Rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs

Compact lop-eared rabbit, 1.5–2kg — friendly and popular with families.

Temperament

friendly, curious, calm

Origin

Netherlands

Climate

Heat is the biggest danger in India: above ~28°C a rabbit is at risk. Shade, ventilation and a frozen water bottle to lie against.

Grooming

Brush weekly; check ears — lop ears trap wax and mites.

Exercise

3–4 hours a day out of the hutch to run.

Watch for

ear mites; overgrown teeth; GI stasis; heat stroke

In India: Unlimited grass hay is the whole diet's foundation — pellet-only feeding is the commonest mistake in Indian homes and causes dental and gut disease.

The smallest common breed, under 1.2kg, with a round face and short ears.

Temperament

energetic, alert, can be nervous

Origin

Netherlands

Climate

Keep below 28°C; small bodies overheat fast.

Grooming

Weekly brushing; more during a moult.

Exercise

Daily free-run time in a safe, enclosed space.

Watch for

malocclusion (short skull); GI stasis; heat stroke

In India: The flat face makes dental misalignment common — have the front teeth checked at every vet visit.

Small rabbit with a distinctive wool mane around the head.

Temperament

affectionate, playful, sociable

Origin

Belgium

Climate

The mane adds heat load — shade and airflow matter more than for a short coat.

Grooming

Brush the mane 2–3× a week or it mats to the skin.

Exercise

Daily run-out plus chew toys.

Watch for

wool block; matting; GI stasis

In India: Not a good match for coastal humidity unless the room is ventilated or cooled.

Velvet-coated dwarf rabbit — the plush coat is the whole point of the breed.

Temperament

docile, gentle, quiet

Origin

United States

Climate

Keep below 28°C, always shaded.

Grooming

Minimal brushing — over-brushing damages the velvet coat.

Exercise

Daily free-run; soft flooring protects the feet.

Watch for

sore hocks on wire floors; GI stasis

In India: Never house on a wire floor — the short foot fur makes sore hocks almost certain.

A gentle giant, 6kg and up — more dog-sized than rabbit-sized.

Temperament

docile, patient, calm

Origin

Flanders (Belgium)

Climate

Large bodies shed heat poorly — a cooled room is close to essential in an Indian summer.

Grooming

Weekly brushing; nails need regular trimming.

Exercise

Needs floor space, not a hutch — think a room, not a cage.

Watch for

sore hocks; spinal injury if handled badly; heart strain

In India: Always support the hindquarters when lifting — a kick from a startled Flemish can break its own back.

Classic banded rabbit, 2–2.5kg — one of the oldest and hardiest breeds.

Temperament

even-tempered, easy-going, sociable

Origin

Netherlands (from English stock)

Climate

Hardy, but the 28°C ceiling still applies.

Grooming

Weekly brush.

Exercise

Daily run-out; takes well to litter training.

Watch for

GI stasis; dental spurs

In India: A sturdy first rabbit — widely available from Indian breeders and shelters.

Large white rabbit with red eyes, 4–5kg; calm and easy to handle.

Temperament

calm, docile, tolerant

Origin

United States

Climate

Shade is critical — no pigment means real sunburn risk on the ears.

Grooming

Weekly brushing; keep the coat clean and dry.

Exercise

Daily out-of-hutch time and space to stretch out.

Watch for

sore hocks; heat stroke; GI stasis

In India: Commonly bred for meat and lab use in India, so pet-quality socialisation varies — meet the parents where you can.

The big, solitary hamster — golden, palm-sized and the easiest of the five to tame.

Temperament

docile, solitary, nocturnal

Origin

Northern Syria and southern Turkey

Climate

Comfortable at 20–26°C. Indian summers are the real risk — keep the cage out of direct sun and never in a closed car or balcony.

Grooming

Self-grooming; offer a sand bath, never a water bath.

Exercise

A solid-floor wheel of 20cm+ (a smaller one curves the spine) and nightly out-of-cage time.

Watch for

wet tail; cheek-pouch impaction; overgrown incisors

In India: Must live ALONE — housing two Syrians together ends in a fight, however young they were when introduced.

