vicious hybrid

[Skeever]

I've lucked out, with two hamsters who don't jump first and ask later, so I can use a bed, with toys and things for them to play with, including the human theme park ride Many hams though don't think before wandering from heights, so it depends on the ham. Like I said, I lucked out. They really really hesitate at edges and so, I can move them when they decide to slip and slide down to the floor. Before they do.

The few times they managed to get on the floor, they explore and are easy to pick up...so if you think they won't leap off a bed, its worth a try. I don't have a tub here either so its playpen, playbox, free run or bed time. They seem to get into enough trouble and adventures on a bed while I supervise....so long as they have things to play on/with, and explore and places to hide and discover treats and so on....

[POLAR WHITES]

cant be very much help apart from the hybrids that I have had have all been aggressive, I believe its to do with mixing the two types, the advice on here is really good and best of luck,

[itswendy]

bed method probably isn't the best for a tiny little thing like my dwarf, probably with my syrian though! does anyone know if the playpen wire panels by.. kaytee i think work? ..like can syrians climb out of them?

hmm my friend had two winter white hybrids from petsmart and they were super friendly! i feel like i've gotten all the hard to tame, vicious hamsters Q_Q

[Skeever]

Your friend probably couldn't handle the really intense vicious hammies....God , or Life only gives us what we can handle

[itswendy]

she has 5 dogs and two cats though... hahahaha

[cypher]

I hate to see hybrids getting such a bad press! Out of the four I've had one is a bit cage aggressive but will happily climb out of the cage into my hands, other than that I haven't had any signs of aggression at all.
They just need a little patience, understanding & the right living conditions to be really lovely inquisitive & friendly pets.

I use the metal playpens with mine Wendy, I got two from zooplus where they often have them on special offer so they weren't too expensive, non of my dwarfs have even tried to escape but if they wanted to they can't climb out provided you don't put any tall toys they can climb on close to the edges. I don't leave mine unsupervised but I'm confident they're safe if I have to turn my back for a few moments!
Even the most in cage OC ham seems to enjoy exploring new things in the playpen so you can change things around a fair bit if you have enough toys & they can have hours of fun in there!

[itswendy]

i would totally check it out but zooplus doesn't ship to the US which reallllllllllyyyyyy sucks.

[DanniDorrito]

I've heard that hybrids can sometimes have neurological problems which can cause aggression.

Here's where I read about this: ErinsHamsters

[itswendy]

oooh thank you! the sudden aggressiveness does sound like my hamster. shes usually very cage aggressive, even though her bin does exceed the minimum by a good amount.

[Skeever]

Never knew there was an info site like the link above. I knew of the YouTube stuff from Erins. Now? I'm a bit horrified about the pet industry Correction, even more horrified.

Seriously.

I don't think I could decide to buy a hybrid now, given why they are bred and what the ramifications are. I would certainly adopt, rescue, take care of one. The poor things didn't choose their life. Is that description one that is controversial, or is it pretty much common knowledge and accepted research? Like any poorly run pet shop, though we can rescue one ham from a miserable life, we feed an industry that really doesn't give a rat's asparagus for the animals

It's a bit of a shocking read and far different from simply knowing hybrids have more health problems. I do like the fact that it acknowledges that -for many of us?- a pet shop ham is the only chance to own a ham and in doing so, taking it out of the pet shop environment. It's just hard with the pile up of info to support anyone making a business out of the poor things!