Which hamster for a 8 YO

LisaB85

How about a guinea pig? you can keep them indoors but they do need to run about in the garden or somewhere safe. They are like giant hamsters but are friendlier; however they are can be a but wussy so need a lot of handling.

krlyr

Where abouts are you located? Someone may have some local rescue or breeder recommendations for you. Maybe joining a UK-based hamster forum would be an idea, I'm sure they exist (you get forums for everything - there's even forums about forums!)
Shredded paper would probably work. One consideration is whether the ink used on the paper is toxic or not, I believe you can look it up online if you know what ink was used. It's not all that absorbant though and will need changing more frequently, I would recommend something more absorbant like the paper cat litter and then just add shredded paper for the hamster to use in its bed.

Hamsters do sleep most of the day but you will find in time they adjust to your time schedule. Food is a good way to an animal's heart so you could, for example, feed the hamster at 6pm every evening - chances are it will soon learn to wake up at 5.30 in anticipation of dinner and your daughter can handle it then.

A pet-proof room (e.g. bathroom, providing the bath is panelled in and no gaps around pipes) can be a good place for a young child to sit and let the pet play in - means the hamster isn't just sat there being held (which it will get bored of). Alternatively buy/build a playpen. Many of the commercial playpens are too short and easily climbed - a cheap alternative is to buy correx (you can bulkbuy 5+ sheets online) and tape it together to make a pen. Use duct tape and you can create a hinged effect so that it folds flat to store away. The child can then sit in the playpen (you may want to put something down to protect the floor - a vinyl tablecloth or those waterproof picnic blankets work well) and let them hamster run around safely. Remember to tell her not to wander around with the hamster loose on the floor though, I've known a few cases of small furries being trodden on!

merlot123

We had a hamster, slept all day, awake at night and quite loud too, he constantly chewed at his cage during the night, never again, my DD lost interest after a while as he slept all day. He died after 2.5 years, and I swore to myself I would never get an animal that was caged most of the time, personally I think it is unkind.

I now have a house rabbit, Harvey, a mini lop, only the one, a male blue butterfly and he is the best thing I could have wished for, he is litter tray trained, doesn't chew furniture and sits by my feet as I type on the laptop, he is also quite playful at times which the children enjoy. He has access to the kitchen from 8am to midnight and is put into an indoor rabbit cage during the night. I also have 2 cats and they get on great with him. I can't recommend a rabbit enough, but if you want a rabbit who lives outside then 2 is a most, they need company.

I have shredded paper in the indoor cage for Harvey, soft animal bedding makes me sneeze and he didn't like the hay to sleep on...fussy wee thing, although he has some in a hayrack so he can eat it.

Could post a pic to tempt you:D I got him from a breeder and paid £30 for him, saw mum and dad too.

merlot123

krlyr

merlot123 wrote: »

I can't recommend a rabbit enough, but if you want a rabbit who lives outside then 2 is a most, they need company.

Personally I feel indoor rabbits thrive with company too and wouldn't have a lone bunny unless it was for health reasons or it really wouldn't tolerate another rabbit. My indoor buns loved their buddies (had a trio and a pair). Lovely pets but rabbits can live for 8+ years so more of a commitment than a hamster. Also not always that keen on being picked up, as someone else mentioned, though one of mine absolutely loved it and would run over and reach up leaning against your leg 'asking' for a cuddle!

jess1974

My daughter is also 8 and santa brought her a hamster for xmas last year, it is a syrian and quite large, very friendly, has never bitten any of us and actually has its own little personality, yes it does sleep during the day, but it is ruled by its stomach so if you put some nuts in her food bowl she's awake and ready to play, also when she wants to come out for a cuddle she rattles the door of her cage so we get her out.....

Pechow

How about a degu or two? Cute, small, friendly, intelligent, and they're awake during the daytime when your kid will be.

magenta22

Have had hamsters. Syrian and Russian Dwarf ones.

Out of the two I would say that the Syrian ones were nicer natured. All the hamsters were awake during the day so that wasn't a problem - except they were very confused :-D Get a good cage for them, I would advice the rotastack (if they still make them!) because you can add bits to them but they are not the easiest for cleaning.

If rats are anything like mice - they make nice pets but if they pee on you it stinks! Hamsters are a bit cleaner in that respect!

Does anyone you know have a hamster that you could look after for a few days to see how she is with looking after them?

merlot123

krlyr wrote: »

Personally I feel indoor rabbits thrive with company too and wouldn't have a lone bunny unless it was for health reasons or it really wouldn't tolerate another rabbit. My indoor buns loved their buddies (had a trio and a pair). Lovely pets but rabbits can live for 8+ years so more of a commitment than a hamster. Also not always that keen on being picked up, as someone else mentioned, though one of mine absolutely loved it and would run over and reach up leaning against your leg 'asking' for a cuddle!

I would agree with you, they need company, but my OH works from home in the kitchen and I'm here all day too, my rabbit certainly doesn't lack human company, but it is a huge commitment and an expense with the flea treatment, vaccinations and boarding when going on holiday, hence the reason I only have one, I couldn't possibly afford to spend the same on another rabbit as I do with Harvey, and with two cats, it can be expensive.

Even the vet yesterday commented (he was neutered yesterday) on his lovely nature, and how well trained he his, I took his litter tray to the vets with me as I knew he wouldn't want to do toilet on the cage floor. The vet nurse looked at me as though I was a mad woman:D He is very friendly, doesn't mind one of my cats sitting in his cage with him either.

merlot123

krlyr

magenta22 wrote: »

If rats are anything like mice - they make nice pets but if they pee on you it stinks! Hamsters are a bit cleaner in that respect!

Nope, not sure there are many rodents as stinky as a mouse :rotfl: Like any animal, rats have their own odour - males tend to have a musky smell if you smell them up close but they're generally quite low odour pets as they're easy to train to use a littertray. Younger rats can be a bit smellier due to the higher protein in their diet but this settles with age. Oh, and certain cages seem to retain smells worse - the "Jenny" cage that PAH sells used to come uncoated and was well-known for stinking out rooms, fortunately they've changed the design now!

Re. Rotastaks for hamsters, I really wouldn't recommend them, especially not for a Syrian, who will struggle with the tube size as they age. Each module provides only a limited floor area. Perhaps used in conjunction with a larger cage, it could work, but as their own I don't think they're the best cages.

threemuttleys

instead of a Hamster (which bite and smell IMHO) what about a tortoise/snake (Royal Pythons are ace) Lizard (Bearded Dragon/Leopard Gecko)

Bit pricier to set up, but far more interesting than a hamster (and addictive!)