Ive Been Offered A Syrian!!!

[TraceyH]

Get him, they're too cute.

[souffle]

I'll go against the grain here and say you should not take him. If he had been the hamster for you you would not have asked here at all and just taken him. There are too many cons in your list and having worked so hard and planned for your future I don't think you should not give up those plans.
This is a family member and your family are not going to let the hamster suffer becouse your cousin has no job surely? I'd give her the larger bin cage which she may be able to attach to the wire cage giving a good space and maybe offer a little help with care and then she can keep him with some holidays with you when needed. If that is not suitable then help her find a good home for him where he will get individual attention.
Live with your dream and do what you want I'd say.

[KatiePillow]

I think you should take him, but only if you wouldn't resent him (not properly, just.. over the course of time, regret adopting him) for losing out on breeding the robos.

I think that your life might change a lot over the next few years (/year) and that breeding could wait until you possibly owned/lived in a rented house which allowed it. And basically, although it's still a hamster, breeding could possibly limit your mobility more. (when I said this I meant, depending on what you want to be when you're finished at college, depends on whether you might have to move etc)

So I'm saying yes, but because the delay in breeding plans could be beneficial, and you'll be helping this little man out.

[racinghamster]

Erin, I watched your video the other day on clipping a hamsters nails and I was very impressed by the way you handled it. Very gentle and very professional. Robos seem to be where your heart lies and normally I would say stick to what you know and love. However, reading the situation, this syrian seems to be looking for a second chance through no fault of his own and if you took him on, he would be guaranteed a knowledgable and loving home. I have a male syrian (golden) and although people say syrians are `hard work`....I can tell you now that my Boris is the biggest woos you`ll ever meet! He doesn`t crave attention, loves to sleep all day and is as much work as any other hamster would be. I suppose it depends on how demanding he is and whether he`s used to a playtime routine. Hamsters are what you make them really. Some are more hyper than others!

My preference is for Chinese hamsters and I have one, but didn`t intend to have a syrian aswell and didn`t want one if I`m honest. But I stepped in this summer when my nephew couldn`t keep Boris and I had all sorts of things running through my head....lack of cage space, more work, might be a biter and I won`t be able to tame him etc....

I took Boris on regardless of my worries and although I wouldn`t have another syrian in the future, I`m glad I decided to give Boris a safe haven for the rest of his life, knowing he will be in safe hands with me. He may have ended up as some kids plaything otherwise and I wasn`t prepared to risk that.

I would say if you have more con`s than pro`s....then don`t take him. If you have more pro`s than con`s, then go for it. Syrians are their own individuals sometimes and I often wish Boris was awake more often, which is probably one of the negitives for me because if I wake him up he`s not most pleased and it would probably be the only way I could have more interaction with him, yet I don`t want a grumpy hamster, so I tend to let him dictate what he wants, rather than what I want!

The other option is adopt him until someone on here could rehome him, should you decide that you need to step in, but maybe don`t want to keep him indefinately. That way your plans for your robo breeding would be open to you again.

[Erin Loves Dwarf Hamsters]

Katie, this is the reason I was questioning myself on breeding this year A few things have made me have to step back and rethink, one reason is that I am going to have a really difficult time getting my breeding hams as I have no car and the breeders are quite far away. The other worry I had was that I have my A-level exams this year and breeding requires a lot of attention. Having a litter means have 2-8 pups to look after as well as the parents and my current 7! I know I have been planning for a year to do this now but maybe its better to wait another few years and enjoy my current colony of robos rather than adding more and like you said waiting until I have more room than this 6ftx6ft box we live in

I know I have the time and space for a Syrian especially if its one in need but being asked to look after it has almost made me realise I have been looking for a reason to postpone breeding for some time now. I mean I rescued Trevor thinking "Never mind, Id rather rescue a hamster than bring more into the world" ... Yeah actually thats exactly how I feel right now, I would rather rescue this one than create a whole gang needing their own new homes, I might be putting of my dream but there is plenty of time for it. This hamster may only have a few more years left and I dont want it spending them in a tiny cage or with some other family that wont know how to care for it.

One girl pep rally over... Right, Ive decided! Im getting the Syrian!!!

[Lougarry]

Hurray! I don't think they are hard work at all. I'm so pleased xx

[HorseyHolly]

Yay! Great decision I'mn sure you'll love him and he'll be glad to have a fab new home

[LocoRocoPanda]

Yay! You know you can always PM me or MSN me if you need help Can't wait to 'meet' the guy. And if he's a mink...All the better! Minks are beautiful.

[KatiePillow]

Originally Posted by Erin Loves Dwarf Hamsters

Katie, this is the reason I was questioning myself on breeding this year A few things have made me have to step back and rethink, one reason is that I am going to have a really difficult time getting my breeding hams as I have no car and the breeders are quite far away. The other worry I had was that I have my A-level exams this year and breeding requires a lot of attention. Having a litter means have 2-8 pups to look after as well as the parents and my current 7! I know I have been planning for a year to do this now but maybe its better to wait another few years and enjoy my current colony of robos rather than adding more and like you said waiting until I have more room than this 6ftx6ft box we live in

I know I have the time and space for a Syrian especially if its one in need but being asked to look after it has almost made me realise I have been looking for a reason to postpone breeding for some time now. I mean I rescued Trevor thinking "Never mind, Id rather rescue a hamster than bring more into the world" ... Yeah actually thats exactly how I feel right now, I would rather rescue this one than create a whole gang needing their own new homes, I might be putting of my dream but there is plenty of time for it. This hamster may only have a few more years left and I dont want it spending them in a tiny cage or with some other family that wont know how to care for it.

One girl pep rally over... Right, Ive decided! Im getting the Syrian!!!

That's really really mature (I know that sounds condescending as you might be older than me/same age) but I mean, that's what a breeder needs to be able to do.

I'm sure that syrian will be really happy with you, ^.^ and it's nice to have a new species

[CoolcatNatNat44]

aww congrats! XD