If you ’re looking for a small , furry ducky who does n’t take up a lot of room , French Guinea pigs and hamster are two obvious choices . Each has their pros and cons depending on your unique needs and useable time to manage for your small pet . Although both can be just pets , it ’s important to choose the one that is best for you and your house .
Guinea Pigs and Hamsters: A Comparison Chart
Guinea Pig
Hamster
Ease of Care
Requires cage cleaning several times a hebdomad
need batting cage cleanup once or twice a calendar week
Size
2 to 4 pounds
.8 to 3.5 troy ounce
Noise layer
Makes various squeaking and whistle sounds .
Very footling , if any , stochasticity .
Lifespan
5 to 8 yr
2 to 3 year
Sociability
Can live with other Guinea pigs and other brute
hamster are mostly solitary and often require to be housed alone
handle
Easier to manage and generally docile .
Can bite and more fragile to contain .
Variety
There are 21breedsto choose from .
Only5 breedsof hamsters can be pets ( out of 24 ) .
Pros and Cons of Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs are endearing pets , but have one is n’t as promiscuous as it looks . They do havesome caution needsthat might be an issue for you , depending on your schedule .
Benefits of Owning a Guinea Pig
wop pigs can also do well with other animal so you may keep one with a rabbit , for model , allow you some more kind in pets .
Guinea pigs tend to be active when you as are as they are n’t crepuscular like hamsters .
Guinea pig can be keep indoors or outdoors if the climate is appropriate .
Numida meleagris pigs can burn when scare , but they will rarely , if ever , do this . They are have it off for being societal and good - natured pet .
Issues to Consider When Choosing a Guinea Pig
If you decide to keep only one , you need to interact with it day by day and provide it withlots of enrichmentfor when you ’re go .
Guinea pigs necessitate a day-to-day diet that includes pellets , fresh vegetables , and hay .
Allergies to Guinea slob fur are very common compared to hamsters , so they may not be a good choice if you suffer from allergy .
They do best in pairs , so you ’ll need to have spacefor a hutchbig enough to fit two comfortably .
Guinea pigs can be very mussy , so you ’ll need to project on givingtheir cage beddingdaily quick cleanings and a good scrub once a week . You may postulate to do more thorough cleanings more often if you observe a urine odor .
Depending on the breed you get , you may ask to groom them regularly to keep their coats respectable .
Pros and Cons of Hamsters
Hamsters are a well petfor minor as they ’re easier to like for although adults should always oversee their care . Like Guinea Pigs their care requisite may or may not be a honest fit for your life-style .
Benefits of Owning a Hamster
Hamsters do n’t live as long as Guinea pigs ( 2 to 3 years equate to 10 to 11 years ) so they are not as much of a long - term obligation . This can be good or bad depending on your site !
hamster tend to be most alive ahead of time in the dawn and at night so they ’re a secure pick if you ’re at study or school during the 24-hour interval .
Hamsters tend to be very quiet and lilliputian noise other than the sound of themmoving about their cage .
hamster , being smaller , do n’t mess up their cages quite as quickly as a Guinea fuzz , so you could anticipate to strip their cage about twice a week .
Issues to Consider When Choosing a Hamster
Hamsters can be very tender with their owners , but they also can sting . They require daily fundamental interaction to keep them tame and unforced to be address .
you’re able to have more than one hamster in a cage but more often than not hamsters do n’t get along . You may only be capable to keep one depending on their personality .
hamster are omnivore and have a more wide-ranging diet than Guinea pigs , which can admit pellets , fresh vegetables , hay , and dirt ball .
Hamsters must be kept indoors and in a secure metallic element John Milton Cage Jr. .
Although they are popular with tike , they may not be the best choice for small children as hamsters are soft and involve to be handled right to avert injury or run .
If youlive in Hawaii , it ’s illegal to own a hamster as a pet .
Hamsters can carry some zoonotic diseases , such assalmonellaandlymphocytic choriomeningitis , so they should not be kept in homes with humans with immune scheme deficiency .
Choosing Guinea Pigs vs Hamsters
at last , whichpet you chooseis free-base on personal preference and while their care needs differ , they also have many similarities . Whileboth petsare favorites with children , an adult will require to manage their unconstipated care , particularly with younger minor . The age of the tike and their power to treat animals properly is also an important consideration as hamster are n’t the best option for very untried nipper unless an grownup will be doing the handling .
