On the subject of selecting a household pet, most individuals begin off with both a hamster or a guinea pig, as each are small animals which can be comparatively simple to take care of. Nonetheless guinea pigs and hamsters have some elementary variations, which ought to assist you resolve which pet is best for you!
The guinea pig is bigger, longer and heavier than the hamster, which is the very important bodily distinction between the 2 animals. A guinea pig prefers to go round on all fours, however a hamster will use its entrance paws to carry meals. Guinea pigs are additionally herbivores, whereas hamsters are omnivores.
Whereas these two creatures might be complicated, we have now ready an in-depth comparability of guinea pigs vs hamsters to assist make issues less complicated.
Learn on to seek out extra particulars about the primary variations between guinea pigs and hamsters.
Many individuals confuse guinea pigs with hamsters, even supposing each might make glorious pets. Actually some folks usually mistake guinea pigs for bigger variations of hamsters!
Guinea pigs and hamsters are each rodents, which in principle does make them associated.
Guinea pigs, nevertheless, are domesticated animals that belong to the Cavia genus, whereas Hamsters belong to the Cricetidae household and embrace round 25 species.
Likewise, Guinea Pigs originate from South America, while Hamsters come from Asia and Europe.
One factor the 2 do share in widespread, nevertheless, is fixed tooth improvement. Thus, each guinea pigs and hamsters want entry to toys or different gadgets to chew to maintain their tooth worn down.
At a look: The guinea pig
Look
Guinea Pigs have a stocky construct, quick limbs, an enormous head and beady eyes, and have a pair of comparatively small ears like different cavies.
Quick, sharp claws exchange hair on the soles of the ft. The entrance ft of a guinea pig have 4 toes, whereas the again ft have solely three.
Many forms of domesticated guinea pigs are generally categorized in line with their coat texture and hair size.
Traits
In comparison with different animals, home guinea pigs are on the bigger aspect. They’ll weigh between 500 and 1,500 g which is 1 to three lb, and have a physique size of between 20 and 40 cm or 8 to 16 inches.
The tail of a guinea pig is hid from view. The fur could also be quick and silky, coarse and lengthy, or someplace in-between. Guinea pigs even have a crest of lengthy hairs on the neck.
Life expectancy
Though guinea pigs sometimes dwell for 5 to eight years, a number of the most well-cared-for examples can dwell to double digits of ten years or extra.
In comparison with different small mammal pets like mice, rats, and hamsters, a guinea pig is just a little longer, albeit nonetheless a lot shorter, than cats and canines.
At a look: The hamster
Look
Pet hamsters are a well-liked species of a hamster due to their tiny dimension and ease of care. Their quick legs, tails, and small ears set them other than different rodents.
Hamsters have varied hues. These embrace black, brown, white, gray, purple, and yellow.
Traits
A hamster’s cheek pouches are used for storage and switch of meals. They’ve 4 toes on every entrance foot and 5 on every again, however no hair on their ft.
A hamster’s incisors, or entrance tooth, are large and chisel-shaped, they usually proceed to develop all through the animal’s life.
Life expectancy
In contrast to guinea pigs, hamsters solely dwell for roughly two to 3 years. It’s generally accepted that captive-bred hamsters have a shorter lifespan than their wild counterparts.
As well as, the breed, upbringing of a hamster, and genetics all play a job in figuring out how lengthy the hamster will dwell.
Guinea pigs vs hamsters
Within the nice hamster vs guinea pig debate, it will be important that we have a look at all features of those animals from their dwelling area to their sleeping patterns, to be able to perceive their key variations.
What are the similarities and variations of guinea pigs and hamsters?
Regardless that they give the impression of being completely different, guinea pigs and hamsters are each rodents. They share the identical phylum, however come from separate households.
Sleeping patterns
Each guinea pigs and hamsters are extra energetic at evening, being nocturnal within the Caviidae household.
