Hamster vs. Guinea Pig: The Key Differences (Vet-Verified Info With Pictures)

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Dr. Luqman Javed

DVM (Veterinarian)

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

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Choosing a small pet can be a challenging decision, especially for people who’ve never had pets before or have only dealt with cats and dogs. The two most common and popular options for small pets include hamsters and guinea pigs, but what’s the difference between the two?

While hamsters and guinea pigs are both small rodents with several similarities, these animals are quite distinctive. They have different personalities and care requirements, so it’s important to know more about them before deciding on one of these furry companions.

In this article, we help you get acquainted with hamsters and guinea pigs, along with their similarities and differences, so you can hopefully choose the best pet for you and your family!

Visual Differences

At a Glance

Hamster Overview

Hamsters are small rodents commonly kept as pets in homes across the globe. These tiny creatures were first observed in parts of Europe and Asia, regions they’re native to even today. The first countries where hamsters were discovered include present-day Romania, Syria, Belgium, Greece, and northern China.

Depending on the species, these rodents can grow between 2 and 7 inches in length and weigh between 0.5 and 5 ounces. They can generally make good pets, though they don’t have particularly long lifespans. Usually, hamsters live between 18 and 36 months, but they can live slightly longer with adequate and proper care.

Currently, there are over 20 known hamster species, but only five of them are kept as pets:

Here are more details about hamsters, along with general information that you need to know before getting a pet hamster. The following information will focus more on the most popular hamster, the Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus), also known as the Golden hamster.

Personality

Hamsters are typically categorized as docile and calm pets that are easy to care for. These critters are usually energetic and active, so they love to spend their free time spinning their wheels or playing in their enclosure. However, hamsters don’t have a playful enough nature that encourages interactions with humans, so keep that in mind before getting one as a pet. Also, not all hamsters will have a social temperament, and people looking for a friendly and cuddly animal might need to look for another species.

These little rodents are nocturnal, meaning they are mostly active at night, which is when their personality shines through. Still, this may be tiring to some people, as hamsters can be noisy and wake up light sleepers.

Housing

The enclosure for your hamster should be as large as possible, with a minimum of 150 square inches of solid floor space (no wires). Still, when it comes to hamster housing, the bigger the better.

These rodents love to have plenty of free space to roam and explore their environment, so large enclosures are perfect for them to live comfortable lives. The cage should have proper ventilation and a separate bedding area, along with additional enrichment to keep your hamster satisfied and engaged.

When it comes to hamster bedding, it’s best to use materials like grass hay from reputable commercial brands. Don’t use pine and cedar shavings, as these could irritate hamsters and their skin. To ensure that your hamster is always sleeping in a healthy and clean environment, you should change the bedding every 1–2 weeks.

Exercise

Hamsters require daily exercise, which they can get through playing with toys, climbing, burrowing, hiding, exploring, spinning the wheel, or doing any other hamster activity. These rodents also love to run through tunnels and play hide and seek, so be sure to provide them with plenty of obstacles and hiding spots in their enclosure.

It’s best to regularly clean your hamster’s toys to keep them in good shape and rotate them weekly to prevent your furry companion from getting bored.

Health

Hamsters are generally healthy animals that simply don’t have long lifespans. As a general rule, these pets require annual vet checkups to stay in good health.

While mainly healthy, these furry creatures are prone to several issues. They’re also good at hiding that they’re ill, which is why it’s important to react if you notice any of the following signs in your hamster:

The most common health problems that hamsters can experience include:

Suitable For:

Due to their size and relatively low maintenance needs when compared to cats and dogs, hamsters make great pets for first-time pet owners and for people living in apartments, small homes, and quiet neighborhoods. Although these little rodents can be friendly, they’re not overly social and mainly interact during the night. Therefore, they’re not the best pets for light sleepers, people who like to spend their evenings quietly, or people who want playful and cuddly pets.

Guinea Pig Overview

The guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) is a relatively large rodent species kept as a pet in homes across the world. These rodents, also known as cavies, are not found anywhere in the wild and are considered domesticated. They are perhaps closely related to other cavies found in South America: Cavia aperea, Cavia fulgida, and Cavia scudi. 

Although small in size when compared to cats and dogs, these rodents are larger and heavier than most other pet rodents. Depending on their species, guinea pigs can reach anywhere between 10 and 12 inches in length and weigh around 1.5–2.5 pounds. Guinea pigs that are raised specifically for their meat weigh considerably more than this.

