What kind of hamster should i get??

Question

my old one just died and i want a new one but which one??

Answer 1

i'd go with a long haired teddy bear male hamster.

Answer 2

There are five different species of hamsters commonly kept as pets. The largest is the Syrian hamster. Pet stores often come up with creative names to get more money for them. They will name them- Panda Bears, Teddy Bears, Black Bears, Honey Bears, Hershey Bears, Polar Bears, Goldens, etc.. Don't be fooled by the different names, they are all the same species. There is no difference in temperment just because they're different colors.

Then there are three dwarf species, Campbells Dwarf, Winter White Dwarf and Roborovski Dwarf. Any other name is incorrect. Many pet stores don't even know what they're selling. There are differences between each of the dwarf species. The Campbells and Winter Whites are having a significant problem with diabetes. It has been observed that 30-50% of the Campbells at the chain stores have tested positive for diabetes before being sold. The pet stores are not testing them but a few members of a hamster club are. Those are just the ones that have early onset diabetes as opposed to late onset. There is no way to detect that once they've left the store. Also many of the pet store dwarves have temperment issues. This is due to the way they are commercially bred. The Campbells and Winter Whites also have been hybridized by the commercial breeders. There can be several genetic consequences to this. If you're considering a dwarf then I strongly recommend a breeder.

Finally there is the Chinese hamster. Many people will call it a dwarf hamster but it's not. These have a more mouse-like appearance. They also have a 2 cm tail that's slightly prehensile.

Winter Whites, Roborovski and Chinese hamsters may be hard to find.

Below is a link to the Pet Website. It describes in detail the different species. You will find the information you need there about housing and feeding the different species. There is also a hamster forum where you can ask specific questions to hamster owners and experts.

I would also recommend you do an internet search for hamster breeders in your area. Hopefully there are some. Type "hamster breeders (state)" or "(state) hamster breeders" or "(state) hamstery". There are also lists of breeders on Hamsters Galore and the Internet Hamster Association of North America.

A breeder will be able to tell you about the species they breed and can help decide if it's the species for you. A breeder will not charge you more for one color over another. A reputable breeder will be a member of the Internet Hamster Association of North America.

I own all species of hamsters and can tell you that they all make wonderful friends. The key is to find a place that is selling animals bred for their temperment. Every pet store will tell you they do but I'm always surprised by how many employees are scared to hold the animals because they already know the temperment of their stock.

-Janice
http://www.holmdenhillhaven.com

Answer 3

Go to a local pet store and look at a magazine called "Critters." This will give you a huge amount of information all "exotic" animals, including hamster. The longest lived hamster are the syrian ones. There life span is about three to four years sometimes. That's the only bad thing with hamsters. None of them have a long life span. Rats and Guini's live much longer and a chinchilla, even longer. One is about as much to take care of as the other. This magazine will help you make your best choice. It is very difficult to go to a pet store and really get a good chance to look at them. They are nocturnal animal and don't do well during the day, so when you wake them up to look at them, they all seem a little grumpy. The dwarf hamsters are the toughest to tame.

Answer 4

Honestly, I'd get a gerbil. Consider:

Gerbils are diurnal; they're active during the day. Hamsters are nocturnal, so they sleep most of the day and are only active at night.

Gerbils are social animals, so you can get more than one. Hamsters are solitary, so you should only get one.

Gerbils don't nip like hamsters sometimes do.

Gerbils live longer: 3-5 years vs. about 1.5-3 years for hamsters.

Gerbils don't smell nearly as bad and produce less waste, so you only need to clean their cage every 2-3 weeks vs. every 2-3 days for a hamster.

Gerbils are more active and interesting to watch, as they are big tunnel-diggers.

Answer 5

I would get a rat they are much nicer and smarter than hamsters if you are grossed out by them and have to get a hamster stay away from the dwarf kind they are very mean , my daughter walked in to see the male eating the other larger hamster!!! ( and they were in seperate cages when I last checked.

Answer 6

Bear hamsters are the best looking ones.

Answer 7

i got amazingly lucky with stalin and gorby, they never, and i mean never bit me because i went in to grab them, they dont even freak out like the other ones i saw when you touch them, sometimes ill go to change the food and gorby will be sleeping in the wheel, and ill pet his little head, and he just sits there, confused, stalin just sits there like nothing happend. look at how they behave in the cages at the store, look how they interact with others, if you see one just mellow like stalin, take him home, and if for some reason he bites or is sick or something, you can take him back, but i could never take any animal back to the store, thats why you can train thim, but like i said, if he just isnt right, like if he is sick or something, you can take them back, im not suggesting that its a good idea, because training is always an option. mine were russian dwarf hamsters, see if you cant get one who doesnt try to bite when you or the shop guy puts him in the box to take him home, if he fights and bites, look for another one. stalin was all melow the entire time i owned him, from the time he was in the box, he was always cool, never bit me ever, even when i pulled his fur, which was by accident, he sliped and i didnt want him to fall 4 ft to the floor, and i pinched some of his fur in saving him. but he didnt make a sound of bite or anything, he was all mello. but usually dwarfs are mean, but not mine!

Answer 8

Ask Yahoo for their Hamster.

Answer 9

I like the teddy bears and the goldens...(they live the longest)
[[[ ]]] sorrry to hear about your other hamster... if you need to talk.

www.petloss.com

Answer 10

Don't get a dwarf because if you go a week or more without handling them you'll have to tame it all over again.