Does a hamster or guinea pig make a better pet for a 9 year old?

Answer 1

Guinea Pigs would be better cause they are awesome. they are the best pet. they are extreamly cute and are low matinence!also hamsters can be a bit rough or stubern and can have a tendincy to bite ALOT but they can sumtimes make really good pets depending on they kind of hamster you have. but guinea pig make better pets

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Things to know about hamsters:

1. The name 'hamster' comes from the German word hamstern,which means 'hoarder'.

They love to hoard food,so you need to clean out the cage at least once a week to get rid of rotting food.

2. They are very,very territorial.

Never put two hamsters in the same cage-even if they are related (except Chinese hamsters,which can be kept with their brothers and sisters).

3. They are nocturnal...noisy at night in your bedroom.They DO NOT appreciate being woken up during the day.

4. They are most suitable as pets for people over the age of 10 years.

5. They only live for between 18 months and 3 years.

6. They have bad eyesight and are prone to accidents outside their cages.

7. They do not like being surounded,if they feel cramped when you try to touch or go near them they will bite,as they are very protective.

Things to know about guinea pigs:

1. Guinea pigs are very vocal!

Here's a guide to 'Guinea Pig-Ish':

#1."Week weeeek"-Yay food! Thanks,you're the best!

#2."Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek"-This is NOT my idea of fun.

#3."Prp prp"-Ahh,this is the life.

#4."Brrrrrrrrr"(to other guinea pigs)-I'm the boss around here,not you.

2. They love company,so they're best kept in groups or pairs.

3. Don't put one in with a rabbit-they DO NOT get along.

4. They can live for up to 8 years.

5. Rough handling and loud noise can cause a heart attack.

6. They do bite but USUALLY only if they feel threatened and love vegetables,they also like to nibble on grass. They do bite in other situations too.

7. You can put them in a hutch instead of a cage.(the hutch can be outside but has to be put inside for the Winter.

8.The only vegetable you can't give them is Cabbage as it will make them bloated,give them lots of broccoli and vitamin C.They always have to have a fresh bottle of water in their cage. I am 9 and I hav a hamster but I still agree guini pigs are better

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I have a hamster right now and two guinea pigs. This is my third hamster that i have right now. I love both animals but i would say that guinea pigs are probaby better for a nine year old. Hamsters (just from my expierience) can be harder to tame and there is also the fact that they are nocturnal and guinea pigs are not. So if you are looking for a more active during daytime pet then yes, guinea pigs. they are lovely animals and very vocal and also may like to lick!

I say a hamster! Guinea pigs can be hard to handle for a young one and they are also alot more fragile because of there spines!

For me, I have had two lovely Chinese Dwarf Hamsters and they were lovely. I wanted a guinea pig but then I saw that Guinea Pigs are really big and they hurt a lot more when they bite you. And, we both know that they will bite. I had a really nice hamster and she still bit me once so I would go with a hamster. I am doing that tomorrow, actually.

If you need help on picking out a hamster, I would ask a person that works at the pet store you are going to buy your hamster from. Why? Because they know best because someone has to take care of them. So, GO WITH THE HAMSTER AND ASK A PERSON WHICH HAMSTER IS THE BEST!!

----- I know this wasn't an option but I always recommend Rats. Rats are social and love attention. They rarely EVER bite. They are easy to tame (happens almost instantly) they also usually don't try to escape from your hands either once they are bonded. They are nocturnal so they do make a lot of noise at night but are more than happy with being woken up for cuddles during the day... they usually demand it when they hear or see you. They are much friendlier than a guinea pig and especially friendly and sweeter than a hamster. And I have owned all the above.

Answer 2

Even though this can be considered an opinion, i would say guinea pigs. My reasons are: they (unlike hamsters) are NOT nocturnal, they are known to bite far less than hamsters, they bond very close to their owners.

However, guinea pigs require far more care than a hamster, so it may be advisable to wait until the child is closer to 12 or 13 years old. "Piggies" prefer to live in groups, which means you'll want to have two of them with enough space in their cage for exercise. Many commercial cages are simply too small; you need about 0.75 square meters per animal.

Next, guinea pigs have very specific dietary needs. Lots of fresh water and a special kind of hay called timothy have to be available at all times or they can develop problems with their digestion or kidneys. Some commercial feeds still contain alfalfa although it's now known to cause gut problems. They also need to regularly have fresh vegetables like carrots, squash, etc. in limited amounts. Another factor arguing for an older child is that piggies require regular cleaning, usually two or three times a day. They tend to go to the bathroom wherever they are rather than using a specific place, and can develop foot sores if their flooring isn't kept clean and dry.