Thinking of getting a hamster or gerbil for my 6yr old daughter, what would you suggest is best?

Answer 1

here are the pros and cons of each of them, from my experience:

gerbils:
pros- cute, sweet, entertaining, dinural, low maintenance, not smelly, funny, social, they bond well, and it's cute to watch them sleep together :)
cons- jumpy, they don't like to be held for a long time, you CAN still hold them, but they just aren't still, so make sure your daughter knows how to properly hold them.

hamsters:
pros- cute, still, and easy to hold
cons- very stinky, pee everytime you pick them up, solitary(do not do good together), and they sometimes bite(even humans). also they are nocturnal, so the only thing you will see most of the time, is the back of it's head balled up in a corner. they fight with other hamsters

my vote is for the gerbils, they have more pros, and less cons. hamsters have the popularity that rightly belongs to gerbils.
here are some helpful sites:
http://www.twinsqueaks.com/index.html
http://www.abcgerbils.com/versus.html

i really think your daughter would have a lot more fun with 2 gerbils, because she can actually play with them, and they produce little waste. the only time a hamster is awake and active, is at night when everyone else is sleeping.
(don't listen to the gogfather)
good luck with your decision and i hope i helped!!

Answer 2

I would recommend a pair of baby gerbils from a breeder. Check the www.agsgerbils.org breeder listing. Gerbils are fun to watch in the cage and your six year old can give them gifts like a paper towel roll which they will gnaw up. They also build tunnels and can even make her a paper snowflake (if she folds the paper for them). They are very easy to care for being desert animals and only need the cage cleaned every two weeks.

Hamsters stress out more easily so are not as suited for young children. Also, hamsters are nocturnal and will just be getting going when it is a six year old's bed time; they can get crabby when wakened in the day. Gerbils are cresepular (nappers that are awake day and night) and are always ready for action.

All that said, six is too young to hold any animal on her own. The gerbils (or hamster) needs to be taken out only when you are there to supervise and help. So, it should be an animal you would enjoy as well.

Answer 3

I'd go with the gerbil! They are Diurnal as opposed to the hamster which is nocturnal! They are more active at the time your daughter will be around! You would see far more of a hamster than she will and the reason children get bitten is because they wake them up to play when all the poor hamster wants is sleep! Gerbils are also cleaner unless you have more than one. Hamsters don't live happily together especially males! I'd remember to that it's usually the parents who end up doing the maintenance of the cage if not the feeding! Whichever you choose enjoy!

Answer 4

well im not sure of what one out of a hammy or gerbil but i have had a guinea pig for a couple years and they are VERY good pets they dont bite and they pretty much pick 1 person in the family that they are closer to and trust more. for a 6yr old thats what i would pick b/c she can hold him/her and carry it around a hammy or gerbil will bite when she trys to hold it and carry it all around that and she mite lose it :| (not good) guinea pigs like to be held and they are very adorable and very clean animals!!! they also will come to you when you say its name I mean it takes awhile thats why you would/should get a baby.. well I hope you get your little angel a VERY cute pet what ever it is im SURE she will love it! :)

Answer 5

Neither. I would suggest getting a guinea pig for your daughter. Female guinea pigs are sweet, naturally peaceful creatures. They hardly bite and are very mellow. They are easy to sit and pet. Hamsters and gerbils are so small that they tend to squeeze out of your hand. Guinea pigs also live a little longer so your daughter could have more of a relationship with her pet. However, please do research on all your considerations before going to the pet shop, because you need to be prepared for whats to come your way. Also, if you get a guinea pig, it is best for them to have another guinea pig or rabbit companion with them during the day when no one is home.

Answer 6

Hamster , had Harry for 3 years and never bit me, (R.I.P died of old age) hamster are a little bit bigger than gerbils and slower, Better for the young child as it wont be to hard to hold it compared to a gerbil which are fairly small and fast

Answer 7

Male Syrian Hamster. But beware they don't mix with other hamsters so you only need to get one. Ours is great - very placid, doesn't bite, quite active.

One word of caution - we let our eight year old daughter name the hamster so she called it 'Twinkle'. Poor creature. I often sit and have sympathetic conversations with it. They bought him a pink car for Christmas which he runs around in - again, this doesn't do much for his macho image.

And another thing, I wouldn't recommend the 'tube world' type cages, as they are not very secure over time.

Good book - 'The Really Useful Hamster Guide' by Lorraine Hill.

Answer 8

What would she want?
If you are wanting her to look after it, or take part in it's care, you should get what she prefers, but before even getting the pet..you should sit down discuss it...maybe go to the pet shop and look at them. Then get a book about caring for whichever she wants. The children's section of the library will have pet books. Share the book. Make sure that she knows roughly how long the "pet" will live, so that you don't get disappointment in the future, and then....only if she still wants one..go and get one.
No pet should ever be bought on a whim, and if you buy for your daughter without her knowledge..and she hates it..you either have to look after it..or rehome it.
I did this with my children with every pet they have ever had, to ensure that they realised that they were taking on a living thing, that would rely on them for it's care. They have loved and cared for all the pets they have had.
(The daftest time was when I bought a book for my youngest, "How to care for your Dragon. " He read it, and then asked when we were going to buy one? )

Answer 9

neither.
get a rat, great pets and less likely to bite.
hamsters go feet up too quick and gerbils are never hand friendly.
guinea pigs squeal a lot, we used to feed ours carrots and every time they heard a rustle they thought we were getting them carrots, made a hell of a noise all the time.

Answer 10

Hamster is my personal choice I find that gerbils are way too active and also bite.