Anyone have a hamster?

[lexipoo]

Was wondering if anyone has a hamster? And could give me any pointers? Only want one and are some more friendly then others? The dwarfs are adorable but I think they seem to do better in same sex pairs? I love the little black teddy bear hamsters? What about getting along with your Yorkie? Thanks so much...if anyone has any thoughts? Also cage setup...
Hugs Cheryl & Lexi

[DvlshAngel985]

Bump!

[Bellasmom30]

I don't currently have a hamster. I did when I was a kid. I had them ALL the time it seems like. First one was Puff, when he died we got Puffer, my last one was Snickers. Can't remember but one of my sisters hamsters names. She had Bitsy. Bitsy and Puffer had babies. Only because we had them in the same cage not realizing one was a male and female. Guess we found out soon enough! I was probably 8 and my sis 13.

I have had both dwarf and teddy bears.

They are pretty low maintenace. They make alot of noise at night running in their wheel. We would have to clean their cages once a week because it would stink if we waited any longer. While we were cleaning their cages we would put them in one of those balls and let them run around our rooms. I think it was cedar chips or something like that in the bottom of their cage. They ate some hamster mix bought from the pet store. Seeds and stuff. It was so cute watching them eat it too! They would jam pack their cheeks FULL of food! Then take it into their little hiding area and push it all out with their little hands. Then pick it up one piece at a time and eat it. So cute!

I love hamsters (well any animal really) but I know I could never have one with Bella around. She goes berserk when she sees a bug and I know if we had any rodent type of pet, she would be hysterical everyday trying to get to it!

Good luck! Sorry that's all I remember it's been too long ago. Oh yes, IMO dwarf's are more friendly. Snickers never bit me or any of my friends. Can't say the same about the other two that were the teddy bears. Hope some of this info helps you along!

[KazzyK810]

I had two regular golden hamsters growing up, Bamboo & Bambino I loved them. Bambino was tiny & didn't live long. Bamboo was larger and lived 3.5 years and was amazingly calm. I used to walk around the house with her on my shoulder & she would sit on my bed for hours while I did my homework.

My daughter, a hardcore animal-lover, had a hard time being away at college without a pet her freshman year. So, she snuck a dwarf robo hamster, Chevelle, into her dorm room. It didn't live long & died the summer after freshman year at home in my hand...I bawled. I loved that lil thing so much. She had such personality and my daughter trained her to "give kisses" whenever you opened the cage door and put your face there. She was the sweetest hamster I've ever known. The next school year brought another robo hamster..it just wasn't the same...very skittish & liked to bite. My daughter has now given up on hamsters...they just don't live long enough and its so traumatic when they pass away.

Yorkies & hamsters don't go together, so you've gotta keep them separate, but I believe you can enjoy both in the same home if you take care & are responsible.

[lexipoo]

Originally Posted by Bellasmom30

I don't currently have a hamster. I did when I was a kid. I had them ALL the time it seems like. First one was Puff, when he died we got Puffer, my last one was Snickers. Can't remember but one of my sisters hamsters names. She had Bitsy. Bitsy and Puffer had babies. Only because we had them in the same cage not realizing one was a male and female. Guess we found out soon enough! I was probably 8 and my sis 13.

I have had both dwarf and teddy bears.

They are pretty low maintenace. They make alot of noise at night running in their wheel. We would have to clean their cages once a week because it would stink if we waited any longer. While we were cleaning their cages we would put them in one of those balls and let them run around our rooms. I think it was cedar chips or something like that in the bottom of their cage. They ate some hamster mix bought from the pet store. Seeds and stuff. It was so cute watching them eat it too! They would jam pack their cheeks FULL of food! Then take it into their little hiding area and push it all out with their little hands. Then pick it up one piece at a time and eat it. So cute!

I love hamsters (well any animal really) but I know I could never have one with Bella around. She goes berserk when she sees a bug and I know if we had any rodent type of pet, she would be hysterical everyday trying to get to it!

Good luck! Sorry that's all I remember it's been too long ago. Oh yes, IMO dwarf's are more friendly. Snickers never bit me or any of my friends. Can't say the same about the other two that were the teddy bears. Hope some of this info helps you along!

