Guinea Pigs or Hamsters: Which Pet is Finest For You?

Writer: Pattie Larson, LVT

What’s the Distinction Between a Guinea Pig and a Hamster?

Deciding to deliver a small mammal into your property requires a lot analysis and consideration to determine what pet makes probably the most sense to your house. Each pet has particular necessities in care and related prices to reside glad, wholesome lives. Each hamsters and guinea pigs make glorious additions to a house, however there are some distinct variations between the 2 species. On this article, we are going to check out these two animals and level out the variations that you just, as a possible pet mother or father, ought to pay attention to when deciding whether or not a guinea pig or hamster is a greater match.

Major Variations Between Guinea Pigs and Hamsters

Maybe probably the most obvious distinction between hamsters and guinea pigs, and one which wants cautious consideration, is their dimension and look. Hamsters are typically 2-7 inches in size, relying on the breed, and solely weigh just a few ounces. Whereas many business wire cages are small in dimension, hamsters do greatest in bigger enclosures with a deep layer of bedding for burrowing. Since hamsters are solitary creatures, they want loads of enrichment alternatives to maintain them busy and plentiful alternatives for train.

Guinea pigs as compared are simply twice the dimensions of hamsters at 8-12 inches and might weigh 1-3 lbs. As a result of guinea pigs are bigger, in addition they require bigger habitats. You want to take into account how a lot room you could have for a pet it doesn’t matter what species you’re contemplating, however guinea pigs typically would require more room than hamsters. Guinea pigs additionally do higher in teams as a result of their extremely social nature, so it’s endorsed to have a couple of guinea pig so long as all guinea pigs within the enclosure belong to the identical intercourse. Preserving a couple of animal means providing a good bigger enclosure than what you would offer for one animal to maintain animals’ stress ranges low.

Origins

The place do Hamsters Come From?

Do you know that there are 20 completely different hamster breeds on the planet? A few of these are domesticated and stored as pets, whereas others are fairly aggressive and territorial, making them poor pets. Most hamsters originate from Europe and western Asia, sticking to grasslands, meadows, farmland, steppes, dunes, and fields with loads of grass cowl and appropriate soil for digging their burrows.

The place do Guinea Pigs Come From?

Guinea pigs originate from South America, significantly within the Andes Mountain vary. There are indications that people residing in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and different areas of the Andes started the domestication technique of guinea pigs way back to 5000 BCE as a meals source. Guinea pigs additionally performed a task in medication and faith in some areas, even being worshiped by the Moche civilization in northern Peru (100 CE to 800 CE). Historical artifacts embody guinea pigs on pottery and different paintings, in addition to statues created of their likeness. After the Spanish Conquistadors got here, the guinea pig turned a preferred export as an unique pet among the many wealthy, and so they turned a extremely sought-after addition to the royal courts of Europe beginning as early because the 1600s. There at the moment are many alternative sorts of guinea pig breeds all through the world.

Can Hamsters and Guinea Pigs Reside Collectively?

Hamsters and guinea pigs should not appropriate and will by no means share the identical habitat or enclosure. Hamsters are territorial by nature, which is why they do higher as solitary animals that reside alone.

Past potential territorial disputes and security considerations, the habitat and dietary wants of the 2 species are very completely different. Hamsters want a deep quantity of bedding for burrowing, whereas guinea pigs want to remain above floor and conceal in hideouts that they will rapidly sprint into if startled.

Dietary Necessities

Hamsters and guinea pigs have completely different dietary necessities. Whereas each guinea pigs and hamsters can get pleasure from recent greens and occasional fruit, hamsters are omnivores and guinea pigs are herbivores.

Within the wild, hamster diets include all kinds of seeds, grains, greens, bugs, and the occasional fruit. Hamsters like to make use of their cheek pockets to collect up meals to take to their burrows for storage.

Guinea pigs in distinction want diets wealthy in fiber through limitless quantities of plant materials within the type of a grass hay. They eat giant quantities of untamed grasses, some greens, and a small quantity of fruit once in a while. Guinea pigs don’t retailer meals like hamsters do. Not like hamsters, guinea pigs want a source of vitamin C added to their weight loss plan as a result of they’re unable to synthesize it themselves. Within the wild, vitamin C comes from the big variety of vegetation that they devour, however in a domesticated setting, vitamin C should be offered by a species-appropriate fortified meals.

As a result of guinea pigs and hamsters have particular dietary wants, hamsters can’t eat guinea pig meals, nor can guinea pigs eat hamster meals. Oxbow’s fortified meals formulation are designed with completely different species’ dietary wants in thoughts, and we extremely advocate testing our species-specific hamster meals, our younger guinea pig meals, our grownup guinea pig meals, or our senior guinea pig meals.

Lifespan

Lifespan is vital to think about when selecting your pet; you want to concentrate on what kind of dedication your loved ones is signing up for. Hamsters sometimes have a shorter lifespan, starting from 2 to three years when correctly cared for. Guinea pigs reside longer, averaging between 5 to 7 years with correct vitamin, husbandry, and healthcare.

Sociability and Temperament

Guinea pigs and hamsters are polar opposites with regards to their sociability and temperament!

Hamsters are territorial and may be aggressive, so they like a solitary life-style. On account of this, they require a variety of enrichment to maintain them energetic and mentally stimulated, since they won’t be socializing with different members of their species. Their temperament implies that it takes time, work, and endurance to get them used to interacting with their people. They’re fast to chew when careworn or threatened. This is among the explanation why hamsters are typically not really useful for younger youngsters.

