Let's Talk Hamsters. :-)

[The UnDoug]

So my 6 year old daughter is pretty enthusiastic about wanting a hamster.

(Yes, I was the one posting about parakeets and cockatiels a few weeks ago. I have decided that we're not ready for the commitment of a bird at this time. Hamsters I think we can do.)


PeterB and others...what do you recommend? Are pet stores the best place to buy them? I live in Philadelphia, PA. A sales person told me that the Black Bear hamsters are good because of their calm disposition.

My daughter, though, is wanting a more "normal" looking hamster (probably more like the standard light brown with darker brown and a white underside).

Any thoughts on the "CritterTrail" brand of cages? They look cool, but I've read numerous comments about them breaking when being cleaned.

I welcome all input.


Thanks!

[Paul F.]

Hmm.. Can PeterB FedEx a spare?

[Harbourmaster]

Sorry 6 is too young for hamsters.

Hamsters require a fair amount of attention & "maintenance" that is well beyond the scope of a 6 yo.

A very responsible teenager ... maybe

The other thing to consider about hamsters is that they are basicly nocturnal and if the animal is in her room it may keep her awake at night.

[PeterB]

First and foremost, try to get from a reputable breeder rather than a pet store, if you can, for lots of reasons. To find a reputable breeder in your area, you can look at Craigslist (though you're not supposed to breed and sell on Craigslist, though I will sometimes offer up my "spares" there...) ... also there used to be a breeders list on Hotmail, but now I can't seem to find it (I think it was Hamsters Galore, which has now become part of the idiocy that is "Multiply" ).

Anywho, best to get from a breeder... as any breeder will tell you, there's no such thing as a "black bear" hamster... that's simply a black Syrian hamster:

(Some of them have been bred for large size and docility, but those are traits that any good breeder would be breeding for anyway.)

The "normal" looking hamster to which you are referring is a Golden:


In the Philly area, it looks like you have someone breeding Robos: http://www.hoobly.com/0/0/900533.html (as an example)

Hamsters are a relatively short term (2-3 year) commitment. They can live awhile though-- I have several who are now fairly geriatric, by hamster standards.

Cages -- I can't stand the Habitrail/Crittertrail style of cages-- they're a bear to clean. Stick with a good old-fashioned glass aquarium, both you and your hamster will appreciate it. You, because you'll be the one ending up having to clean it (your six year old probably won't!), and the hamster because the aquarium is relatively non-drafty and escape-proof if you use a good lid.

Edit: to comment on some of Harbourmaster's comments ... yes, 6 is young for a hamster, BUT, if she is properly supervised it is probably OK (just be aware that it'll really be your hamster, and not hers!) ... and as for their being nocturnal, that's not strictly correct. They're crepuscular (mostly active at dawn and dusk)... they will run overnight if you let them, and for that reason make good pets for college students. But mine typically start getting active around 6 or 7PM, start running around until about 2AM, then sleep, then get up again at about 5AM and run around a bit until 8AM, then sleep again until 6.

[PeterB]

Ahh, here it is -- archive.org cache: http://web.archive.org/web/2005012703401...eders.msnw ... from there, you should be able to find some breeders in your area.

[Thrift Store Scott]

PeterB wrote:
Cages -- I can't stand the Habitrail/Crittertrail style of cages-- they're a bear to clean. Stick with a good old-fashioned glass aquarium, both you and your hamster will appreciate it. You, because you'll be the one ending up having to clean it (your six year old probably won't!), and the hamster because the aquarium is relatively non-drafty and escape-proof if you use a good lid.

The above points can't be stressed enough!

If you have the room, two aquariums aren't a bad idea. That way you have a place to put your hamster while it's regular home is being cleaned.

[graylocks]

Maybe this will do. Heard on the news this morning that this is a runaway sales hit on Amazon:



Zhu-Pets-Hamster

[PeterB]

http://nehamstery.tripod.com/
http://zodiaccirclehamstery.tripod.com/index.html

(scavenged from the Hamsters Galore page, which is pretty out of date...)

[The UnDoug]

Thanks, all.

I most definitely realize the pet will be my responsibility, primarily. That's a large part of why I nixed the bird idea. I'll be the one taking care of whatever pet we get. I think, though, that my daughter is at an age where she can be taught some lessons about responsiblity by taking part in taking care of a pet.

[The UnDoug]

Interestingly, the wikipedia page for Syrian hamsters seems to say that "Black Bear" hamsters are simply black "Teddy Bear" hamsters. I was under the impression (and as you indicated in your post, PeterB), that they were black Syrians.