Thanks so much...that did help alot and I had to laugh as we were thinking of names already...LOL and one of them is snickers think that is cute. I too am a animal crazy girl...and would have one of everything is we lived somewhere to house them
Lexi is very loving and calm around little animals...as we have a bunny that she loves and has played with her 2 years of life...they are cute together taking turns chasing each other til they can't run anymore.
Anyways, the dwarf hamsters are really cute. Thanks again for your post truly appreciated it

[lexipoo]

Originally Posted by KazzyK810

I had two regular golden hamsters growing up, Bamboo & Bambino I loved them. Bambino was tiny & didn't live long. Bamboo was larger and lived 3.5 years and was amazingly calm. I used to walk around the house with her on my shoulder & she would sit on my bed for hours while I did my homework.

My daughter, a hardcore animal-lover, had a hard time being away at college without a pet her freshman year. So, she snuck a dwarf robo hamster, Chevelle, into her dorm room. It didn't live long & died the summer after freshman year at home in my hand...I bawled. I loved that lil thing so much. She had such personality and my daughter trained her to "give kisses" whenever you opened the cage door and put your face there. She was the sweetest hamster I've ever known. The next school year brought another robo hamster..it just wasn't the same...very skittish & liked to bite. My daughter has now given up on hamsters...they just don't live long enough and its so traumatic when they pass away.

Yorkies & hamsters don't go together, so you've gotta keep them separate, but I believe you can enjoy both in the same home if you take care & are responsible.

What a cute story I enjoyed you post and agree with you they just don't live that long and that sure can be traumatic when they pass. I guess the thing with hamsters is you never know about which ones might be biters and which ones don't. I too had a hamster so so long ago when I was very young just don't remember a whole lot about her other then she was very sweet. If we get one I will definately be careful with Lexi around as you never know but Lexi is very sweet little dog she has a little bunny she plays with and it is so cute to watch her. They chase each other around until they both colapse it truly is cute to see. She loves that little bunny.
Anyways, thanks again for your thoughts and sharing your story I truly appreciate it

[Sammy Mommy]

My younger son used to have hamsters. They were so cute. They run all night in their wheel but we got used to the noise after awhile. You have to clean the cage at least once a week or it will be really stinky. We had a little travel container to put the hamster in when we (I should say when I cleaned it) cleaned the cage. They are great little pets but don't let them loose near the dog!!! Sammy hated the hamsters!!!! I think he would have hurt them. Yorkies were bred to kill rodents so I guess it's just natural instinct for them. I would like to get another one but my son is older now and I guess he outgrew the hamster phase. They were teddy bear hamsters and the girl hamsters were more cuddly than the boy hamsters. (We only had one hamster at a time.)

[Bellasmom30]

Originally Posted by lexipoo

Thanks so much...that did help alot and I had to laugh as we were thinking of names already...LOL and one of them is snickers think that is cute. I too am a animal crazy girl...and would have one of everything is we lived somewhere to house them
Lexi is very loving and calm around little animals...as we have a bunny that she loves and has played with her 2 years of life...they are cute together taking turns chasing each other til they can't run anymore.
Anyways, the dwarf hamsters are really cute. Thanks again for your post truly appreciated it

You're very welcome! All of our stories are very similar. LOL

[lexipoo]

Originally Posted by Sammy Mommy

My younger son used to have hamsters. They were so cute. They run all night in their wheel but we got used to the noise after awhile. You have to clean the cage at least once a week or it will be really stinky. We had a little travel container to put the hamster in when we (I should say when I cleaned it) cleaned the cage. They are great little pets but don't let them loose near the dog!!! Sammy hated the hamsters!!!! I think he would have hurt them. Yorkies were bred to kill rodents so I guess it's just natural instinct for them. I would like to get another one but my son is older now and I guess he outgrew the hamster phase. They were teddy bear hamsters and the girl hamsters were more cuddly than the boy hamsters. (We only had one hamster at a time.)

I have read so many different things tonight on different kinds of hamsters one minute I think I would like the little dwarf...then the next I think the black bear (teddy bear) hamster would be more interactive ...as the dwarfs seem to intertain themselves and so little and quick ? Will be a girl hamster though for sure

[Poochieheaven]

I had hamsters (and mice too!) as a kid.

If you can get them as babies they are easier to tame.

