What if-

Status
Not open for further replies.
MommaPiggy

MommaPiggy

Adult Guinea Pig
Joined
Jul 13, 2009
Messages
1,809
Reaction score
31
Points
475
Location
Devon
Now, this is out of curiosity and I want you all to know that I have no intention of testing this out for myself...EVER! So don't panic!

But I have a Gerbil and 2 Guinea Pigs.
Arnold got away from me one day, I hadn't noticed because he was meant to be in his basket while I caught Ralph, and went up to the Gerbil cage, and Freddie stuck his nose between the bars, they just sniffed each other.
It was quite cute but I snatched Arnold away as soon as I noticed!

Now, what if you had a Hammy, or Gerbil (Because both are of similar size and temperment, it seems.) running around and one got near a piggy? Would they attack?

I often let Freddie run around the floor in the bedroom but honestly, it never crossed my mind...What if he got inside the piggies cage?!
He's had a sniff at the bars and I believe he could squeeze in...But I do watch him like a hawk, so he doesn't have long enough to test it out because I shoo him off.
But...What if he did?!
I just feel like he'd attack them :( I dunno why. But the thought bothers me.

Anyways, yeah. Just curious. What do you guys think?

I guess I worry because Freddie is very naughty! And he has escaped twice!
If he was out long enough and I didn't realize...He would try to get into the Guinea Pig cage. I'm sure of it! Because he seems to like their food! He's stolen the odd nugget that I've dropped and left by the cage...
 
Last edited:
I did some work experience in a pet shop a few years back and some gerbils escaped in the back room, and were co-habiting quite happily with the guinea pigs (hopping in and out of their cages when it suited) and taking their food until we managed to catch them again.

I have two gerbils, Dusty and Blondie, and they are let out for floor time (we section them off away from the piggy cages). When we first got Paddy my OH was holding him and let them all sniff each other. Dusty ignored him but Blondie couldn't seem to work him out at all and kept sniffing him for a while. I'm not sure whether it has something to do with her eyesight (she had red eyes and I've read this is a cause for bad eyesight in gerbils), but we stopped it there but I have a feeling that she probably would have attacked him.
 
My hamster escaped from his ball when I was cleaning him out and ended up in Rockys cage. Rocky was terrified of him! And hid in his pigloo.

Cornelius the hamster seemed unphased and I found him sitting in Rockys food bowl, stuffing his pouches with blackcurrant and oregano pellets.
 
Poison said:
My hamster escaped from his ball when I was cleaning him out and ended up in Rockys cage. Rocky was terrified of him! And hid in his pigloo.

Cornelius the hamster seemed unphased and I found him sitting in Rockys food bowl, stuffing his pouches with blackcurrant and oregano pellets.
Click to expand...

Cheeky little Hammy :))
 
I pop my hammy in with the pigs when i clean out his cage. He seems to love it!
 
I personally wouldn't take the risk even for a short time, as you never know what might happen. There are always risks when you put 2 animals of different sizes together.
 
BellasMummy said:
I personally wouldn't take the risk even for a short time, as you never know what might happen. There are always risks when you put 2 animals of different sizes together.
Click to expand...

I agree and little animals like hamsters and gerbils are quite defensive and are likely to attack guinea pigs.
 
There's little I can really do. I can't move Freddie's cage. I'm lucky he's even allowed in the house in the first place. My only option is to NEVER let him out...And that's cruel...His cage is pretty spacey but he likes to have exercise, too.

Doesn't really stop him from escaping, though. Although I have to admit that he hasn't escaped since he's been in his new cage.
 
I think I might have an old Hamster run somewhere...Maybe I ought to dig it out. I can block off the piggy cage at least, when he's out and about.
 
We had a syrian who escaped and filled her cheek pouches - we have the evidence in pictures!

We had a dwarf russian who escaped and took all the food from the piggies bowl except the really big bits overnight (I was feeding muesli at the time). We tracked him down to my welly boot and found all the food in the toe (it was lying sideways on the floor).

We also had a dwarf russian out on the table while we were playing with the piggies as well, a noise sounded, the piggy went on alert and lifted herself up to shelter the dwarf hamster. The dwarf hamster stayed under the piggy's tummy until it was deemed all safe again, then she let it out. This was a clear demonstration of mothering instinct so I took pictures to show my science club and classes when we were doing about behaviour.

I personally think that piggys will ignore a dwarf hamster as they are small enough, but may well challenge a syrian hamster because it is a lot bigger. I could well be completely wrong and the hamsters that escaped and raided weren't allowed to do it twice.

These events took place over many years!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top