Hamster

Hamsters are a cool little pet to own they are fun to watch and i would reccomend getting more than 1 as they do get lonely but one is still fine i youst to have around 18 hamsters all because of a sex mistake at the pet shop there gone now though. but my brother youst to have a very big hamster and that was also fun so hamsters are cool little pets.

Great, they are fun and really clever little things, i love mine to bits, Right now mine is in a cot fast asleep with toys around him! He snores and i couldn't find a better friend. Bummer: he only lives for two years and a half but oh well!

A Hamster is a good pet for someone who wants a pet but doesn't want to have to walk it and give it lots of attention

Although hamsters make great pets as they do not move very fast, I do feel that it is very upsetting the pet dying after you have spent 18 months bonding with it.

I have kept many pets, and in all honesty a hamster was the least favourite. I find that hamsters are unsuitable for children, due to the fact they are mainly nocturnal and can nip when they are disturbed from their sleep. They also have a tendency to urinate and defecate on people when they are nervous. Whilst dwarfs tend to be quite quick. They are also easily injured; even a small vertical drop can severely injure a hamster.

From experience I have found that out of the several pet rodents I have owned, hamsters come second to last to the gerbil in handling, as they can spend more time trying to escape from it's owners hand rather than settling and relaxing like mice or rats.

Unlike dwarf hamsters, which can live happily in pairs or groups, the Syrian (golden) hamster is very territorial and should be in its own cage, as several Syrian hamsters kept together can fight each other to the death.

Hamsters should also be kept in wire cages or well ventilated aquariums, rather than difficult to clean Habitrails etc., or plastic runs which have poor ventilation and aren't always chew proof - to my discovery.

Hamsters, like many other pet rodents, are prone to tumours, which can lead to quick deterioration of the hamsters health if not treated quickly.

I have recently owned a Russian Dwarf hamster, and I could not believe how soft and small it was compared to the size of Syrian Hamsters, and they're slightly quicker. I love the walnut patterned markings on their coats, with the stripe down the back, and when you first pick them up, they automatically flatten themselves onto your hand and you can carefully groom their coats with an old toothbrush, as I did with mine. I provided our Dwarf Hamster with a good size cage, plus I put down loads of sawdust, as they like to burrow, whereas Chinese Dwarf hamsters like to climb. I also put in some empty toilet and kitchen roll tubes for play. Unlike a Syrian Hamster, Dwarf Hamsters do not have as much strength in their jaws to enable them to chew up the cardboard tubes, and when my little hamster nibbled my finger, it just tickled; and it would lick my finger too.

When choosing a Hamster, it is best to get a male, as they are more docile than females (females get less friendly as they get older)! I have also owned a couple of Syrian Hamsters when I was much younger, and they seem to have a tendency to slide off your hand rather than to cling on to you with their feet, but they're just as soft and cuddly. As with all Hamsters, they need plenty of toys to chew on, as they like to try and gnaw some of their cage to help keep their teeth in good shape, and to wear their claws down. Good wooden logs with exit holes provides an excellent chew toy, plus a seed and grain honey chew stick treat. Other healthy treats include little pieces of broccoli, cucumber, courgette, carrot tops and even a small strawberries or raspberries. My little Hamster loved those treats. It was funny when I used to refill its food bowl, as it would only root out the sunflower seeds and throw the other contents around the cage. For some reason Hamsters really love sunflower seeds. Another good form of exercise for a Hamster, apart from a wheel, is an exercise ball, where it can run around on the floor and explore new spaces. Like all Hamsters, this one was more nocturnal, and tended to make a racket when playing in its wheel, but to stop the noises I added some Vaseline to the wheel axle and the noise stopped.

Sadly, as my little Hamster became old, it started to develop a couple of nasty tumours; one below its ear and the other in its stomach, so I took it to the vet and was told it had to be put down, which was rather upsetting. I had the Hamster for nearly 18 months. I buried it in my garden with a farewell note, all its toys, treats and bedding.

They are lovely pets, and I would love to get another Hamster soon.