Guinea pigs have several breeds which are kept as pets. Competitive breeding in the US and Canada is overseen by the American Cavy Breeders Association; if you plan on having a guinea pig for competition purposes, you might want to consider their breed guidelines before adoption.

However, if you are just keen on having guinea pigs as pets, there are several breeds you can choose from. Examples include the following:

Here are more details about guinea pigs and their care that should help you determine if this rodent would be a suitable pet for you and your lifestyle.

Personality

When it comes to their personality and temperament, guinea pigs are social animals that love to spend their time around humans and other animals. In fact, these rodents can become lonely if left alone for long periods. It’s best to own guinea pigs in pairs so they can keep each other company. In some countries, it is illegal to house them alone, as it is thought that doing so severely compromises their welfare.

These furry creatures love to play, so they need plenty of playful interactions to keep them happy and engaged. Although guinea pigs have bubbly personalities, they also like their alone time. Your guinea pig might look for several opportunities to hide throughout the day and rest from the everyday buzz.

Housing

When it comes to making a perfect enclosure for your guinea pig, the bigger, the better. The minimum size for guinea pig housing should be a 50” x 24” cage. If you plan on keeping multiple guinea pigs together (which is recommended), each new guinea pig should increase the living enclosure square footage by 20%.

The enclosure needs to be well-ventilated and have sturdy and solid floors without wiring, to prevent possible foot injury. It’s also essential to provide suitable bedding for your guinea pig inside the cage. You can use commercial guinea pig bedding or opt for washable fleece.

The bedding needs to be kept clean. You should spot clean stains daily and change the bedding every couple of days to prevent dirt and debris from accumulating inside. Guinea pigs are often messy, so proper hygiene is essential if you want to keep these rodents as pets.

Exercise

Guinea pigs require daily exercise to get rid of built-up energy and stay healthy. These little creatures love to roam around and explore their environment, search through tunnels, and play with all kinds of guinea pig-appropriate toys.

You should rotate the toys that your guinea pig has available to prevent boredom and increase stimulation. You can also let them freely play in a safe outdoor environment.

Health

When it comes to their health, guinea pigs are generally healthy when cared for properly and have a long lifespan for a rodent, especially compared to hamsters. On average, guinea pigs live between 5 and 7 years, though with proper care, these furry creatures can easily go beyond their life expectancy; the current record is around 12 years 1.

Although cavies are typically healthy, they could still experience several medical issues that could jeopardize their health. Unfortunately, these rodents are good at hiding many signs of illness, resulting in late discovery and fewer chances for recovery. Therefore, it’s essential to recognize illness and strange signs early, such as:

Common health problems that guinea pigs can have include:

Perhaps interestingly, guinea pigs are similar to humans in that they are unable to make their own vitamin C and therefore, require daily supplementation of vitamin C in their diet.

Suitable For:

Guinea pigs are loving and social creatures that like to spend their time around people and other animals. They are small but active and often playful, making them great pets for first-time pet owners and people who live in apartments and small homes.

Due to their docile nature, guinea pigs can make excellent pets for quiet neighborhoods. They’re also better pet options for people who want more than one pet, as they are best kept in groups, not alone.

Although it’s great that guinea pigs are social animals, they can become lonely and shouldn’t be left by themselves for long periods, which means they’re not ideal for people who don’t have enough free time to bond with them.

Which Pet Is Right for You?

Both hamsters and guinea pigs are small rodents that are easy to care for, and both can make great pets for first-time pet parents and people living in apartments, small homes, and quiet environments.

However, guinea pigs are more social than hamsters, which is why they tend to be better for people who want to spend time with their pets. Conversely, hamsters are good for people who want a low-maintenance pet that doesn’t require much of their attention.

Overall, both of these rodents can make excellent pets; it all comes down to your personal preferences. Hopefully, after reading this article, you’ll have a clearer picture of which of these animals is more suitable for you and your needs.

See also:

• Hamsters vs. Gerbils: The Main Differences (With Pictures)
• Hamsters vs Rats: Main Differences (With Pictures)

Featured Image Credit: (L) Anastasia Solovykh, Shutterstock | (R) Rita_Kochmarjova, Shutterstock