Types

• Hamsters come in several varieties including the Syrian classification, which includes the Golden, Black Bear, Teddy Bear and Panda Bear hamsters. Dwarf hamsters also come in a variety of breeds and colors, including the Campbell's Russian, Winter White Russian, Roborovski and Chinese breeds, according to the Hamster Club website. Domesticated gerbils, however, are all alike, differing only in color from animal to animal.
  
  

Time Frame

• Hamsters are nocturnal, which means they are mostly active during the late evening and overnight hours. Light sleepers who would be easily awakened by a squeaky exercise wheel should locate the hamster cage away from the general vicinity of the bedroom. Gerbils, however, switch between napping and playing throughout the course of an entire day, making them more readily available for interaction with their owner at any given time.
  
  

Expert Insight

• According to the ABC Gerbils website, gerbils are considered to be desert animals that produce little waste. And, if handled from an early age, they rarely nip. Conversely, hamster cages need more frequent cleanings and the chances of being nipped by a frightened hamster are high, especially if it has been awakened from a deep sleep during the day.
  
  

Considerations

• While both gerbils and dwarf hamsters are highly social and should be kept in pairs or small groups, Syrian hamsters are solitary and will fight to the death if housed with another hamster. The size of the cage or glass aquarium used as a habitat will vary based on how many rodents will be housed, but the general rule is the larger, the better. Whether alone or with a buddy, both hamsters and gerbils need plenty of room to run, burrow and play.
  
  

Warning

• The already short lifespan of hamsters and gerbils, which averages between two and three years, can be cut even shorter if disease is left untreated. Common ailments for both species include respiratory infections, internal and external tumors and overgrown teeth, according to the Pet Connect website. Prompt veterinary attention can literally be the difference between life and death.