Hamster, Guinea Pig and Fish: Small Pet Memorials

Updated November 4, 2026

To say goodbye to a hamster, guinea pig, gerbil, rat, mouse or fish, most families bury their pet in a small box in the yard, deep enough that other animals can't dig, and mark the spot with a flat stone or a flower. Don't flush a fish. If your small pet was euthanized, bury them deeply in the ground or choose cremation, because the drug can poison wildlife.

Small pets are easy to underestimate. They often belong to children, and their lives are short, so their deaths can come sooner than anyone expected. But a hamster who ran the wheel every night or a guinea pig who squealed at the sound of the fridge was a real member of the household, and their goodbye deserves the same care.

Burying a small pet

Check the rules. Small pets are rarely covered by state disposal laws. Indiana's, for example, "do NOT apply to small animal species, such as fish, reptiles, dogs, cats and small game." That usually means your city or county decides. See backyard pet burial laws.

Prepare a box. A shoebox, a small wooden box, or a tin lined with a soft cloth. Children often want to decorate it with drawings, stickers or their pet's name. Add a few pieces of favorite bedding or a treat if you like.

Choose a spot. Dry ground away from water, utility lines and vegetable gardens. Contact 811 a few days before digging if you can.

Dig deeper than you think. Raccoons, foxes, dogs and cats dig. A shallow grave is easily disturbed, which is hard on a child. If your pet was euthanized, depth matters even more: the drug remains in the body, and an Iowa State University Extension article reports wildlife and domestic dogs poisoned after scavenging euthanized animals. The Blue Ridge Wildlife Center in Virginia asks owners to bury euthanized pets at least 3 feet deep.

Cover and mark. Fill the hole, lay a flat stone or a paver on top, and plant a flower nearby.

What about a flower pot?

For a tiny pet that died naturally, some families bury them in a large, deep planter on the porch, especially if they rent. Choose a big pot that won't be moved or knocked over, and plant something on top. If your pet was euthanized, skip the pot and bury in the ground or choose cremation.

Fish

Don't flush. Wildlife agencies ask people never to flush or dump aquatic pets. Alaska's Department of Fish and Game warns that "dumping anything (including fish, animals, plants and even the water) out of your aquarium into any body of water or storm drain" can introduce diseases or invasive species, says it's illegal there, and asks people to "never flush unwanted aquatic pets down the toilet."

Instead:

• Bury the fish in the yard or a deep pot, wrapped in a paper towel or in a small box.
• Ask your aquarium store or vet about disposal, especially for a large fish or if you suspect disease.
• Check the tank. If other fish are in the same tank, test the water and watch them closely.

Cremation for small pets

Many vets and pet crematories cremate small animals, usually at the lowest price tier. Cornell's veterinary college, for example, lists individual water cremation starting at $115 for animals up to 100 pounds and group service at $35, as of January 2026. For a very small pet, the ashes may fit in a keepsake urn or a locket. Ask whether the cremation is private if you want your pet's ashes back.

Memorial ideas for small pets

• A painted stone on the grave with your pet's name. Kids love this job. See pet headstone sayings for lines like "Little feet, big love."
• A drawing or a letter from each child. Ohio State's veterinary medical center notes that children often work through grief "by drawing or other creative outlets."
• A memory box with a photo, a favorite chew, a bit of bedding and the name card from the cage.
• A small plant on the windowsill where the cage used to be.
• A photo book of your pet's short, full life.
• A donation of unused food, bedding and the cage to a small-animal rescue or a classroom.
• A short goodbye. Five minutes in the yard with the family is a complete funeral.

A five-minute backyard goodbye

1. Gather at the grave with the box. "We're here to say goodbye to [Name]."
2. One memory each. "I liked when she stuffed her cheeks." "He always came to the front of the cage when I got home."
3. Place the box in the grave. Children can add a drawing or a flower.
4. Fill the grave together, a handful of soil each, then lay the stone.
5. Close. "Thank you, [Name]. You were small, and you were so loved."

If you have another guinea pig, rat or other social pet

Many small pets live in pairs or groups. Keep the survivor's routine steady, offer extra attention, and watch eating closely. Ohio State's veterinary medical center advises contacting your vet as soon as possible if a pet stops eating. Before adding a new companion, ask your vet how to introduce them. See when another pet is grieving.

Helping children

A small pet's death is often a child's first experience of loss. KidsHealth suggests honest, simple words and including children in saying goodbye. Use "died," not "went to sleep," and expect the same questions more than once. Our guide on explaining a pet's death to a child has words for different situations.

Some families also like a memorial they can visit together online. On Bridgeside, a parent can make a free memorial with a photo of the pet and hold a short online goodbye that grandparents can join from anywhere.