If you want a cute, furry, and small pet that doesn’t need too much commitment, both the guinea pig and hamster are great options.Before adopting either of these pet rodents, people often pit the hamster vs. guinea pig for a good reason. However, there are vast differences between them, varying from their size to their appearance and lifespan.Although what pet you choose depends on your personal taste, both of them will make great companions to anyone. Their care needs vary from time to time, but they do have a lot in common too. Both pets are very popular with children, but adults need to constantly supervise their pets’ regular care and grooming.Guinea pigs and hamsters are often misleading as, due to their looks, most people think they are the same animal. However, if you consider keeping one of these as a pet, be aware that some characteristics are different. A vast majority of people are excited about these animals for numerous reasons, and it is important to know their essential aspects before getting one. To properly care for these creatures, you need to ask yourself many questions and consider a few things.If you like reading about the guinea pig vs. hamster and are curious to know more fun facts about other animals, do also check out our other articles on hamster habitat and hamster hibernation here on Kidadl.Are guinea pigs or hamsters more affectionate?This may sound boring and quite lame, but it’s something to keep in mind during the hamsters vs. guinea pigs discussion.If you like to cuddle your pet animal and want a pet that accepts and interacts with you, guinea pigs are ideal. Guinea pigs are fragile, don’t mind being treated and handled, and are more likely to accept human affection.On the other hand, hamsters are not so good with affection. Hamsters tend to be more shy and temperamental around people. They also chew quickly when they feel threatened and sometimes can bite. They are cute, but they are not the best choice as pets for small children. However, the more affectionately these pocket animals are treated when they’re babies, the happier they will be to be picked up and hugged as adults.Which pet is easier to take care of, hamster or guinea pig?Everybody needs care, whether it is a small animal or a large animal. Yes, maintenance and commitment can vary, but all of them need enough attention and interaction.With care, you can avoid some serious health issues that both guinea pigs and hamsters are prone to. In general, guinea pigs do not develop many health problems and are not difficult to care for, but you must always pay attention to their primary tasks such as cleaning their habitat, bedding, exercising, and providing the necessary products for their nourishment. As a result, the lifespan expectancy of guinea pigs can be about five to seven years.Unlike guinea pigs, hamsters can develop some critical illnesses that require attention. The most common illness in them is called the wet tail. Symptoms include dampness in the anal and tail areas and. It can cause diarrhea. You can also observe them losing their appetite and developing certain infections.This is the most severe hamster illness, and you have to treat it immediately; if not, it can result in the hamster’s death. Other minor health problems in hamsters include skin conditions, and they can carry a variety of parasites on them. The typical lifespan expectancy of a hamster is around two to three years.A hamster needs much more exercise than a guinea pig because of its vulnerable health conditions.Size And Appearance Differences Between The Guinea Pigs And HamstersThere are many differences between guinea pigs and hamsters. The first and major one is the difference in size between these creatures. It is clear that guinea pigs are much larger and heavier than hamsters.In fact, guinea pigs grow between 8-12 in (20-30 cm), while hamsters only reach up to 2-6 in (5-15 cm) in size. This means that guinea pigs are usually two (or four) times bigger than hamsters. This size includes the weight of the creatures too. In terms of body weight, guinea pigs weigh about 1.5-2.6 lb (0.6-1.2 kg), while hamsters weigh only 1-10 oz (28-283 g).Looking at the above facts, it is pretty clear that guinea pigs need much more space and food to live than hamsters. One of the most striking features in terms of appearance is that guinea pigs are generally round in shape, have short feet, and have no tail, whereas hamsters are creatures with short tails and small doe-like eyes.Unlike guinea pigs, hamsters are born hairless, blind, and usually give the impression of another rodent, like mice. In terms of color, you can see a wide range in each species.Nutritional Needs Difference Between Guinea Pigs And HamstersDiet is an essential thing in every living being, whether animals or humans. Especially for young creatures, portions of a good food diet are necessary for their growth. If we look closely, we observe that guinea pigs are herbivorous creatures, and the main food for this pet is hay, grass, and a variety of vegetables.You have to keep in mind that they need a lot of hay and water in their diet every day. There are several products made with fresh ingredients that are easy to buy online and come in convenient packaging. It is important to note that guinea pigs cannot produce vitamin C independently, so they need to eat enough vitamin C-rich vegetables.It would help if you also gave them spinach and broccoli to eat, as it will help in reducing the risk of diseases like scurvy. Hamsters are omnivores, and not only do they eat plants and hay, but they also tend to feed on small insects and worms. Therefore, they can manage to get all the vitamins they need through these kinds of foods and do not need any additional supplements.A general recommendation for these active rodents is to feed your hamster 0.3 oz (10 g) per day, and it should contain at least 16% protein. An interesting fact about hamsters is that they