Another factor is their ability to remember each other, voices, and gestures. An Australian raven perched on a rail. Still have questions? This is believed to be a part of their survival skills. Guinea pigs should be kept in C+C cages (they're pretty hard to arrange in the UK, but it can be done, and will be much, much cheaper than buying a tiny little cage in a pet shop) to find more info about C+C cages, I'll give you a link at the bottom of my answer. According to a study in the journal of Animal Cognition, the guinea pigs are actually smarter in many ways. I'm sure you'll choose right. A pod of dolphins swim in the ocean. Well i would chose rats because in my experiencxe they are smarter easeier to train, easier to introduce a third or however many you want and they are in my experience again easier to tame. But there are lots of animals that are smarter than you think. They are cute and fluffy, but they're also very smart. They can smell... so cages need to be cleaned every 2 or 3 days. Guinea pigs require much more food than rats do. They need plenty of places to hide and explore, and being rodents they will tend to destroy their toys and ⦠( Rats. Guinea pigs are smarter than some folks give them credit for. They make much more rewarding pets than my rats did! Did you know that many guinea pigs can learn simple tricks? Over the years I've adopted small pets like hamsters, gerbils, and guinea pigs. ⦠If you’re a new guinea pig owner or even an experienced one, knowing exactly how smart they really are will help you get to know your guinea pigs on a deeper level. Another study challenged the guinea pigs and cavies in the Morris water maze, a circular pool where the animals swim around to find a hidden platform. Guinea pigs are larger pets than mice and hamsters, but still very small and portable. Again, like dogs, there are some smarter rats and some less smart, but even they make adorable and loving pets. Through repetition, they will learn to pass the ball back. While historically they served as a foodstuff for the native Inca people, they were imported to Europe as early as the mid-16th century, shortly after Spain conquered Peru.As an oddity from the New World, they were afforded a special status, and seen as house pets, rather than vermin or food. [=. There a lot of different toys that are available for gerbils to have that they will like to play around with. Hold the hoop in between yourself and the guinea pig. Both guinea pigs and rats are good pets. [dropcap] Octopus vs. This means you can change your tone to get them to change their behavior. )Pigs are smarter than any other domestic animal.. Their ability to solve problems, like the pig I.Q.. test on The Joy of Pigs, is well-documented, and they are considered by animal experts to be more trainable than dogs or cats. That rat had a problem, made a plan, and followed through!" So not even mother is safe from getting impregnated by her own just-born kids. They will eventually walk through the hoop for their treat. Get your answers by asking now. Don’t get discouraged if they aren’t able to learn all the tricks in one day. As well, if you choose a guinea pig with long fur, you will need to groom the fur at least weekly to prevent matting. Once they are used to you, your voice, and their names, they will follow that voice when you call them. So, how smart are guinea pigs? Still give them treats after some tricks so they can still feel rewarded though. At first, they won’t know what you’re doing, and that’s okay. Although certain rats have more brain neurons than hamsters, they still canât hold a candle to guinea pigs. They exhibited more caution than other rodents that rushed towards the object. The absolute BEST place to get a new pet from is a shelter, the RSPCA always have young animals that have been handed to them after their first owners were irresponsible enough to let them breed, then they get overwhelmed at just how fast rabbits, rats and GPs can multiply. If not from a shelter, look in your local papers, look at the notice boards in your local vets' surgery, look at the grocery stores' ad board, all of these are great places to find a new pet, and usually they cost a LOT less. It’s easier to move them around for play and hutch maintenance. Even though the rats were probably less maintenence, I prefer guinea pigs. When it comes to guinea pigs vs rats, space is another very important factor. why are there in an increase in rats in my neighborhood. id say rats, and male rats can smell a bit, but to be honest you get used to it. Like learning any new skill or trick, it takes time. Rats Can Be Smarter Than People The study: Ben Vermaercke and his colleagues at KU Leuven gave two cognitive-learning tasks to lab rats and students. It's also important to note than many people are allergic to the hay they eat. Guinea pigs are smarter than some folks give them credit for. This is why it is so important to have more than one rat together. Rat Are Social Animals . They actually have somewhat of an attention span and are