Although gerbils and hamsters are both rodents, they have many different appearance characteristics and behavioral habits. Here are some key comparisons:

Appearance comparison

Tail length and shape: A gerbil's tail is much longer than a hamster's, and has a furry tip. A hamster's tail is short, almost invisible, and hairless.

Facial features: Gerbils have larger and rounder ears than hamsters. Gerbils' eyes are also larger and rounder than those of hamsters. A gerbil's nose is longer and more pointed than a hamster's.

Body structure: The body of a gerbil is slender and more flexible than that of a hamster. Hamsters have rounder bodies and are fatter. Gerbils have more diverse fur colors than hamsters, including gray, brown, white, black, etc. Hamsters have a relatively single coat color, usually white, yellow, brown, etc.

Comparison of behavioral habits

Activity time: Gerbils are diurnal animals. They will be active during the day and rest at night. Hamsters are nocturnal animals, they sleep during the day and wake up at night.

Sociality: Gerbils are social animals and they need to get along with their peers, otherwise they will feel lonely and depressed. Hamsters are solitary animals and they do not like to share space with other hamsters, otherwise fights and injuries may occur.

Mobility: Gerbils are very active animals. They like to run around, dig holes, bite things, and play. Hamsters are relatively lazy animals. They like to lie down, sleep, eat, and groom themselves.

If you choose to raise a gerbil, you need to pay attention to the following points:

Gerbil The social needs of rats

Gerbils are very social animals, so it is best to raise two or more gerbils to keep them company. But you should note that the gender and age of your gerbils will affect how they get along. Generally speaking, gerbils of the same sex are more likely to get along than gerbils of the opposite sex, and gerbils of similar ages are more likely to get along than gerbils of widely different ages. If you want to keep gerbils of the opposite sex, you need to consider their breeding issues, because gerbils are very reproductive and you may end up with a lot of gerbils very quickly. If you don't want them to breed, you can spay or neuter them, but this comes with risks and costs. In addition to providing gerbils with companions, you also need to interact with them frequently so that they know you, trust you, and like you. You can use food, toys, language, etc. to communicate with them to make them feel safe and happy.

Gerbils are diurnal animals, so you need to provide them with enough space and play facilities during the day. You can prepare some wheels, tunnels, houses, wooden blocks, cardboard boxes and other toys for them so that they can run, explore, chew, and dig freely. You can also let them move freely in the room under your supervision, but you must pay attention to safety and do not let them come into contact with dangerous items, such as wires, chemicals, sharp objects, etc. You also need to be careful not to let them escape or get hurt by other pets. Gerbils rest at night, and you want to give them a quiet and comfortable sleeping environment without disturbing them or exposing them to light or noise.

The feeding environment of gerbils is very important to their health and happiness. You should pay attention to the following points:

Cage size and type: Gerbils need a cage that is large enough to accommodate them. They can move and play freely. Generally speaking, each gerbil needs at least 40 x 30 x 30 cm of space. If you have multiple gerbils, you will need to increase the size of the cage accordingly. The type of cage is also important. You should choose a cage that is well ventilated, durable, easy to clean, and safe and harmless. You can choose a metal or plastic cage, but avoid glass or wood cages, as glass cages can make gerbils feel stuffy, and wooden cages can be chewed by gerbils.

Bed depth: Gerbils like to dig holes in their beds, so you need to prepare a bed that is deep enough for them. Generally speaking, it should be at least 10 cm thick. You can use wood chips, paper scraps, cotton and other materials as beds, but be careful to choose dust-free, odorless, non-toxic materials, and replace them regularly to keep them clean and hygienic.

