Is a guinea pig like a hamster?

Is a guinea pig like a hamster?

Both guinea pigs and hamsters belong to the order of Rodentia – so they are both rodents. But they don’t share the same family; guinea pigs are members of the Caviidae (or Cavi) family while hamsters are members of the Cricetidae family.

Can a guinea pig and hamster breed?

No, guinea pigs and hamsters can not mate under any circumstances. The guinea pig is much larger than the hamster, and it is, of course, another species. Mating between a guinea pig and a hamster is impossible, and any such inappropriate attempt will result in severe injuries or even death of the hamster.

Which is more expensive hamster or guinea pig?

One significant difference between hamster and guinea pig ownership is the cost of each pet. Hamsters cost an average of $10 to $20, while guinea pigs are more expensive, typically ranging between $20 and $40 each. Guinea pig cages are also more expensive, mainly because they’re larger than hamster cages.

Which is smarter hamster or guinea pig?

Are guinea pigs smarter than hamsters? Research has proved that hamsters have less number of neurons in their brain. Hamster is also harder to train as compared to guinea pigs, as they have a short span of memory. Thus, we can say that guinea pigs are indeed smarter than hamsters.

Would a guinea pig kill a hamster?

Can guinea pig food kill hamsters? Unfortunately, Guinea pig food is not suitable for hamsters, and while it won’t immediately kill the hamster, it definitely isn’t safe to feed a hamster guinea pig food long term.

What smells worse hamster or guinea pig?

In my experience hamsters smell much more than guinea pigs. Guinea pigs live longer (much longer usually). Hamsters are nocturnal creatures – guineas are awake day and night (they have several short naps throughout). Guinea pigs very rarely bite.

Can 2 hamsters be in the same cage?

Owners who want to keep more than one hamster in the same cage should opt for the Dwarf species. These can be kept in pairs or groups – but they will still need plenty of space,as they are territorial. Syrian hamsters, however (and sometimes Chinese too) must be kept alone.

Do guinea pigs need a wheel?

Guinea pigs do not need exercise wheels and balls to exercise and stay active. While these products can be used for other pets such as hamsters and mice, they can be dangerous for guinea pigs. Prolonged periods in an exercise wheel may cause your guinea pigs to suffer from spinal injuries.

Can a hamster kill a guinea pig?

Hamsters are solitary animals where as guinea pigs are herd animals. However a guinea pig is much larger than a hamster and has much larger teeth. If it wanted to, it could kill a guinea pig easily and such instances have happened when owners have done this very thing.

Is it better to have 1 guinea pig or 2?

Guinea pigs are social pets and are therefore best kept in groups of two or more. This enables them to express their natural behaviour, and allows for all of their social needs to be met.

Is it okay to have 1 guinea pig?

It is ok to have one guinea pig, but it is best to go with a pair or more. Guinea pigs may show abnormal behavior if left alone. If you have enough time to dedicate to your guinea pig, interact and play with them, then you shall do just fine with a single guinea pig. Else it is best to get a pair or more.

What kills a guinea pig?

Mercury can kill your guinea pig if it eats or touches it. Since guinea pigs can chew through wires, remove any mercury from your home, and keep electronics away from guinea pigs. Fluorescent lightbulbs may contain small amounts of mercury. Recycle these instead of throwing them away.

Can a guinea pig die from loneliness?

The surprising truth is – yes, guinea pigs can die of loneliness. They need a companion in their life because they are social animals. … If you don’t have time to play with them and to show them affection you need to get a second guinea pig otherwise they could get sick and die of loneliness.

Do guinea pigs smell up room badly?

Guinea pigs are good with keeping themselves clean, however, sometimes they can smell up the room badly. Before you try to get rid of the odor, it’s important to understand where it is coming from.

What do guinea pigs hate the most?

Guinea pigs are scared of other animals, especially larger than themselves. They are also afraid of predator pets such as cats or dogs, which is quite normal. It’s not advisable to keep your guinea pigs with other pets. Some people do keep their guinea pigs with rabbits, but even this combination is not the best one.

Can a hamster die of loneliness?

Spend time with him and interact with him (or her) But a hamster really won’t die from loneliness 🙂 Hamsters are not social creatures. They will become violent toward one another when paired together. They probably fight in part because of how small they are caged together.

Can you put 2 female hamsters in the same cage?

They are social creatures and get along well with other dwarf hamsters, so you can keep them together with others in a cage once they have been properly introduced. You should ideally house them with others of the same gender, because if you put males and females together they will breed rapidly.

Can you walk a guinea pig on a leash?

You can “walk” a guinea pig on a leash, but don’t try to get your guinea pig to go for outdoor walks. Unlike dogs and cats, cavies cannot successfully learn to go for leashed walks. While some people indeed train their small captive pets to walk around on leashes, it isn’t suitable for guinea pigs.

Can I give my guinea pig toilet paper rolls?

The great thing about them is that they are completely fine for guinea pigs to chew and eat. They won’t be harmed at all, and although they won’t take to it as a food, it will give them something to chew on.

Do guinea pigs bite?

Guinea pigs are docile animals, and rarely bite without cause. They tend to ‘mouth’ their owners while being held, just to see if you’re edible! These are not hard bites, though, and don’t hurt. Guinea pigs only use their teeth aggressively if they feel under threat – they are their only means of defence.

Are guinea pigs or hamsters friendlier?

Temperament Typically, hamsters are far more temperamental than guinea pigs. And because they are smaller and more fragile to handle, they are more likely to nip or bite. If you have very young children in the house, a guinea pig is probably a better option.

Hamsters will bite if they feel threatened. The hamster will most likely end up injuring the guinea pig in some way because of this. However, guinea pigs will bite back if necessary. The most likely outcome is an injured guinea pig and a dead hamster.

Do guinea pigs stink?

Guinea pigs are generally as clean as you keep them, so if yours has an odor, it means you need to change your care routine, or he’s sick. In fact, guinea pigs prefer to keep it clean. If you’re cleaning out the cage and bathing your guinea pig as often as you should, odor shouldn’t be a problem.

What’s the difference between a guinea pig and a hamster?

One of the main differences between the two is their appearance. Guinea pigs are plump with short legs. They can measure up to 10 inches and two pounds. Hamsters are nocturnal creatures with short tails. They have small eyes, short tails, and can measure up to seven inches long. Guinea pigs are larger than hamsters.

How big of a cage do you need for a hamster?

A Dwarf would need half that size, but I honestly recommend getting your hamster a very large cage, since he’ll feel much more comfortable with lots of space to run around. A guinea pig, on the other hand, needs 30 x 36 inches/ 76 x 91 cm cage. That is the absolute minimum, for just one guinea pig.

How many piglets can a hamster give birth to?

Female hamsters give birth to an average of six to 12 pups. Guinea pigs may give birth to a maximum 8 of piglets, although 2-4 is more common. If you have other pets in your home, guinea pigs are a great choice. They interact well with other animals and humans.

How big of an enclosure does a guinea pig need?

Besides this, hamsters only weigh around 1 – 10 oz, while guinea pigs weigh about 1.5 – 2.6 lb. Typically, one to guinea pigs will need a minimum of 7.5 square feet of living space. In other words, they require a roomier enclosure to enable them to exercise on their schedule.