Should I buy TWO hamsters? *UPDATE 1st post*

[Kath2003]

The same thing happened with our guinea pigs years ago. The guy at the Humane Society wasn't very good at sexing GPigs. We ended up with a bunch of babies.

This is what I don't understand - guinea pigs and hamsters are NOT difficult to sex, even at a young age. It's really irresponsible for breeders, stores and centres to give them to new owners without properly sexing them

 

[EthansMom]

I had two female hamsters when I was younger. Yes, they fight... a lot. And they ARE nocturnal. They would keep me up a lot at night with their fighting. Fortunately, they never ate each other. Hamsters aren't the most social animals on the face of the planet, either... honestly, not much fun as a pet, IMO.

 

[torinsmom]

This is what I don't understand - guinea pigs and hamsters are NOT difficult to sex, even at a young age. It's really irresponsible for breeders, stores and centres to give them to new owners without properly sexing them

Have you had experience with dwarf hamsters? I am serious that you have to count the holes. I don't think their testicles descend. As far as the other ones, I agree that you can tell by looking carefully.

Marsha

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

This is what I don't understand - guinea pigs and hamsters are NOT difficult to sex, even at a young age. It's really irresponsible for breeders, stores and centres to give them to new owners without properly sexing them

I agree, because when it happened to us, I posted about buying a pregnant hamster, I called the pet store, after I was assured she wasn't pregnant because she was too young, and found out they had them all together. I went in after I got her and they had so many golden hamster babies, I am sure I wasn't the only one that bought a pregnant one.

We enjoyed the experience. I made sure the mother hamster was ok. I had heard they eat their babies. She was a great mom. I just kept feeding her and didn't disturb her. I even called our vet to make sure there wasn't anything else that I should be doing. She raised 6 the first time and 12 more after my son let her and our other hamster out to "play" as he called it.

 

[Barbossa]

This is what I don't understand - guinea pigs and hamsters are NOT difficult to sex, even at a young age. It's really irresponsible for breeders, stores and centres to give them to new owners without properly sexing them

I agree, guinea pigs are fairly easy to sex once you've checked them out and know what to look for. That guy at the Humane Society obviously shouldn't have been working in the Guinea Pig department!

 

[Macca1111]

I'm so glad to know that the hamsters killing each other is a common thing - my friend thought hers were freaks! It was a nasty battle, and both ended up dying. Crazyness.

 

[Kath2003]

Have you had experience with dwarf hamsters? I am serious that you have to count the holes. I don't think their testicles descend. As far as the other ones, I agree that you can tell by looking carefully.

Marsha

I agree that dwarf hamsters are more difficult but all you need is a good diagram and a keen eye Seriously, it's the breeder/store/rescue centre's JOB to make sure that you get the gender you ask for and it's really really irresponsible to send people home with hamsters or piggies that are bound to multiply! I guess it's easier to forgive the mistake with dwarf hammies but with piggies/Syrians, there's really no excuse.

 

[TinkandAriel]

My first hamster had babies right after I got her (My bff named them Mama Dill and The Baby Pickles ).
So, imagine my lack of surprise when a week after dd's first hamster came to live with us, dd shrieked from her bedroom "BAAAAAAAAAABIES!!!!!"
So, I paid for one and wound up with 11! (She ate one of em, fur and all. Ickola. Left his little feet just lyin there....)