Whether it’s for the holidays, a birthday, or just a surprise gift, small pet lovers are always happy to receive more supplies for their tiny friends. 

If you’re not a small pet owner yourself, or if you’re new to the world of small pet ownership, you might not know exactly what to buy. 

So below, we’ve compiled a list of the most coveted small pet items, including gifts for hamster, gerbil, and mouse owners. 

1. Niteangel Super-Silent Exercise Wheel

If you don’t spot one of these wheels in a hamster, mouse, or gerbil’s habitat, there’s a good chance your gift recipient has been coveting the item for a while. This is considered the best, top-of-the-line wheel for mice, hamsters, and gerbils. 

If your gift recipient has gerbils or mice, make sure to remind them to remove the central cap of this wheel, as there have been some issues with tails getting caught between the cap and the wheel. 

The 11-inch Niteangel wheel is a safe choice, no matter how tiny your gift recipient’s pet might appear. 

Learn more: What Are the Best Hamster Wheels for Dwarf Hamsters?

3. Niteangel Wheel Pedometer

If your gift recipient already has a Niteangel wheel, take a look to see if there’s one of these pedometers attached as the central cap. If not, this makes an excellent gift. 

The Niteangel Wheel Pedometer counts a pet’s wheel revolutions each day and even keeps a log of the previous 9 days. This is extremely helpful if the pet is a “ghost” hamster, mouse, or gerbil, and your gift recipient isn’t sure they’re getting enough exercise. However, it makes a great gift for any small pet lover with gerbils, mice, or a hamster.

Tip: This can be used for gerbils or mice, but it will need to be attached more creatively. Here’s a quick video demonstrating how to do this in a way that’s safe for critters with long tails. 

3. Pet Heating Pad

The cold winter months can be hard on small pets like gerbils, mice, and hamsters. 

It’s essential for them to maintain a warm and comfortable temperature throughout the winter. They do this primarily by burrowing under their bedding and creating insulated nests. But sometimes, they could use a little help. 

If your gift recipient lives in a colder area, a microwavable heating pad like this one can make an excellent gift. They stay hot almost all day and work to keep small animals warm and cozy.

4. Hanging Fleece Hammocks and Hides

Fleece hammocks and hides are a wonderful gift for mouse owners in particular. These snuggly hiding spots come in a wide range of colors and patterns, meaning you can customize the gift to your gift recipient. 

Fleece hammocks and hides aren’t recommended for gerbils and hamsters, as those animals prefer to burrow rather than climb. 

5. Whimzees Alligator Chews

Another coveted item in the small pet world is Whimzees chews. Although these are made for dogs, they make excellent chewing enrichment for small pets. 

Make sure you purchase the Whimzees that don’t contain essential oils like mint. Our favorite version of Whimzees is the alligator. 

6. Cute Ceramic Hides

Ceramic hides provide comfort for small pets as an essential part of their enclosure. They’re also easy to clean, making for less work for your gift recipient when they clean up their pet’s enclosure. 

Ceramic hides come in a wide variety of themes, shapes, and colors, so you can pick one that matches your friend or loved one’s style. 

7. Chamber Hides

Another type of hide that’s popular with small pets is a chamber hide. Chamber hides are typically made of wood, but they can also be made of acrylic.

Chamber hides come in small sizes as well as large, so you can go with whatever would fit best in your gift recipient’s enclosure.

What NOT to Buy as a Gift for a Small Pet Lover

You might be tempted to just walk into a pet store and pick something off of the “small pet” section shelves as a gift. 

Unfortunately, many of the products sold as hamster, gerbil, and mouse items aren’t safe for these animals. Here are some specific problem products to be aware of.

Hamster balls

The biggest offender when it comes to unsafe small pet items is the hamster ball. These are often referred to as “death balls” in the small pet world because they’re so dangerous for rodents. 

Hamster balls pose hazards like stuck fingers and toes, and they’re also not very enjoyable for the animal, who can’t see where it’s rolling the ball.

Pet store wheels

Another common culprit is the wheels sold in most pet shops. These wheels are almost always much too small for a hamster, gerbil, mouse, or any other animal.

A wheel should be large enough that the animal’s back does not bend into a “U” shape when it’s running. A wheel should also be made of solid material rather than metal mesh or bars. 

Pet store treats

The colorful edible treats sold for small pets in pet stores are often filled with dangerous artificial colors, as well as potential fillers like sawdust. 

Especially when these “edible” items are meant to serve a dual purpose as a chew toy and a hideout, they’re typically not good for an animal to consume.

Tube and tunnel systems

A popular item in pet stores for small pets is tube and tunnel systems. These colorful plastic tubes connect together to “expand” a small pet’s habitat. 

Unfortunately, adding on tubes and tunnels doesn’t expand a pet’s unbroken floor space, and they can actually be potentially dangerous for a pet.

Learn more: Gerbil vs. Hamster: Which Pet is Right for You?

Buying a Gift for a Small Pet Lover

Buying a gift for someone who loves their small pets is a thoughtful act of generosity. It shows that you pay attention to your gift recipient’s interests and care about the things they care about. 

And ultimately, buying an amazing gift for a small pet lover also goes a long way towards providing fun, joy, and health to the small pet in their life, as well. 

Sources:

“Hamster Balls: RSPCA Companion Animals Pet Care Position Statement.” RSPCA. Accessed 11 December 2023. https://www.rspca.org.uk/documents/1494939/7712578/Hamster%20balls%20(PDF%20148%20KB)/712d2d82-6975-3b25-71ca-7789650d2e7b?version=2.0&download=true#.