GERbil/hamSTER

[chazzeroni]

If you forget about their anatomy or ethnic background, what is the difference between gerbils and hamsters as pets??

ALso how many can be housed together without them fighting or killing each other? I have a huge, huge cage and I want a small animal that will live together safely in the cage. Are gerbils good for my cage?


are gerbils aggressive?

[Abbey]

how big is your cage?

[BrandyJo]

Umm.... I've never had a hamster so I'm not sure... I think gerbils chew stuff up more than hamsters... Though I could even be wrong about that lol. I don't think hamsters are as fast as gerbils...

Anyway, when it comes to females, only two should be kept together, because they've got a VERY good chance to fighting each other if you keep more than that together. however, you can keep many males together. My boyfriend currently has 6 males living happily together, but I've heard of even more than that. What kind of "cage" do you have? Wire cages tend to not be good. 1) because gerbils kick bedding out of them like mad and 2) because gerbils will chew on the wires and rub all the hair off their noses. The size of your cage determines how many gerbils should be kept in it though. You wouldn't wanna 10 gerbils in a 10 gallon tank. The general "rule" is 5 gallons per gerbil. However, it's not necessary to definitely have that much. You can keep 3 gerbils in a 10 gallon tank and they'll be happy.

Are they aggressive?? Umm... No. If they're scared, they can bite and a gerbil bite hurts like crazy. My gerbil punctured my fingernail several times when I picked her up while she was fighting. But, they don't bite for no reason at all.

Any more questions?? Sorry I can't tell ya anything about hamsters... lol

[misscurlyj]

Gerbils usually need a companion where as a certain type of hamster can only live solitary(I forget which one).....Gerbils are way more active during the day....I have found that hamsters sleep and tend to be more boring.

[Abbey]

syrian hamsters need to be kept on their own. dwarf hamsters in pairs or groups, gerbils in groups.

Syrian hamsters prefer floorspace, dwarfs like climbing and floorspace, gerbils like both but are more active and need more room.

[Padfoot]

Gerbils are faster than hamsters, even though dwarf hamsters are pretty fast. Syrian hamsters have to live alone, Gerbils need company and dwarf hamsters may be housed together, but they are more "moody" (some like company, some TOLERATE company and some don't like company at all...) Gerbils like to dig more than hamsters and are more messy (in the sense that like to dig and move the bedding around, and change the stuff you put in their cage unless you secure it in a way that they can't move it...). Anything plastic that you put in the cage will die, in case you are thinking about plastic tubes... they love to chew, so they need wood stuff and cardboard. They are not agressive unless they have been abused. Young ones tend to nip, but not something that hurts, just to "taste" you and they usually grow out of it. I have recieved a few gerbil bites and all while breaking up fights. I've recieved hamster bites for no reason at all. I like hamsters, and I don't find them boring, of course I usually stay up late everyday, so I can see them active. They are nocturnal and spend all the day sleeping. Gerbils, on the other hand, are active throughout the day (not all day, they sleep, and wake up at intervals and do the same during the night). How many you can house depends on the size of the cage you have... I can't think of anything else to say...

[Da One]

i would rather got for a hamster. i've never had dwarf hamsters, but i have a black bear syrian hamster and it is great. its just a great feeling . they are more calm than gerbils and dont jump around as much and mine is so tame, ill put my hand on the cage floor, and it will just walk right on, and then ill pick it up and play with it. YES they do sleep during the day, and that is ecause they are nocturnal. but then they wake up around ...7-8 p.m. but works out better for me. with school homework, football, and other hobbies...but yea, then again, syrians hamsters have to be kept by themselves

[aimzzz]

Can you really only keep two females together?? I really wanted to keep one or two pups with their mother and the other female I have (their aunt)...this won't work?? That would be so sad, I was really looking forward to it...
-Amy

[BrandyJo]

Aparently not... :( I wanted to do the same thing. I have my momma with one of her babies from her last litter, and also 8 babies from her present litter and I wanted to keep the two older ones with 1 baby, and I've been told by several people it's not a good idea. Gerbils in a group will attack one who is weaker. So, for instance, in my case, if i had the young pup, older pup, and mom together, once the mom started to get old and weaker, the other two might attack her.

It's possible to keep them together for a long time, years even, before they fight, but it's quite posisble that it will happen eventually. I was really disappointed when I found this out. It means I have to buy yet another cage..... :( I was told though, that you could possibly keep 3 of the same age together, and they'd be most likely to get along for a long time.

[andreaS15]

My favorite things about Gerbils,
* Less smell (b/c they are desert animals, don't drink as much)
* Are awake during the day & night,
* All can be kept in pairs, but males can be kept in more then two,
* Easy keepers :)
* And WAY to cute!

I have owned both Gerbils and Syrian hamsters, i have stuck to gerbils because I find them more active, less smelly and love how I can keep more than one, they are SO cute interacting with one another, OH and they live longer too! (well more I have found).

Either way, they are both great little pets!

[fluffyfluff1]

I can not imagine not having Gerbils ever again! I've only had them about six months. They provide so much entertainment. I get the biggest kick out of it when I come home and there they are standing up, waiting for a petting or a treat. It's so adorable, that they trust me enough to take a treat from my lips, it tickles! Not to mention how hilarious it is when they get play time on the floor (all exits blocked) hopping, running about, and exploring every nook and cranny. So much personality packed in such a tiny creature....gotta love the little critters.