Silky hamsters

CalebsMom · 03-05-2016, 01:14 PM

Can anyone tell me what a silky hamster is? My son and I were at a pet shop today and saw what I thought was a long haired Syrian. But the store owner told me it was a silky hamster. I asked if he meant Satin but he said no it was a silky. So I bought it and brought it home. The "silky," now named Skittles is acclimating to his much bigger cage and his new wheel and toys. He is creamy tan colored with a band of white around his middle. I hope to post a picture later. I haven't wanted to bother him to take his pic yet.

Nancy's Hamsters · 03-05-2016, 01:39 PM

LOL welcome to the world of Gimmick names to jack up the standard price tag of a Syrian hamster. From the funny names seen at the store with the bouncing red ball in it's sign I have seen "Honey Bears" Most were just satin coated Creams, They had Silky Bears and all I saw were Satin Long haired hamsters. The satin gene DOES cause a softer silky like texture on a long hair, but in the end it is just a LH Syrian.

CalebsMom · 03-05-2016, 01:52 PM

So Skittles is a satin long haired Syrian

. There were all sorts of names on the tanks of hamsters. Panda and teddy bear for example. The males and females were housed together. Nothing in the tanks except food and water and tiny tiny houses. I felt bad for skittles because he was already full grown and nobody seemed to want him. so he was a mercy buy. But he is handsome.

pinkneon · 03-05-2016, 02:02 PM

Aww CalebsMom I am looking forward to seeing more about him! I once went to buy a hamster, and was planning on getting a baby, but a beautiful girl caught my eye. She was around 5 months old, and housed away from the babies, so at first I'd thought she was the only hamster in the whole place! But she tugged at my heartstrings, and then when I told the shop lady I wanted her, she breathed a sigh of relief and said that had she been there a week or so more they'd have put her to sleep for "being too old"! Nobody had wanted her before because she was "naughty"! She also cost less than the babies, which wasn't an issue for me, but I'd have thought that would have made some people buy her over a baby! Anyway she lived until about the age of 2. It was when I was younger (obviously I had an adult with me lol) and we had this horrible old rusty cage with a couple of levels which were all wire, and the smallest wheel back then. But I was glad I got her as she was already quite tame and my previous hamster had bitten me at least once a day for the whole of his life!

CalebsMom · 03-05-2016, 02:14 PM

When we left the little pet store we took skittles home to his new digs. Then Caleb talked me into going to petco. We left petco with a 10 week old black long haired Syrian. Named him Indigo. "Indy" for his nickname. So our home is now shared with 3 hamsters, all in separate cages of course. We reached our max as we have enough money and time but only 3 cages. I confess we're addicted.

pinkneon · 03-05-2016, 03:42 PM

Welcome to the land of hamsters

Elliiy · 03-05-2016, 04:45 PM

aww thats quite sweet hope to see photos of your new family members