Hamster or Gerbils?

[MrsBlobby43]

My children are desperate for a pet and I said we'd get hamsters or gerbils. What's best in your opinion. Ideally I'd want them in the same cage but understand hamsters don't like to be together. Can anyone give me a better insight! Thanks.

[EdwardCullensBiteOnTheSide]

I love mice and rats, had them a lot in the past, but we currently have a hamster, wasn't really looking for a small pet but he was at a rescue and we decided to take him home. He is adorable! We've had him 18 months now, he's so friendly, if he hears us he comes out and rattles his bars until we give him a treat, I love seeing how little hands reach out to grab what you offer him, and watching him stuff his little cheeks, he's just so cute. But he does nip. He likes being handled, he loves attention, but he still nips, I think he's just testing what's food and what's not!
When he's gone though we're definitely getting another rat.

[EveryPlanetHasAYorkshire]

Neither. Get a cat instead .

[EveryPlanetHasAYorkshire]

@PixellatedPixie

Is there any way you can get guinea pigs instead? I’ve had rats, hamsters and guinea pigs and the piggies are definitely the best suited to small children. They make a whole range of different noises with different meanings and they are amazingly tame!

Guinea pigs make so much mess and live for bloody years.

The OP is probably going to be the one who ends up taking care of the pet either way so I wouldn't recommend guinea pigs unless she's happy to still be feeding them, cleaning up after them and trimming their nails for 5+ years.

[Cookerhood]

Rats, but not just one. We've had rabbits (too big), hamsters (lovely but too nocturnal for small children), gerbils (messy), guinea pigs (great) & rats - the best!! Smelly & must be kept in groups.

[Bluesheep8]

Sorry but I don't think any animal should be kept in a cage for the amusement of a child. Or for any reason.

[Badbadbunny]

Gerbils definitely. We've had them for many years. Sleep at night and generally active on and off throughout the day. Get the biggest cage/tank as possible and as many gerbils as possible. They're very entertaining, easy to handle, and if you can make your room safe (i.e. no gaps in skirting boards etc), you can let them out to run around which is something they absolutely love - we've had some that jump upstairs.

[exLtEveDallas]

We have a lovely hamster who is spoiled rotten and DD adores, but I wouldn’t recommend it for young children. Gerbils are a better house pet (must have 2), rats best (again 2) or guinea pigs (2 or more) if you are willing to give them outside space. Hamsters, whilst lovely, are the worst choice for children.

[TrickyD]

Rats are very affectionate.

[SnapeSnapeSeverusSnape]

Agree that gerbils are very clean and don't smell nearly as much as hamsters, rats etc. They're desert animals and really don't wee much at all. We had a huge terrarium for ours, but be warned they will eat pretty much anything you put in there, the number of climbing frames, beds, wheels etc. they chewed their way through was ridiculous, and this was on top of the loo roll inners we put in every day.