Greeting hammy fans

DaAdorableOne · 08-01-2014, 04:38 PM

Hello, I'm Robin, though typically online I go by DAO or acushla. Feel free to call me any of those, or make up something else.

I am nearly 30 and have owned hamsters on and off since I was 6 years old. I have had a total of 20 hammys, 19 Syrians and 1 Campbells. I was really young when I first started being a hamster owner and this was in the early 90s (pre-internet) so I made a lot of mistakes. Though in my early 20s I decided that I wanted a hamster again and wanted to do it right this time. I looked around for a hamster breeder and their are none in my state so I decided I was going to start breeding hamsters, not for money cause I had no interest in that, I just wanted there to be a better alternative to pet stores. To make a long story short, I successfully breed 2 litters, all of which I kept but one of the mothers ended up developing a seizure disease, Epilepsy (female Syrian, Mim-mim) and I decided to stop breeding.

My one venture into dwarf hamsters scarred me as my Mr. Marble developed Cushings and didn't respond well to treatment, poor little guy died in my hands, was one of the most horrible pet deaths I have gone through. He just had so much personality and energy and then he was gone.

It's been about 5 years since Marble's death and I have had one Syrian (Carrot, female rescue) since then, decided to leave him with my Ex as my ex was very attached to him. I am at a stage in my life now where I think I want to own another hamster or two. I want to make sure I do it right though so here I am, hoping to educate myself as much as possible.

Skeever · 08-01-2014, 04:46 PM

Welcome. You'll do fine. Clearly you've made a lot of right decisions, good choices and informed judgements since the 90s. What our Hammies call the Dark Ages

My last hammy rescue (?!) in the late nineties was a bit tragic too. I took it in, and didn't even know for sure if it were a hammy. The person who brought it to me was sure it was a rat. That kind of ignorance remains in this neighborhood, alas.....but despite the level of continuing ignorance online and off, its a great tool to get it right these days.

Come to think of it. Every rodent I've had, probably broke three of four rules in the rodent care department. There were no resources, or reliable places to resort to. You know you'll be just fine, if a hammy waddles across your path? go for it.

DaAdorableOne · 08-01-2014, 05:05 PM

Yeah I cringe everytime I think about the mistakes I made. My first hamster wasn't so bad except I was six and I held him too tight so he kept biting me. The next one though was awful cause no one told us that Syrian's couldn't be housed together and my parents got a hamster for my sister and myself. They fought and mine got the worst of it by far.

I can relate to the not knowing if your hamster was a hamster or not. I had one that looked like a Syrian and was housed in the shop with other Syrians but when we got her home she escaped and when we caught her again she turned out to be pregnant. This was months after I got her so she couldn't have been pregnant from the store and I don't think there were wild hamsters in my house, but we did have mice.

The biggest revelation I had was as a teen finding out hamsters were not herbivores. After that revelation I read every hamster book I could find, I went to multiple stores to find hamster books. It helped a lot but there is always room to learn more.

Skeever · 08-01-2014, 05:19 PM

Yup. I mean my first guess was...uh, that's a hamster. No tail. Well, a bloody stump.

So I doubted. What if the evil third world pet shop in that country cut tails off other rodents so they wouldn't be rat like. But it was long hair, but.....I mean, I KNEW it was a ham. What I didn't have a clue about was that it was probably in fights all the time, in some grimy pet mill ....and I had no clue why it bit me in the cage, and was a ball of pacifism outside, or that it needs attention in various ways. Or what the bar chewing meant. Or......

In such cases, the past is the past. Better to err and find what's right than to just continue in error, thinking it's the be and end all truth.

I'm glad I have hammies now of my own volition. They make me study and learn yet one more thing, and I get to see the results. And maybe can change or comment or interfere with ignorant and barbaric practices. At the very least? I can give an animal a chance to live as it was meant to. Comfortable, healthy, 'happy,' and loved.....

Esmy · 08-01-2014, 05:21 PM

Nice to meet you! We all make mistakes. I'm sorry what happened to your girl with seizures. That's unfortunate.

Are you planning on having Syrians again?

DaAdorableOne · 08-01-2014, 05:25 PM

Yeah, I would love a long haired, male Syrian (cause their skirts are adorable) but if I fall in love with a female or short haired then I will go that way. I really do prefer the cuddly quality of Syrians.

Skeever · 08-01-2014, 05:32 PM

Same here. I thought I had a dwarf today! But there was something so recognizably Syrian....people here ID'ed it pretty quick. The way I look at it. I get to have a dwarf before he grows too big to ever be considered a dwarf.

I've never seen such a teeny weeny lil heartbreaker. Him/Her and the litter on sale. I was helpless.....no jury would convict me.

Esmy · 08-01-2014, 05:35 PM

Yeah, it's fun to keep an open mind and see what you fall in love with.

SinNyx · 08-03-2014, 03:15 AM

Welcome to the forum

I think most people on here have made mistakes owning hamsters. I had my first when I was 11, but luckily I was able to find out more information a lot quicker and I now rescue hamsters, with a 'hamster room' full of cages, toys ect.

You will find all of the right information here so never be afraid to ask questions! It would be lovely to see pictures of your hamsters when you do decide to start owning them again