Okay about this hamster...

[minkydog]

Hamsters are nocturnal and may be grumpy if you wake them up. I have read that the dwarf ones are less grumpy. We have Gerbils -and the main reason we got them was that they were supposed to have a better temperament than hamsters.
They are pretty sweet -I am much more attached to them than I expected.
You may want to warn your kids up front that the life span is around 3 years.

This is Bellatrix one of our gerbils:

Here's another vote for gerbils. We have had them for 7 years now and I have to admit, they are really pleasant. I would have never thought i'd be a rodent person, but these little creatures are so winsome and they rarely bite-only if you put you hand in there when they have babies in the nest. Matter of fact, if you live in Georgia i can fix you right up with 1 or 2(or 20--we have two nursing moms...again )

An important thing to note about gerbils is that they only get along with their own community. Introducing a new gerbil from a different group will cause fighting and great unhappiness. Two sisters or two brothers will get along very well. They are easy to tell apart if you are looking at the right end(you can't tell by their smile )

 

[minkydog]

We just lost our last hamster. We have always had a hamster. I started with a female, bought her pregnant! Six babies! Kept her and gave all the babies away except one male, few months later our hamster had twelve more! I thought how did this happen, they are in seperate cages! I asked my son if he had put them together by mistake, he said No I let them out to PLAY! We enjoyed the babies, she took great care of them. I found homes for all twelve babies. Our hamsters were always very friendly, we handled them alot so they never bit. They only live about 2 years. So I got ninteen hamsters for the price of one.

The do love to PLAY

 

[Maleficent13]

No helpful info here but this whole thread is giving me the heebie-jeebies...gerbils, hamsters, rats... :shudder: Give me the meanest mommy award now, because DD will never have one!

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

TOV

 

[Tuffcookie]

I am 52 and have had a hamster in the house since I was about 12. That's alot of hamsters!!!
Over all these years I have learned quite a bit about the little critters.
I believe that males seem to be the easier to have and hande.
Try to find a YOUNG hamster (6-8 weeks old). They are easier to train to get used to being handled. NEVER just put your hand in the cage and pick up the hamster. You would not like someone to do that to you. Gently, put your hand in the cage and talk softly to your hamster. They will actually get used to your voice.
An aquarium makes the best cage for a hamster. If you want to spend alot of money on one of those cute hamster cages be forwarned. They can chew their way out of those contraptions. Plus if you have one with a bunch of tubes/connectors, you have to take all of those apart every now and then and clean them. Add to that, the fact that if you have a bunch of tubes, it makes it very hard to take the hamster out. An aquarium with an excercise wheel works best. Do make sure to get a locking screen lid on it!
The exercise wheels that you can let them roam the house in, should be used with caution. Make sure all stairways are blocked. I put a piece of duct tape on the opening part of the wheel because more than once one of our hamsters got out of the wheel and we had the "fun" of looking for him!
Hamsters are pretty maintenance free. And have a life expectancy of about 2-3 years. For a young child it is a good way for them to experience life and death on a small scale.
Hope you and your family enjoy your new hamster!

TC

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Tuffcookie--we actually found that aquariums make LOUSY hamster homes.


Shortly after getting his 'bachelor pad', DH bought a hamster for company. Then he decided the hamster was lonely, so he bought a second one and they fought.
Having to seperate them, he placed one in a wire cage and one in a 10 gallon aquarium. It was the hardest thing to clean, ever. It was heavy and hard to get ALL of the dried pee off the bottom. Even with hot water, it was hard to get it off. And it held onto the stink like you wouldn't believe. Ugh.

Wire cages are great..I recommend a ferret cage because they usually have multiple levels and room for plenty of toys.

TOV

 

[Tiffann4k]

An aquarium makes the best cage for a hamster.

Wouldnt that be a problem stink wise? I mean what about the fresh air ? I guess I prefer wire cages so the air can circulate and not build up if that makes any sense..lol

We actually went and spent about $200 on two big fancy cages with all the tunnels and couches...still have it all...out in the barn somewhere Hamsters are too stinky for me...I am thinking about getting some cavys(piggies) though after we get back from vacation

 

[Tiffann4k]

TOV

LOL!!

 

[skiwee1]

My vote goes for mice. I've had gerbils, hamsters, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, and mice. The most friendly were mice. Whatever you get, stay away from males. They stink! I am surprising DD on her 7th birthday next month and taking her out to get 2 fancy mice. I can't wait!

 

[drgnfly30]

I am thinking about getting some cavys(piggies) though after we get back from vacation

I second that vote! Surprised it wasn't mentioned sooner.. I've had them all & love Guinea Pigs the most... gentle, good tempered, they poop alot but what doesn't!!!

 

[TinkerBess_SnowTori]

Okay the deed is done --- I could not get them talked out of the hamster --- so we have one.

We went to B&N and bought a little book and read a bunch to the girls -- took a bunch of your hints and tips and laid down some rules.

Then it was Happy Hamster Hunting time --- I didn't get to go, because I had to work so DH took the girls.

He got a young one just like we've been told -- although I don't know what kind. teddybear etc... he didn't ask. We've been told it is a male - I am not sure how you can tell - I'll have to check the book

It has bitten DH once - not very hard - but so far very sweet - the girls have held it for a little while but are just mostly talking to it from outside the cage.

If I can get one going here - I'll post a pic

OH and my name suggestion was shot down --- I wanted to call him Murray - Murray Christmas --- but they didn't like that and decided on Cookie -- but for my sake his "long" name is Christmas Cookie

Thanks again everyone for the help -- hopefully this will be the beginning of something beautiful

Oh and to TOV -- thanks for the trophy -- I always heard from my girls that I was up for the award -- and now to have the recogintion I deserve -- it is just touching -- thank you

 

[makinorlando]

I was always reluctant to get a hamster for my DD, and at one point even got her a rabbit instead (never again, but that's another thread) - anyway, I broke down and got her a hamster and was very happy I did. We started with them when DD was 6, and they have been good pets for her - we also have 2 dogs and 3 cats.