I probably had 10 over the years. Some were more friendly than others.

Mice are actually a lot of fun too. And I never got bit by one where as I did a few times from hamsters.

[lexipoo]

Originally Posted by Poochieheaven

I had hamsters (and mice too!) as a kid.

If you can get them as babies they are easier to tame.

I probably had 10 over the years. Some were more friendly than others.

Mice are actually a lot of fun too. And I never got bit by one where as I did a few times from hamsters.

Thanks for your info...Just trying to do my homework first...LOL there is alot to know before you get another little critter Just thought it might be fun to have something else around...as we only have little Lexi oh and a little bunny. Wish we could have another furbaby but we take Lexi everywhere we go and it would be harder with 2. Lexi is so spoiled and honestly like a child. She has to be carried and will snuggle up under my neck. She just would not do well having to share hubby and I. Plus she is so spoiled I couldn't afford another one like her...LOL

[Poochieheaven]

Originally Posted by lexipoo

Thanks for your info...Just trying to do my homework first...LOL there is alot to know before you get another little critter Just thought it might be fun to have something else around...as we only have little Lexi oh and a little bunny. Wish we could have another furbaby but we take Lexi everywhere we go and it would be harder with 2. Lexi is so spoiled and honestly like a child. She has to be carried and will snuggle up under my neck. She just would not do well having to share hubby and I. Plus she is so spoiled I couldn't afford another one like her...LOL

Hamsters would be a good fit I think. Low key, can leave them for a weekend, but still are entertaining.

They do sometimes smell, but I bet you'd be better at cleaning their cage, than a 10 year old

[linz06]

I used to have gerbils (2 of them... "sisters" supposedly, until I woke up one morning and found 9 babies ), and years later I had a hamster. If I were to get another, I think I'd get a gerbil again, but maybe my hamster was just bad!

The woman who sold him to me told me that gerbils are much more gentle and willing to be held, but I already had gerbils and I wanted a hamster. I did get to hold the hamster once, when she handed him to me, but when I got him home, I never held him again. If I put my hand near him, he'd roll to his back and bare his teeth to bite To clean his cage, I had to put the cage in a large cardboard box, remove the lid, put his little ball in there until he crawled in, and then close up the ball and let him run while I cleaned the cage. After a couple of weeks, I noticed that he would start climbing the cage, crawling across the top, and then dropping headfirst to the bottom of the cage After a couple of months, he died suddenly in his "boot" house. He was a strange and mean little guy and I don't think I would get another one.

But there are lots of good reviews from other YTers on here too!

[lexipoo]

Originally Posted by Poochieheaven

Hamsters would be a good fit I think. Low key, can leave them for a weekend, but still are entertaining.

They do sometimes smell, but I bet you'd be better at cleaning their cage, than a 10 year old

Thanks and that was cute...made me laugh

[lexipoo]

Originally Posted by linz06

I used to have gerbils (2 of them... "sisters" supposedly, until I woke up one morning and found 9 babies ), and years later I had a hamster. If I were to get another, I think I'd get a gerbil again, but maybe my hamster was just bad!

The woman who sold him to me told me that gerbils are much more gentle and willing to be held, but I already had gerbils and I wanted a hamster. I did get to hold the hamster once, when she handed him to me, but when I got him home, I never held him again. If I put my hand near him, he'd roll to his back and bare his teeth to bite To clean his cage, I had to put the cage in a large cardboard box, remove the lid, put his little ball in there until he crawled in, and then close up the ball and let him run while I cleaned the cage. After a couple of weeks, I noticed that he would start climbing the cage, crawling across the top, and then dropping headfirst to the bottom of the cage After a couple of months, he died suddenly in his "boot" house. He was a strange and mean little guy and I don't think I would get another one.

But there are lots of good reviews from other YTers on here too!

Hi and thanks for the thoughts. My boys had gerbils when they were younger and I like you thought we had the same sex...well that proved wrong quickly...but they had fun with them. I keep having mixed emotions on hamster or not? Dwarf or larger hamster? One day I want one and one day I wonder what am I thinking....LOL I went to see some today at the pet store and for the most part they all seemed pretty friendly as you could just reach your hand in and pick one up or pet it. The only thing that freaked me out is they were all mixed up together boys and girls and well my luck I would get her home and have babies