Hamster or Gerbil? HELP I CAN'T DECIDE!!!?

Question

I was gonna get a teddy bear hamster and I did A LOT of research. Then I heard about gerbils and a lot of webs said tht they are super nice and if ppl say gerbils are better i will do more research on them. I was wondering if you thought a Syrian Hamster (teddy bear hamster) or a gerbil is better, and yes I know I would have to get more than one gerbil! also, Y did you pick gerbil/hamster?

Answer 1

I have two gerbils. I, ultimately, chose them over a hamster because they're awake throughout the day and night and more active. Gerbils are social and should be kept in same s*x pairs. They love digging and chewing. No plastic toys or cages! The best housing for a pair of gerbils is a 15-20 gallon tank with a wire, mesh lid (found in the reptile section of the pet store). You can add lots of bedding without it being kicked everywhere. You must provide wooden/cardboard things for the gerbil to chew. Paper towel/toilet paper rolls are great.

Gerbils are not the kind of pet that like to be held for long periods of time. They'd much rather run around to explore than be held. This does not mean they don't like humans, though.

Gerbils are, generally, easy to tame. They have delicate tails that you should never hold them by or grab. If they struggle to get away, you could end up with the skin of their tail in your hand. Gross, I know, but true. It's a defense mechanism.

Gerbils shouldn't be given water baths. They can take sand baths with chinchilla sand, but water isn't necessary. They could catch a cold if they're all wet.

I don't know what else you want to know. If you'd like more information or have specific questions, feel free to e-mail me. I'd be glad to help answer them.

Answer 2

well we have gerbil's,hamsters and rats. we find theirs not much to choose between gerbil's and hamsters to be honest gerbil's are quicker and love to burrow a lot and not as  easy to train as hamsters. they both are great pets and they all have different personality's.

Answer 3

i say gerbil as i breed them they are so cute they ar cleaner then other rodents and can be taught like a rat to sit on shoulders etc they are smart have some funny behaviours and gerbils are not prone to tumors like rats also gerbils never bite never ever bite (well me anyway) i say gerbils they also are not nocturnal like hamsters they wake and slep wen they feel like it compared to hamsters that kepp u up all night

but im going to say some bad aswell my gerbils always seem to scratch at the side of the tank which can be annoying

also gerbils will bite anything they can get there teeth into (not u) they love to chew anything they evan chew plastic

just to say this not a bad thing gerbils should be in a tank not cage as the bite bars and tis can rip of fur on there nose and they love to dig so a tank is ideal hope this helps

also go to my page and go on my site about gerbils its great

Answer 4

get a couple of rats instead. they are alot better than hamsters and gerbils.  

Answer 5

As I said in your other question gerbils are more active and can be social and friendly.  However, I prefer Syrian hamsters because they are super friendly, very gentle, and very social.  Gerbils, however, are a bit more hardy with their health.  They don't get sick as easily as a hamster might.  

With gerbils, you can have more than one gerbil as long as they get along with each other.  With a Syrian hamster you can only have one in the cage as they are solitary creatures.  

Overall, I love my Syrian hammie.  He is adorable, very social, soft and cuddly, and doesn't mind being picked up.  

http://flickr.com/photos/jezebella9897/

Feel free to see some pictures of my gerbils and hamsters.

**Gerbils have long tails too.  I hope your mom doesn't mind.

Answer 6

i have had both. the hamster is WAY better because gerbils are really fast so it is hard to play with them, and they escape quick. on the other hand hamsters are slower so you can play with them easily and don't escape that easily. hamsters are really active in the night so if you have it in a cage in your room you can watch them run around as you fall asleep. you can count hamsters instead of sheep! hope i helped!  

Answer 7

If you are getting a dwarf hamster, you should get that over a gerbil. If you want something to cuddle with though, a dwarf hamster is not a good choice. I think a gerbil over a normal hamster is a better choice.

Answer 8

hamster its much easier to take care of ,gerbils eat the same thing

Answer 9

my so called friend has a gerbil and she bit me and she wouldn't let go so i had to fling my finger around just to get her off.

Answer 10

I say hamster because they r cute and r good friends also if they make so much noise then u can get a silent wheel and it wont make noise also hamster r very active in there young days not like GERBIL they r lazy never active and also they don't need a wheel. Also they scratch at the end of the cage or tank cause in the wild or dessert they do dat they rip paper and dig so u haev to put newspaper and they will rip it off like i said i prefer a hamster they many kind of hamster also not just teddy bear not like GERBIL only one kind or two.

So i will say u to pick a HAMSTER

Answer 11

a hamster. hamsters are WAY better!

good luck!

Answer 12

i would go with a hamster. gerbils are way more likely to bite you. i had a lot of them andeveryonee bit. they don't really like being pets.

Answer 13

Neither. Get a guinea pig. They are much more affectionate, and actually have a personality.  

Answer 14

I have both. i suggest the sryian hamster. if you tame them well and don't wake them up, they will be totally happy with your. the gerbils are fun but i still think that hamsters are the way to go. gerbils don't stop and relax while your holding them, they are constantly moving and can be hard to handle. hamsters arent as easy to handle as people always say. they don't usually rest, they move a lot but not near as much as gerbils. they will jump out of your hands though.

here is my new site:

http://syrianhamtologyonline.webs.com/in...

Answer 15

u should get a hamster because they loved to be touched and gerbils sleep more than hamsters. hamsters usually love their owner.

Answer 16

go to the store and hold both of them. Sometimes hampsters are more aggressive but teddy bear hampsters are so soft and cute!

Answer 17

Hamsters are nocturnal. Gerbils are not. I've heard that gerbils have better temperament. I have a hamster. At night he just runs and runs on his wheel and it makes a creaking sound. If you're a light sleeper annd decide to get a wheel for your pet a hamster might be a problem. Maybe not, I don't know. If you want more than one, just know that from my experiences I've found hamsters to be solitary creatures.

My personal choice: Gerbil

Hope this helps.    :)