Small Pets in Morocco: Hamster, Rabbit, Canary and Goldfish

A small pet is not easy: each one has a need people forget. The hamster wants a floor of at least 100 cm by 50 cm (Blue Cross), the rabbit a companion (RSPCA), the guinea pig vitamin C (RSPCA), the goldfish at least 50 litres (RSPCA Australia).[1][5][12][31]

Do you have a small pet, or are you thinking of getting one for your home? This page follows the advice of animal welfare charities and veterinary clinics. For each species, it gives a need people forget, with its source.

The hamster: an ideal gift for a young child?

It lives at night

The hamster is active at night, and most hamsters do not enjoy being picked up (Blue Cross).[1] It generally sleeps during the day and is active in the evening and at night (PDSA).[2] A hamster disturbed during the day may bite if it is alarmed (Blue Cross).[1] Ideally, PDSA vets recommend that children do not hold hamsters but feed them treats and gently stroke them in their cage instead (PDSA).[2]

It lives alone

A hamster does not need company: most species are naturally solitary and will fight if kept together (Blue Cross).[1]

It needs space and a place to dig

The ideal home is at least 100 cm by 50 cm of floor space, and 50 cm tall (Blue Cross).[1] Most hamster cages sold in shops are not big enough to meet a hamster's most basic needs (PDSA).[2] Measure the cage before you buy it.

A hamster needs to burrow: provide at least 20 cm of digging bedding so it can make its own tunnels and nest (Blue Cross).[1] Its teeth grow throughout its life, so they must be worn down by gnawing, and overgrown teeth are common in hamsters (PDSA).[2] If its cage gets too hot, it cannot escape and could develop heatstroke (PDSA).[2]

Who it suits

A hamster suits someone who accepts seeing it mostly in the evening and not holding it all the time (Blue Cross, PDSA).[1][2]

The rabbit has five needs: space, hay, a companion, teeth, floor

1. Space

For two medium-sized rabbits, the living space should be no smaller than 3 m by 2 m by 1 m high, including the shelter and exercise area (RSPCA).[6] A hutch alone is not enough (PDSA).[7]

2. Hay

Dust-free hay should make up 85 percent of a rabbit's diet (Blue Cross).[8] The House Rabbit Society gives a slightly different split: 80 percent grass hay, 10 percent vegetables, 5 percent pellets and 0 to 5 percent treats (House Rabbit Society).[9]

3. A companion

The rabbit is a highly social species, yet 42 percent of pet rabbits in the UK lived alone in 2024 (RSPCA).[5]

4. Teeth

A rabbit's teeth never stop growing, at about 2 to 3 mm a week for the front teeth, and hay wears them down through constant chewing (RSPCA).[5]

5. The floor

The floor of its home should be solid, not wired or barred because that can hurt the feet, and non-slip (RSPCA).[6] Shiny polished wooden flooring or tiles can be slippery and stressful for a rabbit (RSPCA).[6]

Its rhythm and the heat

A rabbit is most active at dusk and dawn, which is different from being active throughout the night (RSPCA).[5] The ideal temperature for a rabbit is between 10 °C and 20 °C (RSPCA).[6]

The guinea pig: never alone, vitamin C every day, hay

Rule 1: never alone

Guinea pigs get lonely and should not be kept alone: they are happiest in pairs (RSPCA).[12] In the wild guinea pigs live in small family groups, so as pets they should be kept in groups of three or more (PDSA).[13] The sources agree on one point: never alone. They do not give the same ideal number.

Rule 2: vitamin C every day

A guinea pig cannot make its own vitamin C because it lacks the enzyme needed, and it can only store it for short periods (RSPCA).[12] Without vitamin C in its food, it is at risk of an illness called scurvy (PDSA).[14] A guinea pig needs 10 mg to 50 mg of vitamin C per day (VCA).[15] For the exact amount, ask your vet.

