Thinking of getting a Chinese hamster?

[HealthyHammy]

Hello! I am thinking of getting a Chinese hamster as I have had every other kind of hamster apart from the Chinese and they look so cute
Anyway, I had a few questions first:
Are they friendly?
How long do they live?
Can they live in pairs?
Which are better, males, or females?
Thanks and if you have any pics of your Chinese hamster, can I please see them? thanks again!
-Oceanne

[evel_lin]

Most people say now that Chinese hamsters should be kept separately as their fights can turn very aggressive very quickly. They are shyer than other species of hamster so require more patience with taming. Males have very prominent testicles which some people find off putting. Chinese hamsters also have a higher risk of developing diabetes so need a low sugar diet with no sugary treats such as yoghurt drops etc.

Hope that helps a little. I've never had Chinese myself but would definitely like one one day. My OH says 5 hamsters is enough

[racinghamster]

Hi. Just by reading through the various other posts in this section will give you lots of info on Chinese hamsters. But to answer your questions directly:

1. Are they friendly? Well yes, but some can need patience and understanding depending on their age and where they came from. As evel_lin said, they can have shy natures and feel the need to have hiding places. Once they settle though they can be quite bold and will happily climb onto your sleeve and want to hide!

2. How long do they live? Usually between two and three years but a lot depends on their genetics, the way they are kept and whether they go on to develop diabetes. Most won`t if their diet is kept natural and sugar free with no added treats apart from small amounts of raw vegetables.

3. Can they live in pairs? No. Chinese hamsters are best kept alone. Most pet shops will only sell them in pairs and although most people are happy to take a pair on, they don`t usually know that Chinese hamsters can be the most volatile and can start fighting with no warning, so it`s much better to look for a single Chinese from rescue or an adoption situation.

4. Which are best, males or females? Either are fine if kept alone. I personally prefer male hamsters but my first and only Chinese hamster was female and she was such a wonderful, cheeky character. They love to hide and dig, so require a cage or a tank that gives them all the climbing and digging opportunities to keep them happy. However, they don`t need a tall cage as this can be dangerous for all hamsters. Hamsters are ground dwellers, but Chinese hamsters are much better at climbing. Think mouse with a shorter tail and you have the Chinese hamster!

Hope this helps answer your initial questions, but do read through this section for more variations.

[Lotte&charlie]

Hey I have a Chinese hamster Called Charlie She is 15 weeks old and a very lovable animal... They do however like to live alone, as they are very territorial, they also live for about 3 years and in my opinion a female is easier to look after than a male.

Hope this helps

Lotte

[Babycakes]

I just adopted one from p@h and she is without doubt the nicest and tamest ham I ever had, she is beautiful x