Work-related question

[jay]

The small furry rodents that sometimes live in an assemblage of little chambers, connected by tunnels or passageways, with the habitat set out on a tabletop... are those hamsters, guinea pigs, or something else?

Comments

[phinnia.livejournal.com]

Hamsters. Guinea pigs are larger, almost as big as a small dwarf rabbit; the animals of which you speak are hamsters. Also gerbils would fit that description, or mice ... but given the choice between hamsters/guineapigs, I'd say hamsters.

[who-is-she.livejournal.com]

Habitrail....
heh.

I would have absolutely NO expertise in this area...
but I would call them hamsters.

but for the purposes of scientific experiments ( you said this was work related) I believe they use MICE.

my tai chi friend, Steve, actually has two pet RATS. he takes them out and lets them crawl around on him. It's truly bizarre to me how he can enjoy it.
:)

[bdot.livejournal.com]

are you talking about habitrails? those are for hamsters, primarily.

[dawnd.livejournal.com]

Umm, depends on what state you're in. In this state, they're probably hamsters. Guinea pigs are somewhat larger and usually don't have the elaborate setups you describe. In other states, they could be gerbils (I had these as a kid), but those are illegal here in CA.

[hobbitbabe.livejournal.com]

I was thinking gerbils. Gerbils are smaller than hamsters, so you don't have to get such a big habitat.

Then I read Dawn's post. Why are gerbils illegal in California?

[geekchick]

Hamsters, most likely. Maybe gerbils. Definitely not guinea pigs.

[treacle-well.livejournal.com]

I'd say, hamsters, mice, gerbils, or rats. Not guinea pigs--they're too big.

[sisterfish125.livejournal.com]

For what it's worth, hamsters are usually fluffier looking than gerbils, and don't have much of a tail.

Gerbils are short-haired, sleeker, and have tails roughly the length of their bodies. Similar in features to research white mice, but with shorter noses.

Is this helping, or hindering?

Guinea pigs, as mentioned, are bigger (almost rat or small rabbit sized), usually with wild, fluffy hair, and little to no tail.

[patgreene.livejournal.com]

I can't really help with your question, but I am dying to know some context here. How is this a work-related question? I'm wracking my brains trying to figure out how small rodents would fit into any of the projects you're working on, and I just can't.