Hamsters??

Question

I'm going to get my little sister a hamster and I want to get one that will work for her she is realy meek and a hamster that will buzz around and mabey bite her just because would be bad. Does anyone know a good type to get I was thinking about those realy fluffy kind?

Answer 1

Teddy bear hamsters r good starters. they r also really cute and lively. If she duznt want a long haired one, get a Syrian hamster. Just as cute and roughly the same size, but shorter coat.

DO NOT GET A DWARF HAMSTER!!!!!! while i do LOVE them, they r small and can easily escape (from my experience) and will hide under things like pull out trundle beds, nite tables, all sorts of stuff.

Good luck hamster shopping!!!!

PS- hope i helped!!!

Answer 2

No matter what hamster you get, she needs to handle the hamster a LOT when she first gets it because then the hamster will be less likely to bite her. Becoming familiar with the scent will help to lessen biting attempts on your sister.
You are thinking of a teddy bear hamster. I am personally a fan of dwarf hamsters though. They're little. :)
Good luck!

Answer 3

Dwarf hamsters(the small ones) may look cute, but they run VERY fast and escape all the time. The hamsters that are the best around children are panda (who look nothing like a panda) and teddy bear hamsters. They don't bite and aren't as noisy as dwarf hamsters. They come in all different colors and fur types.

Answer 4

If you're trying to get a pet for your little sister I wouldn't recomend a hamster. They are first of all nocturnal so unless she sleeps in the daytime and plays at night they won't be any fun for her. I know because I have some and it drives me crazy how boring they are. I suggest if you want to get her a small,cheap pet that's cute get a guinea pig or a rabbit + you can buy a small harness and let her walk it...you can't do that with a hamster.

Answer 5

I wouldn't recommend a hamster because they're prone to biting and are nocturnal. If they're awakened during the day they tend to bite, and their health will eventually suffer if they're always disturbed during the day.
I know hamsters are cute and cuddly, but a better pet for your little sister could be a pet rat. Don't reject the idea right off!...I know plenty of people with rats, and they really love them, and find them very fun, affectionate and playful. Plus they're more active during the day, and since they're big she can let the rat out of his cage to play.

Answer 6

This will be a long answer but I recommend you read everything if you'd like to pick the best hamster for your sister.

There are five different species of hamsters commonly kept as pets. The largest is the Syrian hamster. Pet stores often come up with creative, fancy 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 (or different prices!). Commercially bred Syrians are beginning to demonstrate temperament problems. This is because animals with less than favorable temperaments are being allowed to breed. Picture how this occurs- the commercial breeder needs to send a new shipment of pups to the store. He goes to get them from their mother and one bites hard a few times. He knows he can't send this one to his customer, the pet store, as the customer will not be happy to get such a problem hamster. What does he do with it then? He will either kill it or if it's a female, he'll use it for breeding more hamsters. So he's selected the meanest one in the litter to breed from! Over generations, which happen quickly in rodents, the temperament of a line can completely change. I'm not saying that all the pet store hamsters are mean, just that many of us breeders have noticed a shift in temperament of many pet store hamsters and are worried that Syrians may begin to get a bad reputation.

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 and will call them "Siberian Dwarves", "Russian Dwarves" (they don't indicate which of the two it is), "Western Dwarves" etc. and even then will give the Campbells fancy names like the Syrians for more money: "Blueberry Dwarves", "Blackberry Dwarves", etc. There are differences between each of the dwarf species and the Pet Website has photos and descriptions of each (link below). 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 pet 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 the ones with late onset diabetes 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 commercial breeders want as many as they can, as fast they can, in as many of the "fancy" colors that they can. They do not select for health (obviously) or temperament. 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. A good dwarf breeder will have the history of the line and will not breed any with temperament problems, health problems or hybridization.

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. I like the Chinese. They are a bit more timid than the other species but once you hold them, they will sit still on your hand. They are very fast though so holding them in your hand is about all you can do with them. If you put them on your bed, they'll likely take off like a rocket and good luck catching them!

Winter Whites, Roborovski and Chinese hamsters may be very hard to find in pet stores.

You will also find the information you need about housing and feeding the different species at the Pet Website. 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.

I do prefer the Syrians over any of the other species and recommend them to first time hamster owners. Syrians are larger and much easier to hold than any of the others. They are more squirmy as pups but adults are very calm and will just sit in your hand. Longhaired Syrians and Longhaired Rex Syrians are my favorite coat type. I have been working on increasing the lengths of my longhaired hamsters. The longhaired females will never have hair/fur as long as a male longhaired. It would be very hard from me to pick my favorite color. Dark Grey is one I've been working hard to establish so the Dark Grey hamsters I have do tend to be my favorites. Dark Grey has not made it into the pet market yet.

If you do decide to go to a pet store then there are some things to watch and do when selecting one. First, ask an employee to get one out. Watch the employee, if they're scared of holding and handling the hamsters then stop right there! Employees know the temperament of their animals. If they're scared of getting bit then they probably have been. Go to another store. When you find one where the employee isn't scared to hold the animal, then take some time in the store to hold it yourself. If you can't hold for a few minutes and aren't comfortable doing it, then you sister probably won't be either. If it bites you while you're holding him then put him back and choose another. There's nothing wrong with a shorthaired golden if it just lays in your hand for cuddles. Another tip: males tend to be more laid back than females.

Good Luck!

-Janice
http://www.holmdenhilhaven.com

Answer 7

Drawf russasian hamsters are friendly but run fast.

Teddy bear hamsters are are friendly but furry and nid grrom.

I recommend teddy bear more if your sister like to do grooming and non allergic to furs.

Answer 8

The best pets are actually guinea pigs. They are really calm and love to be cuddled. Hamsters are a lot more energetic and will try to run away when you pick them up.

Answer 9

hamsters tend not to bond to their humans and any type may nip at her. i'd recommend mice or a rat as they tend to have a better temperment.

Answer 10

get a longhaired syrian. they are funny to watch too. mine is cream a nd white.