First of all, all three of those pets are wonderful and none are better then the other. Mice are fuzzy and cute but they are downright dumb. They don't respond to you and they try to run away as soon as you hold them. They smell a lot, don't live long but they are easy to wake up and don't bite as much as a hamster might. They can be fun though to play with and they do have funny personalities and they don't live long at all. Hamsters are cute and they hardly smell. They love running around in balls and exploring. They are a little more alert then mice and sometimes respond to your voice. They twitch and hate being held and restrained. They also are very hard to wake up which is a problem because they are nocturnal. They can be nippy and many bite especially dwarfs. Syrian hamsters are slightly calmer and may sit in your hand a little. And those little G pigs. Very cute and fluffy. They are very nervous though and they hate to be picked up. They are pretty lazy and calm after they get to know you and they will sit in your lap. They squeal a lot and just kind of sit there. They also can get overwieght very easy It depends on what you would like in a pet. Guinea pigs, I have found to be very smelly(more then anything I have owned), noisy, and very nervous. Some people like their constant volcal noises but I don't. They also live a pretty long time.They can be very loud at night and a big problem is that they get overweight easy because they hate running around. Many of them never get bonded to their owner and are very skittish their entire lives even if they are handled. But some of them are sweet and will sit in your lap and sit there as long as you want. Hamsters are also fun pets. They hardly smell, they are fun to watch, don't live that long unfortunatley and they are not that expensive. But they are not very alert, or friendly. They are nocturnal and are up all night and they get very grumpy and are difficult to wake during the day. When you play with them, they just try to hide. They also are well known to bite although I don't think that they are as bad as people perseve them. Then there is rats, my favorite. They have a bad reputation but they are misunderstood. They are smarter then the animals I already talked about and can learn many tricks including their names. They only live around two years. They are the most interactive and flexible. They wake up easily and are always ready to snuggle or wrestle. They aren't known to bite as much as any of the other animals. They do smell a bit but weekly cleaning them does the trick.

I love rats. Rats make great pets!! They are very smart, clean and do not bite! They are my favorite rodent. I have had a total of five hamsters and they are pretty good pets but not my favorite. My little ones love kids and everyone and can be held without the fear of being bitten - like often happens with hamsters.

Rats make GREAT pets. First thing you should know is that you should get more than 2 of the same sex. Rats generally do not do very well alone, they're very social creatures and thrive on interaction with other rats as well as humans. Some rats ARE energetic, if you're looking for calm and laid back rats you should go with males than females. Males also tend to be larger in size, and mark more. Females on the other hand are more active and love to play and learn tricks. My three girls come when called, beg, go on my shoulder on command, spin in circles on command and are learning to play socer!

Bedding. NEVER use cedar or pine, I won't even use kiln dried pine, which some people seem to think is ok. This goes for any rodent including hamsters. These beddings are very toxic to small animals (or even people actually) and with rats having sensitive respiratory system it'll be very bad for them. Safe alternatives are Aspen, CareFresh, Yesterday's News, crushed walnut, CellSorb Plus, etc. CareFresh is my favorite.

Rats are very different than any other rodents, you should really consider them to be more like dogs and cats. They don't do well just living in their cage by themselves, but rather they'll need to be part of your family and your life. They'll also need medical care, as rats, especially rats that come from unknown history (like petstore rats), tend to be prone to respiratory problems. You'll need a vet who's knowledgeable with rats, many of the dogs and cats specialists don't seem to know anything about small animals at all.

Rats are social animals. Many small pets don't like being handled, but rats get used to careful socialization easily, and come to enjoy riding in pockets and on shoulders. They like people!

Rats are agile and sturdy. Try to get a guinea pig to run a maze or climb a ladder and you'll appreciate the fleet-footedness of a rat. Unlike mice, rats can stand up to the handling and occasionally, the unintentional mishandlingof well-meaning children.

Rats are cute. Think sleek, shiny fur, dark, glossy eyes and cute little ears. You say it's the tail that gets to you? Give a rat a break. If he just had a fluffy tail he'd be a squirrel, and people would give him nuts in the park. Really, is that fair?

Rats are diverse. Did you know that rats come in many more colors and patterns than the gray-brown of a street rat and the white of a lab rat? Think colors like silver mink, platinum, blue and chocolate, and markings like hooded (the head a different color than the body) or masked.

Rats are easy to keep. Get a cage sized for a slightly larger animal, such as a chinchilla or guinea pig, and your rat will be content. Add bedding, a place for the animal to hide and sleep, a food dish and a water bottle, some toys, and you're set. Your rat will happily eat the food manufactured for them, and will love you if you add fruit, nuts, vegetables and other "people food."

The downside of rats? They don't live all that long two to three years and they're prone to tumors. And like all rodents, they live and love to chew. Provide all the chew toys imaginable, and they'll still put a hole in a piece of apparel faster than you can say "rats!" I got really attatched to one of my girls and it was so sad when we put her down becasue she had a tumor.

Sorry, I just think rats are WAY better is you really want a companion pet who is very personable. They are also not as nervous and jumpy as gerbils. Because I know about the pets you own, I know that you have never experianced a rat. Hamsters are great but there is a lot of stuff many people don't think about.

They are nocturnal. Yes, I'm sure you know that but that is the biggest downfall, unlike gerbils and mice who are easy to wake, hamsters get grumpy and you can't wake them up. If you try, even the nicest may bite. You can't get them on a schedule because they are always up at ten o'clock PM. no matter what. They also are the most agressive rodent you can buy and the most unpredictable. I held my girl Eppie just like normal one day, and she bit me for no reason! Overall they are good pets but they are a LOT like mice only they move slower and smell a little less. They do not form bond with their owners and do not like to be held, touch and don't really respond to talking. In fact, they don't need to be taken out at all and they are perfectly content. Rats on the other hand, love to be taken out, never bite, love people and to make them happy and are just amazing.

You said what rodent I would like next? I would have to say rats even though I already have three. They are very addicting!