I have read about hamsters for ages I kept reading that younger childrens up to teens need help looking after their pets WHAT A JOKE I mean come on I have also had my guinea pigs for 5 years so I got them when I was young and let me tell you they need a lot more work then hamsters! so there. but back to the review I love hamsters i luv the way they make their nest, the way they eat a green bean and the way they look into my eyes, tee hee I just adore them. My hamster is called marmalade she lives in a really big wire cage with a plastic bottom, she digs in the sawdust runs on her wheel and plays with her toys and just loves it. I have had her for 1 year and has never tried to break out, not because shes lazy its because she just doesnt want too. Every day I put her in her ball and I watch her follow me around the house! Overall she loves me more than anyone else I dont no why! well good luck with youre hamster, hoped this review helped!

luv Fleur! xxx

Hamsters make great pets and are perfect for older children. They're adorable and can can fit into the smallest of homes. They come in a huge variety of colours and have virtually no tail (good news if you find the long tails of mice off putting). Any pet is a massive responsibility so make sure you're 100% committed before even thinking about getting one.

What you'll need:

A sturdy wire cage (the biggest you can afford), wood shavings, paper bedding, a small food dish, a gravity water bottle, gnawing blocks, a quality hamster seed mix, a nesting house, an exercise wheel, toys (tubes, see-saws etc), a book on hamster care,and safe cage disinfectant.

Choosing your pet:

Get your hamster from a well-run, clean pet shop. Pick a young animal, around the age of 8-12 weeks, so it will be easy to tame. The gender of your pet doesn't really matter as there is no real difference in their characters. When choosing your hamster, pick a lively, inquisitive animal that's not too shy. Make sure your chosen animal looks healthy, with clean fur and no visible injuries. Also, check that it's cage mates are also healthy. And watch out for wetness around the tail area as this is often a negative sign.

Caring for your pet:

When you get your hamster home they will be scared so leave them in peace, in their cage, for about 24 hours. At first they might nip. It's a very common problem, so don't be discouraged. My hamster, Stuey, was very nervous at first and he bit me. I wasn't too pleased, as you can imagine, because I just didn't expect it. Thankfully, Stuey is the sweetest hamster I could have hoped for now because I didn't give up on him. Just talk to your pet gently and start by simply stroking them until they trust you enough to let you handle them. Daily care includes, giving your hamster a fresh supply of food and water, removing all droppings and soiled bedding from the cage and, of course, handling your pet. The cage will need to be completely cleaned out on a weekly basis. Remove all bedding, wash the cage with warm water and then spray on some cage disinfectant. When it's dry put in fresh wood shavings and bedding. Remember to keep your pet in a safe, secure place while all this is going on, because they are cunning escape artists! Also, you can give your hamster some fresh food every few days. They love apple, carrot, grape, cheese and cucumber.

Health problems:

Thankfully hamsters are relatively healthy animals. However, be careful if you have a cold because hamsters can catch them and they struggle to recover from illnesses. They can also get cancer which is often fatal but sometimes operable. Always check your hamster for lumps. Be careful when handling your pet because a fall can be very dangerous, so if your pet has a fall let it recover from the shock in it's cage and then take it to the vet if you think it's seriously injured. Another serious illness is ' wet tail '. Look for runny, smelly droppings and wetness under the tail. Take your hamster to vet quickly if you think they've got it, as it's often fatal if not treated promptly.

I got a pair of Russian Dwarf Hamsters from a local pet shop; mainly for my four year old, but I also missed my previous Syrian Hamsters!

I was a bit dubious about keeping Dwarfs as I had very little knowledge of them. I had heard they were nippy and not great handling pets etc. Was I wrong? The pet shop guy let us handle them, and they were very gentle and even licked our hands! Now they are about 2 months old, and they respond when we come back from work etc. At 6.30 they will wait at the door of the cage for some new food etc.

We got a normal hamster cage, and not once have they attempted to escape, unlike the Syrian(s) I had. I have found as long as you clean the cage and accessories once a week, it does not smell at all.

My young daughter has learned very quickly to handle the Hamsters gently. She loves them and has not lost interest at all. I believe it is up to the parents to maintain the child's interest by teaching about the natural instincts and behaviour of the animal, which is fascinating to watch.

The only downside of this pet is if you are not interested in an animal who sleeps all day and comes out in the evening occasionally. If you want a pet that will be awake when you are awake, don't bother with hamsters, as they are probably not for you.

They are not like rats or Guinea pigs and they have less intelligence; well on paper at least, so don't get upset if you buy a hammie that can't be tamed, as this happens occasionally.

In all, I love the Dwarf Campbells I have. I think they are cool!

Ive had 2 hamsters and I have one at the moment, 2 ran away and escaped. I love my hamster very much but i think they are suitable for children over 8 but not for adults.