Have a hamster? do you regret it?

[Jockaroo]

I've had hamsters before. Always one at a time and always a male. Trust me, stick with a male hamster. Females can start reproducing within a few weeks of birth and I did not want to risk the cannibalistic factor. Hubby had some before we got married and they just multiplied like crazy. He would keep the healthy young in a kiddie wading pool and he fed them Old Roy dog food--he couldn't afford the hamster food. He started with 3--one male and two females. Within 3-4 months he had over 100. He would give litters to a pet store when they were weaned because he could not care for all these. He did get many of them re-homed, had a few that escaped, and unfortunately at the end one got sick and nearly all of them died.

Get a male.

I had one hamster get "wet-tail" and it died. This was a long haired teddy bear type. I never got the long-hair ones to live long. I had better luck with the normal, non-exotic short tan and white hamsters. Make sure you research wet-tail so you can be prepared. It can be deadly.

Hamsters are typically solitary critters. They like to be alone. If you want multiple animals, you would be better getting gerbils. They enjoy companionship and play during the day. But I don't think your son wants gerbils. With each of my new hamsters, I would handle them the first week or so wearing some good fitting garden gloves. They can get nippy and break the skin. The gloves allowed the hamster to get used to being handled, then when he wasn't biting as much, I could get him used to my scent and bare hands. I hope you have good luck. Some hamsters can live several years, others sadly only a few weeks. They are fairly fragile creatures.

 

[Lorix2]

I've had hamsters before. Always one at a time and always a male. Trust me, stick with a male hamster. Females can start reproducing within a few weeks of birth and I did not want to risk the cannibalistic factor. Hubby had some before we got married and they just multiplied like crazy. He would keep the healthy young in a kiddie wading pool and he fed them Old Roy dog food--he couldn't afford the hamster food. He started with 3--one male and two females. Within 3-4 months he had over 100. He would give litters to a pet store when they were weaned because he could not care for all these. He did get many of them re-homed, had a few that escaped, and unfortunately at the end one got sick and nearly all of them died.

Get a male.

I had one hamster get "wet-tail" and it died. This was a long haired teddy bear type. I never got the long-hair ones to live long. I had better luck with the normal, non-exotic short tan and white hamsters. Make sure you research wet-tail so you can be prepared. It can be deadly.

Hamsters are typically solitary critters. They like to be alone. If you want multiple animals, you would be better getting gerbils. They enjoy companionship and play during the day. But I don't think your son wants gerbils. With each of my new hamsters, I would handle them the first week or so wearing some good fitting garden gloves. They can get nippy and break the skin. The gloves allowed the hamster to get used to being handled, then when he wasn't biting as much, I could get him used to my scent and bare hands. I hope you have good luck. Some hamsters can live several years, others sadly only a few weeks. They are fairly fragile creatures.

Thank you also for your very helpful post. I was leaning toward a male for the same reason. I didn't realize that about the teddies. He does have his heart set on the beige and white ones. He does just want one pet to be responsible for.

 

[joyah]

I believe that Maple is a syrian she is long haired and so soft. I will tell you that our pet stores have very few of the long haired mostly teddies. The pandas are black and white and furrier (is that a word) than the teddies but not as much as Maple. It may take more than one trip for him to find his perfect buddy. It is going to be a very sad day the day she passes, but for my boys i think it will be aphase I don't see more of them in our future. Maple and Sally have tank toppers that attach to the 10 gallon tank and five them an extra story so to speak while that's great Sally consitatly will somehow manage to throw poop out of the cage and onto Levi's rug!!! She is the little brat of the bunch. they all have their own personalities!!
Good luck if wish you were closer I'd give you one of the babies. (I'm out side of White river Jct VT)

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

Just be advised that if you get a male hamster, they have large er....


Oh gosh how can I say this delicately?


They have large uh..well..we call them 'manapples' in our house. The stem is not large (barely even visible) although the manapples are.

 

[joyah]

OOOOH yes they do!!!! Levi would not buy a panda because of those!!! he just couldn't get past that. Peanny's aren't a visiable I guess cause of the longer hair but it sure gives their behind a funny look.

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

I remember as a kid the first hamster we got. He was just a wee thing when we got him and then he matured and I was like "MOOOOOOOOM! I think our hamster has cancer!".

Mom pops her head around the corner. "Why do you say that?"
"Because he's got huge..uh..THINGs on his butt! Look at him!"
So I turn him around and my mom's dying laughing.
"He doesn't have cancer. I think those are just his uh..well..you know. Bits. Like your baby brother has. Boy bits."

I was so embarrassed.

 

[WildernessBride]

Just be advised that if you get a male hamster, they have large er....


Oh gosh how can I say this delicately?


They have large uh..well..we call them 'manapples' in our house. The stem is not large (barely even visible) although the manapples are.

OMGosh!!!! That is so funny ...manapples!!!!! And so true...my DS commented on Magical's manapples, she said maybe Magical is pregnant!!! I said no, that's not his baby belly!!!

 

[Lorix2]

Just be advised that if you get a male hamster, they have large er....


Oh gosh how can I say this delicately?


They have large uh..well..we call them 'manapples' in our house. The stem is not large (barely even visible) although the manapples are.

