The apparently similar-looking creatures like a gerbil and guinea pigs are quite confusing for the common people when they decide to get a new pet for their home. There are several other creatures that can be your pet but these two look so similar that most of the time there is hardly any knowledge available among the buyers of the pets.
People usually adopt gerbils or guinea pigs when they are not able to manage the space and time for the commoner pigs like cats and dogs. Also, these ones are high maintenance and on the other hand, gerbils or guinea pigs come quite handy with more cost-effectiveness.
Here are some ways to decipher the differences between the two creatures, gerbils and guinea pigs. We will throw some light on the topic related to the differences and the more suitable pets between these two.
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What is better as a pet, gerbil, or guinea pig?
Guinea pigs are always more popular pets. This playful creature looks round and fluffy. They are more playful and interesting in nature if you compare them with gerbils. This creature will be more exciting to live with and thus if you need a fun element in your life, you can choose a guinea pig to be your pet.
However, if you have a space problem and can allow only a little space for the pets, then a gerbil would be a better choice. Guinea pigs need a good amount of space, at least 10 square feet area to live and it will not be easy to maintain that much space in a small apartment.
How the gerbils and the guinea pigs are different in looks?
Gerbils are much smaller in size as they only grew up to become 5 inches tall, whereas the guinea pigs get 10 inches long after getting matured. Gerbils have long tails, and the length of their tail is equal to their body size. Guinea pigs do not have such distinct tails and they do not even have a stump in place of the tail.
The gerbils are also short furred creatures but the guinea pigs have long furs compared to them. Both these creatures come in a variety of colors but their ears are different.
The gerbils have small ears which stand upright but the guinea pigs have ears that are bigger and often flop down. Guinea pigs have short legs but the gerbils have long front legs. Their feet are also bigger than the guinea pigs.
Gerbils have many similarities with mice but guinea pigs look much fatter and huger in size. They look more similar to the pigs than mice.
Can you keep a gerbil with the guinea pig?
This is an interesting question for the owners who want to keep both these pets. But to their ill-luck, these two creatures cannot live together. Guinea pigs are healthier and bigger in size whereas gerbils will find the guinea pigs to be their enemy.
They cannot live together in a cage, though you can try to keep them in the same house, in different shelters. They would not be friendly with each other in all probability.
Which one will be less messy as pets, guinea pigs, or gerbils?
For some surprising reasons, gerbils stay much cleaner than guinea pigs. Guinea pigs are pretty messy and it will be sworn by their experienced owners.
Those who have pet guinea pigs know that they have to clean the cage and the surroundings once every day to clear the spots, the uneaten food particles, and so on. Also, guinea pigs have the habit of chewing and cutting anything that they find near them, so that also gets included in the cleaning list.
Gerbils are, on the other hand, much calm and they are not in habit of creating so much mess. They do not cut things that are around them. so they create less debris when kept as pets.
Are gerbils healthier than guinea pigs?
If you are a busy person and wish to have a healthy pet that does not fall ill very often, you must adopt a gerbil and not a guinea pig. The gerbils usually do not fall sick often and that is how you will be saving lots of time which will be devoted to the maintenance of your pets.
Gerbils can be fed healthy and nutritious foods and taken minimal care of, and they will live healthily as per their lifespan. Guinea pigs often fall sick due to obesity.
They need a large space to live in and that is how they will stay fit. If they are not provided with the large space they will become fat and that will cause several other health issues for them. Also, they are not suitable for taking outside as that will be much problematic for their health.
Which one needs a less fussy diet, guinea pig or gerbil?
When it comes to maintaining the health of the pets, the foremost prior thing is managing their diet. Gerbils are omnivorous and they eat various vegetables, fruits, and even some seeds. Dry food is also a part of their diet and they need to get some high-quality protein to stay healthy and fit. You can get their food from commercial manufacturers or can make your own.
Guinea pigs need to have grass and hay as their main food. They are vegetarian and are not fussy eaters. Only that they tend to eat their substrate is a problem with their bedding. You have to keep the bedding ingredient an edible one. They will surely eat that so it should be something non-toxic and helpful indigestion.
Are guinea pigs more destructive in nature, guinea pigs or gerbils?
When gerbils are left free, they bite and chew anything that is around them. They need to keep their teeth short by chewing various things. Guinea pigs have the same purpose of chewing and biting but they kind of damages fewer materials than gerbils.
Do guinea pigs live longer than gerbils?
This is a valid question of all the probable owners. When they decide to adopt some pets, they always think of long-term relations. The life span of the guinea pig is much longer than that of a gerbil. Gerbils are small creatures and if taken well care of, they will accompany you for five to six years.
Which kind of condition will suit gerbils and guinea pigs?
Guinea pigs are a more popular pet among family owners. Kids can handle guinea pigs and also they become friendly after a point.
Though very small kids need not be handling the guinea pigs as then both the pet and the kid will be in danger. The guinea pig can try to bite as well as the kid can mishandle the pet.
When there are other large pets like cats and dogs at home, the guinea pig should not be left alone out of its cage. Large pets can attack or harm it anyway.
On the other hand, the families of individuals who wish to have a pet but are allergenic to furs of cats and dogs can adopt gerbils. However, gerbils are very small creatures and thus, where there are no small kids would be perfect for the gerbils. Too young kids may not be able to handle pets like gerbils.
Are gerbils more affectionate in nature than guinea pigs?
Gerbils are pretty much friendly and affectionate with their owner and the family. They love to be cuddled and play with family members. They get adapted easily to the new environment of their forever home. However, when it comes to meeting new people, guests, or strangers, they can get anxious and become defensive. Do not let strangers or new guests come near them or they can get bitten by the gerbil.
Guinea pigs are large in size and they are not as anxious as the gerbils. They are also less active and move slowly or less than gerbils.
They are also much friendly with the owner and their families. However, they are not friendly with the large pets in the same house as the cats and dogs. As in nature, they act as prey of these large animals, they are in fear of these creatures in general. However, they are very affectionate and friendly in nature and will be a great friend of the kids at home.
Which one is more intelligent as pets, gerbils, or guinea pigs?
If you think of training the pets, then guinea pigs will be easier to train. They are more intelligent than gerbils and thus their company will be much enjoyable. If you plan to just keep a pet and enjoy its daily activities without bothering much about making friends with it, then gerbils can be a great choice.
When it comes to managing various skills, guinea pigs can do that better by understanding the directions. But they are not much agile as they have a round body and big size. So they can become trained to do some easy chores only. Giving treats can lead them to do such activities.
The training capacity of the gerbils is less than guinea pigs as they are a less intelligent species. Only immediate dispersal of treats can lead them to become well trained in small tricks, but they are quite flexible and can do various activities if trained.
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