A small, sociable Russian dwarf — quick, curious and can often live in same-sex pairs.

Temperament

active, sociable, quick

Origin

Central Asia (Mongolia, northern China)

Climate

20–26°C; keep away from afternoon sun and direct fan draught.

Grooming

Sand bath twice a week keeps the coat clean.

Exercise

Deep bedding to burrow in plus a 20cm wheel — they run for hours.

Watch for

diabetes (a known dwarf-hamster risk); skin mites

In India: Prone to diabetes — avoid sugary treats, dried fruit and honey sticks sold at most Indian pet shops.

The Siberian dwarf, named for a winter coat change that rarely shows in captivity.

Temperament

gentle, sociable, shy

Origin

Siberia and Kazakhstan

Climate

Cool and steady, 18–24°C — the least heat-tolerant of the dwarfs.

Grooming

Sand bath; check for matting around the rear.

Exercise

Burrowing bedding 15cm+ deep and a solid wheel.

Watch for

diabetes; obesity; eye infections

In India: Frequently sold cross-bred with Campbell's; ask the seller, as the two have different diabetes risk.

The smallest and fastest hamster — a joy to watch, almost impossible to hold.

Temperament

skittish, fast, sociable

Origin

Deserts of Mongolia and northern China

Climate

Desert species; tolerates warmth but not humidity — keep well ventilated.

Grooming

Daily sand bath; they bathe themselves given the chance.

Exercise

Long tank-style cage — they sprint rather than climb.

Watch for

stress from handling; foot injuries on wire wheels

In India: A watching pet, not a handling pet — a poor first choice for a young child.

Slender, mouse-like hamster with a short tail; calm once used to being held.

Temperament

calm, agile, territorial

Origin

Northern China and Mongolia

Climate

20–26°C, away from direct sun.

Grooming

Sand bath; check the tail base for soiling.

Exercise

Climbing branches and a solid wheel — the strongest climber of the group.

Watch for

diabetes; escapes (they fit through small gaps)

In India: Sold as a 'dwarf' but is a distinct species; keep singly unless raised together as siblings.

The short, smooth-coated classic — the easiest guinea pig to care for.

Temperament

gentle, vocal, sociable

Origin

Andes (domesticated), breed standardised in the US

Climate

18–26°C. Above 28°C they overheat quickly; below 15°C they chill.

Grooming

Weekly brush; nails every 3–4 weeks.

Exercise

Floor time daily — they run but don't climb or use wheels.

Watch for

vitamin C deficiency (scurvy); respiratory infection; bumblefoot

In India: Guinea pigs cannot make their own vitamin C — daily fresh capsicum, coriander or a vet-advised supplement is not optional.

Rosette-coated guinea pig with a permanently tousled look.

Temperament

lively, curious, bold

Origin

Unclear; standardised in England

Climate

18–26°C, out of direct sun.

Grooming

Brush 2× a week — the rosettes trap bedding and debris.

Exercise

Daily floor time and tunnels to explore.

Watch for

scurvy; skin mites; respiratory infection

In India: Pair-house them: a lone guinea pig is a stressed guinea pig.

Long-coated show breed whose hair can reach the floor.

Temperament

docile, calm, shy

Origin

Peru / Bolivia

Climate

18–26°C; the long coat makes heat and humidity harder to handle.

Grooming

Daily brushing, and the coat is usually trimmed for a pet's comfort.

Exercise

Daily floor time on clean, dry flooring.

Watch for

matting; scurvy; eye irritation from hair

In India: Most Indian owners keep the coat clipped short — full length is a show choice, not a welfare one, in this climate.

Near-hairless guinea pig with fur only on the muzzle and feet.

Temperament

affectionate, sociable, active

Origin

Canada (laboratory origin, now a pet breed)

Climate

No coat means no insulation: keep the room steady at 22–26°C and out of any draught.

Grooming

Wipe the skin weekly; no bathing unless a vet advises it.

Exercise

Daily floor time; they eat more than coated pigs to hold body heat.

Watch for

skin injury and sunburn; scurvy; respiratory infection

In India: Never in direct sun — bare skin burns. An air-conditioned room is close to a requirement.