Hamster is any of the 25 species of the Family:Cricetidae of Order: Rodentia. Chinchilla vs Guinea Pig – The Great Debate! The main difference between hamster and guinea pig is that hamster has a small, rounded body whereas guinea pig has a comparatively big, longer body. However, they are seasonal breeders in wild conditions. However, they like to eat their own faeces, especially the caecal pellets (caecotropes) that are needed to fulfil a complete digestion. On the other hand, they are active at night and sleep during the daytime. It has a long body that grows up to 8-12 inches. These two rodents vary in many things including diet (one is an omnivore while the other is an herbivore), waking hours (hamsters are crepuscular-nocturnal while guinea pigs depend on their human), and temperament (hamsters can live alone while guinea pigs like to be in groups). 1. • Guinea pigs eat their own faeces but not the hamsters. Usually, the pregnant ones do not eat caecal pellets. Alternatively, hamsters are only suitable for older children. 1. Guinea pigs are very delicate creatures who will need lots of space, cleaning and feeding, whilst hamsters are nocturnal and don’t like being woken during daylight hours. Guinea pigs are sociable animals. Therefore, this article may be of good use for anyone who is interested in knowing the important information about these two animals, and how to differentiate one from the other. For starters, we need to consider whether or not your house is safe for small pets.Next, you need to check for things like; what do they eat? Hamster and guinea pig are two types of rodents that belong to the order Rodentia. What is the difference between Guinea Pig and Hamster? Although the name would suggest it as a pig species, it is a rodent of the Family: Caviidae. Home » Science » Biology » Animals » Mammals » What is the Difference Between Hamster and Guinea Pig. Zipser et al. Another significant feature of hamsters is the use of front paws to hold their food. They are known for being social and good-natured pets. Chinese Hamster Featured Image Credit: 本人撮影 / Ultrasleeper2, Wikimedia Commons . Guinea Pig      – Definition, Characteristics, Behavior 3. Their teeth are masticating and always develop. Hamsters are small, quiet, low maintenance pets that live a fairly short lifespan and don't require a lot of handling. (With Pictures) 5. Gerbils and guinea pigs are social little animals meaning that they need other of their kind around to be content. Some are shorthaired, some have long hair, some have swirls in their fur as a pattern, but their personalities do not vary from one fur type to another. Although they are both popular pets, another noticeable difference between a guinea pig and a hamster is temperament. 2015, Available Here, 1. “Little guinea pig enjoys the day” By Rikki’s Refuge (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr, Lakna, a graduate in Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, is a Molecular Biologist and has a broad and keen interest in the discovery of nature related things, What is the Difference Between Hamster and Guinea Pig, What are the Similarities Between Hamster and Guinea Pig, What is the Difference Between Fox and Coyote, What is the Difference Between Gopher and Groundhog, Difference Between Porcupine and Hedgehog, What is the Difference Between Contagion Theory and Convergence Theory, What is the Difference Between Convection Oven and Grill Oven, What is the Difference Between Lifestyle and Standard of Living, What is the Difference Between Bake and Grill, What is the Difference Between Postgraduate and Undergraduate, Difference Between Cream of Tartar and Tartaric Acid. Moreover, both have comparatively small bodies covered with fur. Meerschweinchen gegen Hamster . A guinea pig can be a pet for children 7 years of age with adult supervision. It is no longer found the wild and is now typically kept as a pet or for laboratory research. Furthermore, hamster is more related to mice while guinea pig is less related to mice. Guinea pigs tend to be active when you as are as they aren't crepuscular like hamsters. When they do, such as with guinea pigs, they mostly compare adults. Guinea pigs can live up to seven years while hamsters can live up to three years. Domesticated vs wild animals. Hamsters are omnivorous in their food habits. Because guinea pigs are bigger than hamsters, they’ll require bigger enclosures for happier and healthier lives. Not many studies have compared the behaviors of wild and domesticated animals. A hamster has a small, rounded body while a guinea pig has a comparatively large, long body. • Tail is longer in hamsters than in guinea pig. Hamsters are less social while guinea pigs are more social. Initial outlay- Although both guinea pigs and hamsters are relatively cheap to buy, there is a difference in the initial outlay in terms of the habitats and accessories you will need. It weighs 2 to 4 pounds. Hamsters live up to 2-3 years while guinea pig lives up to 5-7 years. Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms. Guinea pigs are bigger than hamsters, one of the significant differences. Naveen is a Doctoral Student in Agroforestry, former Research Scientist and an Environmental Officer. They both primarily possess their characteristic gnawing teeth, which are sharp and ever growing. Hamster and guinea pig are two types of rodent that serve as family pets. Although hamsters are domesticated, they are also found in the wild. • The head and neck is larger than body in guinea pigs, whereas hamsters do not have such a large head and neck compared to the rest of the … Hello everybody! They are nocturnal beings and typically eat fruits, leaves and see… Hamster is a small, rounded rodent that is active in the night. Some facts about them: * They come out at night. Today's video is all about hamsters VS guinea pigs as pets! Guinea Pig VS Hamster Victoria Pena Lynda Rios Abstract conditioning response between guinea pig and hamster exposed to three different colors with three different