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Old 07-24-2015, 10:29 AM   #1
Emma H_amster_
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Question Pros and cons of having a chinese?

Hey me and my mum is thinking about buying a chinese hamster thats ours not mine not hers but ours
what is the pros and cons?
we arent sure yet but we are PRETTY sure that we choose the chinese
and if you want i will for sure know what differents is there from campbell and winter white to chinese?
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Old 07-24-2015, 11:00 AM   #2
Fluffagrams
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Default Re: Pros and cons of having a chinese?

These are the things I've noticed in three and a half years of owning them..

Cons
- They're not really that suited to being kept in pairs.
- They can be quite nervous and shy.
- Their small body size will mean that they'll need a cage with narrower bars/solid sides.

Pros
- They're quite an intelligent species and I've found that my Chinese have learnt behaviours and tricks far easier than my sister's Hybrid.
- They're excellent climbers so can be very entertaining to watch.
- Once tame they can be very loving.
- They're less inclined to nip than the Russian species.
- Because of their smaller size, you can get away with buying toys that are actually marketed at hamsters rather than the rat sized ones that you'd need for some Syrians.
- They're just so cute.

The main difference you'll notice between them is their appearance. Chinese Hamsters have a very long and slim body shape whereas the Russian species are bit more round. The Chinese Hamster also has a longer tail which helps them to climb and the males are very easy to distinguish at adulthood due to their rather large testicles.
I've found that they're a little bit more laid back on a whole than the Russian species but every hamster is going to be different.
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Old 07-24-2015, 03:01 PM   #3
Emma H_amster_
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Default Re: Pros and cons of having a chinese?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fluffagrams View Post
These are the things I've noticed in three and a half years of owning them..

Cons
- They're not really that suited to being kept in pairs.
- They can be quite nervous and shy.
- Their small body size will mean that they'll need a cage with narrower bars/solid sides.

Pros
- They're quite an intelligent species and I've found that my Chinese have learnt behaviours and tricks far easier than my sister's Hybrid.
- They're excellent climbers so can be very entertaining to watch.
- Once tame they can be very loving.
- They're less inclined to nip than the Russian species.
- Because of their smaller size, you can get away with buying toys that are actually marketed at hamsters rather than the rat sized ones that you'd need for some Syrians.
- They're just so cute.

The main difference you'll notice between them is their appearance. Chinese Hamsters have a very long and slim body shape whereas the Russian species are bit more round. The Chinese Hamster also has a longer tail which helps them to climb and the males are very easy to distinguish at adulthood due to their rather large testicles.
I've found that they're a little bit more laid back on a whole than the Russian species but every hamster is going to be different.
ty for the answer helped me alot
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Old 07-25-2015, 01:42 AM   #4
cypher
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Default Re: Pros and cons of having a chinese?

I'm trying hard & failing to really think of any cons lol!
They do tend to be timid at first & are often a bit more difficult to tame than the Russians, or rather they can take longer & need patience with gentle handling but they do become very tame once they get used to you & are very intelligent, cheeky & loving little things.
They are a lot faster than Russians so can be quite hard to handle until you get used to them.
They are very active, they love to both dig & climb so you do need to give careful consideration to what cage you're going to keep one in (& as Fluffagrams says only keep one not a pair).
Like the Russian hybrids you do need to be careful with diet as they are also prone to diabetes.
I love my Russian hams to bits but I have to say my Chinese girl is the most endearing, funny, cheeky, entertaining & loving ham I ever had!
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Old 08-01-2015, 01:23 PM   #5
Emma H_amster_
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Default Re: Pros and cons of having a chinese?

Quote:
Originally Posted by cypher View Post
I'm trying hard & failing to really think of any cons lol!
They do tend to be timid at first & are often a bit more difficult to tame than the Russians, or rather they can take longer & need patience with gentle handling but they do become very tame once they get used to you & are very intelligent, cheeky & loving little things.
They are a lot faster than Russians so can be quite hard to handle until you get used to them.
They are very active, they love to both dig & climb so you do need to give careful consideration to what cage you're going to keep one in (& as Fluffagrams says only keep one not a pair).
Like the Russian hybrids you do need to be careful with diet as they are also prone to diabetes.
I love my Russian hams to bits but I have to say my Chinese girl is the most endearing, funny, cheeky, entertaining & loving ham I ever had!
ty for answer! sorry for not answering you in some time
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Old 10-14-2015, 07:15 AM   #6
icycold
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Default Re: Pros and cons of having a chinese?

Another con is that they tend to be a bit mucky (compared to dwarf hamsters). I have to wash my Chinese ham's toys a lot more often as she always leaves her 'scent' everywhere!
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Old 11-01-2015, 11:17 AM   #7
Magnolia
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Default Re: Pros and cons of having a chinese?

I'm late to the party, I'm afraid.

I currently have a Chinese hammy, my first. He's definitely a bit smarter than the others I've had. Bear in mind though, I've only had four in total: three dwarves and one very elderly Syrian.

Chinese hammies are better climbers than other hamsters, which can be quite cute to watch. It also means, though, that they could escape from setups that others might not.

My personal experience is far from exhaustive, but from what I've heard and read, Chinese hamsters are a bit more skittish, nervous and shy than others, on average, though that will vary with their individual temperaments and the age you get them at as well. Mine won't be picked up (though it could be done if needed), but he will happily run or climb across my hand now rather than run away and hide. (I got him when he was a year old.)

One thing that was new to me was the smell. The other hamsters I've had were undetectable to the human nose - I really would have had to stick my nose into a soiled toilet corner in order smell anything. My Chinese hamster is smellier. That's something I notice especially because he likes to pee in the wheel, where there's nothing to absorb it - and I can't clean the wheel every single time he does it. The smell stays inside the cage, thankfully, but that is in fact something that sets him apart from the others I've had.

What's also nice is the slightly longer life span. There's no guarantee, but on the whole they've got better chances of making it to 3 years (and even beyond) than dwarves. Mine is coming up on 2.5 years and is showing no signs of slowing down.

Last edited by Magnolia; 11-01-2015 at 11:18 AM. Reason: typo
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Old 02-27-2016, 02:30 PM   #8
Noodlesmummy
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Default Re: Pros and cons of having a chinese?

I've owned 6 in the last few years. I currently have 4. 2 boys 2 girls.
I have to admit they are very loving. I will say 2 of my 6 ever took a while to tame but when they are they are very tame and cute.
My lot are trained to come out of their cage and to ask for food too.
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