Do you want to learn more about Hedgehogs vs. Guinea Pigs?
As you are aware, different strokes are for different persons. These two lovely creatures may be raised as pets while also enjoying life in the wild. I have had both of them as pets and would want to discuss more about their differences and similarities. I also recommend reading my articles on hedgehog pets versus groundhogs pets and hedgehogs versus rabbits, which are both pretty intriguing and eye-opening to a pet enthusiast like me and provide an opportunity to appreciate the diversity of the animal kingdom
Let’s get started,
Similarities Between Hedgehogs And Guinea Pigs
Food
They eat similarly since they are around the same size. naturally, they consume different foods in general, but a rodent diet is usually rather comparable. The hedgehog can consume a scoop of cat food pellets and the guinea pig consumes hay carrots and pellets which are good for them. If you would like to know the most appropriate diet for your hedgehog pet, I recommend you read my post What do hedgehog pets eat and drink
Both animals cannot tolerate dairy in their diet, sweet or salty as well as human junk food. They are red flags for these cuties
Cage and Sleep
Both animals use the cage to sleep in. They’re both nocturnal in nature and are more active at night than during the day, therefore the best times to engage or play with them are at night or early in the morning. They’d be grumpy if you woke them up in the afternoon to play with them. They can also utilize exercise wheels to help them stay healthy and avoid becoming fat. It is critical to keep their cages clean at all times to avoid infections. It is important to choose proper bedding for your hedgehog pets. I propose you read my post-Hedgehog Pets Bedding Needs, which provides the best materials to use as bedding for your pet.
Noise.
Both create noise, but guinea pigs make more noise than hedgehog pets because they squeal more. Hedgehogs produce noise as well, but it is more of a hissing noise that happens only when they are terrified or furious, and every sound generated by the hedgehog has a meaning. If you want to learn more about hedgehog noises and their meanings, please see my post Hedgehog Pet Sound and Meanings. It is important to know that if you want a pet that makes a lot of noise, you can have a guinea pig, but if you don’t like a lot of noise, you can get a hedgehog.
Play
Guinea pigs, in my opinion, are more adaptive and friendlier than hedgehogs. They’re more fun to play with they have quite an adorable, fluffy, and fuzzy body. Hedgehogs are not bad at all once you gain their trust they’re a lot of fun to play with because they’re smart, swift, and curious, but it is difficult to pet them because of the presence of their spikes. They don’t injure or poke you unless you brush against them or if the hedgehog raises them in defense, which happens a lot when they’re disturbed or scared. If you want your pets to play, exercise will be a good toy to play with.
Which Is Better Hedgehog Or Guinea Pig
It all boils down to the personality of the animal and your personality as well. But a guinea pig is the finest option if you want a pet to cuddle with, however, if you prefer an animal that does not like so much cuddle as well as prefers a solitary life, you can settle for a hedgehog. It does not imply that the guinea pig is superior to the hedgehog because the hedgehog takes longer to trust before becoming accustomed to hugging. Your personality is also crucial since it will help you understand the personality of the pet you want because they all have distinct personalities
What Is The Distinction Between Hedgehogs And Guinea Pigs
Longevity
A hedgehog has an average life expectancy of 8 to 10 years, but guinea pigs in captivity can live up to 6 years. A well-cared-for guinea pig can live for up to 12 years on average. This means that a guinea pig has a longer life than a hedgehog. It still boils down to the care and lifestyle you give your pet. With constant care and a conducive environment, your pet can live a long life. I recommend you read my post How Long Pet Hedgehog Lives which will give you the best tips to give your hedgehog pet a long life
Diet
Guinea pigs are herbivores, which means hay, fresh water, fresh vegetables, and a tiny bit of pelleted guinea pig feed also vitamin C supplement every day is appropriate for your pet. These tiny fellows are not expected to eat, eggs, meat, or insects because it is dangerous for their consumption. your guinea pig’s food should mainly consist of fresh hay and fresh green vegetables. Hedgehogs are omnivores, which means they eat both plants and animals. It is also safe for them to eat mostly insects preferably insects purchased from pet stores, such as beetles and worms, as well as protein like eggs and meat. If you maintain hedgehogs it is not so good that they consume insects in the garden that are dangerous to them