Ok, now I'm grossed out. How long does it take to notice their "maturity"? I mean when do these manberries start to form? at birth or when they mature?

My DS would be freaked too.

 

[Buckalew11]

Our Petsmart says they only carry boys so you can't even get a girl there (unless they make a mistake, I guess). Our little hamster was so cute in the store (no manapples) but now, ick, it is hard to get past. DD has asked if Uncle Mike (the vet) can remove them. I wonder. Other that that, Hammie (his name, short for Hamilton) is a cutie.


Our little white rat was a sweet little female with no manapples. It was great! I no you said no to a rat but they really are the sweetest rodent. The girl that sold us hammie at Petsmart said that if she was buying a hmaster and Chinese dwarf Hamster was the only one she'd consider. The rest of them will bite/nibble at you. This one never has although the wite dumbo rat we had was the better pet.

 

[joyah]

I think we realized that Peanut was about 3 months old maybe even less. I really can't remember. The ones at the pet store were all well........... defined? Trying to put it delicatly.
He's old enough to Know boys and girls and he'll get it at the pet store. It's aa matter of the "looks". Just be prepared to explain it to him. Some kids could care less Levi isn't bothered by Peanny at all. Just at the pet store it really bugged him.
If he's long haired the chances are you won't really see much.

 

[SkcMom]

My DD has a girl hamster. So thank goodness no "manapples" for us! But, I really do detest the creature. She has had her about a year. She poops like there is no tomorrow!! She is a big ol' fattie and cute as can be, but......everyday I secretly wish for her demise!

 

[Magic Mom]

Ok, now I'm grossed out. How long does it take to notice their "maturity"? I mean when do these manberries start to form? at birth or when they mature?

My DS would be freaked too.

LOL That's why Nibbles the Rat is a girl. We had heard that male rats were slightly better pets, but DD couldn't handle the giant bulge. SHe went with DH to shop for them, and I wish I could have been there to watch, beause he spent the afternoon wieghing the options of rat testicles with her.

 

[stsomewhere]

I much prefer Guinea Pigs. They are larger and easier for young children to play with. They don't bite like hamsters and are much more social.

GP's can live to be 6 years of age, hamsters barely live to 1.5 years. This is hard on young children to lose pets so quickly.

Truthfully, I'm not a big advocate of caged pets. I don't think they have a great quality of life and are often ignored once the novelty wears off. But if your son is set on a small pet and the family is committed to its care then I would think about a GP rather than a hamster.

We have 2 GP. My kids love them. They are much better than hamsters. The like to cuddle and be held. One will even stand on his hind legs and beg for food. They squeal when ever I walk in the room for treats and attention.

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

I'm not sure how long it takes the manapples to be ah..fully grown on a male hamster. With all the hamsters I've had (and it's been awhile, haven't had one since I was a teenager) they were fully developed by about 2-3 mos of age I think.

I can understand why a person would be freaked by a rodent's manparts. It can be a bit disturbing if you're not used to seeing such things.

 

[joyah]

I honestly wish I'd taken a camera to the pet store because the look on his face
I hope he finds some one male or female to be his best buddy

 

[kimluvswdw]

My kids have had hamsters for years. They clean the cages about once a week and take pretty good care of them. They have to, because I won't go near them. It does give me the willies how they love and kiss them, YUCK.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say get him a ferret or two!! They have a life span of 7-10 yrs (so they won't die to soon). They are very playful. The two I had would play hide n seek with me, play tugawar with a sock either together or with me. They also bark when they are happy!

Ferrets are easly potty trained, just need a ferret poop box. I had two of them. One in the corner in my house for when they were out playing and one in there cage. If I kept their box clean I didn't have to change the bedding in their cage so often (about every two weeks).

If you go with a ferret I'd get him a male. Males are bigger than the females and from my experience females tend to bite. My male never bit me but my female tooks some training to make her stop.

Ok now I want another one. I miss them so much.

They stink!!!!!! My sister had ferrets and they smell awful no matter how clean you keep the cage. Blech!

 

[christiane]

So we were left with momma, poppa, and baby cujo hamster. My son was crying and said he did not want them any more because "Their mean and scare me!"
So we released them in the back yard for the neighbors cat to draw out karmic retribution. In my opinion hamsters are nasty creatures If you are going to get one only get one! (they were teddy bear hamsters)

Karma?? No. Cruelty?? Yes.

If you didn't want them anymore, you had other options. Finding them a new home or humane euthanasia.

And hamsters are not nasty. But what you did to yours....that could be considered nasty.

 

[LisaB]

We got one a couple of weeks ago as a birthday gift for my daughter Diana. Her friend gave it to her as a gift. She thought it was a good idea since she has one and the father gives the girl anything she wants. I would really like to give it back to them but don't have the heart. Who gives a pet as a gift without discussing it with the parents first. This isn't what I would get for her. While the hamster is cute

 

[Mouse House Mama]

We got one a couple of weeks ago as a birthday gift for my daughter Diana. Her friend gave it to her as a gift. She thought it was a good idea since she has one and the father gives the girl anything she wants. I would really like to give it back to them but don't have the heart. Who gives a pet as a gift without discussing it with the parents first. This isn't what I would get for her. While the hamster is cute

I would be beyond pissed if someone gave my kids a pet as a gift without discussing it with me first.