Buying a hampster for the first time! - Paw Talk

Snickerdoodle11 · #1 03-28-2004, 07:58 AM

Hi i am buying a hampster for the first time! I think i am goin to get a Dwarf but i am not sure yet. Is there any thing BIG i need to know? What kind of cage sould i get??

If any one lives in the nashville tn area plz send me a message! Here is my aim sn if u want to talk to me on it. MisGeorgiaPeach2 umm well thanks,

elfomatic · #2 03-30-2004, 10:27 PM

Teddy Bear hamsters are kind of big, I guess. A 10 gal. should work.

Runt · #3 03-30-2004, 11:16 PM

There are several types of cages on the market and they can get very expensive.You need to remember they can chew plastic cages.I like an aqaurium the best.They are easier to clean and you can get lids to fit on top of them to add tubes and things.I usually put 2 dwarfs in a 10 gallon tank with a wheel and a house.When I had a syrian I used a wire cag for him you can add tubes and stuff to them too.

capnsweets · #4 03-31-2004, 09:18 AM

I agree with Runt!

undercoverrats · #5 04-04-2004, 01:50 AM

If you want a friendly hamster I would go with one of the larger types instead of the dwarf hamsters. Sure, they are cute..I own a bunch of them, hehe. But they are just no where near as friendly as the Teddies or the black bears...I am getting some panda bears in the next few month. I am not saying that dwarfs cannot be friendly...I handle mine all the time, but they do not seem to enjoy human interaction as much as the larger hampsters do.

**Sasami** · #6 04-08-2004, 07:46 PM

Remember that hamsters, especially Syrians, are solitary and antisocial animals. It would be better to get just one. If you get two then get them from the same litter but don't seperate them for a while, otherwise the family scent will be gone and there might be a fight. Or you could try the split-cage method. You can read how to do it here: http://www.maisel.de/~eva/cages4.html . Although the page says it's for gerbils it can be used for any rodent.