Give me all the reasons NOT to get 2 pet hamsters!

[JerseyJanice]

Biggest reason I will never own another pet--we moms do all the work involved.

You do not need to add to your regular workload with a pet, but owning two of any animal at a time is insane--twice the amount of work, and it's work you don't want or need.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

We got one a couple of weeks ago and we're in love with the little guy. (Sorry) He's a black teddy bear hamster named Gus. He's very gentle, hasn't bitten at all, and believe it or not, he comes when you call him, lol. My dog is fascinated with him and he seems to like her as well. Kids (12) have been very good about cleaning and feeding. I've had 4 other hamsters but this one seems different, really awesome. No regrets here.

 

[turkeymama]

We got one a couple of weeks ago and we're in love with the little guy. (Sorry) He's a black teddy bear hamster named Gus. He's very gentle, hasn't bitten at all, and believe it or not, he comes when you call him, lol. My dog is fascinated with him and he seems to like her as well. Kids (12) have been very good about cleaning and feeding. I've had 4 other hamsters but this one seems different, really awesome. No regrets here.

Ditto. I was beginning to think we were the only ones that got lucky. Ours is a female syrian hamster. She comes when we call her too, we leave her alone at certain times of day (first thing in the morning), and she loves her ball. My daughter isn't quite up to the task of cleaning the cage, so she monitors Sweet Pea in the plastic ball while I clean. When she is in her ball, she follows me around the kitchen. Seriously. She is like a puppy. Her cage gets cleaned about once a week and that seems to be fine. We haven't noticed a smell yet, but we don't use the shavings. We use the absorbent bedding stuff and it makes a big difference. I had hamsters and guinea pigs when I was little, and while the guinea pigs are more social, I found them much more difficult to keep alive.

On the other hand, if the 2 aren't litter mates, they will almost definitely fight constantly. Been there, done that. Also, they can be loud at night since they are nocturnal. They will not like to be very sociable during the daylight hours. I've found the earlier in the day we try to socialize with Sweet Pea, the less our chances of even seeing her. Never try to force it with a sleeping hamster.....they will bite. Wouldn't you bite too if someone that much larger than you tried to rip you out of bed in the middle of the night?

OP, if you don't want to deal with the hamsters, explain to her that they are quite a bit more work than a dog and they can't be played with nearly as much. Also, they don't live very long, usually a life-span of 3 years. I've had some make it slightly longer and some not make it a month.

(As I type, I can hear little Sweet Pea getting water and even that is loud in the middle of the night. The marathon running should start any minute now. )

 

[Slippy]

Get some guinea pigs instead. Yes, they breed like crazy too, but love to be held and petted and even "talk" to you



Rich::

Not to mention, lots of people find them very tasty! "Cuy" is the Spanish word. They are largely popular in Peru. DW and I are driving down the street, see a truck that must be from a pet store (it had a really big picture of a cute guinea pig on it!)... we found out at dinner that it was a meat delivery truck.

 

[apollo8]

I got 2 when I was 12. It didn't take long before I had 10.

 

[dizluvah]

When I was a kid one of hamsters got out and chewed through the refridgerator cord and the sandals in my mom's closet before we caught it - and when we did my mom promptly tossed out the back door!

No really I'm fine....no therapy neeed here...

 

[canadianjovigirl]

Wow...my daughter got one a couple of weeks ago and it is working out fine for us. She plays with it in the evenings, it has never bitten anyone - even the younger kids. There has been no smell from the cage as she cleans it every other day and then weekly it gets a scrubdown. My cats are fasinated to sit and watch it in its cage, but when its out in its ball rolling around they are scared of it I really did not want to get her one, but relented and dont regret it. Thankfully for her i did not read this prior to that or she would not have gotten one. I am still kinda afraid of it as it reminds me of a mouse, but it is kinda cute in its own way

 

[Shelby5514]

If you do decide to get them, prepare your daughter that they won't be around for long. I believe their life span is only 2, maybe 3 years at best. My sister has had so many hamsters I've stopped counting. She keeps them in separate cages so they don't fight. One other thing, most of hers have ended up with bladder stones so she is constantly giving antibotics and a special diet to them.

Good Luck!

 

[Denine]

Thank you everyone for arming me with lots of reasons not to get them.

I already told her about the lifespan thinking that would make a difference right after losing Jasper, but no, she would be "happy just to have it for a month". UGHHH!

I believe the 2 are littermates and are in the same cage now, an aquarium with a lid. The are both males.

We do not want the expense of more pets or the responsibility of more pets right now. I don't want to get another cat in the future.

The she says how it was crawling all over her and how cute it was, etc...

 

[wildernessgirl]

Hey Denine, I think I told you all these reasons on our thread. I do know something... lol!

 

[wildernessgirl]

We do not want the expense of more pets or the responsibility of more pets right now.

There is your reason.... Just tell her not at this time. Don't have the money. Tell her if she got them, you will have to cut out a trip or two to Disney.

 

[bookgirl]

I had hamsters and they're fun but honestly, hamsters are nocturnal, kids get upset when they are not active during the day. I'd pass on the hamsters.

 

[curious3069]

2 reasons?

I am the mom.

Because I said so.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

Hamsters in the same cage can be good, Can be bad. When it is good it is good. When it is bad it usually involves decapataion. If your going to hamster I'd do 1.

And after being bit by 1.

I would look into Guinne pigs, I don't think they bite.

 

[wildernessgirl]

Hamsters in the same cage can be good, Can be bad. When it is good it is good. When it is bad it usually involves decapataion. If your going to hamster I'd do 1.

And after being bit by 1.

I would look into Guinne pigs, I don't think they bite.

Guinne pigs bite HARD!!! They have very, very sharp teeth! We had one and got rid of it because all it did was try to bite everyone.

 

[Denine]

Since I posted this, DD got sick and hasn't uttered a word about the hamsters! I am not bringing the subject up either!

 

[minkydog]

We do not want the expense of more pets or the responsibility of more pets right now. I don't want to get another cat in the future.

The she says how it was crawling all over her and how cute it was, etc...

Doesn't matter how cute it is. If you can't afford a pet, you can't afford it. And there will be expenses even with a small animal.

DD16 has been lobbying for a cat, gerbils, a parakeet and a bunny for 2 years. We keep saying No. In less than 2yrs she will be going off to college and leaving pets behind. I do not want to take on pet care, I have an old standard poodle that is enough pet for all of us. She keeps dropping hints but too bad, so sad. We made up our minds. That's the end of it.

 

[SandrA9810]

The first thing that happened when I moved out, was we ended up with an animal house. Because we always wanted to have one. Worst mistake in my life. Eventually it got down to just the dog, and even she too has passed from cancer.

I'm thinking of getting another fish tank. They do take a lot of effort, but it's just so calming and relaxing.

 

[Carnie]

Two males WILL fight and most likely kill each other.