What should I buy? teddy bear hamster or gerbil?

Question

What should I buy? teddy bear hamster or gerbil?

Answer 1

I have gerbils and two teddy bear hamsters.  Gerbils are nice because they are more active and can be pretty social.  They are also cute and fun to watch when you have more than one.  

I love my teddy bear hamsters because they are soft, cuddly, absolutely adorable, and if they trust you they are very social and friendly.  I don't agree that hamsters bite more.  A hamster bites you if your hand smells like food or you have scared your hamster.  

The downside with a teddy bear hamster is they are solitary so you can't have more than one in a cage.  Gerbils are also more hardy when it comes to their health.  They don't get sick very easily unlike hamsters which are more susceptible to illness.

Overall, I would say get the teddy bear hamster.  However, one isn't necessarily better than the other!  It depends on your personal preference.  Check them both out at the pet store or wherever you go and see which you like.  

***It's not a bad thing if gerbils chew up a lot of stuff.  Just don't get them anything plastic.  They need lots of wooden items in their cage and plenty of cardboard.  They can get bored easily and they like to keep busy.  They chew things up to make nests.  They are very clean animals.

Answer 2

Hamster..I have had a gerbil and it chewed EVERYTHING the cage was falling apart and all they do is dig..when it died i got a hamster and i love her..she keeps everything neat and tidy and doesnt chew much..definitly get a hamster!

Answer 3

ofcourse a teddy bear hamster! GO HAMSTER, GO HAMSTER, GO HAMSTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...

i strongly agree with Animals-4-Life <3

Answer 4

Hamsters tend to be less active and easier to take care of but if you want a pet that you can watch play a gerbil can be lots of fun.  I own hamsters, but have thought of gerbils.  If you live a hectic life a teddy bear hamster is very low maintenance.  Like I said gerbils have a higher energy level which means they can escape much easier, so if you decide on a gerbil get a aquarium tank and a tight lid.

Answer 5

teddy bear hamster they are soooooooooooo cute! i have one his name is henry and i have had him for 3 years i love him! they are also very playful and like alot of attention! well at least mine does! lol!

good luck!

Answer 6

i think hamsters are cuter but this is why i like gerbils,

- they are awake during the day unlike hamsters

- they smell less than gerbils

-  they are more fun (i think anyways)

   make sure you get everything you need before you bring the pet home and make sure you read up on how to take care of them      

               Good Luck!!

Answer 7

Hamsters bite ALOT and gerbils don't. gerbils are amazing, just don't get a PLASTIC cage.

Answer 8

It depends on what you prefer. Here are two links with information on them:

Gerbil: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerbil

Hamster: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_hams...

BTW, Syrian hamsters are the same as Teddy bear, except for the fur difference.

Hope this helped!

Answer 9

If you're only getting one, I'd suggest the syrian (also known as teddy bears) hamster. Gerbils are social and should be kept in same s*x pairs.

It really depends on what you're looking for in a pet. Syrian hamsters are solitary, so only ONE per cage. They're nocturnal. They can be played and cuddled with. They may be content to spend time with you. They're, generally, easy to tame. Gerbils are awake throughout the day and night. They're not the kind of pets that like to be held. They'd much rather explore and run around. This does not mean they don't like people. Gerbils, too, are generally, easy to tame. They love digging and chewing, which isn't a bad thing. It's natural to them. They're active and entertaining.

Both gerbils and hamsters can be wonderful pets. I may be a bit biased since I own two wonderful gerbils, but one isn't better than the other. It all depends on what you want in a pet. I would recommend you research both and decide which is the best pet for you.

Answer 10

I suggest a teddy bear hamster because there smaller and there cage is easier to clean they also dont bite hard. Hope this helps!

Answer 11

I had the question about a year ago when I decided I needed a small pet. I did my research and personally loved that idea of gerbils. If you decide on gerbils please but two (same s*x!). My two brothers are the cutest. I bought them an aquarium (good idea for gerbils, they will chew anything) and they love it. I found that gerbils also don't go to the bathroom as much as hamsters which is nice, and they seem to be a lot smarter. They come to greet me when I'm around and although they love treats, their favourite reward is time out of the cage. Get gerbils!