Rats and gerbils?

Question

What is the diffrerence between gerbils and rats. i have 2 gerbils and they look just like rats.

Answer 1

Rats are larger, especially the males. Rats also are more intelligent and live quite a bit longer. Their tales are also longer and less fury. They are two different species of rodent, so are quite a bit different. Rats are also more accustomed to climbing, as in the wild they climb trees. I don't know what else I can tell you....they're just different. Hope that helped.

Answer 2

There is quite a difference between rats and gerbils. Go to a few pet shops and see for yourself. Also visit http://www.ask.co.uk/ click on images and search for rat, then do the same for gerbil. It is quite easy to tell the difference between them when you can compare pictures.

Basically, rats are much bigger, have a long pointy nose, are a lot smellier, eat meat, have a very distinct cry, and are more intelligent. Gerbils are quite small and tend to 'hop' everywhere (they always reminded me of mini-kangaroos!) they have a furry tail and are generally much more 'rounded' looking than rats.

You could hold a gerbil quite easily in the palm of your hand, but a rat would be much bigger and needs to be supported with both hands. If you are still uncertain, the surefire way to tell is the animal's poo. A rat's dropping is the strongest smelling poo I have ever come across - humans included!!

Hope this helps

PS - Don't let this put you off rats, they are really sweet and make brilliant pets!

Answer 3

the difference between the gerbil and rat is the shape and size of the ball sac. A gerbil usually has a ball sac that looks like a sac with two peanuts dragging around. A rat on the other hand looks like it has a ball sac filled with pecans.

if you find that you have a female gerbil or rat well, there is no way of telling the difference between the two, they might as well be the same animal

Answer 4

i have had all 4 and that i might want to assert the ultimate pets to have are defiantly rats. i at present have 4 rats, a mouse and a hamster and performance had gerbils contained in the previous. Mice and intensely lovable and hardship-free to shop, yet do have a tendency to smell plenty, I extremely ought to sparkling mine out two times a weekover smart its stinks my room out. Hamsters aren't to any extent further very sociable, mine has a tendency to sleep plenty in the course of the day, and would chew. mine has bit me fairly some cases now Gerbils are very relaxing to shop, notwithstanding they're alot of work, they prefer diverse form of bedding so one can dig tunnels ect. also they are not as sociable i imagine that rats are the ultimate pets because they're extremely pleasant, (in the journey that they have got been dealt with sufficient), they do elect a better cage yet that would properly be looked after uncomplicated sufficient, possibly contacting a rescue centre, i have been given a jenny cage for mine which holds 6 and that i in hardship-free words payed £20!! yet i defiantly say getting rats is wisely worth even as (Y) strong success on your determination

Answer 5

Rats and Gerbils really do not look alike. Gerbils are usually half the size of rats. Rats look like big mice, not to mention they are nicer that gerbils.

Answer 6

A big difference between the two is that gerbils have hairy tails & rats tails are bald.

Apparently, rats are also more intelligent than gerbils & also, apparently, rats smell a bit more than gerbils.

Answer 7

I have gerbils too!!!! i think the difference is that rats are a lot bigger!!!

Answer 8

you must be either very shortsighted or extremely stupid. Rats don't look just like gerbils at all.

Answer 9

Ask Richard Gere. He is an expert on gerbils.

Answer 10

who knows