Which is the best?

Question

Which is the best to get a little boy for his birthday....A hamster, or a gerbil, or a ginnie pig?

The reason why I'm asking is because my son is turning 5 and I'm gonna have to teach him how to take care of it. Then when he gets bored with it I'll have to take over and do it.

Answer 1

ya know better give your son a Ginnie pig why??
because Ginnie pigs are cute and friendly ya can bathe them.. feed them or even play with them.. kids like 5 year old deserve
pets like Ginnie pigs or puppies... happy birthday...

Answer 2

I wouldn't get any of those. I got a hamster for my son when he was 5 and it bit me and him. It got sick after a couple days(was throwing up) and we had to take it back to the pet store. He was sooooo disappointed. Recently I also heard that rodents have been carrying salmonella and giving it to people. Scary! Maybe you should wait until he's a bit older. I mean, I wanted to do the same thing as you and it didn't work out. If I could go back I would've skipped the whole thing and waited to get a cat which is what he really wants now(he just turned 7).

Answer 3

A guinnie pig. Because it is big enough to hug. But a cat would be even better. Even though he is a boy. Get him a fixed male cat that looks like him. Maybe with the same color hair or some similar feature. That way he will identify with it. Let him name it something weird like eyelid or booger or sword. And then if he still looses intrest it's a cat and it will take care of it's self. I knew a cat that used the toilet and I have one now that comes when I whistle. He eats asparagus, and has blonde hair like me, but I wish he would use the toilet. Luckily I live on 4 acres so it is not a big deal.

Answer 4

it is very healthy to get him an animal to work with and teach him i did this with my boy i chose a cat..but you got to keep in mind the cat..had claws and didnt use them, and allowed my boy to hold him when he was upset..

I dont know so much about a hamster unless you get a little one that is less likly to bite...its a tiny hamster..i cant remember what its called..gerbal and Guinea pig ..

What i would do is pick something that my son wouldnt get bit by, and go from there..sometihng you wouldnt loose in the house and look for because its so tiny, and allow him to be able to build a relationship with the animal..i would ask the person i was gonna buy it from many questions, and ask about the biting, and how it would be with my child..they should be able to help you in this area but as for me i have been bit by a hamster, and have had one that didnt bit because it was trained...

so its all up to you..

Answer 5

Hamster.

Answer 6

A guinea pig, because the other two are too small and vulnerable for a 5 year old. Guinea pigs are just the right size, and are also very social.

Answer 7

Well I think a hamster or gerbil is your best bet b/c guinea pigs live longer.

Answer 8

gerbil, they are better because they are a little strong and they can handle a five year old playing with them. ive had really bad luck with hamsters as they seem to die from stress easily. gerbils though, they are usually pretty good

Answer 9

Hamster or gerbil are smaller and easyer to care for.

Answer 10

I know nobody likes mice, but a lady at the pet store the other day told me that mice are actually the "nicest" of the smaller pets to own. She said they don't bite as often, like the others do, and they don't mind being picked up as much.