
	Intro: Before you begin Step 1: Choose your cage Step 2: Choose your equipment Step 3: Choose the animal Step 4: Set up the cage Step 5: Tend the animal








	Hamsters and gerbils can be adopted at most Humane Society animal shelters. While gerbils are indiscriminate in their bathroom habits, they will go in a particular place if you provide it for them. An enclosed area or a bowl of sand work well.

2torial #0576 - Step 3:
Learn2 Set Up a Hamster or Gerbil Cage (Continued)

Choose the animal

Gerbil or hamster? T§hey may look similar at the pet store, but before you make your choice, be aware of a few key differences:

Gerbils are more mouse-like, with long tails, while hamsters are slightly larger and furrier, with short, stubby tails (you can't have a gerbil and a hamster in the same cage--they'll fight). There are also different breeds within each group, some with different needs and habits.
Temperamentally, gerbils are more energetic and social than hamsters. They enjoy other gerbils' company, and they switch off between napping and playing all day and night (an exception to this is when two adult females are put together; they'll tend to fight). Hamsters, on the other hand, are nocturnal, sleeping most of the day. They're also much more solitary. They have a higher tendency to bite when alarmed, and two hamsters in one cage could result in a fight (particularly if they're Syrian hamsters). These fights can often be fatal, so if a hamster is what you want, and you want more than one, make sure you're buying a compatible breed.
Hamsters are a bit more fastidious in their homemaking habits. They'll usually urinate in one or two corners of the cage, while gerbils will go wherever they please.
Hamsters are more sensitive to temperature changes. If things get too cool (below 45F or 6.5C), they'll hibernate.
Gerbils tend to live four to five years, hamsters two to three.
Finally, be aware of the breeding possibilities. Gerbils and hamsters are usually sold in litters (which can be as large as 18 babies!), and if a couple from the same litter breed, they'll produce weak or defective offspring. Many times the parents will sense this weakness and kill or eat the babies. This being the case, avoid buying animals of different sexes (the pet store owner will usually be able to determine this).

Step 4