Hello guys,

My Mum is wanting to get a couple of hamsters/gerbils/mice but isn't sure which is best. I have a 22 litre fish tank which I'm going to give her. She was looking at Chinese Dwarf Hamsters which are quite small. She wants something sociable, ideally awake during the day (or some of the day) and something that doesn't make too much noise (like my gerbils!). Do you have any suggestions as to which is best?

Laura xx

syrians are the most sociable and "cuddly" (they will tolerate petting for a short while where most dwarf hammies would rather run about exploring) when it comes to hamsters but they can only be kept on their own, theyre slower than dwarf hamsters too. theyre the best first hamster for a person

dwarves are a bit more work as most are happiest to live in pairs although some are prone to fighting and would need seperating, wouldnt advise them for a first time owner though because they often struggle when you are holding them and are super fast if they escape and tiny enough to fit down holes and dangerous places. theyre more of a sit back and watch hamster

chinese hamsters arent dwarf hamsters theyre in a different genus, they rarely bite but will urinate on you if scared and they are also solitary hamsters theyre fast just like dwarf hamsters

most hamsters are nocturnal but there is one type awake at dawn and dusk, you can slowly change their clocks over a long period so that theyre up earlier in the day but imo you shouldnt

Rats make the best pets IMO
They are a pet that potter about in the day unlike hamsters.
I currently have 5 males living together in a huge parrot cage.with hammocks,shelved,storage baskets,house,tubes,wooden log,cargo net and toys.
They need to live in pairs or groups and in a large wired cage not tanks or vivariums.

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I'm Amy I have a
German shepherd-blade.
10 male rats.
2 male mice.
1 Syrian hamster.

sorry, but a 22L fish tank is NOT big enough for any of the animals you have suggested

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Thanks for the replies. I will look into the other types. What size tank would be suitable, Lil Miss?

for any hamster species or mice you want atleast a 20 gallon long tank, the bigger the better

for gerbils you need atleast a 30 gallon long

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I got it wrong earlier - it's actually 45 litres not 22 which would make it 10 gallons. Still too small though! Will look into it, thanks.