The diet and health of gerbils are also the focus of your attention. You should pay attention to the following points:

Dietary requirements: Gerbils are omnivorous animals and they can eat a variety of foods. Various types of food, such as dry food, fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, etc. You want to provide them with a balanced and varied diet so that they get enough nutrients and water. You can buy special gerbil food at a pet store, or make some healthy food yourself, such as oats, corn, carrots, apples, etc. You should be careful not to feed them foods containing sugar, salt, oil, spices, such as chocolate, potato chips, biscuits, etc., as these foods will cause harm to their health. You also need to be careful not to overfeed them or they will become obese and lazy.

Dental care: Gerbils’ teeth are constantly growing, so they need to chew on hard objects regularly to smooth and exercise their teeth. You can prepare some wood, bones, mineral stones and other items for them so that they can chew at any time. You should pay attention to check whether their teeth are normal and not too long, too short, broken, falling out, etc. If you find abnormalities in their teeth, you should take them to the veterinarian in time, otherwise they will develop symptoms such as loss of appetite, indigestion, and malnutrition.

If you choose to raise a hamster, you need to pay attention to the following points:

Hamsters are very independent animals. They do not need to get along with other hamsters and may even refuse to be with other hamsters. Share space. So you'd better only keep one hamster, or if you want to keep multiple hamsters, you have to prepare separate cages for them and don't let them come into contact with each other, otherwise they will fight and even hurt or kill each other. You should also interact with your hamster frequently to let them get used to your presence, but you should respect their personality and do not forcefully catch them, hold them, or disturb their rest.

Hamsters’ nocturnal activities: Hamsters are nocturnal animals, they sleep during the day and wake up at night. So you need to provide them with enough space and play facilities at night. You can prepare some wheels, tunnels, houses, wooden blocks, cardboard boxes and other toys for them so that they can run, explore, chew and play freely. You can also let them move freely in the room under your supervision, but you must pay attention to safety and do not let them come into contact with dangerous items, such as wires, chemicals, sharp objects, etc. You also need to be careful not to let them escape or get hurt by other pets. Hamsters sleep during the day, so you want to give them a quiet and comfortable sleeping environment without disturbing them or exposing them to light and noise. You should also be careful not to place your hamster's cage in your bedroom, as their nocturnal activities may affect the quality of your sleep.

The breeding environment of hamsters is also very important. You should pay attention to the following points:

Cage Choice: Hamsters need a cage that fits them well and allows them to live and move around safely. You want to choose a cage that is well ventilated, durable, easy to clean, and safe and harmless. You can choose a metal or plastic cage, but avoid glass or wood cages, as glass cages can make hamsters feel stuffy, while wooden cages can be chewed by hamsters. You also need to pay attention to the size of the cage. Generally speaking, each hamster needs at least 30×30×30 cm of space. If you have multiple hamsters, you need to prepare separate cages for them to prevent them from interfering with each other.

Bed and Cleaning: Hamsters need a comfortable bed where they can sleep and rest. You can use wood chips, paper scraps, cotton and other materials as beds, but be careful to choose dust-free, odorless, non-toxic materials, and replace them regularly to keep them clean and hygienic. You should also pay attention to cleaning the cage to remove residual food, feces, urine and other dirt to prevent the growth of bacteria and parasites. You can clean the cage once a week, or depending on how dirty it is. You want to use a mild cleaner and avoid cleaners containing ingredients such as chlorine, alcohol, and fragrances, as these ingredients can irritate the hamster's respiratory tract and skin.

The diet and health of hamsters are also the focus of your attention. You should pay attention to the following points:

Dietary suggestions: Hamsters are omnivorous animals and they can eat various types of food. Food, such as dry food, fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, etc. You want to provide them with a balanced and varied diet so that they get enough nutrients and water. You can buy special hamster food at a pet store, or make some healthy food yourself, such as oats, corn, carrots, apples, etc. You should be careful not to feed them foods containing sugar, salt, oil, spices, such as chocolate, potato chips, biscuits, etc., as these foods will cause harm to their health. You also need to be careful not to overfeed them or they will become obese and lazy.

