Gerbils vs. Hamsters

While gerbils and hamsters look quite similar, need about the same care and accommodations, and live about the same length of time (three years), they have different habits and personalities, which should be taken into account when deciding which of the two is the right pet for you.

  1. Sleep Patterns

    • Hamsters are nocturnal, which means that when you want to interact with your hamster, he may very well be cuddled up in a ball, snoozing away. Conversely, when you are asleep at midnight, he might decide this is the perfect time to go zooming along in his exercise wheel.

      Gerbils are diurnal, which means that your gerbil's schedule may fit in more readily with yours.

    Socialization

    • Solitary hamsters do just fine, as they are not social animals. In fact, two female hamsters in the same cage will definitely not get along well. So if you have multiple dwellers, make sure that they are all male (and don't mix males and females, for obvious reasons!).

      Gerbils, on the other hand, need companions. A solitary gerbil will be unhappy. As with hamsters, female gerbils are more aggressive with each other than males, so the best gerbil configuration is a pair of males.

    Diet

    • Both gerbils and hamsters like the same types of food, but gerbils should be fed a smaller proportion of leafy greens and vegetables than hamsters.

    Environment

    • Gerbils are less tolerant of high temperatures than hamsters. Gerbils can easily become dehydrated. You should not keep a gerbil in any area where the temperature will rise above 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Appearance

    • Gerbils resemble rats or mice more than hamsters do, so if you find those creatures appealing, you may prefer a gerbil. If not, you may prefer a hamster.