Rats vs Guinea Pigs

Superman · Post by **Superman** » 2003-06-11 05:05am

Here is the question: Which of these two rodents is more intelligent? I have had both rats and guinea pigs and I have to say that answer eludes me. One would think that rats are more intelligent, but I have taught my guinea pigs to do things that rats don't seem to be able to grasp. Then again, some people swear that rats can do things that g.p.'s cannot.

So, which species is smarter?

Just for the record, I have taught my guinea pigs to beg like dogs, jump over their toys on command and one even holds her front paw up like she wants to shake! My rats, on the other hand, can jump over distances... but that is all I could teach them.

Amstrad · Post by **Amstrad** » 2003-06-11 06:04am

I thought Guinea pigs and voted as such, because I saw a Guinea pig wearing a hat once, and another one playing checkers, which I consider to be pretty damn impressive.

...but then I started to think about Splinter from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and that made me want to rethink my vote.

Superman · Post by **Superman** » 2003-06-11 06:08am

Ah yes, the Ninja master rat... He could probably kick any old guinea pig's ass. Unless that guinea pig also happened to be a ninja master. Then the fight would be on.

Where the hell did you see a guinea pig wearing a hat?

Superman · Post by **Superman** » 2003-06-11 06:11am

And what type of hat was it? I think my guinea pig would look pretty good in fedora, or maybe even a top hat.

Amstrad · Post by **Amstrad** » 2003-06-11 06:16am

Superman wrote:And what type of hat was it? I think my guinea pig would look pretty good in fedora, or maybe even a top hat.

I think it was one of those Barbie cowboy hats with the elastic around to hold it on. I know you can also get little felt hats from craft type places or doll making type places cos I saw some in one of those crafty places once and thought they were funny. Why oh why I bothered to retain this knowledge I may never know...

Kelly Antilles · Post by **Kelly Antilles** » 2003-06-11 08:46am

so, training a mammal to do something is indication of its intelligence?

Post by **Vympel** » 2003-06-11 08:57am

Which is why I voted rats.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-06-11 09:34am

Kelly Antilles wrote:so, training a mammal to do something is indication of its intelligence?

Yes it is. More intelligent animals learn tricks and commands faster and in greater numbers.

Kelly Antilles · Post by **Kelly Antilles** » 2003-06-11 09:42am

Sea Skimmer wrote: Yes it is. More intelligent animals learn tricks and commands faster and in greater numbers.

so, how many tricks do you know?

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-06-11 09:56am

Kelly Antilles wrote: so, how many tricks do you know?

I'm sentient

Lonestar · Post by **Lonestar** » 2003-06-11 11:20am

Prarie Dogs are superior. In adddition, they spread obscure jungle diseases.

Kelly Antilles · Post by **Kelly Antilles** » 2003-06-11 11:34am

Lonestar wrote:Prarie Dogs are superior. In adddition, they spread obscure jungle diseases.

I'm sorry, but that just SO matches your Bucky avatar. *LOL*

Zoink · Post by **Zoink** » 2003-06-11 11:55am

Make a big arena (like in that Star Trek TOS episode where they're gambling over Kirk dueling) and give them various weapons (you might need ducktape) then see who is smart enough to effectively use the weapons. Playing that song from TOS might help too.

[jingle]
Tatadadadadadatatadada....
[/jingle]

..... but seriously, I haven't owned either, so I just guessed rat. They look smarter.

Ted · Post by **Ted** » 2003-06-11 05:18pm

Sea Skimmer wrote:
Kelly Antilles wrote: so, how many tricks do you know?
I'm sentient

Exactly.

You can't teach rats to do stupid things, because they are smart enough not to do that.

My rats will come to their names, but they wont do tricks. They are't gonna belittle themselves like some circus freak.

Drooling Iguana · Post by **Drooling Iguana** » 2003-06-11 05:45pm

Hamsters will be proven superior when Snowball achieves his dreams of world domination.

thecreech · Post by **thecreech** » 2003-06-11 05:49pm

Well i would have to go with rats. Just because of the master splinter comment earlier. He is like yoda for the TMNT

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-06-11 06:01pm

Ted wrote: Exactly.

You can't teach rats to do stupid things, because they are smart enough not to do that.

My rats will come to their names, but they wont do tricks. They are't gonna belittle themselves like some circus freak.

Actually that would suggest that they lack the mental capacity to learn them in the first place. That is unless you where not offering rewards, which is key to animal training. They will do tricks for you because they associate them with food.

Ted · Post by **Ted** » 2003-06-11 07:28pm

Sea Skimmer wrote:Actually that would suggest that they lack the mental capacity to learn them in the first place. That is unless you where not offering rewards, which is key to animal training. They will do tricks for you because they associate them with food.

But this is all besides the point.

Rats are as intelligent as dolphins, tieing them for third in the animal kingdom intelligence chain.

EmperorChrostas the Cruel · Post by **EmperorChrostas the Cruel** » 2003-06-11 07:38pm

I have had both 'pigs and rats. Rats are WAY smarter, and much more afectionate. Our cats got on better with the rats too. It is so funny/cute to see cats "washing" the rats. The reverse was even cuter/funnier.
'pigs are about as smart as rabbits.(DUMB)

I also think much cuter too, but that is subjective.

Superman · Post by **Superman** » 2003-06-11 07:50pm

I disagree about rats being "way" smarter. I have had some affectionate rats, but that does not necessarily meant that they are more intelligent than guinea pigs.

Maybe rats are smarter, but I have had some pretty smart guinea pigs.

Captain Cyran · Post by **Captain Cyran** » 2003-06-11 08:44pm

I personally think that rats are smarter, if nothing else at least they won't scream and run away from you everytime you get near it.

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2003-06-11 08:51pm

I have little experience with either of their intelligencce levels. They make squeaks of different pitches when fed to some pointy-toothed reptile though

Lonestar · Post by **Lonestar** » 2003-06-11 09:04pm

Kelly Antilles wrote:
I'm sorry, but that just SO matches your Bucky avatar. *LOL*

I also am not impressed with Ferrets, and Think a Cappuchino machine makes delicious monkeys.

Superman · Post by **Superman** » 2003-06-11 09:49pm

Ferrets are actually VERY smart. They are clever little creature, but, technically, they are not rodents. They are more like skunks.

It is true that guinea pigs sometimes scream and run away when you approach them, but I have one right now that is really tame. When I go to pick her up, she comes up to me hoping I have food.

Slartibartfast · Post by **Slartibartfast** » 2003-06-12 09:37pm

The guinea pig wasn't smart enough not to end in the kettle, so I'll vote for the rat.

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Rats vs Guinea Pigs

Which is the smarter species?

Rats vs Guinea Pigs