P et Rodent s Wild Rodents Hamsters and gerbils are cute furry animals and make great pets They belong to a group of animals called rodents What’s the Difference Hamsters are slightly bigger than gerbils They have a small stumpy tail while gerbils have a long tail Hamsters like to sleep all day and are active in the evening and at night Gerbils are awake during the day Both hamsters and gerbils have extra-large front teeth for chewing Hamsters do s not have a long tail like gerbils 4 Gerbils have long back legs s with large feet and a long furry tail They use their tail for balance
Pet or Wild Pet hamsters and gerbils are the same size and body shape as their wild relatives However pet animals have a wider range of colors and hair types Wild gerbils live in the desert and are light brown Pet gerbils can be black gray or even spotted Hamster Colors Wild hamsters have dark or multicolored coats that help to camouflage them from enemies Pet hamsters have been bred to have black brown golden and white coats In the wild the color of s a gerbil’s fur helps it to blend in with its background The pet hamster left is s light gray and cream The wild European hamster below has a multicolored coat that helps it to hide in the wild 5
G e rbil or Hamster Hamsters and gerbils are both easy to keep However there are some differences to think about before you decide which species to buy Night and Day In the wild hamsters hunt for food at night when there are fewer predators around In the same way your pet hamster will sleep during the day and come out only in the evening Gerbils are active during the day just like their wild cousins and sleep at night PET POINT Hamsters are active at night so it’s best not to keep your pet in your bedroom Your pet s hamster will want to play at night This could be noisy 6
One or More In the wild gerbils live in groups so your pet gerbil will not like living alone You should always keep two gerbils together Make sure they are the same sex two males or two females is best Many hamsters are not as social The Syrian hamster also called the golden hamster must be kept on its own as it will fight with other hamsters Dwarf hamsters can be kept in pairs or small groups Dwarf hamsters live happily s together but they may fight if a new hamster is added to the group Do It Gerbils often wink Scientists do not know why it could be because they are happy Try this Wink at your gerbil and see if it winks back Give it a treat if it does 7
