Referred to as small, sociable, chatty rodents, they can live for 5-6 years.  They are considered to be an ideal pet for small children, but as with any animal, adult supervision during handling is always advised.
They are active for up to 20 hours per day and sleep only for short periods, so not ideal 'house' pets.
They require a high fibre diet which is supplemented with plenty of Vitamin C as they lack the enzyme needed to synthesise vitamin C and can only store vitamin C for short periods.
The RSPCA and Blue Cross websites have many more helpful facts and advice.