Differ

Question
What is the difference between a gerbil and a hamster? Which do you recommend? i just want to make sure whatever i get has the best life possible im sorry ive asked so many questions and the many more that come like i said i want to make sure that it has the best life possible...

Answer
I am glad you are interested in giving a small animal a good home! Too many people don't care about these little critters enough, and that always makes me sad. So ask away :)

The differences between gerbils and hamsters are many. Off the top of my head:

- Gerbils have long, furry tails. Hamsters have a tail nub.
- Hamsters have pouches in their cheeks that they use to carry things. Gerbils don't have those.
- Gerbils move faster and are slightly more skiddish, even when tamed.
- Gerbils have larger feet than hamsters.
- They both have pretty much the same life span (1/5 to 2 years, sometimes shorter).

If you want to read these articles, you can compare the two:

Hamsters:
http://www.petwebsite.com/hamsters/about_hamsters.htm

Gerbils:
http://petwebsite.com/gerbils/about_gerbils.htm

I recommend hamsters, but I think I am a bit biased ;) It just seems to me that hamsters can be calmed down or tamed more easily, but I do not have much experience with gerbils in that respect.

Good Luck in choosing!
Jackie