Which miniature animals make good pets? | Life and style

Fri 6 Nov 2009 05.20EST First published on Fri 6 Nov 2009 05.20EST Photograph: Richard Austin/Rex Features Photograph: Richard Austin/Rex Features Photograph: Allan Hutchings/Rex Features Photograph: Caters News Agency Ltd/Rex Features

Which miniature animals make good pets?

Victoria Beckham has bought David two micro pigs for Christmas. What other miniature animals are suitable as pets - and which are best avoided?

Fri 6 Nov 2009 05.20 EST First published on Fri 6 Nov 2009 05.20 EST

  • Micro pigs

    10 miniature animals that make good pets ... make brilliant pets - they are intelligent, affectionate, can be house-trained and learn their names. They need a large garden, should be kept in pairs and can live for 18 years

  • Pygmy goats

    are fun-loving pets that need at least one other goat for company, or even another species such as a horse or donkey

  • Falabella

    miniature horses are intelligent, easily trained pets. They can only be ridden by very small children but can be taught to drive a little cart, if that's your thing

  • Pygmy hedgehogs

    were last year's must-have pet. They are similar to a hamster in that they are nocturnal, enjoy exercise wheels and live for three to five years. They are different because they are carnivorous - and prickly

  • Miniature mules

    - a cross between a miniature donkey and a miniature mare - make feisty pets. They are especially popular in America, where they are used for driving and showing

  • Babydoll sheep

    make cute pets. They're also pretty useful if you happen to own a vineyard

  • Dexter cows

    are about a third of the size of a Friesian. They have become popular in recent years with those living the good life - they're a manageable breed to raise if you have a chunk of land (not a back garden, mind)

  • Fennec foxes

    can be kept as pets, believe it or not, and are very sociable creatures. However, they are extremely boisterous and difficult to train, so inexperienced owners may prefer to stick with a dog

  • Miniature donkeys

    make wonderful pets, but they need animal company and like lots of attention from their owners. You might draw the line at taking them to the supermarket, though

  • Pygmy seahorse

    . Keeping seahorses as pets has become a popular pursuit, but there are some environmental issues to be aware of

  • eleutherodactylus limbatus

    And 10 that don't ...The is so tiny, you'd lose it. Plus, it's a frog - urgh

  • Albino microbats

    are very rare. It's probably best not to mess around with them

  • Dwarf caymans

    may be tiny - but they're still crocodiles

  • Leptotyphlops carlae

    , the world's smallest snake, was only discovered last year. Leave it to the zoologists and play with a worm instead

  • pygmy mouse lemur

    The went missing for over a century. That doesn't bode well for a pet, especially if your house is a bit messy

  • Philippine tarsiers

    used to be kept as pets, but as they need live insects to eat, may spread worms, and often die in captivity, that no longer seems a good idea. Oh, and they're endangered, so you can't buy one anyway

  • Pygmy leaf chameleons

    are miniscule, secretive and really good at camouflage, so you probably wouldn't see much of your new pet

  • Pygmy marmosets

    are popular with zoo visitors - but they're a lot happier scurrying up and down trees in a rainforest

  • sand cats

    These may look like cute little kitties, but even if you turn up your central heating really high they probably won't like living with you - they prefer the desert (as you might have guessed from the name)

  • Small-clawed otters

    are the smallest of the otter species, but they still need more than a garden pond. And they have some pretty lethal fangs ...
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