have a pouch on their cheeks where they can store small food items like nuts to eat them later.Difference Between Interaction With Guinea Pig Vs. HamsterIf you look at guinea pigs, you can see that they are not strictly nocturnal or diurnal, which means they can play with you all day and night. Guinea pigs are very rare to bite their owners because they are social animals and are so affectionate in nature. They are very kind and meek.Once the guinea pig has become accustomed to its surroundings and with human interactions, it is possible to snuggle up to the guinea pig. Guinea pigs are larger than hamsters and have weaker spines, so you need to handle them with both hands to support their buttocks and abdomen. Guinea pigs love ground time as they like to explore larger areas.During these times, you can experience countless popcorning (happy little leaps) and zooming around. It is advisable for owners to use a guinea pig fleece liner so that they can easily navigate the floor, and by this, you can protect their sensitive feet during playtime.Whereas hamsters keep more to themselves and are calmer than guinea pigs, hamsters can also cling to people, but hamsters will bite without people taking the time to earn their trust! They require daily handling and interaction to get used to you (like guinea pigs).Hamsters are tiny, so once adjusted, they can be easily handled with one hand. Other than this, hamsters are nocturnal in nature, which means they are seen most active during late evenings, night, and early dawn.Behavior Of Guinea Pig Vs. HamsterIf we look closely, we can conclude that both the hamsters and guinea pigs have similar behavior. Both love to play with toys, but a guinea pig is more likely to get bored and decide to crawl on the floor, whereas a hamster is likely to continue to spend time with the toy.Guinea pigs are social and love to play with people. As long as you care for guinea pigs lovingly, they will give you back the same affection. It takes some time to get to know the people around them, but they do not stop once they get comfortable.In general, they love the day and are more playful during this time, but that doesn’t mean you can’t play with them at night. So you have the opportunity to have a good time with your guinea pig at any time of the day.It would be best if you observe their behavior right from the start. Otherwise, your guinea pig can be quite restless and anxious.Hamsters love to spend alone time. But hamsters can also love and be affectionate around people and children. You must interact with hamsters every day to build relationships and show them that you are ready to take care of them.Another feature that sets them apart from guinea pigs is that hamsters are usually more active at night.Necessary care should be taken when you decide to introduce a hamster to another pet, as it can be very aggressive towards the other pet hamster or itself.Cages Of Guinea Pig Vs. HamsterHamsters and guinea pigs have different body sizes, which means their space requirements and cage size also vary. But, it all depends on the owner as to where they want their pet.Guinea pigs need more spacious enclosures to exercise on schedule and ensure some privacy for them just to be. But most cages in pet stores are much smaller than the minimum size requirement. The smaller cage may be acceptable for the first few weeks when the guinea pig is a baby. However, owners need to quickly increase the size of their cages as the guinea pig grows in size.With the space, bedding requirement is also necessary for guinea pigs. Living on wet and hard floors can cause problems like bumblefoot and much more; your pet can also have respiratory distress because of dusty bedding. This is why comfortable and clean bedding is required. Their allocated space should also be cleaned every second day to avoid problems.Whereas hamsters take up less space than guinea pigs, and so they are more comfortable in larger, more spacious cages and environments. There are studies that show a positive correlation between cage size and a hamsters’ lifespan. Same as guinea pigs, hamsters also need comfortable bedding, which should be cleaned or changed every alternate day.Should I Get A Hamster Or A Guinea Pig?After looking at all the facts carefully, hamsters and guinea pigs are great, but the final choice depends on the type of family and whether it has young children or just adults.If the family has young children, then it is advisable to go for a guinea pig and avoid hamsters.Although hamsters take up less space, smaller cages, and less maintenance, they can easily bite and harm children. Apart from this, hamsters can easily get sick and carry harmful bacteria on them.Whereas guinea pigs are bigger than hamsters and need larger cages than them, the positive here is that they easily get comfortable with children and do not bite at all.However, some studies conclude that hamsters can be a very convenient choice for children, regardless of age, for various reasons. The small and cute look is attractive to children, and it’s fun to play with hamsters. But, as mentioned above, they are nocturnal, which means they are most active at night when children are sleeping.Therefore, they can be relatively difficult to manage and less fun to maintain. On the other hand, guinea pigs are pretty easy to handle, despite their large size. Although a guinea pig is not so much active as a hamster in nature, it can still be enjoyable to play with.The con that both of these cute animals have is that they both are a little smelly. So, in the end, both the animals are perfect in their own kind, and the final choice will be yours to make.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for guinea pigs vs. hamsters, then why not take a look at guinea pigs in the wild or guinea pigs sneezing.
If you want a cute, furry, and small pet that doesn’t need too much commitment, both the guinea pig and hamster are great options.
