Considering your situation I would recommend a pair of Guinea Pigs! They are a great cross between the two as they are low(er)-maintenance and quite friendly as well!
But, if your family is okay with it, a pair or trio of ratties will be wonderful! But considering the fact that most parents are deathly afraid and disgusted at rats (which they don't deserve!) it is more likely a pair of Guinea Pigs will be better pet. But if your parents are ok with rats then you definitely should! They are even lower maintenance and are just as intelligent and friendly! Keep in mind though that they are both highly social animals and should always have a friend!
If you are going to get Guinea Pigs then I highly recommend this cage! Amazon.com : AmazonBasics Indoor-Outdoor Small Pet Habitat Cage with Canvas Bottom, Black : Pet Supplies
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It is pretty much the same thing as a Midwest Guinea Pig Habitat but is nearly half the price and is perfect for two pigs!
Hope the info helps!
Hi! I have considered guinea pigs, and I think they are adorable. But they can be a bit noisy and I don’t know how that would work for my house. And my parents think guinea pigs carry diseases, even though pet guinea pigs don’t carry much, they think pets and lab guinea pigs are the same. I’ll continue to research on them though!