Guinea pigs are herd animals by nature, so they’re extraordinarily social as compared. They thrive with companionship, and it’s really useful to maintain them in a pair or group of the identical intercourse to assist their social personalities. Having a good friend helps supplies psychological stimulation and enrichment, encouraging them to be extra energetic. Whereas it does take time to socialize guinea pigs as a result of their instincts as a prey species, they’re a bit faster to heat up than hamsters. Whereas guinea pigs have a temperament that’s extra aligned to youngsters, it’s vitally vital to do not forget that youngsters can’t present correct look after any small animal on their very own. Youngsters will want steerage on applicable care, dealing with, and interactions with any small companion that’s introduced house.

Sleeping Necessities and Exercise Degree

Hamsters are nocturnal, which means they’re probably the most energetic in the course of the evening. Due to this conserving a hamster in a bed room isn’t suggested, as they might make sufficient noise to wake you. They sleep a lot of the day, so the most effective instances to work together with them are within the morning and night simply earlier than they’re settling in for mattress or proper as they get up. Hamsters are typically excessive power, so a wheel is a mandatory a part of the hamster habitat. Nevertheless, you will need to do not forget that a wheel alone just isn’t sufficient enrichment. Offering a big habitat may give your hamster sufficient area to discover and play. We typically don’t advocate that new pet mother and father enable their hamster to free roam with out having a transparent understanding of how sneaky hamsters may be when stepping into small nooks and crannies in the home, and the way agile hamsters are with regards to climbing. Any small holes ought to be correctly sealed, any climbable supplies that you just don’t desire a hamster to make use of ought to be made inaccessible, and any time outdoors of the habitat ought to be carefully supervised.

Guinea pigs are diurnal animals with crepuscular tendencies, which means they’re awake in the course of the day however are most energetic at daybreak and nightfall. Guinea pigs shouldn’t be offered wheels or run round balls as a result of their delicate spines, however they do want day by day train. They want loads of room to run round, and loads of hideouts to really feel secure whereas exploring their environment. You’ll be able to present this area both with a big habitat or with day by day time in a pet-proofed playpen with loads of area to roam. Some pet mother and father could even be capable to enable their guinea pig to free roam.

Whereas the enrichment for guinea pigs and hamsters varies as a result of variations between the 2 species, each hamsters and guinea pigs have comparable instincts to chew, cover, discover, and play. Each species want loads of time to run, leap, and play to maintain them match and glad.

Veterinary Care and Value

Veterinary prices are an vital consideration when including a pet to your property. It’s our accountability to offer our pets with the most effective lives that we are able to, and visits to the vet are only one side of being an excellent pet mother or father.

There are these on the market who don’t consider hamsters or guinea pigs as animals you’re taking to the vet, however this isn’t the case. Each hamsters and guinea pigs have to see an exotics-savvy veterinarian a few times a 12 months for preventative care. Maintaining with this may also help be sure that you catch potential well being points early on that might be much more pricey if ignored.

When speaking about veterinary prices, do not forget that these little guys are thought of unique mammals. It appears odd, since they’re simply present in pet shops world wide! A part of why they’ve this classification, nevertheless, is as a result of not each veterinarian has the correct coaching to see them as sufferers. Unique animal veterinary examination charges due to this may be extra pricey than a dog or cat veterinary go to.

We extremely advocate ensuring you discover a veterinarian to your toddler earlier than emergencies come up. Do what you may to determine a relationship with a veterinarian early on. That method, veterinarians have a correct “baseline” to your pet. When your pet could also be feeling unwell sooner or later, this baseline is vital in serving to establish potential points and what’s thought of regular and never regular to your toddler’s distinctive well being scenario.

Dental Well being

Each guinea pigs and hamsters have open-rooted tooth that may repeatedly develop all through their lives. Dental examinations are extraordinarily vital for each species, and veterinary intervention could also be required if tooth should not being floor down with applicable chewing motions.

Hamster incisors (the tooth on the entrance of the mouth) are the one tooth that repeatedly develop, whereas all the tooth belonging to a guinea pig (incisors and molars) repeatedly develop.

Gastrointestinal Well being

If guinea pigs don’t devour sufficient hay, they will undergo gastrointestinal stasis episodes that may require emergency intervention. Guinea pigs may also expertise free stools or diarrhea in the event that they expertise sudden modifications of their day by day weight loss plan.

Whereas hamsters might not be susceptible to GI stasis, they do have their very own gastrointestinal points to think about. Hamsters can expertise moist tail, a kind of diarrhea that may be introduced on my sudden modifications in weight loss plan. 

In each hamsters and guinea pigs, the GI points listed above may be painful and even life-threatening situations. For those who see runny stools or no stools in any respect, your pet might have emergency veterinary care.

Because of this you will need to preserve an emergency fund to your pet for sudden vet visits, if in any respect potential. Neither hamsters nor guinea pigs ought to be thought of “low-cost” pets.

Conclusion

Hamsters and guinea pigs are each fantastic little buddies, and whereas they’ve some comparable wants, in addition they have some very completely different necessities to remain glad and wholesome. As with all pet, take into account every species’ distinctive traits and necessities to ensure that they are going to match into your life-style.