Each guinea pig should be fed about one cup of fresh vegetables, greens and foraged foods daily, which provide essential nutrients such as vitamin C (PDSA).[14] The vitamin C in pellets slowly breaks down over time, and much more quickly in heat or sunlight, so store them in a dry, cool and dark place and use them within three months of purchase (PDSA).[14]

Rule 3: hay

Hay and grass should make up the large majority of its diet, 85 to 90 percent, and you cannot overfeed them (PDSA).[14]

The floor and the heat

The floor of its home should be solid with a good depth of litter, because grid floors can hurt its feet (RSPCA).[16] Temperatures above 26 °C can cause heatstroke in a guinea pig, and below 15 °C it can become chilled (RSPCA).[16]

Budgie and cockatiel: in a pair, out of the cage every day, a long life

In a pair

Most bird species are highly social, living in groups or at least pairs in the wild (RSPCA Australia).[22] Pet birds should therefore be housed in groups or pairs of compatible birds, so that their need for social contact is met (RSPCA Australia).[22] Wherever possible, a bird should have a bird companion (RSPCA Australia).[23] The only types of birds you can keep in groups in a cage are those that breed in colonies in the wild, such as budgerigars, cockatiels and lovebirds (RSPCA).[21] A budgie can live alone if its owner has plenty of time to give it; otherwise it may be best to get a pair (Mooresville Vet).[28]

Out of the cage every day

A pet bird needs at least six hours outside its cage every day, with plenty of space to fly freely and safely indoors (RSPCA).[21] Before letting it fly, close all windows and doors, and cover or screen large mirrors and windows so it does not get confused (RSPCA).[21] Always switch off a ceiling fan when the bird is free, and do not assume it will start flying straight away, because flying skills have to be learned (RSPCA).[21] If your bird spends most of its time outside the cage, the height, width and depth of the cage should be at least one and a half times its wingspan; if it spends most of its time inside, at least twice its wingspan (RSPCA).[21]

A long life

A budgie lives about nine years on average, and a well-looked-after one may reach its mid teens (Burwood clinic).[25] A cockatiel can live over 20 years, a couple of one clinic's patients have nearly reached 30 years, and average life expectancy is about 16 years (Bird Vet Melbourne).[26]

What it eats

For a pet bird, the recommended diet is about 60 percent formulated pellets and 40 percent vegetables, with seeds and fruit used only as treats (VIN).[27] Too much fat in the diet, or an all-seed diet, can cause malnutrition in a cockatiel, with decreased vitality and longevity and fatty growths on the wings or abdomen (Bird Vet Melbourne).[26] Are pellets easy to find in Morocco? We have not checked.

The canary: a cage longer than tall, light and night, bath, song

The cage

Canaries like to fly, so give your canary as much space as possible, in a cage that is longer than it is wide so that it has room to fly (Southgate Vet).[30] Birds usually do not fly straight up and down like a helicopter, so a narrow cage with a lot of height but not a lot of length often does not suit them (RSPCA Australia).[22] A single canary needs a cage at least 20 inches wide by 24 inches long, about 51 cm by 61 cm, with closely spaced bars so its head cannot get caught (Southgate Vet).[30]

Alone or in a pair

The canary is territorial, so it prefers to live alone or in mated pairs (Merck).[24] A single male canary is typically content to live alone, and to hear more song you can keep two males in separate cages away from one another: they sing to each other in competition (Southgate Vet).[30]

Light and night

Canaries need natural sunlight but not direct light, so choose an indirectly sunny spot for the cage (Southgate Vet).[30] Cover the cage each evening and uncover it in the morning, so the glow of the TV or electric lights does not disrupt its sleep-wake cycle (Southgate Vet).[30]

The bath

Birds love to splash around and bathe, so offer your canary a small birdbath or a bowl of fresh water every second day (Southgate Vet).[30]

The song

Male canaries are known for their beautiful song, whereas female canaries rarely sing but let out a chirp to communicate (Southgate Vet).[30] Canaries do not sing during their moulting period, when their feathers are lost and replaced (Southgate Vet).[30]

What it eats

Ideally, pellets represent approximately 75 to 80 percent of a canary's diet (VCA).[29]

The goldfish is not a bowl fish: volume, filter, lifespan

The bowl

Traditional fish bowls are too small for goldfish and should be avoided (RSPCA Australia).[31] A goldfish creates a lot of waste, is very messy and eats a lot: a bowl is not an ideal home, and it needs an aquarium with proper filtration, aeration, enough water to dilute waste, room to grow and a home for good bacteria to mature (SPCA New Zealand).[32]

The volume

The minimum tank volume is 50 litres, with a length of at least 4 times the adult body length, a width of at least 2 times and a height of at least 3 times (RSPCA Australia).[31] SPCA New Zealand gives a rule of thumb: 75 litres for a fancy goldfish, plus 40 litres for each additional goldfish (SPCA New Zealand).[33] It recommends, for a common goldfish, a tank at least 120 cm long, or a minimum of 112 litres per adult, and for a fancy goldfish a tank at least 90 cm long and 75 litres per adult (SPCA New Zealand).[32] The sources do not all give the same minimum. Take the largest volume your home allows, and ask the seller whether your fish is a common or a fancy type.

