Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Other animals

Hamster vs. guinea pig: Which pet is right for you?

Paige Cerulli
By

Both hamsters and guinea pigs can make excellent small pets for kids and adults, and they’re often well-suited for new pet owners. While both of these pets are tiny and fuzzy and take up less space than cats or dogs, there are some key differences between them. If you’re considering bringing home one of these small pets, understanding the difference between hamster and guinea pig health, care, and costs can help you choose the pet that’s right for you.

Guinea pig on hay
Chris Yaxley/EyeEm/Getty Images

Hamster vs. guinea pig: Behavior and life span

Many first-time pet owners opt for hamsters because of their compact size. With proper training, handling, and socialization, hamsters can be cuddly and affectionate, but hamsters can fight with each other, so it’s best to keep only one hamster per cage. Hamsters are also nocturnal, so be prepared for your new furry friend to be running on his exercise wheel and making noise at night. If you’re a light sleeper, you may want to plan to keep your hamster in a space like a living room, instead of your bedroom.

Recommended Videos

Unfortunately, hamsters don’t have terribly long life spans. Most live just two to three years, and saying goodbye to a pet after such a short time can be hard for kids.

Related

Guinea pigs live considerably longer, with average life spans ranging from four to eight years. They’re also highly social, so you can keep same-sex piggies together in the same cage. Because guinea pigs are larger than hamsters, they’ll need more cage space. With socialization, your guinea pig can learn to happily sit in your lap or enjoy spending time with you. Guinea pigs take lots of naps both during the day and at night and are active between those naps.

Hamster vs. guinea pig: Care requirements

Both hamsters and guinea pigs need daily care, including fresh food and water and plenty of attention and playtime. Hamsters can live well in a smaller enclosure, and commercially available hamster cages or even small aquariums work well. Want to know what to feed hamsters? You can take a look at our guide to get informed. Guinea pigs require larger cages, especially if you have a pair of piggies. Plan to clean cages at least weekly to minimize smells and keep your pet healthy.

Exercise is an important requirement for both types of pets. Hamsters will often play with exercise wheels and toys right in their cage. Guinea pigs, too, will play with toys, but they’ll also benefit from plenty of time out of their cage to explore and stretch their legs.

Both hamsters and guinea pigs will instinctively gnaw, and they need access to chew sticks or toys to grind down their teeth so they stay comfortable and functional. Guinea pigs will also need regular nail trims.

Child watches hamster in glass box
Annie Otzen / Getty Images

Hamster vs guinea pig: Overall costs

One significant difference between hamster and guinea pig ownership is the cost of each pet. Hamsters cost an average of $10 to $20, while guinea pigs are more expensive, typically ranging between $20 and $40 each. Guinea pig cages are also more expensive, mainly because they’re larger than hamster cages.

Commercial food is available for both hamsters and guinea pigs, but guinea pigs eat more and will have higher food bills. Guinea pigs also need access to hay, while hamsters don’t need this extra feed element.

When you own a guinea pig, you’ll also face vet care costs that aren’t as common with hamsters. Your vet may recommend that your guinea pig have an annual wellness exam to monitor his health. It’s uncommon for vets to see hamsters for wellness appointments, and vet care for hamsters is more limited. If you own a hamster, you’ll probably seek out a vet only in an emergency, but keep in mind that even a single vet appointment can be expensive.

Choosing the pet that’s right for you

Both guinea pigs and hamsters can be wonderful pets. Their small size and affordability make them ideal for many pet owners and families. Both are cuddly and lots of fun to watch as they play and explore. But differences like hamsters’ nocturnal habits and the ability to keep multiple guinea pigs together mean you’ll want to think carefully about which pet is right for you. Questions to ask yourself include:

  • How much space do I have in my home?
  • How long do I want to own a pet?
  • How much do I want to interact with my pet?
  • Is a nocturnal pet right for me?
  • What’s my budget?

With the answers to these questions, and with some research and careful consideration, you can add a pet to your home that your whole family will enjoy and love for years to come.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Paige Cerulli
Paige Cerulli
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Paige's work has appeared in American Veterinarian, Business Insider, Healthline, and more. When she's not writing, Paige…
3 reasons not to give pet rabbits, baby chicks, or ducks this Easter
Things to consider before getting or gifting small animals this holiday
A baby chick sits in the grass next to a broken egg

Peter Cottontail isn't the only one hopping down the bunny trail this April. Tons of baby animals are opening their eyes to the world for the very first time, and it's oh-so-hard to resist the cuteness. From bunnies to chicks and even ducks, these animals are the perfect symbols of spring.
Sometimes, these animals make great pets, too. But is a holiday the right time to gift a pet? We think all potential pet owners should consider some important, realistic facts, especially if they're considering owning or gifting a baby animal for Easter. This is a big decision, after all! Here's what to know first.

Pet ownership is for their whole life, not just the baby phase
As precious as baby chicks and ducklings can be, they'll grow up into chickens and ducks one day. You'll only get a few months of babyhood to enjoy, though even those early months will be filled with chores and messes of all kinds. Remember, caring for a baby animal is still caring for an animal!

Read more
Bunny care 101: If Easter inspires you to adopt a rabbit, read this first
These are the things you need to think about before you bring a rabbit home
Brown bunny sits in the grass

Around this time of year, you'll spot bunnies everywhere — in the yard, the grocery candy aisle, and on TV. You may suddenly find yourself thinking about owning one of these cute small pets, and before you know it, you've adopted and brought home a hoppy and floppy pet.

We generally don't recommend impulse purchases when it comes to animals, but if you find yourself walking away from a shelter or pet store with Peter Rabbit in hand, you'll need to brush up quickly. It takes a lot: housing, food, cleaning, playtime, grooming, and vet bills. Understanding each piece of the puzzle will allow you to flourish as a pet parent and help your four-legger to live their best life, too. Keep reading to learn more about owning a bunny.

Read more
Are female betta fish worth it? Here’s why you should consider getting one of these pretty fish
Unlike males, female betta fish can live together, and get along with other fish, too
A blue female betta in a tank

Betta fish (also known as Siamese fighting fish) rocketed to fame and took a spot as one of our favorite swimming pets for their beautiful color and elegant fins. They, too, are recognized for being aggressive toward each other and will even flare (a display) to you, their owner. However, many of those characteristics only apply to the males of the species, whereas the female versions look and act a little differently. Here's why you should consider bringing one of these lady bettas home.

What are betta fish?
These underwater beauties come from Thailand and live in rice paddies in the wild. It's a myth that they only need a small tank, but bettas often do make great solitary pets that can thrive in an aquarium by themselves. They can also live with many other fish, just not other bettas. One fun thing about these swimmers is that they learn to recognize their owners and will get excited when you come to feed them every night.
How do female bettas differ from males?
You probably know that you can't keep male bettas with others of their kind, as they will fight males and sometimes aggressively mate with females (we recommend only experts breed them). Female bettas won't likely be building any bubble nests though, as that's a job for the males.

Read more