Advice on hamsters

[Slinky Sarah]

Can anyone give me some advice on getting a hamster for a 5 year old please?

Like best bread, what kinda thing you would need to get started that kinda thing.

Anything that we would need to know really.

Thanks

 

[daftscotslass]

All hamsters can be nippy so you need to be careful and make sure an adult is around at all times as little hands can squeeze them to death by accident. I would say a syrian (the larger species) is best as they are usually more handleable than the dwarf hamster species. They also need to be kept on their own whereas the others need companions.

 

[Storm.]

what she says^^^

also cage, they love to excersie, rotastaks are the best ones, get them a ball to play in around the lounge!

 

[Bee]

what ever you do don't get one of those balls of cotton wool aka russian dwarf hamsters.

We had them and they are so nippy! Little bitters! They bite and stay there.

 

[CoreysMummy]

Id of just added what these guys already have

DONT get a dwarf hammy.. apart from that, I had two great hampsters - LOVED them!!

 

[Storm.]

oo another thing the younger the hamster the better, ideally around 6-8 weeks old, any older they can be antisocail lil buggers as Im discovering with our new one!!

 

[Slinky Sarah]

thanks guys ill pass on all the info.

Oh also where is the best place to buy them?

 

[Storm.]

any decent pet shop will have them, pets at home or someting similar

though I personally prefer private breeders as the hamsters would be more used to being handlded from a young age!!

 

[Slinky Sarah]

aparently he has found a Syrian Hamster from a woman. And shes told him £50 to set up properly.
Does that sound about right?

Hes off to look soon i think

 

[Storm.]

if you mean for thats for everything cage asecoires, food etc then yes thats about right

 

[Slinky Sarah]

Yeah i think thats what he means lol.

Said everything to get started properly so assuming so.

The things children ask for hey

5 years old and calling daddy pfft clever sod

 

[trixipaws]

aww, i do love hamsters! erm, i'd say go for the syrian (golden) hamsters- the tiny, russian ones are REALLY bitey. i'd choose maybe males over females as just like us females can be irritable and hormonal

they only live for about 18 months on average so u need to get a baby one (less than 6 weeks old) i might suggest handling it yourself first before giving it to a child as babies are like tying to hold on to slippery bars of soap- they are frightened until they get used to humans and VERY fast and jumpy.

the kit- u need a cage (rotastak is good- my last one was a space station one i forget the make but it was very good!), a wheel (preferably attached to cage but freestanding is ok) a water bottle, a food bowl, and optional extras are mineral blocks (little bricks to gnaw) and blocks of seeds with hooks on the top u can dangle from top of cage (if its a normal cage not a rotastak)

u will need sawdust (to put down as "carpet"), bedding (fluffy cotton-wool type is best IMO), and hamster food, also some treats if u like. never give hamsters human chocolate etc its not good for them.

hope that helps, iv had zillions of hamsters so PM me if u got any queries! xxx

 

[Storm.]

they only live for about 18 months on average so u need to get a baby one (less than 6 weeks old)

I to have been brought up around hamsters and currently have 2 one a totaly physco the other a dalring, but age wise every one I have had has lived to at least 2 yrs, there average life span is 2 and a half depending how well they are looked after!! My oldest livin hamsters died 5 months short of her 3rd bday!

One tip I was taught is when you start to handle them, when you put your hand down is dont jump if the hamster moves suddenly, dont show the hamster your scared or it will pick up on it and take advvantage!

 

[Storm.]

ps...bit long winded but well worth a scroll through..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamster

 

[trixipaws]

grr stupid work computer

i tried to add then that yep £50 sounds very reasonable, especially these days i'd have thought a bit more for cage, accessories etc. "in my day" the hamster itself was only a fiver! the cages are about £30-£60 depending on what u get.

pets at home is really good yep.

oh they are brilliant escapologists so make sure cage is secure, and if there are cats or dogs in the house then leave hamster out of reach or close the door to the room its in while ur out or else there might be a gruesome murder!

and syrian hamsters like to be alone, dont put 2 in one cage. oh and theyre nocturnal so can be very noisy at nite gnawing on the bars in the cage- can drive u CRAZY loooooooool

babystorm yes my hammys usually get quite old too- the last one i had only died recently at the grand old age of 3!!! (some of u may remember him! the one that died twice!) bless him, RIP hammy

 

[daftscotslass]

I'm a bit picky when it comes to things for hamsters as sooo much of the rubbish you can buy isn't the best for them and is probably the reason they don't live very long in many cases. My oldest hammy (inventively called Hammy) was 5.

I don't use shavings/sawdust, the oils in these can cause respiratory problems (in human owners as well as the animals). I use something called megazorb but you can get a bedding for the floor called Carefresh that's the best.

The cotton wool type beddings are a serious choking hazard and are one of the main causes of hamsters just dropping dead or wasting away. It doesn't break down if they eat it and gets all caught up in their intestines. Not nice. Best bedding is toilet paper!

I'm not a fan of the rotastak cages either, it's a bit like putting a hamster in a fish tank with a plastic lid. They are very poorly ventilated and gimmicky.

Best treats for hamsters are the likes of mealworms Other than that a teeny bit of cheese or ham is fine as a treat.

 

[beanie]

get a rat instead - much nicer and friendlier and easier to handle.



if you do get a hamster don't get one from a pet shop as they tend to be nippy, especially don't get one from pets at home or whatever its called. Nice big cage - the bigger the better (am not a fan of the rotastak ones either), and avoid the fluffy bedding as it can wrap round their little legs and cut off circulation. don't get an exercise ball, they are horrible.

 

[Slinky Sarah]

thanks girls that info is awsome

luckily i dont have to live with the nocturnal little bugger

By the sounds of it it comes with everything including a little excercise ball thing.

Just hope it doesnt bite him and he wont want it anymore then

Ill let you know when he gets it and get some pics.

Hes leaving it to as near as xmas as possible as thats what he has asked for from santa lol


Oh Lorna and Beany thanks for that about the bedding.
Ill have to send all this info to him and let him sort it all out. thank you all

 

[Storm.]

get a rat instead - much nicer and friendlier and easier to handle.



if you do get a hamster don't get one from a pet shop as they tend to be nippy, especially don't get one from pets at home or whatever its called. Nice big cage - the bigger the better (am not a fan of the rotastak ones either), and avoid the fluffy bedding as it can wrap round their little legs and cut off circulation. don't get an exercise ball, they are horrible.

dittio the rat things!! they are ace!!!!

I didnt know that about the bedding, Im soo changing belles bedding later, as a youngster all our hamsters were alowd was toilet roll,I wasnt allowed to buy stuff, but hubby says its better for belle, ha not anymore she can have a half loo roll to destroy later!!

 

[Slinky Sarah]

OMG rats!!! bleugh

The hamster kinda makes me shudder a bit let alone a rat lol