The filter and the water

Goldfish are heavy feeders and high waste producers that need efficient filtration of a suitable size to maintain water quality and for aeration (RSPCA Australia).[31] Weekly partial water changes of 10 to 25 percent are recommended, combined with a gravel clean, to help a goldfish stay healthy (RSPCA Australia).[31] Chlorine present in tap water is dangerous to both fish and bacteria, so add a dechlorinating product to the new water or leave it standing for 24 hours (RSPCA).[34] We have not checked tap water in Morocco.

The most common problem with goldfish is overfeeding: feed once a day, and only what can be eaten in under two minutes (RSPCA Australia).[31] Having at least two goldfish in an aquarium provides companionship and promotes activity, which is better for their welfare (RSPCA Australia).[31] Two fish need more water: the rule above adds 40 litres for each additional fish (SPCA New Zealand).[33]

The lifespan

A goldfish can live a long time, 10 to 15 years on average, but many do not reach their lifespan potential due to inadequate care (RSPCA Australia).[31]

How long it lives: one number per species, and what it commits you to

Here is what the sources give, species by species. These are lifespans with good care, not promises.

Hamster, rabbit, guinea pig

• Hamsters live for around two to three years (Blue Cross).[1]
• Another charity gives a shorter span: hamsters usually live for up to two years, although some may live longer (RSPCA).[3]
• In hamsters under UK veterinary care, the median age at death was 1.75 years (VetCompass study 2022).[4]
• In a safe and stimulating environment, with a nutritious diet, regular health checks and appropriate companionship, a rabbit can typically live for 8 to 12 years (RSPCA).[5]
• Among pet rabbits that died during a study with English vets, the median age at death was 4.3 years (VetCompass study 2020).[10]
• On average, guinea pigs tend to live between four and eight years (PDSA).[13]
• Another charity says guinea pigs typically live 5 to 6 years, but some may live longer (RSPCA).[12]
• Among 757 recorded deaths of guinea pigs under UK veterinary care, the median age at death was 4.03 years (VetCompass study 2024).[17]

A median age at death is not a life expectancy: it counts only the animals that died during the study.

Birds

• A budgie generally lives 5 to 10 years (Merck).[24]
• A cockatiel can live up to 20 years (Merck).[24]
• In captivity, cockatiels can live 15 to 25 years and parakeets 7 to 14 years, provided their nutrition and lifestyle are appropriate (VIN).[27]
• In the Burwood clinic, the average longevity of budgies is under 10 years: tumours, trauma, disease, husbandry and malnutrition greatly shorten the average lifespan (Burwood clinic).[25]
• A canary lives up to 15 years (Merck).[24]
• For pet birds in general, the lifespan is often long, 10 to 50 years, and the commitment lasts as long (RSPCA Australia).[23]

Goldfish and others

• A goldfish lives about 10 to 15 years on average, and some varieties up to 30 years with proper care (RSPCA Australia).[31]
• Chinchillas can live for up to 20 years (Blue Cross).[19]
• A degu lives around five to nine years, against one to two years in the wild (Blue Cross).[20]

We have not checked whether chinchillas and degus are sold in Morocco.

What it commits you to

Compare these lifespans to your life over the next ten years. A rabbit (8 to 12 years) or a cockatiel (up to 20 years) can live with you that long (RSPCA, Merck).[5][24]

Five things people say about small pets: true or false?

“A rabbit and a guinea pig can share the same hutch.”

False. You should not keep them together, as there is a risk the guinea pig will be bullied and seriously injured by the rabbit (Blue Cross).[18]

“Rabbits eat mostly carrots.”

