Planning on getting a Syrian hamster

[Skylar]

My Dad and I made a deal. I would clean up my dog's "waste" from the backyard for one whole month and he would think about getting me a hamster. I used to have a male golden syrian hamster named Hammy. He was a grumpy little anti-social thing but he was cute so I kept him alive. xD My aunt bought him for me when I was 3 years old and then she bought me a hedgehog when I was 6 to replace Hammy when he passed away. I told her to take the hedgehog back. it smelled really bad.

I have decided I want another Syrian hamster but I have a million and one questions. I have forgotten alot since I was 6.

1. Should I get a male or a female? My LPS doesn't not seperate some of the hamsters. Would the females be pregnant? Any noticable behaviour differences?

2. I am going to get a wire cage with a plastic tray underneath. Could these bars harm my hamster? I will provide lots of things for him to chew on, of course.

3. What sort of things will I need?
I am guessing I will need:

-a water bottle
-a ceramic food dish
-hamster food
-a solid plastic wheel so it's feet do not get caught
-bedding but not pine or cedar.
-various rodent toys such as wood blocks, huts.

Is this all?
Oh yes, Ill need the hamster, too.

4. Would my Syrian be easy to tame? Do they object to wearing small rodent harnesses and leashes because I would like to buy one so I could take it for small walks.

Thanks,
Skylar

Please feel free to post any information that you think will help me.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Ok...
1. I'd say get male if they don't seperate them. Unless you want babies, that is.

2. Not really, the only problem is noise of them chewing. But you get used to it. Although if it has platforms that are wire, I'd maybe consider putting a sheet of cardboard on top for chewing and so that the wire doesn't damage its feet. It might not, but its best to be on the safe side.

3. Pretty much all that. You don't need expensive toys, all you need is a good selection of cardboard tubes.

4. I've got one of those leads, and they do mind. They don't like being told where to go, and will take it off or chew it to bits. As for taming, just handle it lots. We have 3 hamsters, one is very tame, one is not that tame and the other is a raving loony. They tand to get tamer with age.

 

[bigfish]

bedding for it to mke a nest also a hut or plastic house would make a good home and safe retreat for a small young syrian.

handle it every day but let it settle in for a few days before doing this as it will stress little hammie out. Don't do wot i did go to pick up hammie it jumps with fear lands from coffee table to floor and makes for the fireplace!!!! Ok ok i got there in time and fire wasn't on!!!

Goodluck

 

[Mariah]

My Dad and I made a deal. I would clean up my dog's "waste" from the backyard for one whole month and he would think about getting me a hamster. I used to have a male golden syrian hamster named Hammy. He was a grumpy little anti-social thing but he was cute so I kept him alive. xD My aunt bought him for me when I was 3 years old and then she bought me a hedgehog when I was 6 to replace Hammy when he passed away. I told her to take the hedgehog back. it smelled really bad.

I have decided I want another Syrian hamster but I have a million and one questions. I have forgotten alot since I was 6.

1. Should I get a male or a female? My LPS doesn't not seperate some of the hamsters. Would the females be pregnant? Any noticable behaviour differences?

2. I am going to get a wire cage with a plastic tray underneath. Could these bars harm my hamster? I will provide lots of things for him to chew on, of course.

3. What sort of things will I need?
I am guessing I will need:

-a water bottle
-a ceramic food dish
-hamster food
-a solid plastic wheel so it's feet do not get caught
-bedding but not pine or cedar.
-various rodent toys such as wood blocks, huts.

Is this all?
Oh yes, Ill need the hamster, too.

4. Would my Syrian be easy to tame? Do they object to wearing small rodent harnesses and leashes because I would like to buy one so I could take it for small walks.

Thanks,
Skylar

Please feel free to post any information that you think will help me.

Ok, I have had lots of hamsters in my lifetime (22 years haha) and I would say get a female because in my experience they smell less.

I would also say that syberian hamsters are harder to tame because they are smaller...

Personaly I like teddy bear hamsters... But thats just me!

 

[Skylar]

Syrian hamsters are teddy bear hamsters, Mariah. All hamsters called after some sort of bear are syrians, just different colors. I am referring to the 'teddy bear' hamster, not the Siberian.

 

[Mariah]

Syrian hamsters are teddy bear hamsters, Mariah. All hamsters called after some sort of bear are syrians, just different colors. I am referring to the 'teddy bear' hamster, not the Siberian.

I guess you learn something new everyday!

 

[Chrissy]

I heard somewhere that female hamsters are easier to tame and will bond better with you than a male, but its been a long time since I had my hamster, so I could be wrong. Wow, I just realized its been about 9 years since I got my first hamster!

Good luck!

 

[Skylar]

Gah..only about 28 days of picking up my dog's crap from the backyard (isn't as sick as it sounds) and I'll get a little Syrian. I can't wait. I am going to get a little girlie. I shall name her Spike.