hamster or gerbil....anyone who can advise me please?

[MrsShrekTheThird]

Children are 4,7& 9. They desperately want to have a pet, we already have a hamster cage from a few years ago when I had a couple of hamsters, ds1 was little so doesn't remember!
Thing is, I prefer guinea pigs.... but hamster or gerbil is all we can house atm. Any comments would be gratefully received!

no rodent fans here this morning then...

I have had both
Gerbils are better IMO, more interesting and entertaining. They are great when you give them a cardboard tube and they chew it up at each end till their noses meet!
Mine used to like an earwig for a treat...lovely and crunchy..I don't know whether that applies to all gerbils thou or just because mine were weird!

I've had both as a child and DS1 has a syrian hamster now, just a thought you might find hamsters easier for your 4 year old to handle as they tend to be less quick!

Rats are much much better pets than either of those.Much more friendly,intelligent and affectionate.Get a ratty instead I say.

hellymelly beat me to it, rats a far better option.

They actually seek out and enjoy human company rather than just tolerate it.

If you could see the biggest of my boys (1kg of pure rat hunkiness) lying flat on his back fast asleep on my sons knee (his favourite spot) I can promise you,you would be convinced.

Have done Mutt it's not very recent or good, sorry, he is even bigger and fatter hunkier now.

Must get some more actually and of his brothers too, who are also just gorgeous.

I do love my ratties.

oh lordy......

OMG - hes s super sized rat

but looks cute

but blondes is a hammy girl :)

That rat is gorgeous.I would love to get a rat for my dds but we have a terrier and even though he is elderly he would spend all his time trying to get the rat.
All the hamsters I've met have been very boring compared to rats.Dull in fact.