Gerbils and hamsters should not live together as they have different temperaments and care needs. Gerbils are more social and active, while hamsters prefer to live alone and are less active.
Many small pet owners are often curious about whether gerbils and hamsters can live together in the same enclosure. After all, they’re both cute, furry rodents that make great pets! Unfortunately, it’s not such a good idea to house them together due to their different temperaments and care requirements.
In this article we’ll discuss why these two animals should be kept separate from one another. Gerbils and hamsters are popular choices when it comes to adopting a small pet. They both have friendly personalities and require minimal maintenance – which makes them an ideal choice for novice pet owners.
But although these two species may look similar on the surface, there are several key differences between them that could cause problems if they were housed together. Read on as we explore why you shouldn’t house gerbils and hamsters together.
What You'll Learn
Gerbils And Hamsters: A Brief Overview
Gerbils and hamsters are two of the most popular small animals kept as pets. According to recent surveys, nearly one million households across the United States have gerbil or hamster companions.
When considering a pet from either species, it’s important to understand their housing requirements and dietary needs. Gerbils need large enclosures with plenty of space for toys and activities; an aquatic-style tank is ideal. They also require bedding material that can absorb moisture while allowing them to tunnel within it.
Hamsters require smaller enclosures such as cages made specifically for them, but they still need enough room to move around freely. Both types of rodents should be provided with ample hiding places and chewable items like cardboard tubes and wooden blocks for stimulation.
When it comes to diet, both gerbils and hamsters eat a variety of seeds, grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, pellets, mealworms etc., although exact diets may vary depending on the age of the animal. Gerbils tend to prefer live food whereas hamsters usually enjoy more dried goods in their meals. Fresh water must also always be available for both species in order to stay hydrated throughout the day.
Overall, gerbils and hamsters have different housing requirements and dietary considerations that should be taken into account when deciding which type of pet is right for you. It’s essential to do your research before bringing home any new furry friend! Moving forward, let’s look at some differences between these two species in terms of temperament…
Differences In Temperament
Gerbils and hamsters are two distinct species, with different temperaments that can make them incompatible when living together.
Gerbils tend to be much more social creatures than hamsters, enjoying the company of other gerbils and humans alike. Hamsters on the other hand are solitary animals by nature and prefer to live alone. Having both in one cage would lead to increased stress levels for the hamster as it is unable or unwilling to escape from the attention of its cagemates.
In addition, gerbils are active during daylight hours, while hamsters are nocturnal so they have opposite sleep cycles which could cause disruption and distress for either animal if they were forced to share a home.
Furthermore, due to their differences in size, gerbils may even physically threaten a smaller hamster, leading to further stress and discomfort.
These gaps in temperament between gerbils and hamsters mean that keeping them in a single space would not be suitable for either creature’s wellbeing. Pairing these two species together can also result in fights breaking out which can injure or even kill one of the animals.
For this reason it is best that each species remains separate from the other in order to provide an optimal environment for both animals’ needs and safety.
Therefore although there are some exceptions where these two species have been known to co-exist peacefully, it is generally advised against keeping them together due to the potential risks associated with mixing different temperaments within one enclosure.
This highlights just how important it is for owners who keep small animals like gerbils and hamsters recognize their individual care requirements when considering housing arrangements going forward.
Differences In Care Requirements
Surprisingly, what could be a match made in heaven might not be so after all. Even though gerbils and hamsters share similar looks, they have distinct differences when it comes to their temperaments and care requirements.
To start with, the two species have various dietary needs; for instance, hamsters are omnivores whilst gerbils are herbivores meaning that their nutritional intake is quite different. Furthermore, gerbils require more proteins than hamsters do as part of their diet.
When looking at habitat requirements, both animals need ample space to exercise however due to the fact that gerbils are social creatures they should live in pairs or groups while hamsters prefer living on their own. Additionally, since gerbils can burrow and climb they will need much higher cages compared to hamster cages which tend to be smaller because these pets rarely climb.
Finally, another big difference between the two rodents is that gerbils like playing with each other whereas hamsters don’t enjoy being disturbed by others and get easily startled:
- Gerbils would rather play and interact with other members of its group instead of staying alone
- Hamsters prefer having their own territory away from anybody else’s presence
- If there isn’t enough space provided for them to move around freely, one animal may feel threatened by the other leading to aggression
Thus we can see why keeping these two species together wouldn’t work out as well as expected. We now look into potential health risks associated with living alone or in an unsuitable environment for either pet.
