Our hamster died

Lisa_Spiller

I am so sad we only had her in may for my step daughters birthday. Izzy her name was I always made sure she had fresh food and water and she was cleaned out each week. I can't help thinking I must have done something wrong

coinxoperated

Hello and sorry for your loss. It doesn't matter how big or small a pet is, when it passes it's always such a shame

I've had loads of hamsters and a small few have died quite quickly, and few have lived for 3 yearsish. All had lots of everything they needed.

Out if interest, did you get it from pets at home? The two of mine that died earlier were from pet shops, one being pets at home. The others were all friends hamsters that had babies.

meritaten

she may not have been in the 'first flush of youth' when you bought her. was it from er a 'well known chain'?

50Twuncle

Lisa_Spiller wrote: »

I am so sad we only had her in may for my step daughters birthday. Izzy her name was I always made sure she had fresh food and water and she was cleaned out each week. I can't help thinking I must have done something wrong

Hamsters don't have a very long lifetime - max 2 years - she could have been a year old when you adopted her .....
Syrians are the most common - they live 2 years on average
Dwarf's live for about 6 months less than this (18 months)


So - don't worry - you did NOTHING wrong - Izzy died happy !!!

Lisa_Spiller

Yes we brought her from pets at home she was a tiny baby its just a shock. Our guinea pig lived to age 7. My poor stepdaughter found her

meritaten

my sons first hamster I bought from a local independent pet shop - who sourced them from a breeder who 'showed' them. he was a nutter! a real escape artist who used to get out of sons bedroom, pass the dog on the landing, get into my bedroom, past the cat on the bottom of the bed and I would wake up with a hamster on my pillow! he lived for nearly five years!
our next hamster was from the 'chain' pet shop and live about 3 years (tho his life was probably shortened by our dog who was determined to eradicate ALL rodents!)
we had a couple after that who lived very short lives and son lost interest.

krlyr

Pet shops tend to "bulk buy" their small animas in from rodent farms - the equivelant of puppy farms. These tend to be poorly bred, from a limited gene pool, and bred for quantity rather than good health or temperament.
http://www.ratz.co.uk/rodentfarm.html

Sometimes you get examples that may live a full, healthy life, sometimes they may fall short of their lifespan, be plagued with illness and so on - it's unfortunately just luck of the draw buying from a petshop.

If you decide to get another hamster, it might be worth finding a hamster breeder. Though you should do some research to make sure they breed responsibly too.
http://www.britishhamsterassociation.org.uk/locate_breeder.php

senileturtle

As people said above, pet shops (especially chain ones like PAH and Jollyes) buy from mass warehouse breeders. They also do not bother to take care of their animals properly when in store. PAH is one of the worst I've seen. Tiny cages for hamsters with no air holes to the front. Several hamsters in one cage (and they wonder why their's fighting?). The hamsters cannot get away from each other, or hide as usually there's only one hiding spot for all of them.

I also wouldn't recommend a breeder. Rescue is always best as you will be giving a hamster a second chance. It may not live long as sometimes you may not know the age but at least you gave it a chance in life. I've had three hamsters, all rescues and my first one was found wandering in a neighbouring town. Hadn't a clue his age but needless to say he died a few months after. It was horrible. As was losing my second. I miss them dearly and still accidentally call my current one by their names.

Needless to say, it is horrible but it's in a way a good way in teaching children about life and death. Anyways, if you can avoid chain stores and pet shops in future or go for the rescue section in PAH instead of the buy section. At least then you're giving a hamster another chance and all money from the adoption goes to local animal sanctuaries.

ClaireJollies

Sorry to read this