Gerbil versus Hamster

[dogwalker4]

Has anyone any advice on Gerbil versus Hamster as a pet for a 5 year old?

Also she has a cat allergy, is there a possibility that she could be allergy to a Gerbil or a Hamster?

Thanks

We have a hamster, (DP for some reason thinks gerbils are smellier - I don't agree), if properly handled hamsters are great pets, ours is trained to use a hamster litter tray and he comes out every evening and scampers about on the sofa with us.

He's got a lovely personality and he comes to the bars on his cage and jumps up and down if he wants some attention.

On the downside they are nocturnal, ours tends to be awake between 10pm and 5am, so not great for a 5 year old.

(Whereas guinea-pigs are awake during the day and are easily woken from slumber by the suggestion of the fridge opening. And they are so much cuddlier than hamsters or gerbils- skittery little devils)

Our DD2 is allergic to Cats, Dogs & Horses. We've had two lots of Gerbils (6 in total) and not a sniff.

They're easy to take care of, but don't give much back (except for looking cute!).

My DD is very allergic to cats but she is ok with our gerbils so far, we have only had them for a couple of months though. Fingers crossed that she stays fine with them.

Our children adore their gerbils, they are friendly and sociable and active during the day.

I've had hamsters and gerbils. The hamsters (three Syrians and two dwarf hamsters) were lovely and loved playing with us and chasing the dog in their balls, but the gerbils preferred burrowing and biting. Syrian hamsters are generally better than dwarf hamsters because they're easier to tame.

She probably won't be allergic to gerbils or hamsters. My DS has a cat allergy (and he's allergic to birds) but he's fine with the gerbils and hamsters. How about rats? They're better for younger kids because they're larger and less likely to bite. They're more awake, they're more sociable and great fun. We have three little girls at the moment who can stand, come and twirl on command.

We have a hamster, rabbit and guinea pig and the best pet for children is the guinea pig!

Have you thought about a house rabbit? You can train them to use a litter tray and do tricks and they make really good pets. And you don't need to take them for a walk. Just let them run around in the garden. Ours goes under the fence to next door and next door again, but always comes home.

Depends what you want.

Cuddles, lots of interaction...Guinea pig!

Observing, easy to look after, but not much back....Gerbils!

Hamsters are great to watch, normally good to handle, fairly easy to keep, nocturnal (i have trainined ours to get up at 6 but its the earliest i can convince them) , which means that you will hear them at night.

Imo Hamsters and Gerbils are not great for great for younger children due to the fact that the don't give as much back, child looses interest. Older children tend to 'get it' more.

Guinea pig!!!

Or rats...I've heard rats are good!

I'd get a guinea pig

if you get a guinea pig , you need to get two as they live in groups and can get seriously lonely living on their own.

I found hamsters to be more bitey and less awake during the day, so gerbils would be my choice of the two. But rats are nicer.

i had 2 gerbils once and no matter how hard i tried to tame them they just wanted to burrow and play. thats just mine tho!

hamsters are great but as people up post say - they come out at night when my DC's where going to bed!

ive also kept rats. in my opinion they are the best for kids - very intellegant and playful, love a cuddle :)

ginea pigs are a good idea too. i have a house rabbit but its not keen on being picked up by the kids, ok with me though.

ive kept lots of pets and i found that when my DC's were young they lost interest in what ever i bought home.

oh another idea is mice.....i know not alot of people aint keen, ive got 5 and they are lovely, inexpensive, great to watch, dont bite and awake during the day.