Hamster or gerbil: which pet fits your home?

Gerbil vs hamster: the main differences

The biggest differences are company and timing. Every hamster lives alone, and Wood Green says that applies to all species, including dwarfs, which often fight as pets. Gerbils are the opposite: they live in family groups in the wild and should never be kept alone. So you are choosing between one hamster and at least two gerbils.

Timing matters just as much. Hamsters are night animals: they sleep through the day and wake in the evening. Gerbils are active in short bursts round the clock and are busiest at dawn and dusk, so you see far more of them in the daytime.

Our guides to hamsters as pets and gerbils as pets go deeper into each one.

Which is easier to handle?

A hamster, usually. Wood Green says Syrians are easier to handle because of their size, and Syrian, Chinese, Campbell's and winter white hamsters can all become hand-tame with one to two weeks of calm, patient handling. Roborovskis are too quick for regular handling, especially by young children.

Gerbils rarely enjoy being held, Wood Green says, and suit people who are happy to watch rather than cuddle. Many tame gerbils will run over your hands and take treats, but they are quick and can leap from small hands. The tail is the big risk: the skin can strip off if it is grabbed, and it does not grow back. Always scoop a gerbil from underneath.

Which pet is better for a child?

It depends on the child, and in both cases an adult needs to be the real carer. The RSPCA says an adult should take responsibility for a hamster's care. A child who wants to hold and hand-feed a pet will usually get on better with a calm Syrian hamster. A child who wants to watch animals play, dig and groom each other, and who is in bed early, will see far more of a pair of gerbils.

Bedtimes are the deciding factor for many families. A child in bed by 7 pm may rarely see a hamster awake. Gerbils are up and about in the day, so they fit a family timetable better.

Which smells less and is cleaner?

Gerbils. They come from the dry grasslands of Mongolia and northern China, make very little urine and leave dry droppings, so a well-kept tank barely smells. A hamster's home doesn't smell much either if you spot clean the toilet corner every day or two, and hamsters often pick one corner as a toilet, which makes cleaning easy. Our guides to hamster cage cleaning and gerbil tank cleaning set out the routines.

Space and setup: what each one needs

Both need much more space than most pet shop cages give, and both need deep bedding. Wood Green asks for at least 100 cm long, 50 cm deep and 50 cm high (40 × 20 × 20 in) for a Syrian hamster, with bars no more than 1 cm apart, and 100 × 50 × 40 cm (40 × 20 × 16 in) for dwarfs, with 7 mm bars. For hamsters it suggests at least 15 cm (6 in) of bedding across most of the floor and 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 in) in a digging area.

For gerbils, Wood Green suggests a large glass tank or a glass display cabinet of 100 × 50 × 50 cm (39 × 20 × 20 in) for a pair or small group, because they dig deep and kick bedding everywhere. Bars and shallow trays don't work for gerbils: the bedding ends up on your floor.

• Both: a solid wheel, never one with rungs
• Both: several hides, chews and a sand bath
• Both: paper bedding, never cedar or pine shavings
• Hamster: extra hides so it can pick a nest spot
• Gerbils: a nest box big enough for the whole group to sleep in a heap
• Gerbils: a tank with a mesh lid rather than a barred cage

Our hamster cage size guide and gerbil cage size guide list setups that pass.

Food: do hamsters and gerbils eat the same?

Mostly, but buy the right food for each. Both are omnivores that eat a dry mix or pellet as the base, with small amounts of fresh vegetables and a little protein. Gerbil food and hamster food are made for each species' needs, so don't swap them long term. Hamsters stuff food into their cheek pouches and carry it to a hoard; gerbils have no pouches but still stash food in their nest. Scatter feeding works well for both. See what hamsters can eat and what gerbils can eat for safe fresh foods.

Lifespan and health

Gerbils usually live longer: 3 to 4 years, with Wood Green saying up to 5. Hamsters live about 1.5 to 3 years. Both need a vet who treats small mammals, often an exotics practice, so find one before you bring your pet home. Gerbils are prone to tail injuries and, in some lines, to seizures when startled. Hamsters often hide illness until it is advanced, so weekly weighing helps you spot trouble early.

Cost: is a hamster or a gerbil cheaper?

The set-up cost is similar, because the home is the expensive part and both need a big one. Over time, gerbils cost a little more: you are feeding and paying vet bills for two animals, for a year or two longer. Our hamster cost guide and gerbil cost guide give the full figures.

So which should you get?

1. Check your evenings. If you are home and up from about 8 pm to 11 pm, a hamster fits. If you are around in the day, gerbils fit better.
2. Decide hold or watch. Want a pet to sit in your hands? Lean hamster. Want to watch a busy little family? Lean gerbils.
3. Measure your space. Both need a home about 100 cm (40 in) long. Gerbils need a tank, so check the furniture will take the weight.
4. Count the animals. One hamster, or at least two gerbils. Never one gerbil.
5. Ask a rescue. Rescues often have both, including bonded gerbil pairs, and can match a pet to your home.

If you settle on a hamster, our Syrian vs dwarf hamster guide helps you pick the type, and the complete hamster care guide covers everything else. For gerbils, start with our gerbil care guide.