Where to buy a Hamster, what do they need?

Wywth

Counting_Pennies wrote: »

Hi all,

My DS would love a hampster for his birthday.

The only problem is I am not sure where to get one from.

What would I be looking for in terms of their health.

How long do they live for

What do they eat and how often

What habitat do they need

What stimulation do they need.

Sorry for so many questions

Many thanks

Ask your DS to research this and provide you the answers.

If he can't be bothered to find out himself, I don't expect he'll be bothered to care for the creature beyond the end of the week at best

If he doesn't come up with the answers by his birthday, get him a tamagotchi instead

gingin_2

Wywth wrote: »

Ask your DS to research this and provide you the answers.

If he can't be bothered to find out himself, I don't expect he'll be bothered to care for the creature beyond the end of the week at best

If he doesn't come up with the answers by his birthday, get him a tamagotchi instead

Unless I've missed it I can't see where Counting Pennies has put her child's age, or that she won't contribute to it's upkeep? He could be 4 years old for all we know?

I think she's getting some really hostile replies!

gibson123

alleycat` wrote: »

Personally i'd recommend a rat as a better choice, although they are a lot bigger.

Please don't just get one rat, rats pine away without company, they are very social animals and are great pets.

Wywth

gingin wrote: »

Unless I've missed it I can't see where Counting Pennies has put her child's age, or that she won't contribute to it's upkeep? He could be 4 years old for all we know?

I believe you are correct, but I am unsure how this helps the OP in the advice sought

gingin wrote: »

I think she's getting some really hostile replies!

Where? Save for your post... :cool:

gibson123

Countin Pennies, hamsters are a great first pet, my DD had two hamsters in succession and then moved on to rats. Hamsters when handled correctly are very good pets,They are very easy to care for, just make sure they get a decent size cage and lots of bedding and stuff to play with. but remember all rodents at some time will escape, I had to pull my bathroom floorboards up to find one of our little chaps. At least with rats if they escape they will come and find you when they start missing you.

j.e.j.

Counting_Pennies wrote: »

I wondered if anyone has any experience from having their own hamster they could offer me.

They're nocturnal. My brother had one and you could hear it in the night running on its little wheel-thing. I think they live for a couple of years.

ETA I don't get the attraction of rats, myself, but each to their own..

alleycat`

gibson123 wrote: »

Please don't just get one rat, rats pine away without company, they are very social animals and are great pets.

Kind of take your point about the social aspect, which is why they make great pets.

I've never known a rat to "pine away" so long as it gets plenty of people interaction but then again I'm not a rat expert either.

Every one i've come into contact with has been kept as a lone pet and they seem to have been perfectly ok.

I agree they are a superb pet.

krlyr

I think the issue with lone rats is while many may be happy with interaction from humans alone, they are a species that naturally stays in small groups and therefore have an ingrained social structure. So in a pair or group, chances are you will have happier rats. We can give time and attention but we can't be there 24/7 or provide the same interaction as another rat can.

j.e.j.

If you're going to get 2 rats/mice, better make sure the pet shop has sexed them correctly and get 2 of the same. You don't want a colony of them :eek:

Person_one

alleycat` wrote: »

Kind of take your point about the social aspect, which is why they make great pets.

I've never known a rat to "pine away" so long as it gets plenty of people interaction but then again I'm not a rat expert either.

Every one i've come into contact with has been kept as a lone pet and they seem to have been perfectly ok.

Sorry but its an absolute no no to keep a rat on its own. They need to be in at least a pair, ideally more. Reputable pet shops and breeders won't even let people take just one.