rewards data shown through table, bar graph, pictures, video unsupported hypothesis The approximate length of a hamster is 5-6 inches. There is a HUGE difference between a Hamster and a guinea pig, The obvious Differnece being adult guinea pigs are HUGE compared to a hamster - my 4 guinea pigs (i have a sow and 3 boars) are slightly bigger than a dwarf rabbit, which is rather large. A hamster will fit comfortably in the palm of your hand. Unlike hamsters, Guinea pig is very social in nature. Also, teeth are piercingly sharp. • Hamsters show cannibalism sometimes, but guinea pigs never eat their own kind for any reason. Their body size is the main difference between hamster and guinea pig. Guinea pigs are usually much bigger than hamsters and need a larger cage. they are a little more work because you have to clean their cage more often (like once a week or so) but they are also much more social and live longer. They have a short tail with short stocky legs and small furry ears. Some people prefer active and playful animals like A guinea pig would generally weigh up to 2 pounds and measures from 6 to 10 inches. It has a large head with a stout neck, and the rump region is rounded. • The head and neck is larger than body in guinea pigs, whereas hamsters do not have such a large head and neck compared to the rest of the body. “hamster-pet-animal-small-cute-fur-690108” (CC0) via Pixabay2. He has more than ten years of diverse experience as a Zoologist and Environmental Biologist. Therefore, guinea pigs could be regarded ascoprophagous animals like rabbits. In comparison, hamsters are solitary animals meaning that you must keep it singly. The guinea pig is typically between one and three pounds. Guinea pigs usually eat grass as their main food, and fresh grass and hay are particularly preferred. • Guinea pig is only one species while there are 25 species of hamsters. All rights reserved. Finding the difference between hamster and guinea pig is like comparing night and day. They are nocturnal and burrowing animals. Those caecotropes are softer than the usual faecal matter and can primarily recycle fibres, Vitamin B, and bacteria. The main difference between hamster and guinea pig is their body size and behaviour. Furthermore, hamster uses its front paws to hold food while guinea pig always stays on four legs. Syrian hamsters (aka Goldens and Teddy Bear hamsters) are typically between 5 to 6 inches long (even up to 7 if they're female), while Dwarf hamsters can be … Therefore, hamsters prefer more to live alone while guinea pig prefers to live in groups or pairs. What is the Difference Between Hamster and Guinea Pig      – Comparison of Key Differences, Coprophages, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Nocturnal, Social Behavior, Sounds. Die Unterschiede zwischen Meerschweinchen und Hamster sind jedoch wichtig zu wissen, da beide als Haustiere gehalten werden. “How to Care for Gerbils, Hamsters and Guinea Pigs Stories to Read.” HelloKids, 7 Apr. Hamsters prefer to live alone and they compete for food when in groups. But what exactly is the difference? It can live both in the indoors and outdoors if the weather suits it. Hamster is more active during the night while guinea pig has no specifically active time. If you are looking for a pet with a long lifespan, guinea pigs are better than hamsters. They are accustomed to being in groups. Issues to Consider When Choosing a Guinea Pig . Guinea pigs can be kept outside in wooden hutches, hamsters have to be in a metal cage indoors (or they will just chew their way straight out and disappear). I hope this video can help you discern guinea pig from hamster. One of the main characteristic features of guinea pigs is that they are coprophages that eat their own faecal matter, which is rich in vitamins and nutrients. @media (max-width: 1171px) { .sidead300 { margin-left: -20px; } } They are also called as rodents who do not have a tail. They are their solitary and nocturnal nature. Hamster is a small rodent that makes an irresistibly adorable pet. What is the difference between Guinea Pig and Hamster? While hamsters can live together, they are also just fine on their own. • Guinea pig is a domesticated species, and there are no wild animals, whereas hamsters are both wild and domesticated. Clearly a guinea pig is nothing like a hamster and there are a lot of differences between the species (listed above), so the fact that people muddle them up is somewhat perplexing. Both are family pets. Hamsters Are Solitary Animals, Guinea Pigs Are Not In the wild, hamsters are solitary creatures (more on this in a second). One of the starkest differences between guinea pigs and hamsters is their size. We don’t know precisely when the chinchilla vs guinea pig debate began, but it shows no signs of stopping any time soon. These include: Size- Guinea pigs are significantly larger in size than hamsters and this means they also need a larger habitat. Genus is another difference between hamster and guinea pig. i would suggest getting a guinea pig if you are willing to put more effort in then getting a hamster. a guinea pig gets used to you and reconizes you. Filed Under: Animals Tagged With: ascoprophagous animal, Caviaporcellus, guinea pig, guinea pigs, hamster, hamsters, rodents. Moreover, the hamster is an omnivore while guinea pig is a herbivore. Guinea pigs are not specifically active during the night. Are they social pets? Hamster belongs to several genera under the subfamily Cricetinae while guinea pig belongs to the genus Cavia. What's the difference? There are two main behavioural features that should be considered when taking hamsters as pets. Thank you from watching! However, the differences between guinea pig and hamster are important to know, as they both are reared as household pets. Guinea pigs are larger than hamsters, about 20-25 cm/8-10 inches long and with a very wide array of colors. Guinea pigs can bite when frightened but they will rarely, if ever, do this. I can only speak for Syrians and not dwarf ones, though.