Potential Health Risks
When considering the potential health risks of housing gerbils and hamsters together, it is important to recognize that these small rodents have different temperaments and care needs. Therefore, alternative housing arrangements should be explored in order to reduce any potential harm caused by mixing them up.
| Gerbils | Hamsters |
|---|---|
| Social critters who live as pairs or groups in the wild | Solitary animals who need their own space in captivity |
| Omnivorous; eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains and insects | Carnivorous; feed primarily on meat-based foods such as insect larvae, worms and mealworms |
| Require more exercise opportunities than other rodent species | Tend to hoard food; require larger cages for storage purposes |
Due to differences in diet considerations between gerbils and hamsters, special attention must be paid when providing nutrition for both species if housed together. For instance, while gerbils are omnivores with an appetite for fresh fruit and vegetables, hamsters are strictly carnivores. Providing insufficient dietary options can lead to malnutrition or obesity among either species. In addition, depending on the size of the cage they share, there may not be enough room available for each animal’s individual needs if kept together long term.
Finally, even though some owners believe keeping two different types of small rodents together might provide companionship or entertainment value for them both, this could ultimately do more harm than good due to natural incompatibilities between the two species. It is therefore important to seek out alternate living arrangements where possible in order to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all parties involved. With that being said, exploring benefits of keeping them separate will be discussed further in subsequent section topic…
Benefits Of Keeping Them Separate
Despite the potential health risks of housing gerbils and hamsters together, there are several benefits to keeping them separate.
One interesting statistic is that over 90% of veterinarians recommend not having both animals in the same enclosure. This highlights how important it is for owners to understand their unique social behaviors and care needs.
Gerbils and hamsters have different temperaments which can lead to stress when housed together. For example, hamsters tend to be more solitary while gerbils prefer living in groups or with companionship. In addition, they require different amounts of exercise so it’s essential to provide an appropriate-sized enclosure that meets each animal’s specific requirements.
Given the contrasting personalities between these two species, it’s critical for owners to recognize signs of distress from either pet as this could indicate a problem with housing them together – such as bullying or territorial behavior issues. Additionally, if one becomes ill then any shared food supplies should also be separated immediately until veterinary advice has been sought out as diseases can spread quickly between small mammals kept in close quarters.
Overall, recognizing the differences between gerbils and hamsters will help ensure both pets remain healthy and happy without being forced into an uncomfortable environment where their individual needs cannot be met properly. With this knowledge at hand, now we can explore alternatives to keep them separate yet content within your home.
Alternatives To Housing Gerbils And Hamsters Together
Although gerbils and hamsters cannot live together, there are still options to provide them with enjoyable housing.
A good place to start is by comparing their cages. Hamster cages typically have a small space for the enclosure which includes tunnels as well as platforms and shelves that they can climb on in order to explore their environment. Gerbil enclosures tend to be larger than those of hamsters, providing more room for activities such as digging and burrowing.
When it comes to living quarters, both animals need environments that are safe from predators like cats or dogs, away from drafts, heaters, radiators or air conditioners, and out of direct sunlight.
Also keep in mind that gerbils should never be housed alone; they do best when kept in pairs or groups. On the other hand, hamsters are solitary creatures so they prefer being alone rather than having roommates.
In terms of bedding material, paper-based products such as shredded paper or wood shavings work great for gerbils while soft fabrics like towels make excellent nesting materials for hamsters.
It’s also important to remember that anything made of cedar should not be used because it contains oils harmful to these animals’ health.
Other items you may want to include in each pet’s habitat are exercise wheels, chew toys and hiding places like tubes or boxes filled with hay or straw where they can sleep comfortably at night.
Overall, there are plenty of alternatives available when considering the housing needs of gerbils and hamsters – all one has to do is research what works best for each species before making any decisions about how to set up their living spaces!
Conclusion
Overall, it’s not recommended to house gerbils and hamsters together. While they’re both small pets that require similar care, there are significant differences in their temperaments and needs. To ensure the health and safety of both animals, it’s best to keep them separate – a case of ‘better safe than sorry!’
Keeping different types of small mammals can still be enjoyable; for example, by providing enrichment activities such as hiding treats around an enclosure you’ll be able to watch your furry friends explore side-by-side in harmony. This way everyone wins!
