Although most of us have seen them in cages, Hamsters live in warm and dry grasslands or sand dunes in the wild. These rodents can weigh anything from 0.8 to 16 oz. Their lengths can range anywhere from 2 to 6 inches.
Hamsters live for 2-6 years, depending on the size of the breed. They chew to keep their teeth small and also tend to hoard food in their cheeks. This nocturnal mammal tends to hide when they feel scared.
As pets, they crave and thrive on human affection. What other animals are similar to a hamster? Let’s talk about the top fifteen similar mammals.
1. Guinea Pig
The guinea pig is yet another small rodent that people raise as pets. Although they look similar, guinea pigs are much larger than hamsters. This rodent is about 8 to 16 inches long and weighs around 15 to 47 oz.
The breed of guinea pig that humans domesticated don’t live in the wild any longer. However, a close wild cousin bearing the same name lives in the South American mountains. As pets, they need a much larger habitat than hamsters do.
They are not nocturnal like hamsters and tend to stay awake during the day and sleep at night. Guinea pigs also can’t run on hamster wheels, and attempting to make them do so can put them in danger. They do come in similar colors that can range from white and beige to saffron and black.
A guinea pig’s diet includes grass, hay, small quantities of vegetables, and occasional fruits. Fibrous hay and grass help them keep their teeth small. On a good diet, a guinea pig can live for 4 to 8 years.
2. Vole
Like hamsters, Voles fall in the Cricetidae family. They look like a cross between hamsters and field mice. They have pointed faces, small yet round heavy bodies, and short tails.
They have prominent teeth that they use to gnaw on plant roots and stems. Voles are around 5-8 inches long and 0.6 to 3.2 oz. These mammals can live in a variety of habitats, from mountainous … Read the rest of the story.
No comments:
Post a Comment