Can Hamsters And Gerbils Live Together ?

If you're considering keeping a hamster and a gerbil together, it's crucial to understand their differences and why they may not make compatible cage mates. Though hamsters and gerbils may look similar, their personalities, social behaviors, and living requirements are significantly different. This guide will explore why these two rodents should not share the same living space and highlight the key differences between them.

Can Hamsters and Gerbils Live Together?

No, hamsters and gerbils cannot and should not live together. The primary reason is that hamsters are highly territorial animals. They are known to attack and even kill other animals that invade their space, including other hamsters. On the other hand, while gerbils are social and can live peacefully with other gerbils, they are still not suitable companions for hamsters due to the latter’s aggressive nature.

Understanding Hamster Personality

Hamsters are solitary creatures that prefer to live alone. Their small size and prey status in the wild make them skittish and highly sensitive to potential threats. This results in a defensive and sometimes aggressive temperament, especially when confronted with unfamiliar animals or environments.

Territorial Nature: Hamsters are fiercely territorial and will defend their space against any intruders, including other hamsters. This territoriality makes them unsuitable for cohabitation with any other species, including gerbils.

Nocturnal Habits: Hamsters are nocturnal, meaning they are most active during the night. They spend their nights running on wheels, exploring their cage, and searching for food, behaviors that would disturb any potential cage mate.

Stress Response: Hamsters do not handle stress well and can become jittery, restless, and even aggressive when exposed to stressful situations, such as being housed with another animal. A larger, more complex cage with plenty of hiding spots is necessary to help reduce their stress levels.

Understanding Gerbil Personality

In contrast to hamsters, gerbils are social animals that thrive in groups. In the wild, gerbils live in colonies, and even in captivity, they prefer to have a companion.

Social Behavior: Gerbils are much more social than hamsters and are generally happier when housed with other gerbils. They form close bonds with their cage mates and enjoy playing, grooming, and sleeping together.

Activity Levels: Gerbils are active throughout the day and night, although they tend to take short naps rather than sleeping for long periods. Their constant activity can disrupt a hamster's sleep cycle, leading to potential conflicts.

Mellow Temperament: Compared to hamsters, gerbils are easier to tame and are generally less aggressive. However, they will still defend their territory against unfamiliar gerbils or other animals.

Key Differences Between Hamsters and Gerbils

Understanding the physical and behavioral differences between hamsters and gerbils further highlights why they are not suitable cage mates.

1. Size and Appearance: Hamsters are typically short, stocky, and lack a noticeable tail. Different species of hamsters vary in size and appearance, but they generally have rounder faces and fluffier bodies. Gerbils, on the other hand, have longer bodies with a distinct tail, resembling a cross between a mouse and a squirrel. Their longer tails are sensitive and can be easily injured, which poses a risk in shared living spaces.

2. Activity and Sleep Patterns: Hamsters are primarily nocturnal, meaning they sleep during the day and are active at night. This nocturnal behavior conflicts with the gerbil's more diurnal activity pattern. Gerbils are more active during the day with short naps throughout, which can disturb a hamster’s sleep and vice versa, leading to increased stress and potential aggression.

3. Housing Needs: Hamsters require ample space and a secure environment to accommodate their territorial nature. They need a minimum wheel size of 7 inches (18 cm) to exercise safely. Gerbils also need plenty of space, especially if housed in pairs or groups. Their housing requirements differ from hamsters, particularly in wheel size, as gerbils’ tails need to be protected from injury.

4. Social Needs: Hamsters prefer solitude and can become aggressive if forced to share space. Gerbils thrive in pairs or groups and can become lonely and depressed if kept alone.

Housing Hamsters vs. Housing Gerbils

Housing requirements for hamsters and gerbils differ significantly. While two gerbils can comfortably live in a cage suitable for a single Syrian hamster (24 x 12 inches), the opposite does not hold true. A hamster would not thrive in a typical gerbil cage, and sharing space would likely lead to conflict over territory.

Both hamsters and gerbils use scent glands to mark their territory, and the presence of another animal's scent would likely lead to aggression. Additionally, both species have strong chewing instincts, and while they require similar toys, their differing needs make cohabitation impractical and unsafe.

Conclusion

In summary, while both hamsters and gerbils are popular pets, they are not suitable for cohabitation. Hamsters' territorial and solitary nature, combined with gerbils' social tendencies, make it clear that these two rodents should not share the same living space. Understanding their individual needs and behaviors is key to ensuring a happy, healthy environment for each pet. If you're planning to keep both a hamster and a gerbil, it's best to house them separately to prevent stress, aggression, and potential harm.