Rodents

Golden (Syrian) hamster

Mesocricetus auratus

Small, nocturnal and fiercely independent.

Pet trade

Campbell's dwarf hamster

Phodopus campbelli

Pet trade

Chinese hamster

Cricetulus griseus

Pet trade

Roborovski dwarf hamster

Phodopus roborovskii

Pet trade

Winter white dwarf hamster

Phodopus sungorus

Pet trade

Capybara

Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris

The world's largest rodent, and it needs a pool.

Pet trade

Guinea pig

Cavia porcellus

Chatty, social and built for grazing.

Pet trade

Patagonian mara

Dolichotis patagonum

A rodent that runs like a deer and pairs for life.

Pet trade

Fancy mouse

Mus musculus

Tiny, busy and fun to watch.

Pet trade

Fancy rat

Rattus norvegicus

Clever, affectionate and endlessly curious.

Pet trade

Mongolian gerbil

Meriones unguiculatus

Desert diggers that love company.

Pet trade

Black-tailed prairie dog

Cynomys ludovicianus

The most social of the ground squirrels.

Pet trade

Groundhog (woodchuck)

Marmota monax

A true hibernator and master tunnel engineer.

Pet trade

Naked mole-rat

Heterocephalus glaber

Pet trade

Long-tailed chinchilla

Chinchilla lanigera

The softest fur on Earth, and very heat-sensitive.

Pet trade

Degu

Octodon degus

Chattering, social rodents from Chile.

Pet trade