Okay. European black hamsters?

[Phoebe'sBean]

I was looking over hamsters at the pet store yesterday, and while I was admiring some 9 dollar cream colored guys, I noticed these rather big .. European Black Hamsters. I really liked the female, she was all black with a white paw and just a precious face. She was 17 dollars, and before I get her or make up my mind for another type of hamster, is there something special about her? Or is it one of those fancy names for fancy price deals?

[veggiegirl]

Hmmm, I've never heard of those kinds of hamsters so I can't of much help. My friend lives in Vegas though and she said that there are many different kinds of animals in the pet stores out there, so maybe the hamster is a "special" kind of hamster. Its hard to say without pics.

[EFExotics]

First, the term "European Hamster" for that breed is quite confusing. It is also the common name for the much larger, nastier, Cricetus cricetus (http://www.animals-online.be/rodents...n_hamster.html).

European Hamsters, the breed of Syrian, were originally bred to be slightly larger, stockier, and also have much better personalities than the average Syrian hamster. They were bred in numerous colors, but the one that caught on here in the US is the Black Bear pattern.

However, because Black Bear hamsters have gotten so popular here, and because they're available in pet stores I doubt the people who mass produce them for pet stores pay any attention to temperment. (Much like dogs from puppy mills often have poor dispositions) So although many people will remark how nice their black bear hamster is, I don't think a nicer disposition can be considered part of the color pattern anymore.

So, in all liklihood, you're just paying $10 extra dollars for the coloration.

[Sasami]

Yup, EFExotics is right--it's just another color pattern for a Syrian. It's just a way to be able to charge people more.

[EFExotics]

Of course, rarer mutations of color are always more expensive.

However, it seems black bear hamsters are pretty common now (I remember when pet stores DIDN'T have them, when they were their own breed, and they went for like... $75 each, lol) so the pet stores are probably charging more, based on what used to be true about it being a new breed - but I'm sure isn't applicable anymore. So basically, they are ripping people off.

[Phoebe'sBean]

Hmm. Alrighty, I thought it might just be a special color. I seem to have fallen in love with it though, since for some reason I cannot for the life of me find any simple white and black ones. I've had one cream and two black and white (plus 12 babies varying in those colors) and both of my black and whites were great. I'm probably going to be suckered into buying the black, but I'll try and make sure of their attitudes. I watched them for quite some time and they were really calm - where as the others were bouncybouncy. :blob4:

Anyway, thanks for all your help. It'll help me make a more thought out desicion now.

[Dena]

The new thing around her now are the "Panda" Hamsters. I think the black bear have gone down in price and now these have taken over, supply and demand.

[Sassy]

Quote: Originally Posted by Dena The new thing around her now are the "Panda" Hamsters. I think the black bear have gone down in price and now these have taken over, supply and demand.

The "panda" is selling for $29.00 here in the pet stores

[Dena]

My niece has one (he is very cute and has a great temperment) but I didn't tell them they paid about $20 too much for him.