affectionate. Pigs are smarter than any other domestic animal. Guinea pigs best learn a lot later than cats and dogs – while dogs are best trained when they are only a few weeks old, the time is right for guinea pigs when they are nine to ten months old. However, other rodents showed more aggression towards similar rodents. They take more time to identify their new surrounding and instead of growling as other rodents do they simply adjust, although they can get bored quickly. Hamsters are generally nocturnal. Rats are staggeringly intelligent, they can learn their names, learn to do tricks, and can be very affectionate pets. They can be trained to do tricks. How do they compare to other pet rodents you can adopt when it comes to intelligence? Rats are smarter than most dogs and can do ⦠Actually, dd has just come down and read this; I'm afraid you can't have them as she loves them (apparently) even though I would love to have someone else clean and feed them etc. Their small nature makes them perfect for domestication since they won’t take up large spaces in your home. Guinea pigs also can remember various tones. Pass the ball with them enough so that they remember the gesture. I had 2 female rats. They might not even be able to learn one trick in a day, it may take days or even weeks depending on their learning speed. Guinea pigs are late bloomers though, this means you can only start training them when they are over 6 months old. Interesting – I know I’ve always thought guinea pigs, gerbils, and mice/rats were not very intelligent, but I think that’s because every time I’ve ever seen them, they’re in a cage/aquarium environment. I love to learn and talk about them basically every day. ... Each rat has his or her own personality. Rats are a lot tidier than Guinea pigs and are less prone to bite than are hamsters. You could probably go on and say that rats, as pets, have received a bad rap! And began to rust. Guinea pigs can easily trace the path they have walked on before. It's also important to note than many people are ⦠Not once have I been bitten by a guinea pig! Guinea pigs have been used as pets since the 16th century and are some of the cutest wild animals you can have in your home. The recipe for success? When they notice the treat they will try to reach up and get it. In fact, guinea pigs are so social that they are perfectly capable of bonding with their cage mates AND with you as well. Rats were the second most abundant group of animals to be killed. Next, hold your hand up without the treat in the same way. Put a small ball in between yourself and your guinea pig. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. According to a study on the journal of Animal Cognition, the guinea pigs are actually smarter in many ways. On the other ⦠I can't stand them, they're the most boring things in the world. It is a significant member of the rodent family and ⦠... "True rats" are members of the genus Rattus, the most important of which to humans are the black rat, Rattus rattus, and the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus. Did you know that many guinea pigs can learn simple tricks? When we got them out they would run onto our backs.. which was fun. In general, guinea pigs learn stuff much ⦠As such, they are usually able to find their way back home especially if they don’t stray too far. Be sure to give them breaks when trying to teach them anything, they can still get stressed out easily. At the time I was only about 10 and we got them from a petstore. Rats and mice are highly intelligent rodents. Training your guinea pig is an ⦠Squirrels may get a bad reputation for their daring attempts at crossing busy roads, but these rodents are actually smarter than they look. Rats are social animals. While some rats have more neurons in their brain than hamsters, but still they do not compete with ⦠They need 1/8 cup of pellets, 1 cup of veggies (with lots of vitamin c), and unlimited hay every day. For this reason, it is not advisable to keep just one pet guinea pig. Rats Can Be Smarter Than People The study: Ben Vermaercke and his colleagues at KU Leuven gave two cognitive-learning tasks to lab rats and students. So, when comparing guinea pig vs hamster, it boils down to your individual needs, time, and those who will be interacting ⦠Guinea pigs require a lot of daily care, but are also great pets. Rats will be more active than guinea pigs, but guinea pigs live longer. We are passionate about having them as friends and pets. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. Rats have identical neurons to hamsters. Altogether I have had 50 in my life. They also remember different voices, and their names so that they will immediately respond to a call from their owners. The ⦠Often rabbits who get their teeth stuck will struggle and break their neck if their teeth don't break first. Rats are much smarter than we humans often given them credit for. I completely agree; Guinea Pigs are MUCH smarter than is commonly perceived. Show me a guinea pig that's as smart as Pizza Rat!" Luckily study’s have already been done to shed some light on this subject. That goes for when they’re inside and outside of the house, although it will be significantly easier for them to do it indoors. We love to talk about them all! They can learn how to pass the ball back and forth with you. Rats are the smartest if you're looking at capacity to learn. But there are lots of animals that are smarter than you think. Guinea pigs, for example, have brains about 13 percent smaller than those of similarly-sized cavies. Although they seem to have smaller brains than other rodents. I love my piggie and I hate rats, but rats are very smart. Since guinea pigs roamed in the wild in groups of 2-7, it is advisable to have guinea pigs as pets in similar strength. Guinea pigs need regular nail trims to keep their feet healthy. They are very skittish. Rats have strong wee! :) Good luck with whatever you choose.. Often rabbits who get their teeth ⦠It makes it possible for them to learn their names and respond to the owner’s voices. According to researchers, rats are able to find a good pattern and stick to it, and they’re less likely to second-guess themselves than humans. With both tasks, the subjects were ⦠Domestication seems to lead to smaller brain sizes, too (though brain size is an imperfect measure of intelligence). They need plenty of places to hide and explore, and being rodents they will tend to destroy their toys and tunnels as … If you are looking for a pet with a long lifespan, guinea pigs are better than hamsters. But in saying all of this, can you afford the initial costs? OR...If you want an indoor pet, can you afford to buy the biggest dog cage there is for a rabbit, or build one for a guinea pig? Scientists have used rats in psychology experiments for more than one hundred years, due in large part to the similar structure of their brains to the human brain and their decision-making abilities. Choosing Guinea Pigs Based on Their Sexes. This is why it is so important to have more than one rat together. Guinea pigs can be taught how to stand upright, Here are some tips to get them to do this: Teaching them to pass the ball. They are natural students who excel at learning and understanding concepts. Hi, I'm Mason, I've kept small animals as pets since I was 8 years old. Are guinea pigs the fastest small pet? Some of those things include: The first thing is their ability to trace their steps. You can have dd's guinea pigs if you like. The guinea pigs’ intelligence level definitely separates them from other rodents. Teaching them to stand up straight. These are the steps: Once your guinea pigs learn how to do these tricks, they can be done without the treats. Rats are smarter than guinea pigs!" Many people consider ⦠You can tell theyâre ⦠Are Guinea Pigs Smart Enough to Learn Tricks or Commands? Rats, however, can go one step further than their feathered friends. In another study where rats where given a choice to opt out of a test if they didnât know the answer, they did so, âwhich ⦠If a guinea pig escapes, it will never return. It’s impossible to ask how smart are guinea pigs without comparing them to other rodents. ⦠Have someone else who isn’t a family member do the same. From pet gerbils to hamsters, mice, rats and guinea pigs. Guinea pigs require much more food than rats do. Guinea pigs were much quicker to display courtship behavior than their wild counterparts. "Guinea pigs can't eat fucking pizza!" Guinea pigs are naturally active, they’re not as shy and timid as other pet rodents. A pocket pet is a small, pocket-sized pet mammal (sometimes also categorized as a small and furry in the pet industry) commonly kept as a household pet.The most common pocket pets are rodents such as hamsters (golden hamsters and dwarf hamsters), gerbils (Mongolian jirds and duprasi gerbils), common degus, fancy mice, fancy rats, common chinchillas, and guinea pigs ⦠Repeat this until they understand they can nudge it back to you. Rats are the smartest if you're looking at capacity to learn. To confirm that they can identify your voice, call them and see if they respond. While each of them requires various levels of ⦠But rabbits and guinea pigs are still more intelligent than learning tests and brain size would make them seem. Guinea pigs are actually very intelligent pet rodents, they are able to understand some gestures, respond to their names and identify various sounds. If you keep guinea pigs as pets then you may have to take them with you somewhere, like if you need to go to the vet or run errands. It’s impossible to ask how smart are guinea pigs without comparing them to other rodents. How do They Compare to the Other Rodents? But rabbits and guinea pigs are still more intelligent than learning tests and brain size would make them seem. Rats and mice are highly intelligent rodents. According to researchers , rats are able to find a good pattern and stick to it, and theyâre less likely to second-guess themselves than ⦠When it comes to the question do guinea pigs have good memories, several of their