We currently have two - very different temperments - Pashmina is the sweetest - biggest hamster ever - she has never once bitten us, and is always ready to come out and play. She sits in her cage which is behind me when I sit on the sofa, and in the evening, I can feel when she is up - I will look around and she is standing their ready from some attention! She is your basic $7.99 Petsmart tan and white hamster.

The other Penelope is a dwarf hamster with red eyes. We got her when she was very young, but all attempts to handle her have not worked! The kitten is very entertained by her, and I even had to rescue Penelope one time from the kittens mouth - in the two seconds it took me to put her in the sink while I was cleaning her cage, the kitten swooped in from no where and took off with her. She was a more expensive $14.99.

We keep them in separate cages, as Pashmina was to territorial to put the new hamster in her cage. I can't even have the cages side by side or she gets ver aggitated!

The original two were a black (I think Syrian hamster) Panda ($19.99), he was not keen on being held either. Hamtaro was the other - tan and white - very friendly hamster who rarely bit. The both died too soon -

I now put Dri Tail drops in their water bottle each time I fill it. This was the recommendation/requirement when we bought a hamster at Petland pet store. Dri Tail is something that can kill hamsters.

All in all I think they are good pets - but as in all animals, they all appear to have their individual personalities and temperments.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[Tuffcookie]

TOV & tiffann, I have never had a problem with getting the odor from an aquarium. I clean weekly using Palmolive liquid dish soap. (Rinse well!) The aquarium keeps the litter from getting all over the floor. From my experience wire will rust and plastic can be chewed. Plus it is much easier to get the hamster out for handling. I once had a hamster get his tooth lodged in the top of a penthouse of a plastic habittrail. By the time I found him he had become so stressed, his eye had popped out! I had never heard of such a thing. A trip to the vet and $70 later Ludwig was good to go! (We nick-named him Popeye after that!)
Oh, to the original poster...NEVER make the mistake that one hamster will get lonely and get it a little "friend"...unless you want to go into the hamster breeding business! They are quite happy, alone!

TC

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Tinkerbess--you are welcome! And if it is a male, you will know shortly. He'll have rather large..er..lumps that start to hang from his rear end.

I never knew such a small critter could have such LARGE testicles!

TOV

 

[TinkerBess_SnowTori]

Oh, to the original poster...NEVER make the mistake that one hamster will get lonely and get it a little "friend"...unless you want to go into the hamster breeding business! They are quite happy, alone!

TC

Funny you should mention it -- DDs mentioned tonight that he looks lonely -- I told them with the two of them for friends, Cookie could never be be lonely

 

[Tiffann4k]

TOV & tiffann, I have never had a problem with getting the odor from an aquarium. I clean weekly using Palmolive liquid dish soap. (Rinse well!) The aquarium keeps the litter from getting all over the floor. From my experience wire will rust and plastic can be chewed. Oh, to the original poster...NEVER make the mistake that one hamster will get lonely and get it a little "friend"...unless you want to go into the hamster breeding business! They are quite happy, alone!

TC

I have never had a problem with rusty cages, I have over 50 right now and havent had one yet, it could be the galvanized vs non galvanized....

Awww poor popeye!

I posted about getting a friend for my hamster, when we bought them we got a pair of females...the one died and the other one was frantically going back and fourth searching for it so we did get a friend, I checked it appeared to be female but of course the sex change fairy visited ( happens in rabbits all the time..lol) and it was male....he decided to eat her so we got rid of him, but anyhow I bred hamsters about 10 years ago so I knew what I was in for in case it turned out to be a male/female pair and it was okay with me.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Get a female, they tend to me calmer and smell less. I also pick them based on how they react when the employee puts there hand in the cage. I always take one that will just let you pick it up.

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

Here's another vote for gerbils. We have had them for 7 years now and I have to admit, they are really pleasant. I would have never thought i'd be a rodent person, but these little creatures are so winsome and they rarely bite-only if you put you hand in there when they have babies in the nest. Matter of fact, if you live in Georgia i can fix you right up with 1 or 2(or 20--we have two nursing moms...again )

An important thing to note about gerbils is that they only get along with their own community. Introducing a new gerbil from a different group will cause fighting and great unhappiness. Two sisters or two brothers will get along very well. They are easy to tell apart if you are looking at the right end(you can't tell by their smile )

We just lost our last hamster. We loved having them. I was thinking about a baby gerbil. Anything I need to know, are they much different from having hamsters? I appreciate what ever you can tell me.

 

[crz4mm2]

I had hamsters when I was a kid.My stepdad bought me the first one. It was a female and was just plain mean. she bit everyone that tried to get close to her.
The second one was a male. I picked him out of a new batch at a discount store (back when they used to have small animals) and his name was squirt. He was the greatest hamster that ever lived. I had him for several years. I loved that hamster sooo much.
DS had a male hamster "Bob". He was a good hamster too, but developed some tumors and was put down. He was about 2 I think.
That was the end of our hamsters.
DD always wanted a guinea pig, but DH says no way.

 

[Disneyrsh]

Get a pair of gerbils; friendlier, better smelling, more entertaining to watch.

Hamsters stink, in all senses of the word.

Gerbils rock! We have two, Comet and Pickle, brothers we bought as babies. They're adorable; you hold out your hand in the cage and they hop right on. Never bite, always enjoy our company