Health management: The health status of hamsters requires you to check and observe them regularly. You should pay attention to whether their weight, coat color, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, anus and other parts are normal, and there are no abnormal secretions. Redness, swelling, itching, hair loss, wounds and other symptoms. You should also pay attention to whether their behavior, appetite, energy, excretion, etc. are normal, and there are no abnormal tremors, sneezing, difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and other symptoms. If you notice anything abnormal about them, you should take them to the veterinarian promptly for diagnosis and treatment. You should also give them regular preventive care such as deworming, vaccinations, and nail clipping to keep them healthy and comfortable.

Gerbils and hamsters are adorable pets, but they are not suitable for every home. Before you choose to raise a gerbil or hamster, you should consider the following points:

Consider whether your home environment is suitable for raising a gerbil or hamster, such as whether there is enough space in your home and whether No other pets, no children, no allergies, etc. You need to ensure that your home can provide a safe, comfortable, and clean environment for your gerbil or hamster to live and move around, without exposing them to threats, disturbance, pollution, etc. You should also consider whether the temperature, humidity, light, noise and other factors in your home are suitable for the physiological needs of gerbils or hamsters, and will not make them feel uncomfortable, nervous, depressed and other emotions.

Consider whether your family members all like gerbils or hamsters, are willing to interact with them, and are able to care for them responsibly. You need to make sure that your family members understand, respect, and care for gerbils or hamsters, and will not cause harm, neglect, or abuse to them. You also need to educate your family members, especially children, on how to get along with gerbils or hamsters correctly, how to catch them, hold them, feed them, and play with them correctly, and not let them be frightened, hurt, stressed, etc.

Consider the life cycle of the gerbil or hamster, whether it is consistent with your family plan, and whether you can accompany them for a long time and not give up on them for various reasons. Generally speaking, the lifespan of gerbils is about 3-5 years, while the lifespan of hamsters is about 2-3 years. During their lifetime, they may encounter various problems, such as disease, injury, aging, death, etc. You must be mentally and physically prepared to face these problems, provide them with the best care and comfort, and do not let them feel lonely and in pain. You must also respect their lives, do not buy, sell, give away, or discard them at will, and be responsible for them to the end.

If you have other pets at home, such as cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, etc., you should pay attention to their interaction and socialization with gerbils or hamsters, and do not let them pose a threat to gerbils or hamsters. , interference, damage and other effects. You want to make sure that your other pets are not aggressive, curious, or playful toward the gerbil or hamster, and do not allow them near the gerbil or hamster's cage, or in their sight when the gerbil or hamster is roaming freely. Inside. You also need to educate your other pets and let them know that gerbils or hamsters are your friends, not their toys or food, and let them respect and protect the gerbils or hamsters and not cause harm to them. If your other pets get along well with gerbils or hamsters, you can also allow them to have some moderate interaction and socialization under your supervision, such as letting them smell, look at, and play with each other, but you Pay attention to controlling the time and distance, and don't make them too close or too intense to avoid accidents.

Gerbils and hamsters also have some common problems and difficulties as pets. You should pay attention to the following points:

Gerbils sometimes bite people. This may be because Here are a few reasons:

Gerbils are scared or nervous: If gerbils feel that you are a stranger, or your movements are too fast, too large, or too sudden, they may feel that you are a threat. Or an enemy, so they bite you in self-defense or as a warning. You should try your best to familiarize the gerbils with your smell, sounds, and movements, so that they feel that you are a friend, not an enemy. You should also try to avoid frightening or stressing your gerbils, don't disturb them when they are sleeping, eating, or playing, and don't forcefully catch, hold, or touch them when they don't want to.

Gerbils are curious or playful: If a gerbil senses that you are an interesting person or a toy, they may bite you to explore or play. You should pay attention to distinguish whether the gerbil bites out of malice or out of curiosity. Generally speaking, if the gerbil bites you, its eyes are bright, its ears are erect, and its tail is wagging. They may be playing rather than attacking. You want to respond appropriately to your gerbil's biting behavior, and don't punish them or shout loudly, which will scare them or make them more excited. You can blow their nose gently, or pat their head gently to let them know that you don't like them biting you, or give them something else to distract them, such as wood, bones, toys, etc. wait.