False. Blue Cross advises avoiding sugary fruits and vegetables such as carrots and apples, as they are not nutritionally necessary and high in sugar (Blue Cross).[8] Its base remains hay, about 85 percent of its diet (Blue Cross).[8]

“A goldfish has a three-second memory.”

False. A goldfish can hold memories for months, and has a sense of time and routine (SPCA New Zealand).[32]

“A hamster needs its ball to get exercise.”

False. Hamster exercise balls must not be used, as a hamster can quickly become exhausted and will not be able to escape (Blue Cross).[1] Hamster wheels sold along with a cage are often too small, yet hamsters keep using them, and over time this can damage the spine (Blue Cross).[1]

“A canary can live on seeds alone.”

False. An all-seed diet is not nutritionally complete for a canary, and poor nutrition can potentially shorten its life (VCA).[29] Millet is just another form of seed and is not nutritionally complete, and honey sticks are seeds stuck together with sugar and honey, so they are nutritionally imbalanced (VCA).[29]

Also worth knowing

• Because rabbits can repeatedly get pregnant, two rabbits could multiply to 82 rabbits in one year (RSPCA).[5]
• In a Danish survey, most rabbits were acquired for children and housed alone, and many were kept in cages of an unsuitable size and not checked daily (Animal Welfare study 2023).[11]
• Domesticated Russian dwarf hamsters should not be housed together, as dominance issues and fights often occur (PDSA).[2]
• Syrian and Chinese hamsters should not live together (RSPCA).[3]
• Hamsters do not naturally hibernate in the wild, but domestic hamsters can enter a state called torpor, which looks very similar (Blue Cross).[1]
• Never feed a guinea pig a muesli-style mix: its pellets need to be a consistent shape and colour, so it does not only eat the bits it likes best (PDSA).[14]
• What really stunts a goldfish's growth is poor water quality associated with a small tank, rather than the tank size itself; when properly cared for, goldfish never stop growing (SPCA New Zealand).[32]
• A room temperature between 18 and 21 degrees is best for a goldfish, and above 23 degrees it can become lethargic and overheat (SPCA New Zealand).[32]
• Some birds like a mirror in their cage, as they see their own reflection as company, but others may become upset or aggressive (RSPCA).[21]
• Canaries do not require grit to digest food since they break the outer shells off seeds before eating them, unlike some birds which swallow seeds whole (Southgate Vet).[30]
• An indoor cage should not be exposed to fumes from cleaning or paint products, cigarette smoke, cooking gas, air fresheners, scented candles or incense, or self-cleaning ovens (RSPCA Australia).[22]

Before you choose

This advice comes from charities and clinics in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Denmark. We did not find a Moroccan source: no figure on summer heat, on vets for small animals or on products sold in Morocco. For all of that, ask a vet. If your animal eats less, loses weight or changes its behaviour, show it to a vet quickly. A sick bird will attempt to look healthy until it is so sick it can no longer hide its illness: this is a natural survival instinct (RSPCA Australia).[23]

Still unsure which animal fits your life? Our matching tool weighs your daily life against what each species needs. To compare animals more widely, also read which pet is right for you.

Sources

[1] Blue Cross. Hamster Care | Wellbeing Advice. https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/hamster/hamster-care (accessed 11 October 2026)

[2] PDSA. Hamsters as pets. https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/small-pets/hamsters-as-pets (accessed 11 October 2026)

[3] RSPCA. Keeping Hamsters As Pets. https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rodents/hamsters (accessed 11 October 2026)

[4] Journal of Small Animal Practice (2022). Demography, disorders and mortality of pet hamsters under primary veterinary care in the United Kingdom in 2016 (VetCompass, Royal Veterinary College). https://doi.org/10.1111/jsap.13527 (accessed 11 October 2026)

[5] RSPCA. Pet rabbits: care, behaviour and welfare. https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rabbits (accessed 11 October 2026)

[6] RSPCA. Creating a Good Home for Rabbits. https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rabbits/environment (accessed 11 October 2026)

[7] PDSA. Creating the ideal home for your rabbits. https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/rabbits/creating-the-ideal-home-for-your-rabbits (accessed 11 October 2026)

[8] Blue Cross. How to look after rabbits (Caring for your rabbit). https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/rabbit/wellbeing-and-care/caring-for-your-rabbit (accessed 11 October 2026)

