Can a Hamster Kill a Guinea Pig

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Tiny and adorable, both hamsters and guinea pigs are well-loved as pets all around the world. Some people may even wonder if they can keep both cute critters together as playmates. But is that a good idea?

Due to its aggressive nature, a hamster can easily kill a guinea pig. While a guinea pig is friendly, a hamster can be extremely territorial. If kept together, the hamster may attack and kill the guinea pig. Since the guinea pig is bigger, it might retaliate and injure the hamster.

Aside from the possibilities of conflicts and injuries, there are various other reasons these animals are incompatible as playmates. Read on to find out why pet owners should avoid keeping hamsters and guinea pigs together. 

Can Hamsters and Guinea Pigs Live Together?

Hamsters and guinea pigs can’t live together in the same enclosure. Even though they’re both rodents, keeping them in the same cage will only lead to consistent conflicts and various health issues.

Due to their similar appearances, some people may think these critters can be kept in roughly the same conditions. However, this is not true at all. Hamsters and guinea pigs have different needs and requirements to thrive.

Here are some reasons why hamsters and guinea pigs can’t live together.

Behavioral Differences

Let’s start by understanding both species. While both hamsters and guinea pigs are rodents, they belong to different families. Hamsters belong to the Cricetidae family, while guinea pigs belong to the Caviidae family. This should be the first indicator of their behavioral differences.

Guinea pigs are calm, friendly animals who live in herds. They thrive in the companionship of other guinea pigs. They’re also categorized as prey animals, meaning they will retreat and hide by instinct. But that doesn’t mean they can’t protect themselves—guinea pigs’ bites can be vicious when they’re in serious self-defense mode.

Meanwhile, hamsters are solitary and very territorial. They view other animals as invaders in their homes. Hamsters won’t hesitate to get hostile and attack anything threatening their territory. 

These behavioral differences will only result in disaster. 

Different Cage Size

Even with a single glance, you can tell that guinea pigs are bigger than hamsters. Around three times bigger, to be exact. Moreover, guinea pigs also prefer living in herds. For those reasons, guinea pigs require a larger cage compared to hamsters.

According to the Humane Society, the minimum cage size for a pair of guinea pigs is 7.5 square feet (0.696 square meters). Meanwhile, the minimum cage size for a hamster can be as small as 2 square feet (0.185 square meters). 

Small cages meant for hamsters will be uncomfortable for guinea pigs. Living together in small enclosures also means the guinea pigs will encounter the hamsters more often, making conflicts more likely to happen.

Different Nutritional Needs

In terms of nutrition, hamsters and guinea pigs are quite different as well. 

Guinea pigs are herbivores, which means they require plenty of fresh vegetables. Their diet is relatively lower in calories and protein but high in fiber. 

Meanwhile, hamsters are omnivores that need a more varied diet of seeds, vegetables, nuts, berries, fruits, and insects. This means their diet is high in protein and fat.

Guinea pig food can cause malnutrition in hamsters. Meanwhile, feeding guinea pigs with a hamster diet can lead to obesity and other health issues. And if you keep them together, it would be near impossible to separate their foods properly.

Moreover, both hamsters and guinea pigs love to hoard food. If you keep them in the same cage, there’s a possibility they might fight each other over their hoards. 

Contrasting Environmental Requirements

Lastly, these two animals have contrasting environmental needs. The biggest differences lay in their toy requirements.

Hamsters will benefit from having a wheel in the cage, but these wheels are extremely dangerous for guinea pigs. Their spine isn’t built for the task. Using a hamster wheel will cause extreme pain and even permanent damage to a guinea pig’s back.

For similar reasons, exercise balls that hamsters love to play with can be dangerous for guinea pigs. If a guinea pig tries to play with an exercise ball, it might accidentally break or permanently damage its spine.

Can a Hamster and a Guinea Pig Live in the Same Room?

A hamster and a guinea pig can’t live in the same room. Even if they’re kept in separate enclosures, keeping them in different rooms is recommended due to their contrasting sleeping patterns.

Hamsters are nocturnal creatures: they sleep during the day and become active at night. On the other hand, guinea pigs are crepuscular: they are active at dawn and dusk. If kept in the same room, these animals will interfere with each other’s sleeping routine.

Forcing these rodents to co-exist in the same room might alter their natural sleeping cycle. If this problem persists, these critters may become stressed and sick. Eventually, the health problems might even cause them to die prematurely.

Final Thoughts

Due to their behavioral differences, hamsters and guinea pigs can’t live together. At best, they might keep to themselves and leave each other alone. But at worse, they can injure and kill each other.

Of course, multi-pet households exist. Some pet owners may have hamsters and guinea pigs simultaneously. But to thrive, these critters must be kept in separate cages and even different rooms.

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