Human Interaction
Guinea pigs are normally quite kind, amusing, fun, calm, and socially acceptable with people and are always willing to interact with people. it is always exciting to watch them socialize with themselves regardless of their mating season, they are always appealing to look at. however, hedgehogs are kept as pets are loners, and are more sociable during mating periods. It takes a lot of time to persuade a hedgehog to trust you but once you give them that environment and care to trust, they will interact with you gradually. And are quite curious and fun to be with as well
Habitat
A hedgehog pet can dwell in diverse regions on all continents of the world: Africa, Asia, and all the other continents of the World whereas the groundhog lives in North America and also in some places in Canada. This means the hedgehogs are distributed all over unlike the guinea pig which on the other hand arrived in Europe around the 16th century and have Peru as their home country. And today, in certain Indian communities, pigs roam gently about houses and come to sleep in people’s homes. It means guinea pigs are not evenly distributed as hedgehogs and hedgehog pets are often kept as pets all around the world than the guinea pig
Behavior
Guinea pigs enjoy popping. “Pop corning” is a distinct behavior more typically observed in young guinea pigs when they are joyful or excited: they repeatedly leap up straight into the air. Some guinea pigs sprint forward and backward, while others kick out their front and hind legs alternately. Pop corning is a guinea pig-specific behavior that is entertaining to observe.
The hedgehog’s unique behavior includes hibernation, rolling into balls as well as self-anointing. These characteristics are not what guinea pigs exhibit. If you would like to understand more about these, kindly read my post-Hedgehog Pet Hibernation, hedgehog pet self-anointing
Maintenance As Pets
Guinea pigs are high-maintenance pets. Guinea pigs do require veterinarian care often, and their medical expenditures might reach $500 or more. Guinea pigs are expensive pets to keep, from the food they eat to the time it takes to clean their cage and replace their hay bucket.
Hedgehog pets on the other hand are low-maintenance pets. If you would like to know more about caring for your hedgehog pets kindly read my post on hedgehog care and maintenance. If you prefer a low-maintenance pet, the hedgehog falls into the category because the hedgehog does not require often visits to the vet like the guinea pig
Physical Appearance
The physical appearance of both pets differs. While the hedgehog pet is covered with quills, guinea pigs have fluffy hairs on their body. Hedgehogs are tiny, spiky mammals that have conical faces while guinea pigs are not spiky in any way
Another physical distinction is that the guinea pigs have no tail while the hedgehogs have a tail
The guinea pigs’ fur ranges in different colors from black to red, silver as well as reddish-brown to grey while the hedgehog pets have a variety of colors from white, black, orange-brown, and many more varieties. For more information on the colors of hedgehog pets kindly read Discover the different colors of Hedgehog pets
Are Guinea Pigs The Smartest Rodent
Guinea pigs are brilliant creatures and can even be trained to do stunts. They rapidly adjust to their environment and recognize their people and their voices Guinea pigs comprehend, feel, and respond to love. They can detect when you are tired or unhappy and make less noise, are less demanding on certain days/occasions, and even take their medications obediently. They play around when I am joyful or have had a nice day. It is good to always be around them because guinea pigs pick up negativity and are quite sensitive and can rapidly become unwell if they are continually in a negative atmosphere
Conclusion
Personalities vary greatly within a species, as with every living creature, and are a result of genetics and the experiences that have been experienced since birth. Consider your living situation (apartment vs. home with a garden), your daily routine, your capacity to give mental and physical stimulation, and your pet care budget finally, the perfect pet for you matches your lifestyle and provides you with joy and company while receiving the care and attention it needs. I propose you read my post Hedgehog Vs Chinchilla, which is extremely intriguing and can help you decide which pet to have.