[9] House Rabbit Society. The Importance of Hay. https://rabbit.org/care/diet/the-importance-of-hay (accessed 11 October 2026)

[10] Veterinary Record (2020). Morbidity and mortality of domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) under primary veterinary care in England (VetCompass, Royal Veterinary College). https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.105592 (accessed 11 October 2026)

[11] Animal Welfare (2023). Perceptions of the rabbit as a low investment 'starter pet' lead to negative impacts on its welfare: Results of two Danish surveys. https://doi.org/10.1017/awf.2023.41 (accessed 11 October 2026)

[12] RSPCA. Keeping Guinea Pigs As Pets. https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rodents/guineapigs (accessed 11 October 2026)

[13] PDSA. Guinea pigs as pets. https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/small-pets/guinea-pigs-as-pets (accessed 11 October 2026)

[14] PDSA. Your guinea pig's diet. https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/small-pets/your-guinea-pig-s-diet (accessed 11 October 2026)

[15] VCA Animal Hospitals. Feeding Guinea Pigs. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/guinea-pigs-feeding (accessed 11 October 2026)

[16] RSPCA. Creating a Good Home for Guinea Pigs. https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rodents/guineapigs/environment (accessed 11 October 2026)

[17] PLOS ONE (2024). Demography, commonly diagnosed disorders and mortality of guinea pigs under primary veterinary care in the UK in 2019: A VetCompass study. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0299464 (accessed 11 October 2026)

[18] Blue Cross. Guinea Pig Care and Wellbeing Advice. https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/guinea-pig/guinea-pig-care (accessed 11 October 2026)

[19] Blue Cross. Chinchilla Care Guide | Wellbeing Advice. https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/chinchilla/chinchilla-care (accessed 11 October 2026)

[20] Blue Cross. Degu Care and Wellbeing Advice. https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/degu/degu-care (accessed 11 October 2026)

[21] RSPCA. Housing and Environments for Pet Birds. https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/birds/environment (accessed 11 October 2026)

[22] RSPCA Australia. How should I house my bird?. https://kb.rspca.org.au/categories/companion-animals/other-pets/birds/how-should-i-house-my-bird (accessed 11 October 2026)

[23] RSPCA Australia. How should I care for my birds?. https://kb.rspca.org.au/categories/companion-animals/other-pets/birds/how-should-i-care-for-my-birds (accessed 11 October 2026)

[24] Merck Veterinary Manual (Bird Owners). Choosing a Pet Bird. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/bird-owners/choosing-and-taking-care-of-a-pet-bird/choosing-a-pet-bird (accessed 11 October 2026)

[25] Burwood Bird and Animal Hospital, Melbourne. Budgie Vet Melbourne, Budgerigar Care Guide. https://www.birdclinic.net/bird2.htm (accessed 11 October 2026)

[26] Bird Vet Melbourne. Caring for Cockatiels. https://www.bird-vet.com/CaringforCockatiels-CockatielAvianVet.aspx (accessed 11 October 2026)

[27] VIN Veterinary Partner. Page on feeding pet birds (exact title not recorded). https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&catId=102910&id=10891591 (accessed 11 October 2026)

[28] Mooresville Vet / Lake Norman Animal Hospital. Budgie Care for Beginners. https://www.mooresvilleanimalhospital.com/site/blog/2020/11/27/budgie-care (accessed 11 October 2026)

[29] VCA Animal Hospitals. Canaries - Feeding. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/canaries-feeding (accessed 11 October 2026)

[30] Southgate Vet. Canary Care 101. https://www.southgateanimalhosp.com/site/blog/2023/06/21/canary-care (accessed 11 October 2026)

[31] RSPCA Australia. How should I care for my goldfish?. https://kb.rspca.org.au/categories/companion-animals/fish/how-should-i-care-for-my-goldfish (accessed 11 October 2026)

[32] SPCA New Zealand. Debunking goldfish myths. http://www.spca.nz/advice-and-welfare/article/debunking-goldfish-myths (accessed 11 October 2026)

[33] SPCA New Zealand. Caring for goldfish. http://www.spca.nz/advice-and-welfare/article/caring-for-goldfish (accessed 11 October 2026)

[34] RSPCA. Choosing an aquarium for pet fish (Ornamental fish, Environment). https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/fish/environment (accessed 11 October 2026)