Hamster or Gerbil??

jessicamb

I think hamsters can be friendly with enough taming - but a 4yo probably wont be able to do that. They are timid creatures and get scared at the least little thing - and if they do get scared and bite it really hurts! Also hammys only live for a couple of year so potential for heartbreak there

Something bigger and more forgiving may be more suitable - and guinea pigs live around 8 years I believe.

If you are still tempted by the hamsters get a Syrian as the dwarf ones I have come across only really like each other and worst of all are very quick and can soon escape.

lifesuckssometimes

Rat

they are more clever and cheeky. friend had one lovely thing when you get over what they are.. white and brown it was... also ferrets i love them nosey and full of fun leave anything open and they will be in there checking it out

ceebeeby

Hi Lemonade,

We've had just about all of these at some stage:

Hamster's - we've had loads! They only last about 1.5 years, or 3 months if they get a rather exhuberant cuddle as one poor hamster of ours did. Very easy to clean, feed etc. but not fab for small hands and I've not yet found any of ours (about 8 in total over the years) that hasn't bitten, even when handled well. One of ours now is blind in one eye, and if you approach it from blind side, always bites!!!

Mice - stink!!!! We had two at one stage, and OMG! Needed cleaned every single day!!! And not fab for small hands either, although never got bitten.

Gerbils - We had two, unfortunately turned out boy and girl, they had babies, and ate all bar one's brains!!! Turns out they got distressed being parted from one another after the birth. Again, not fab for small hands handling.

Rabbit - We've only had outdoorsy ones, but great to play with and handle, nearly always gentle, but has been known to have a gentle nibble as a warning. Plays fab with the cat and guineas as well. Goes into the outdoor shed from end Oct to end Feb. Last about 8 years (we're on number 4 bunny at the mo!)

Guineas - Ahhhh, love these. Great to handle, never been bitten from one, but need handled at very young age to get used to it, otherwise they're a devil to catch. Fairly robust. We kept ours in with the rabbits for years (we've a huge hutch and run) outside, and then in the shed over the winter. Ours lasted about 4 years.

Cat - gorgeous! Never bitten or scratched, even when DD3 was a baby (we've had her almost 10 years from a rescue home). Loves all the other animals, but licked her lips at the mice!!!! We keep her out of bedrooms, where the hammy's live ... just in case!

Goldfish - fascinating, but you can't exactly pet them!!! Very, very easy maintenance, quite hardy, and a fab first pet (look but don't touch kinda thing) gets kids used to responsibility. Our two (Gucci and Versace) are quite young (6 months) but huge already. They replaced Fish, Ish and Sh.

With all our pets, before leaping in and buying, we got books out of the library to check out what sort of habitat, feeding, cleaning etc. Drew up pet rota's. I'm really strict on cleaning outs on weekly basis, and the kids have to do it (I supervise DD3). Mine begged for the hammy's out of their Xmas money. Over the hols they withdrew books from the library, and they both had to do their own "project" on how they were going to look after them, what sort of hutch they both wanted (we only had one spare hutch), food, treats, handling.

HTH - phew, what a long resposne Sorry!!

happymummy

How about, a Giant African Land Snail?
Very easy to look after, Very low maintenance, Definitely wont bite!
Cheap to feed on scraps of veg (moneysaving) and they dont smell.
Ok they're not cute and you cant cuddle them but dont all 4 yo boys love slimey bugs? lol
Put a wanted ad on freecycle for an old fish tank (one that leaks perhaps as it wont matter) and bobs your uncle!

Savvy_Sue

Definitely guinea pigs. Ours lived outside all year round, but we were in London so reasonable sheltered / not too cold. EdinburghLass isn't in London, and it does get colder in the frozen north, so consider your local climate and how sheltered your shed / garden is.

Get a big moveable run and you will never have to cut the grass again! Hey, maybe that's my answer!

Buffythedebtslayer

Hi,

I have Rats, they need a lot of attention and company and stimulation. and to be honest can be expensive vet wise.

I also have hamsters, I really believe if you tame a hamster it will not bite, I have had hamsters for a long time and can count on the fingers of one hand the number of time I have been bitten. they also do not smell (rats as much I love them stink!) and are very clean animals.

gerbils need friends and a big glass tank which is tough to clean.

at four years old, I am not sure any would be suitable,all would take patience and a lot of time to tame. I dont know I guess it depends on your son.

I think I would recommand a hamster, although they come out at night they can come out during the day too, and it can be fun watching them in hamster balls and in their cage, running about like little nutters!

sodamnfunky

We have guinea pigs, which live outside. Have had hamsters,mice,gerbils and degus for the kids in the past.

We now have chinchillas, and they are probably the best we have had, both are cute, tame and will eat out of our hands, and when out exercising they will run up to you. You must keep them in pairs or they wont thrive, as you have to with guinea pigs

Savvy_Sue

BTW, if you go for guinea pigs, my personal choice would be to avoid the long haired ones. But maybe that's because my brother used to show them, and it seemed daft to me to have to wash them and put their hair in curlers beforehand to keep it clean. I had the ones with rosettes in their fur, and they were nice. Although my favourite was a cross-breed.

lemonade_lifestyle

Wow, what a response!!

The pigs seems like a better idea, however I don't have grass (just a large court yard) so this might not be such a great idea.

Mice, well according to my mum (who ended up looking after all my little pets when I was young!!) they wee everytime they walk, so not great for little hands.

I really am not rushing into this one which is quite a new one for me, i would love to have dog again (used to have 2 cavalier king charles spaniels) but just can't give them the attention they require as we both work full time.. so it has to be small creature.

Am going to do more research on breeders in my area for hamsters, and also google the different types and their characteristics.

Thanks guys for all your help...

jessicamb

https://www.hamsterhideout.com has lots of good information on it I found - it can be a bit childish at times but I guess a lot of hamster sites are. There is quite good moneysaving information on there too, things like home made toys/cages etc.

Good luck - I wouldnt swap my Syrian for all the tea in China