Your ideal number of hamsters?

Vierville · 01-09-2020, 03:17 AM

Hello. I was wondering what everybody thinks the ideal number of hamsters to have at one time is?

I seem to 'collect' hamsters, having started with just one and then rescuing a further four over time.

I currently have four little ones and I absolutely adore them and manage fine with finding time to care for them and play with them etc (though not sticking to a set routine which would be preferable) but I definitely think that if I were to have any more than four it would be difficult to give them the care and attention they need and deserve.

Obviously everybody has a different situation with some people having lots of time free to tend to their hamsters and others having busy and demanding work or family lives. My job as an airline pilot requires me to be away quite often or to get up very early or come home very late which makes having a routine with my little hamster friends very difficult but the up side is that I'm often up in the middle of the night and get to see them when they are out and about.

How many do you think the ideal number is? It would be interesting to see what everybody says.

LunaTheHamster1 · 01-09-2020, 03:42 AM

I started with one, then had two, now back to one. I have a chronic illness so my absolute limit is 2 hamsters and so I think it depends on everyones personal circumstances. Personally, I also think that each hamster deserves to have quality time spent with it, so I am sorry if I offend anyone, but when people have loads of hamsters I personally do not understand how they get quality time spent with them. For example, when Luna was young she could be out of her cage for a couple of hours each night, if I had multiple hamsters there is no way I could do that for each of my hamsters. I also wouldn't have the room to do that, safely, with each hamster. I do realise it also depends on the hamsters, older hamsters may need less free roaming time, some hamster may not want to free roam.. so all of these are different factors to take into account.

I want to iterate this is my own personal feelings and appreciate that other people will not agree. Not meant to offend anyone with loads of hamsters.

Vierville · 01-09-2020, 04:41 AM

Hi LunaTheHamster1, absolutely no offence taken at all as I completely agree with you.

Hamsters definitely deserve quality time with their owners and I agree that for most people this just wouldn't be possible if one has a large number of hamsters. Our absolute limit is four for this reason as well as for space as ours all have quite large cages.

Each of our little ones usually gets about an hour out of the cage to play with us and be handled and explore on the couch or bed every second night , but we alternate this with time in the running ball or playpen on nights when we don't handle them.

I find that by about 45minutes, they start showing signs of having had enough running around.

I usually only need four or five hours of sleep if I'm not working the next day so often get the little ones out late at night to play or for a snuggle.

Our one little one, Nanuk, has been on chronic medication since we got her so I tend to spend a lot of time with him as he needs to be given his medicine twice a day and I try to make it not such a bad experience for him by playing with him a bit each time and giving him treats and a but of a run around each time.

We definitely could not have more than four however.

Ithuviel · 01-09-2020, 06:26 AM

I have 2 right now but who knows. maybe i'll get more.

Fluffagrams · 01-09-2020, 07:03 AM

I think the answer to the question of ‘how many is too many’ depends on the individual and their circumstances. Some people may feel that one or two is enough and others may feel that they are able to accommodate more.

I currently have 16 which wasn’t a planned number but five rescues bumped my numbers up and in a normal situation, I’d limit my numbers at around 12 because to provide food, caging, toys and vet care to 16 hamsters is expensive and they do take up a fair bit of time out of my day.

Ria P · 01-09-2020, 08:46 AM

I can't vote because there is no definite answer.

A lot depends on factors like time, space and money available and even more so on the individual hamster's personality and needs and the human's as well.

AmityvilleHams · 01-09-2020, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ria P

I can't vote because there is no definite answer.

A lot depends on factors like time, space and money available and even more so on the individual hamster's personality and needs and the human's as well.

I agree completely. There's no way to predict changes in circumstance in some cases either, so the right number for someone can always change later on for example moving, getting a job with better pay, or even something as simple as rearranging furniture if applicable where your hamsters are kept since this can limit space for cages.

Vierville · 01-09-2020, 10:51 AM

RiaP and Amityvillehams, you make very good points. I should have rephrased the title to be "How many hamsters is your ideal number"

Pebbles82 · 01-09-2020, 10:55 AM

I think the question is what would everyone’s ideal number of hamsters be. For me I think it would be three or four (I voted 4). It’s nice having the different personalities and coming out at different times. I wouldn’t want to keep more than that as I’d be pushed to give them enough attention. I actually have two and OH says no more than two. I did think about getting a pair and separating them so I managed to accidentally have 3

.

Currently have two Syrians - which is lovely - different ages and different personalities. It was nice having two different species though. We had a Robo and a Syrian before.

I think people who take in rescues and end up with quite a lot are doing right though. Better to have a good home and owner even if they don’t get quite so much individual time. I know some people take in rescues just as a foster situation until they can find an owner who can give plenty of attention.

Someone used to be on here who had a rescue and her posts showed how quickly the hamsters visibly were happier just being given a good cage set up. It’s a great thing to do, giving them a nice home and care.

Ria P · 01-09-2020, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vierville

RiaP and Amityvillehams, you make very good points. I should have rephrased the title to be "How many hamsters is your ideal number"

There is no such thing as an ideal number. Ones ideal number soon goes out the window when faced with a tiny, thirsty thing of a hamster sitting in an empty water bowl in a pet shop........right?