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus
Hardy large breed available in white, red, and black. Originally a utility breed but excellent as pets due to their calm disposition.
© Gilberte at Dutch Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0Polish Rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus
Small, compact rabbit with a rounded body. Calm and composed temperament. Popular as a show rabbit and elegant breed.

Rex Guinea Pig
Cavia porcellus
Guinea pig covered in short, dense curly fur. Similar to Teddy but with coarser texture. Sturdy build with a calm temperament.
© PD-user-en/Mr. Rex / CC BY-SA 4.0Rex Rabbit
Rex rabbit
Medium rabbit breed known for its plush, velvety fur. Intelligent and sociable with a beautiful coat texture.

Russian Dwarf Hamster
General term for small dwarf hamster varieties. Active and curious with multiple color variations. Compact and adorable.
Related Content
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.