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Anonymous
Hey /an/

Do you think hamsters are worthwhile pets? I just found out that the college I'm going to (UF) allows them in dorms, as well as dwarf rabbits and other small pets. I actually have a dwarf rabbit that is the best animal I've ever met, but it's litter trained and thus free roaming in the house, and they require the animal to be kept in a small cage so I wouldn't want to reduce his space. Hamsters, as far as I know, don't require too much, but are they even worth keeping? Are they all bitey little shits or was the one my friend owned just poorly trained?

My other alternative (besides just having nothing, but I'm an animal person and would like a companion at school): pacman frog :3

Pic unrelated; it's some duck that visited my house a while ago.
>> Anonymous
Get a pair of rats
>> Anonymous
>>215097
Don't they grow kind of large? I want something that will be comfortable in a pretty small cage.
>> Anonymous
>>215107
Hmmm....I've kept guinea pigs all through my childhood and I'm a bit bored of them at this point since they tend to be nice, but not too personable. Ferrets aren't on the list either D:

What about chinchillas? Or are they something that would prefer lots of room as well.
>> Anonymous
Yeah, hamsters don't do too much, but they're certainly one of the easiest and cheapest pets to keep. They don't bite after you handle them often for a couple weeks after you get them. Also, the wheel will keep you up at night if you don't take it out. I would recommend either hamsters or fish from that list.
>> Anonymous
Jeez guys OP wants hamster info so let's give some hamster info.

A syrian hamster (these are the larger ones) is gonna get pretty big, almost rat sized, enough to the point where they'll stop using tubes and stuff. So if size is a concern, you could go with a dwarf hamster.

Syrians can be bitey if poorly adjusted. Handle them enough and they *should* calm down (but of course it's always going to come down to the individual animal). I've met some pretty civil syrian hamsters, usually males. These guys need to be kept solitary, though. Syrian hamsters WILL kill each other once they get bigger, no matter their sex or relation to each other.

Dwarf hamsters are a little different. They usually do fine in pairs+. Chinese dwarves are kind of skittish, slender, but seem less nippy overall. All the russian dwarves I ever met were vile little bastards who LOVED THE TASTE OF HUMAN FLESH. Winter whites were usually pretty chill little fatties. Robovski's are crazy from what I hear but I've never actually handled them myself. They're the smallest, though.

Gerbils are pretty cool too, but they really need to be kept in pairs+. I've heard of them dwindling away to nothing after losing a cagemate and having to be alone. They're curious and hyper, but in my experience not a bitey lot at all.

Also I just woke up so if my grammar is glaringly bad anywhere, so sorry. :<
>> Anonymous
>>215117
I'm on my second russian dwarf hamster now (first one passed after about two years, had a large growth on his side, probably cancer). The first one only bit anyone ONCE, the first day we got him. After that he was the perfect hamster. The one I have now will bite very rarely, he seems to have his episodes where he doesn't want to be handled, but that's hardly ever, maybe one day every month. They also learned not to poop on you after the first few weeks of handling. I'm almost positive it's the owner's fault when the hamster is nippy, that or they just bought a hamster without studying it in the store first (whether it was psycho or not) which technically is their fault also.
>> Anonymous
Teddy bear hamsters are one of the most friendly and relaxed and fuffy breed of 'ster (males anyway).
>> Anonymous
>>215121
That's why I always say, the ones I met. It might have just been the breeder that supplied our store. Or maybe they just needed to be taken home and handled. I'm sure the stress of going through a pet store didn't help their case, either.
>> MiMi
>>215113

Google "Silent Spinner". If it's not broken and not crusty or whatever, it really is very quiet. Unless you're an extremely light sleeper, I think it'd be no more noise than a fish tank filter running, or typical background noises.

>>215117
I agree with just about all your descriptions there ... Though I've personally no experience with Chinese dwarves. Young Robos are indeed crazy little guys (and gals, I just work at a 'male' store) ... I'd get a larger cage (but make sure it's very secure, they are TINY) and fill it full of interesting tubes, toys, hideouts, chewies ... If you go with them. Males, if kept in pairs, will fight when they begin to sexually mature if they don't have enough space to have a niche to themselves.

>>215137
I know what you mean there ... But I do think it all depends on the size of the habitat at the store vs. how many hammies are in it vs. how old each one is, and which gender.

But yes ... I see a lot of returns or complaints about 'nippy' hamsters, of all varieties. Make sure you wash your hands before handling your hamster (and after for good hygiene), as food smells or sometimes certain lotions can make them interested in your fingers.

Also, if you do get a hamster, please note that it will most likely take a few weeks for it to get used to both you, and its new cage.
>> Anonymous
i have a teddy bear hamster that i got when he was still pretty young. easy to take care of, food is cheap and hes really friendly. he has nibbled a few times, never hard enough to break the skin tho, more of a "is dis fuud???" kind of way. he seems pretty smart for a rodent and is fairly good at escaping so updated hamster proofing is important. little monster learned how to do pull ups against flat walls..... my room is set up in a way where i can let him run free as long as the door is blocked, let him run around out side if its nice out, and he has a ball. fresh vegetables also make for a happy hamster.
>> Anonymous
I am personally a reptile lover and would suggest a leopard or crested gecko. However, hamsters can be good pets if you find a good one. My sister had a REALLY sweet hamster that lived 4 years before she died. And chinchillas get HUGE and need a big cage. I don't even know WHY they are on the list lol.
>> Anonymous
>>215391
Really? I never knew that. I've only ever seen small rabbit sized chinchillas.