Hamsters/Gerbils

chocolatepennyfarthing

Interested in getting either a hamster or gerbil as a pet. Can anyone give a bit of advice on the pros and cons of each. From what I have read it seems that gerbils are more social and you can keep 2 together, also seems they may be a little less smelly that hamsters. Is it true that gerbils can only be kept in glass tanks as they eat their way out of the plastic ones. Would really appreciate hearing peoples experiences.

tiamai_d

Hamsters.

Choose from syrian (large) hamsters that you can only keep one off, and dwarf hamsters that you can keep a few off.

Syrians. Easier to handle than dwarfs, but nocturnal. Need time and patience to tame.

Dwarfs. Do better kept in groups, but hard for novices to sex so you may end up a mixed sex group that is trouble (if bought from pet shops more than likely they are related so any off spring could be weak or deformed). Not very easy to handle due to size, larger dwarfs (Russians) can be 'grouchy' and bite for no reason.

Gerbils. Takes time to train them not to run off if handled. Rarely bite. Awake during the day. Need more space, and yes, a glass tank full of woodchips or peat or 'safe' bedding material. Preferably with a wire cage top to provide more room. Males smell more than female. Easy to sex so better chance of getting single sex groups.

Go to a pet shop and have a look, but DON'T buy yet. Get lots of info, and ask friends what they would recommend.

What do you want, a pet to pet, or a pet that will entertain you?
How much room do you have for a cage to sit?
What budget do you have for 'start-up' costs? (gerbils will cost more)
How much time can you honestly devote to your pet?

greenmoneysaver_2

Well said timai_d!

If cpf can take on a hamster or gerbil I would recommend a pet rat. Much easier to handle, intelligent and more fun than the other 2!

tiamai_d

I'd rather have a rat! Much larger cage though, and more money on the off set, but a far more interesting pet. Personal preference though! I'd have the gerbils over the hamsters, but I have had way too many hamster bites!
(worked in a pet shop)

denton6

Hi i would recommend a mouse,these are awake during the day and hardly ever bite and very cute.

greenmoneysaver_2

They REALLY stink tho, and are hard to sex when young - so families of mice any easy possibilty!

keelykat

I love hamsters personaly, males are usually calmer but weve had several females that have been lovely and didnt bite. I like the fact that they sleep in the day as i can get them out/play with them etc on an evening. They are realy friendly, and shouldnt bite too much if you get them out daily and let them get used to you.

One word of warning though-avoid big pet stores that cram load of poor little hamsters into small cages with no/little to do....they end up going loopy/mad and are usually more nasty. I go to smaller shops that are willing to pick each hamster up and show you them etc....not like one big store i went in who used big thick gloves to quickly grab one and chuck it in a box! the poor thing had a heart attack (we think this is what happened anyway) and was vicious!

keely.

alanalea

I can definitely second getting a rat- More sociable, more interesting and lots lots more fun than the other options. However you would need to handle and entertain a rat more because they are so much more intelligent.

moon-pig_2

Definitely a rat. Very sociable and good fun. I had a hamster when I was a kid and it was a hateful animal that slept all day and bit me. My mate had a gerbil which wasn't much better as it used to run away. Never knew what great pets rats were until I had children myself.

Always buy two of the same sex, and for some reason avoid white ones as they tend to be quite boring.

tosca5

chocolatepennyfarthing wrote: »

Interested in getting either a hamster or gerbil as a pet. Can anyone give a bit of advice on the pros and cons of each. From what I have read it seems that gerbils are more social and you can keep 2 together, also seems they may be a little less smelly that hamsters. Is it true that gerbils can only be kept in glass tanks as they eat their way out of the plastic ones. Would really appreciate hearing peoples experiences.

Last xmas we bought 2 dwarf hamsters, both sisters, they lasted 3 months together and starting fighting badly with each other. Eventually seperated them. They sleep too much and i found them very grumpy and they bit a lot.
Also bought what i thought was 2 male gerbils, turned out one was a female and she had a litter of 3 (males) very social animals, very curious and love the attention. It is better to have a glass tank and wire on the top, they will chew everything and anything so i'm afraid a plastic cage is out.
Certainly gerbils are better for children, they provide hours of fun.
If the cage is cleaned weekly then there is no problems with smell.

Resident_Evil

My daughter has had both hamsters and gerbils and I definitely prefer the gerbils. They don't hide away in their beds and are not grumpy when distrubed which tended to be the case with the hamsters.

They are very entertaining and awake when you are. My daughter's never bit her and lived much longer than the hamsters.