For probably the most half, hamsters are nocturnal, that means they’re typically awake at evening.
As many hamster house owners will attest, the squeaking wheel on the cage usually will get began at about 1 a.m!
Then again, guinea pigs are additionally nocturnal. Guinea pigs are likely to sleep at any time when it feels drained through the day. As an alternative of getting a full evening’s relaxation each day, guinea pigs nap at any time when wanted.
Nonetheless, nighttime sleep is extra widespread for them.
Social wants
Social necessities for hamsters and guinea pigs are very completely different. Guinea pigs kind social communities of three to 10 members within the wild.
As a result of their evolutionary historical past, they’re very social creatures and can endure from melancholy and anxiousness if they’re denied it.
For guinea pigs, loneliness will be deadly, and research have proven that extended separation may cause them to die.
Guinea pig house owners ought to have a minimal of two pigs at any time. Retaining a single pet will be viable if you’re keen and capable of take over socializing duties.
Hamsters want to spend their time alone. A minimum of that’s the case with Syrian hamsters, and as such you need to solely ever maintain one hamster in a cage.
Aggression is widespread amongst housed hamsters, primarily when two males are confined.
Different hamster species reminiscent of Dwarf hamsters will be saved in pairs, offering they’ve a large enough hamster cage.
To search out out why hamsters combat, learn our weblog!
Weight loss program
The feeding necessities of a guinea pig and hamster are arguably probably the most essential distinction between the 2 species.
Hamsters are omnivorous and will eat just about all the pieces they’ll discover. They notoriously retailer meals of their cheeks for later, making their cute options bloat up, nearly doubling their dimension.
If you want to know extra about what to feed your hamster then see our informative information to 5 of the perfect pre-bought hamster meals.
In contrast to hamsters, guinea pigs are vegetarian. Within the wild, they take plant roots, and fruits. A guinea pig may also take high-fiber grasses as its meals.
Area
Since hamsters have to maintain their small our bodies at a continuing temperature, they need to all the time be housed in a cage dimension that enables them to run round and dig.
Though hamsters have a tendency to not require a great deal of area due to their small dimension they do prefer to run and play so a much bigger cage is all the time higher.
For data, take a look at our critiques on the finest Syrian hamster cage and finest Dwarf hamster cages.
Nonetheless, guinea pigs, which aren’t solely bigger than hamsters but additionally want to dwell in social groupings, necessitate a extra spacious hutch along with a run.
Whereas some guinea pigs are housed indoors year-round, one of the best ways for teenagers to bond with their pets is in a specifically designed out of doors guinea pig run.
Is it simpler to maintain a hamster or a guinea pig?
Though each a guinea pig and hamster are comparatively low upkeep and make nice pets, it will be important that you’ve got sufficient time to spend coaching and interacting with them.
You additionally want to make sure that you schedule in cleansing your hamster or guinea pig cages frequently.
We suggest that you just strive assembly a hamster and a guinea pig and seeing which one you join with extra earlier than deciding which one is finest in your family.
Which pet does your baby really feel probably the most affection for? Which character traits are in step with your loved ones’s routine and age?
Attempt to perceive the key distinction between a guinea pig and a hamster to reach at the perfect pet for you.
Conclusion
On the subject of guinea pig vs hamster, it’s usually only a alternative of non-public choice. Each hamsters and guinea pigs are social animals and make nice household pets.
Each guinea pigs and hamsters are enjoyable and straightforward to take care of as pets. Dimension, food regimen, and lifespan are the place these two species half methods, however in the end, it’s as much as you to resolve which of those cute creatures so as to add to your loved ones.
As a household, we didn’t have a big backyard, so it made extra sense to decide on a domesticated animal that might dwell indoors with us.
That is how we ended up selecting our beautiful Syrian hamster, Oscar.
That stated, should you take excellent care of both a guinea pig or the hamster, they are going to develop a robust attachment to you.
