Small Pet - Guinea Pig

As small pets go, guinea pigs -- also known as cavies -- are virtual giants. In fact, each of the 13 guinea pig breeds recognized by the American Cavy Breeders Association can weigh up to 3 pounds or 1,360 grams (that's a lot compared to a parakeet). They come in several colors and patterns, and can have short or long hair.

Life Span: Five to 10 years

Best For: Children of any age; a great "starter" pet

Feeding: Commercial pellets, prairie hay, fresh vegetables and water; daily dose of vitamin C

Housing and Exercise: Guinea pigs need lots of exercise. Pet retailers sell portable enclosures in which your guinea pig can safely explore an indoor or outdoor environment. You can add pipes for your pet to run through or offer hiding places like small boxes. However, resist the urge to add an exercise wheel to its cage. That's because running in a wheel could cause injuries to your guinea pig's back or legs.

Good to know: Guinea pigs are actually from South America (not Guinea) and aren't pigs at all.

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Iguanas

Iguanas, as pets, have long been misunderstood, considered to be dangerous and deadly to have around.

The 1998 Hollywood remake of the blockbuster hit Godzilla, managed to add to the iguana’s already misunderstood standing, with the remake reimagining Godzilla as a mutated iguana, growing into a gigantic monster with the capacity to destroy New York.

But as countless iguana pet owners would confess, iguanas are far from being the monsters their outward appearance has led many to assume of them, let alone the monster illustrated in the 1998 remake of the Japanese classic.

Quite docile and quite cool tempered, iguanas are actually popular in exotic pet circles, described as the preferred scaled pet of choice given the relative ease involved in their care and upkeep.

Though certain specifics have to be considered with where an iguana’s enclosures or pens are being talked about, ample lighting – preferably with UV benefits – stand to be one of the must-have essentials required in keeping healthy pet iguanas.

In terms of feeding, iguanas are more inclined to diets of vegetative nature, with the occasional inclusion of insects and small bugs. Fruits and green leafy vegetables are popular among iguanas, though certain species have been found to not work well certain vegetables and flowers.

As with most domestic animals, an iguana bite is not unheard of, though their bites are not venomous. Still, an iguana bit hurts, and depending on where a person is bitten, significant medical attention and treatment should be immediately administered during such occasions.

Generally cool, calm and collected, iguanas may strike the average casual observer as a deadly creature, but beyond its monstrous form, they are actually humble creatures which prefer not to be bothered because of their looks.

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