attributes show that that do. Dolphins, crows, apes -- you know the drill about smart animals. ( Pigs. Guinea pigs ire very low intellect. Hamsters are better if you get a normal one because they are more calm and dont bite do not get a dwarf hamster. Try to get them to go through the hoop to get the treat. Join Yahoo Answers and get 100 points today. When they act like this, it makes it seem like there’s not a thought in their head besides their next meal. The positives about having guinea pigs is they are most of the time just wanting to be petted and love floor time and you can make cages for them that can last for years and years to come, ⦠:). Retracing their steps coming from outside back indoors is a much harder task, which means they should not be left alone outside. hamsters are more sociable and playful. "WHAT?! They’re usually able to learn new tricks and commands fast, but you have to use the right techniques when training them. Do not get a male rat because they look bad because of there male parts. Luckily study’s have already been done to shed some light on this subject. Rats are considerably smaller than dogs, but they are at least as capable of thinking about things and figuring them out as dogs are! Pigs are smarter than any other domestic animal. Rats are considerably smaller than dogs, but they are at least as ⦠They form a 'piggy train' when they're let out onto the floor. In this area, guinea pigs are smarter than other rodents. Pet rats can learn their names and will come when you call them. Rats are certainly smarter than a dwarf hamster. Luckily studyâs have already been done to shed some light on this subject. The guinea pig won’t respond to the strange voice but should respond to yours. According to a study in the journal of Animal Cognition, the guinea pigs are actually smarter in … guinea pigs tend to be shyer, however are tamer once they have been handled over time compared to hamsters. Learn more about their brains here! They also can catch on and learn a few tricks faster than some other pets. Guinea pigs (cavy) have perhaps been kept the longest as pets among rodents. But there are some toys like hammocks that are usually not marketed for gerbils. They ⦠Rats tend to climb all over you and do not enjoy sitting still. But rats are definatley way smarter … Thank you Chris, yes guinea pigs are smarter than some people think. By the end of the study, it showed that guinea pigs were more intelligent than the other rodents. Rats are staggeringly intelligent, they can learn their names, learn to do tricks, and can be very affectionate pets. Just give them some time, your guinea pigs are definitely smart enough to figure out. Their ability to solve problems, like the pig I.Q. I used to have two female rats. They will recognize the gesture and begin to stand upright. However, if this is your sister's first pet, and you want something that is quite low maintenance, buy a pair of rats. While repeating it, slightly raise the hoop higher and higher. I can't give you a percent as there is no standardized scale of intelligence or method of testing small animals. Pigs are actually smarter than dogs you can just look at the top 10 smartest animals there you go. They will instead start to understand the gestures. They eat and poop and run away at the slightest fright. ANSWER: Several studies have shown that pigs are even smarter than dogs and cats, and they are able to solve problems quicker than many primates. You guessed it, lots and lots of guinea pig treats and veggies. The other family is the Ochotonidae, also called the pika family. You can even include other gestures when training them. Guinea pigs are not climbers so a low 30 cm wire barrier keeps them safe and happy. Escaped pet guinea pigs can be very tough to recapture! I've had both and I prefer rats. Pigs are not social, are very loud, skiddish, and not very friendly. Favorite Answer. i want ot buy one, but i want him for my sister, so it has to be fluffy, not biting, and good smelling. Go for a rat or a lizard. Dwarf hamsters will not come to ⦠And, sadly, a rat doesn't live very long, whereas Guinea Pigs can live anything up to 15 years. Repeat this with a treat in hand so they get used to the gesture. Despite their smaller brains, guinea pigs, at least, seem to have escaped the trap of dumb domestication. Give them the treat when they reach a straight posture. Guinea pigs (scientific name: Cavia porcellus) or Cavis as they are widely known, originated in the Andes region of South America. Pigs outperform 3-year-old human children on cognition tests and are smarter than any domestic animal, and animal experts consider them more trainable than cats or dogs. is this the case for your guinea pigs ⦠Guinea pigs are a better choice for younger children than hamsters. Guinea Pigs require a lot of care and attention as compared to rats. They need 1/8 cup of pellets, 1 cup of veggies (with lots of vitamin c), and unlimited hay every day. And they did draw blood! 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