I have two gerbils (mother/daughter) who were born in my classroom. They have been fantastic. The school kids and my personal kids love to take them home. They have never bitten anyone and have been the main characters in games of Pirates, Pioneer life (Lincoln Logs), Star Wars, Civil War re-enactments etc. Unlike hamsters, they are not stinky. I never thought I would like rodents but for gerbils, I must make an exception. Silverstein and Quicksilver are very popular. The only fights we've had are the ones with the humans who argue over who gets to play with them next.

They can be very aggresive and high maintanance...

Incredibly cute, but I've been bitten by more of these than any other animal, except mice. It gets really annoying. When they are in their cage though, with cheeks all puffed with food, sitting in their food bowls or running on their wheels it is adorable. Not interested in one as a pet though. At least not at this time.

The dwarf Siberian hamsters at Petco are the cutest hamsters I've seen.

Too stinky

They don't fetch. They tend to smell- and a few of these critters bite. Many of us had these mistakes of the creator as kids until we moved on to real pets- dogs, cats, or hired help.

First of all, I would never get a hamster. I would just get a super interesting well behaved dog.

But, that said, I think hamsters are unbelievably cute to look at. Their soft fur, beady eyes, and little fingers make them cuter than Hello Kitty. My aunt recently bought 2 (they are kept in separate habitats because hamsters are known to fight and eat one another). One is fatter than the other, with little tufts of fur shooting out from each side of its hip. We usually handle them with cloth gloves on, but they seem pretty pettable too. Here is a list of their cuteness:

1. They don't like to eat their food out of a bowl. They like to SWIM in their food, be surrounded by it. Hence my aunt had to take out the small bowls and replace them with super big bowls.
2. They love to "go out." They jump readily into the plastic ball, which you cover and lock and they can spin it around the house. While they get their exercise it looks like these plastic balls are just moving around by themselves, as if battery powered. Sooo cute.
3. their faces are hypnotic. You will not believe how cute it is. they look like mini rabbits!
4. their asses are sooo fat. when they are on the spinning wheel, their body is so elongated, and their rear is so far from their head. they really like their spinning wheel. these animals are not lazy.
*5. Some people may think it is cute when they store food in their cheeks/pouches. but to me it looks disgusting. it deforms their face and they look like a flat squirrel.
6. you can purchase so many accessories for them. Like little logs and sleeping quarters. And hair brushes and hairspray and bathtubs.

Their lifespan is about 2 years. If either of my aunt's hamsters die, esp the fat one, I would be really sad. If you like cute things, you'll really like hamsters. They're so cute it's ridiculous.

No m'agraden com a mascota!

Although I loved my hamsters when I was a kid, my mother mostly took care of them. Then one day I come home to find my male hamsters had gotten into a fight and one ate the other. LOVELY. Just lovely.

They are cute and entertaining though.

maybe if your in elementary school

not the best

there cute and i wanna hamster i like watching them chew paper lol

i had a hamster but it died...they die too easily

Again, not into the caged animals. Especially the ones that like to try and gnaw your fingers off!

Too much work.
Not very entertaining.

I'm surprised these are being grouped together, as they differ greatly from one another. Hamsters are very sociable with people, while gerbils tend to be less interactive. Having once owned both, I would recommend hamsters over gerbils. They both make excellent pets, though.

The Worst pet EVER!!!!!!!!

My montessori classroom had gerbils. They bit everyone and escaped all the time. They also die really quickly.

son has 2

Got four mice!!

awwww

naw

Feed them to the snakes and lizards.

Fun and cute

SEE RAISINS!

it's like owning a rat. i mean, really.

fat and ugly

They dont do much

i like em

aww luvv em when they dont bite you!!

I am not to crazy about these animals. I got bit by one when I was younger

they are llike rats but not so i guess ok

i think their cute

Cute but they don't live long

their cute

CUTE

ewww stinky

I had one and it was really cute and fun to look at. But you really couldnt hold it because it would bite. So its good to just look at lol

you might enjoy this one

love um

CUTE! JUST LIKE HAMPSTERS

bite

Stinky even when you take care of them but somewhat cute

don't know

Boring Pets

they r better than rats.....also good pet for kids! dont loose it like i did when i was a kid!

cute

I've had quite a few hamsters here & there & I like them a little more than gerbils for some reason. I think they're cute & they're a lot of fun when you put them in their exercise ball to run around.

they are so mean to me

Gerbils always get squished or stepped on and then the kids cry. Avoid.