What is the difference between Guinea Pig and Hamster?

Guinea pigs and hamsters may sometimes be mistaken for each other because they have some similarities. If you would look at them closely, though, you will realize that they have a lot of differences in terms of appearance. First of all, guinea pigs are going to be much larger than hamsters. Guinea pigs are also herbivores, which means that their main diet consists of plants so that they can survive.

Hamsters, on the other hand, would also eat plants, but they may also need some animals in order to survive. Some hamsters would consume insects as a part of their diet. Guinea pigs are more ideal for households that do not have kids as they can be delicate. This is also the same for hamsters as they are a bit fragile because of their size.

Guinea pigs are not pure bread rodents as they are more like hybrids. Ironically enough, they are not related to pigs; however, they do make certain pig-like sounds. They have a large head with a heavy neck, and the rear area is rounded with no tail. They are herbivores and eat mostly grass. They also eat their poop, especially caecal pellets that are needed to achieve complete digestion.

Unfortunately, these fun little animals only live to be four to five years old. Hamsters are also rodents, and they are stout-bodied animals. They are active during twilight, which is in the late afternoon and early evening, and then they close their eyes and take a snooze.

They do well eating prepackaged hamster food, which is assorted fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. They have pouches on either side of their head, which they use to store food for later. Unfortunately, hamsters have a shorter life span than the guinea pig. They only live for one or two years.