Gerbils are sick or injured: If your gerbil is feeling unwell or in pain, they may bite to express their discomfort or to resist your touch. You should pay attention to the physical condition of the gerbil to see if there are any abnormal symptoms, such as runny nose, sneezing, difficulty breathing, loss of appetite, weight loss, dull coat, red eyes, ear inflammation, oral inflammation, anal inflammation, and skin inflammation. , wound infection, fracture, dislocation, etc. If you notice anything unusual about your gerbils, take them to the veterinarian promptly for diagnosis and treatment. You also need to communicate with them gently so that they feel that you are helping them, not hurting them.

Hamsters are nocturnal animals, they are active at night and sleep during the day. This may have an impact on the quality of your sleep, for example you may be disturbed by their noise, movement, or light, or you may worry about their safety, health, or well-being. You should pay attention to the following points to reduce the impact of hamsters on your sleep:

Put the hamster's cage in a place far away from your bedroom, such as the living room, study, corridor, etc. This way you won't be disturbed by their sounds, movements, or light, nor will it affect their activities and rest.

Provide hamsters with enough toys so that they can entertain themselves at night and not feel bored or lonely. You can prepare some wheels, tunnels, houses, wooden blocks, cardboard boxes and other toys for them so that they can run, explore, chew and play freely. You can also give them some food so that they can be full at any time without feeling hungry or thirsty.

During the day, try not to disturb the hamster’s sleep so that they can fully rest, restore their physical strength, and adjust their biological clock. You can give them a quiet and comfortable sleeping environment, do not let them be affected by light and noise, and do not catch them, hold them, or touch them while they sleep.

At night, try not to disturb the hamsters’ activities so that they can play freely and enjoy the nightlife. You can interact and socialize with them when they wake up, such as talking to them, feeding them, petting them, and playing with them. But you should pay attention to controlling the time and distance, and don't make them too excited or too tired, and don't affect your own sleep quality.

Gerbils and hamsters as pets will also have some health problems, such as colds, gastroenteritis, skin diseases, parasites, dental problems, fractures, dislocations, etc. You should pay attention to the following points to prevent and deal with their health problems:

Provide them with a clean, hygienic and comfortable breeding environment, clean the cage regularly, change the bed, remove residual food and feces, Urine and other dirt to prevent the growth of bacteria and parasites.

Provide them with a balanced, varied, and healthy diet so that they can obtain adequate nutrition and moisture. Do not feed them sugary, salty, oily, spice-containing foods, and do not overfeed them. food to prevent them from obesity, indigestion, malnutrition and other problems.

Provide them with enough space and play facilities so that they can move and play freely. Do not let them feel bored or depressed to prevent them from developing problems such as depression, anxiety, and aggression.

Provide them with some hard objects that they can chew regularly to smooth and exercise their teeth and prevent them from problems such as teeth that are too long, too short, broken, and falling off.

Give them regular preventive care such as deworming, vaccinations, and nail clipping to keep them healthy and comfortable and prevent them from parasites, infections, wounds and other problems.

Observe and check their physical condition regularly to see if there are any abnormal symptoms, such as runny nose, sneezing, difficulty breathing, loss of appetite, weight loss, dull coat, red eyes, ear inflammation, and oral inflammation. , anal inflammation, skin inflammation, wound infection, fractures, dislocations, etc. If you find any abnormality in them, you should take them to the veterinarian promptly for diagnosis and treatment. Do not give them medicine at will or ignore their problems.

Communicate with them gently, let them feel that you are helping them, not hurting them, provide them with the best care and comfort, and don't let them feel lonely and in pain.