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Old 07-23-2016, 09:46 AM   #1
HamsterCrazy1
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Default Considering a Chinese hamster?

Hi! I am going to get a hammy soon, but I am not sure what kind to get. I am leaning toward a Syrian or a Winter White, but checking out all of the species to make sure that kind is really what I want. I haven't read much on the Chinese hamsters, so I would like to know what their personality is like. Plus- any input, advice, or tips on general hamster keeping would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
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Old 07-23-2016, 10:39 AM   #2
Fluffagrams
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Default Re: Considering a Chinese hamster?

Hello there and welcome to Hamster Central.

Before I got my first Chinese Hamster I was originally planning on getting a Russian but as soon as I set eyes on them in the shop I just couldn't resist and that pretty much sums up how I've felt about Chinese Hamsters ever since. They're packed full of character and every one has had their own little personality that has determined the kind of things that they like to do right down to the kind of cage that they like.
They can be quite shy in their cages so it takes a bit of consideration when setting their cage up, they tend to prefer to have plenty of little hides than big open spaces and they're expert diggers so will need a good covering of substrate in their cage. Some Chineseys also love to climb and you will need eyes in the back of your head if you've got a proficient climber.

Some people say that because they can be a little bit shy they can be harder to tame but a hamster from a breeder is likely to have been handled from an early age so a lot of the hard work is done for you, however there's a real sense of achievement when you've had a nervous pet shop Chinesey that you've earnt the trust of and tamed pretty much from scratch. Once you've got that bond there, they really are delightful little things and they will do this really cute thing where they'll cling on to your finger with their whole bodies like a mouse would cling to straw.

Here's Miss Lilli-Victoria demonstrating this for you:



Chinese Hamsters are a bit harder to find in shops than Syrian Hamsters and if you're looking to buy a Winter White from a shop they're likely to be a Hybrid (a mix of the Campbells and Winter White) rather than a purebred Winter White which only tends to be available from breeders. Hybrids can make lovely pets and can be very pretty though.

If you've got any more questions about Chinese Hamsters, don't hesitate to ask. There's a couple of us on Hamster Central that have kept them and will be able to tell you more.

Last edited by Fluffagrams; 07-23-2016 at 10:45 AM.
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Old 07-23-2016, 01:59 PM   #3
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Default Re: Considering a Chinese hamster?

I don't know much about Chineseys having never owned them but Fluffagrams gave you lots of useful information there

Another helpful site in Vectis Hams' website. Here is a page about Chineseys:

Vectis Hamstery and Exotics
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Old 07-23-2016, 04:34 PM   #4
HamsterCrazy1
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Default Re: Considering a Chinese hamster?

Thank you! I think I am going to get a Syrian just because they are calmer and cuddly. I want one that will sit on my shoulder while I read, write, do homework, etc. or cuddle with me late at night when I can't sleep. Syrians are just sounding more like something I would want.
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Old 07-23-2016, 04:44 PM   #5
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Default Re: Considering a Chinese hamster?

If you want truly interactive rodents go with rats.Syrians can be very interactive,but they aren't as social as rats.Wanting an animal who will be with you and be cuddly and love being around you indicates wanting an animal more like a rat and less like a hamster,and for rats they need 2 square feet of space per rat.They absolutely cannot under any circumstances be kept solitary though,unlike hamsters.
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Old 07-23-2016, 05:51 PM   #6
HamsterCrazy1
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Default Re: Considering a Chinese hamster?

I want a rat, but unfortunately everyone in my family hates rats. They would prefer me to get a hamster over a mouse, so I've decided on a Syrian hamster as one that doesn't usually tend to bite and is pretty calm.
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Old 07-23-2016, 05:53 PM   #7
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Default Re: Considering a Chinese hamster?

That's very unfortunate Hopefully you have good luck and end up with a very cuddly Syrian then!
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Old 07-24-2016, 01:26 AM   #8
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Default Re: Considering a Chinese hamster?

Syrians do have a reputation for being easier to interact with than dwarf hamsters, and are a good first hamster option Whether they are cuddly or not depends on the hamster's individual personality really - some are - some aren't. I doubt a Syrian would sit on your shoulder long without trying to jump off and then they can hurt themselves! Ours will happily fall asleep on my knee though, but he took quite a bit of hand taming before that happened. And that's if he is feeling dopey. If he is feeling active he won't sit for a stroke and wants to be off lol! But you get so much more than cuddles from them - they interact in other ways with you (looks, stampy feet and so on). Ours is quite good at stampy feet if he's not happy about something, and has also been known to turn his back and stick his bum out at you if he is really annoyed about something.

So although they can be hand tamed with a bit of patience in the first few weeks (pet shop hamsters can take longer than breeder hamsters who are used to being handled), they are by nature quite solitary creatures and independent so not always up for cuddles. Having said that you can develop a real bond of trust and then they are more handleable and interactive.

Some dwarf hamsters can also develop a bond and be tame and cuddle but have less of a reputation for it. Roborovski's are tiny and generally seen as more for entertainment value (they are very active and can be very funny). Chinese hamsters have a reputation for being quite shy and incredibly fast, and good climbers. But as Fluffagrams has shown, they can bond with you too. All hamsters like a cage full of substrate and lots of hidey places and shelves to sit under, at various times, as they are prey animals and feel anxious if too exposed from above. Those are all big generalisations though and personality makes a difference. And there are some very gung ho Syrians who don't seem scared of anything lol.
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Old 07-24-2016, 01:31 AM   #9
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Default Re: Considering a Chinese hamster?

I also posted on your other thread about Syrian hamster cages. If you are thinking of a Chinese - I think they are hard to find in the US and you may need to find a breeder. I'm not even sure if it is legal to sell Chinese hamsters in pet shops in the US.
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Old 07-24-2016, 01:43 AM   #10
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Default Re: Considering a Chinese hamster?

Serendipity, I think they're only illegal in certain states but I believe that they are quite hard to find in shops over there (harder than over here!).

Unfortunately as others have said, there's no guarantees that you're going to get a hamster that is happy to sit with you for any real length of time and the syrian hamsters I had many years ago were actually less inclined to sit still on your lap than two of the chinese hamsters I have now and James (my male chinese) has been known to fall asleep snuggled up on my arm whilst I'm watching TV.

With a pet shop hamster, you're less likely to know what you're going to get and even a hamster who appears to be the least lively in a shop can turn out to be a live wire once out of the pet shop environment. Saying that though, the more lively ones can be so facinating to watch as they play and explore and can be really lovely pets once you're accepting the fact that they're not really into cuddles.
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