Hamster vs Gerbil
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Hamster vs Gerbil
Does anyone have experience of either. We are thinking of one of the above for my 7 year old DD for Christmas. Fr. Christmas did bring guinea pigs a couple of years ago but they only lasted about 6 months (I think he got them from a rescue centre) and the girls are all asking for a "long lasting pet". Anyway we dont want a pet that will live for years and years but do want one that will be amendable to being played with.
Any advice gratefully received.
Any advice gratefully received.
Re: Hamster vs Gerbil
I would go for a hamster. We have had a few and as long as you start handling them from an early age they make great pets! I found gerbils a bit fast and they didn't seem to like being handled as much.
Re: Hamster vs Gerbil
When I first read the title of this thread my instant image was of a battle between the two hapless rodents - remember the younger boy (Ben) in "Outnumbered" constantly coming up with new hypothetical battles such as "who would win if a T Rex was fighting a robot?"
Re: Hamster vs Gerbil
Hamster every time! If you get a Syrian hamster used to being handled at a very young age, you'll end up with a very tame and sociable little friend. The only drawbacks are a) their penchant for escaping b) incredible ability to chew through just about anything - see (a) above and c) the fact that they don't live very long - 2-3 years max.
Marylou
Re: Hamster vs Gerbil
solimum wrote:When I first read the title of this thread my instant image was of a battle between the two hapless rodents - remember the younger boy (Ben) in "Outnumbered" constantly coming up with new hypothetical battles such as "who would win if a T Rex was fighting a robot?"
...it made me think of Harry Hill!
(I like the gerbil, but I also like the hamster - there's only one way to decide this..... )
Marylou
Re: Hamster vs Gerbil
I'd vote for hamster too.
We had a lovely one called Twinkle and she was always a hit with the DC's friends when they came around.
She lived to the grand old age of 3 and even though she died around 3 years ago my DC still talk about her sometimes.
We have a crazy dog now - so much more work than a hamster!
We had a lovely one called Twinkle and she was always a hit with the DC's friends when they came around.
She lived to the grand old age of 3 and even though she died around 3 years ago my DC still talk about her sometimes.
We have a crazy dog now - so much more work than a hamster!
Re: Hamster vs Gerbil
+!! "There's only one way to find out..." - get one of each and ....Marylou wrote:...it made me think of Harry Hill!
Mike
Re: Hamster vs Gerbil
I find Hamsters were quite often asleep when I wanted them to be awake (Both hamsters and gerbils are nocturnal in nature)
My Gerbils turned out to be male and female so we quickly ended up with babies in all directions heading off to all my friends. They do not like to be handled but like to explore complicated runs.
For both Hamsters and Gerbils, the best sort of abode is a large aquarium with a good depth of sawdust/wood chippings into which they can make their own tunnels. This is great for them and good watching fun. Other than that, those complex structures you can get with podules and tube sections which end up looking like a sci-fi space city. Never a metal cage, they will always try to gnaw the metal bars which is bad for their mouths.
I would go for a rat.
Rats Live longer than the hamster or gerbil. They don't smell. They are naturally diurnal. They are very bright. They love to be handled and play with your DC. My friend used to sit at the computer with her rat on her shoulder.
My Gerbils turned out to be male and female so we quickly ended up with babies in all directions heading off to all my friends. They do not like to be handled but like to explore complicated runs.
For both Hamsters and Gerbils, the best sort of abode is a large aquarium with a good depth of sawdust/wood chippings into which they can make their own tunnels. This is great for them and good watching fun. Other than that, those complex structures you can get with podules and tube sections which end up looking like a sci-fi space city. Never a metal cage, they will always try to gnaw the metal bars which is bad for their mouths.
I would go for a rat.
Rats Live longer than the hamster or gerbil. They don't smell. They are naturally diurnal. They are very bright. They love to be handled and play with your DC. My friend used to sit at the computer with her rat on her shoulder.
Last edited by aargh on Sat Dec 03, 2011 1:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Hamster vs Gerbil
+1Fran17 wrote:I would go for a hamster. We have had a few and as long as you start handling them from an early age they make great pets! I found gerbils a bit fast and they didn't seem to like being handled as much.
;D
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Re: Hamster vs Gerbil
I vote Rat too. We had gerbils and my sister's family had a hamster - both too nocturnal for the children to really enjoy them.aargh wrote:I would go for a rat.
Rats Live longer than the hamster or gerbil. They don't smell. They are naturally diurnal. They are very bright. They love to be handled and play with your DC. My friend used to sit at the computer with her rat on her shoulder.
My best friend has a rat - never thought I could get used to the slippery tail but he's gorgeous - also much less likely to get lost. Sister had to knock a hole in her plasterwork to get Fifi Trixabelle out of the wall!