Pet Rat vs Pet Dwarf Hampster

[Stiganator]

Owners of both what are pros and cons of both.

Odor? Cost of diet? etc


Baby Rat


Dwarf Hamster


A little back story...in my lab today I'm teaching some new guys how to prepare animal subjects that are too old to use for research. One of the rats is especially cute and I think hmm I could save this little dude...or get a dwarf hamster.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Guinea pig beats them all. Fattier, more social, good in pairs or more. Hamsters fight too much it's chaotic at times.

Edit: I think it's possible to get hamsters that get along, but I feel it's harder to play with them. Guinea pigs are just flat out cute. You can pick them up and cuddle and whatever for the longest time. My guinea pig just sits on my arm or wherever I put him and licks my fingers from time to time. Sometimes I just sit him on my desk while I play a game of Dota. I don't know why but he's afraid to run around on the desk or whenever I put him on his towel, but if I let him go on the carpet, he runs like mad. Guinea pigs are also quite smart unlike hamsters. I tend to think hamsters don't have the brain capacity or whatever... or they're just not as social as guinea pigs so you can't train them in the same way. Rats can be smart, but once again not social enough for me. Sure they run all these studies on rats and I'm sure my guinea pig could never navigate a maze like a rat but he's a lot more fun to play with.

 

[FoBoT]

do you want to handle it/let it out or just watch it inside the cage?

guinea pigs are quite awesome, you don't even need an enclosed cage as they won't climb/jump

we always just use an open box with sides at least 10" tall

 

[Stiganator]

Maybe hold every once in a while. I had chinchillas until recently, and my brother (26) kind of misses them, so I thought I'd get him and easy pet to take care of. Just a pet to keep him company (no cats or dogs allowed).

 

[Stiganator]

We'd probably only get one or maybe two at most, but one for now.

 

[BW86]

Get the rat. I've owned several rats and they make great pets.

 

[KeithTalent]

Bunny rabbit.

KT

 

[Capt Caveman]

fwiw - Hamsters are solitary animals. So, if you plan on getting more than one, you're better getting rats.

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent
Bunny rabbit.

KT

rabbits will chew your electric cords, so you either have to keep them caged or something

 

[DrVos]

Definitely a rat over a hamster. Rats are more intelligent, more acrobatic, less prone to biting, and actually like people if you get them when they are young.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: FoBoT

Originally posted by: KeithTalent
Bunny rabbit.

KT

rabbits will chew your electric cords, so you either have to keep them caged or something

My rabbit used to, but he stopped now. The one I'm fostering never has.

KT

 

[BudAshes]

The only thing rodents are good for are feeding snakes.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Hmm, rodent vs rodent...tough decision. I'll go with neither.

 

[Stiganator]

Well, I can't handle touching snakes, frogs, etc and cats and dogs are out because of allergies and maintenance. That leaves little animals.

 

[BudAshes]

Originally posted by: Stiganator
Well, I can't handle touching snakes, frogs, etc and cats and dogs are out because of allergies and maintenance. That leaves little animals.

Try a Basenji they are a little dog that doesn't shed and doesn't bark.

 

[Stiganator]

Dogs require too much attention and care for his schedule.

 

[trmiv]

Hamsters are devil creatures, they will bite you and piss on you any chance they get. Rats, especially if you get them as babies, are very easy going, can be trained, and generally make very good pets.