Where to get new hamster?

**Serena_jayne98** · 10-31-2016, 07:14 PM

I want to apologise in advance if this is in the wrong section, I wasn't sure on where to put it. I was going to get a dwarf hamster in December but with my lovely fiance letting me borrow some money, I am able to get one tomorrow. (well technically today as its 2am haha) I would get her from the same place I got my Syrian Fred from, but I recall them just having a cage saying "dwarf hamsters" and not specifying if they were Campbells or Winter Whites. I want to get her from a shop that actually houses the separate species separately. There is an independent pet shop down the road from me that I looked in earlier today and they have a litter of Winter Whites. However I am unable to find any information on whether this shop is any good. My other option would be Pets At Home. (I think. I've never been there to know if they keep campbells and winter whites separately but I assume they would?)

And basically I was wondering if I should go for Pets At Home, or the independent shop?

AmityvilleHams · 10-31-2016, 09:29 PM

Any pet store hamster either Winter White or Campbells should automatically be treated as a hybrid.Unless you get a hamster from a breeder,it's impossible to guarantee that you aren't getting a hybrid and also most pet shops do sell hybrids.

I would go with the independent shop only if you can get information to make sure they're actually good.Otherwise,it is perfectly fine to go with Pets At Home as long as you feed a good diet(Burgess dwarf food would be best)and give appropriate care

**Serena_jayne98** · 10-31-2016, 09:46 PM

I think I'll have a chat with the people who work in the independent shop first and see if they can in fact confirm that they are not hybrids and then decide where to go based on their answers. It only really bothers me because I know that hybrids can have so many health issues...

and I did some research and read that the food my Syrian is on is also fine for a dwarf. I have a bag of Harry/Hazel Hamster and the non-dwarf Burgess mix all mixed in together. But I'll cut up the larger pieces for my dwarfy. And I think I'll also need to take out some seeds and stuff for her. Is that correct?

AmityvilleHams · 10-31-2016, 09:52 PM

Not a fan of the Burgess Syrian food personally,the dwarf food is much higher quality.Burgess dwarf food on its own would be perfectly fine and give appropriate nutrition,same with Harry Hamster on its own.Just add occasional animal protein and it'll be perfect,no need to add the lesser quality food when it won't give much to the diet.

cypher · 10-31-2016, 09:52 PM

Sometimes Russian hamsters are called WW or Campbells among other things in pet shops but you can be pretty certain they will be hybrids, as Amity says if you want to be sure then it's well worth waiting until you can get one from a breeder.

Syrian hamster food is ok for dwarf hams but not ideal by any means, if you want to give your dwarf the best possible then I would go for a dwarf specific mix.
You never take anything out of a mix unless you have a very good understanding of hamster nutrition & know exactly what the G/A will be after removing things & what you might need to add to make the balance right.

**Serena_jayne98** · 10-31-2016, 10:01 PM

There's like literally no breeders down where I live, I've been looking for weeks and nothing, so god knows where the shops are getting them from, certainly not in this city. So idk what to do other than the pet stores..

okay so if I do get a dwarf it'll be fine on just the burgess dwarf mix and then obviously extra mealworms and veggies?

and is my Syrian okay on the mixture of both HH and Burgess syrian mix? As I have so much of it left. He seems to like it.. and I only mixed it because I read on here somewhere that a lot of people do it to give more variety

cypher · 10-31-2016, 10:03 PM

Pet stores are fine as long as you realise what you are getting, all of mine have been from pet shops so far, I don't really like to think too much about where they came from but I didn't have any other option when I got them either.
The Burgess dwarf mix is one of the better mixes for them so that would be fine & your syrian's two mixes are ok too.

AmityvilleHams · 10-31-2016, 10:06 PM

Pet shop hamsters aren't something to feel bad about

Not everyone can get to a breeder or have a good local pet shop.Even if you could,sometimes you just get drawn in by a certain hamster and that is also perfectly fine!

The diet should be great for the dwarf

I'd gradually try and change over to just Harry Hamster for the Syrian though,but instead giving an occasional seed/nut/combination treat mix a few times a week as well as fresh foods and animal protein.

**Serena_jayne98** · 10-31-2016, 10:06 PM

Okay, the shop down the road that is selling the supposed Winter Whites also sells the dwarf food so that's good.
If I did end up with a Hybrid what are the risks?

Sorry I'm so bad at this, so many people say so many different things it's impossible to get a clear idea of what's right

AmityvilleHams · 10-31-2016, 10:13 PM

The most well known risk would be diabetes,which is hardly a death sentence.It is manageable,and it isn't difficult to work with!

It can be very difficult to know what is right,especially when a lot of people can shove one idea or another onto people without taking individual circumstance into consideration