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Old 01-06-2019, 06:55 AM   #1
marthalayla
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Hello everyone. Newbie here. Just checked in. While searching around with the Google about hamster then I found this forum. Then, better I join it so as to gain more knowledge.

Actually I cannot decide between hamster, chinchilla, rat or gerbil. So I just wanna know the hamster behaviour and personalities. Hope I will get more info here and expand my knowledge.

Thanks
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Old 01-08-2019, 08:20 AM   #2
hisnameispip
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Hamsters are wonderful little creatures! That's my recommendation. I have a Syrian hamster and he is very sweet and is my best little friend. If you think you might want to try gerbil, keep in mind that you have to get two because they do not do well on their own. I don't have any experience with rats, so I can't help you on that. As for chinchillas, they are a bit more expensive, not only from the get-go but also to maintain. My cousin used to have one and I know that it was very friendly and loved to just hang out with her around her house. Keep that all in mind and let us know regardless of your decision
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Old 01-08-2019, 08:33 AM   #3
mangoandmimi
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Hello welcome
They’re all quite different really, I really don’t know a lot about chinchillas but I suspect they’re higher maintenance. Rats are too, and also can be a lot more expensive, you’ll need a large vet fund for them from the beginning. I think hamsters and gerbils are definitely the ‘easier’ pets to keep.

Not as much between hamsters and gerbils, I suppose gerbils are very energetic and as mentioned would need to be in a pair. Deep bedding is probably even more important for gerbils so you’d want a tank of some kind. Even within hamsters there are multiple species that are quite different, with Syrians and Russians generally being a little bit easier to interact with than robos and chinese.
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Old 01-08-2019, 09:46 AM   #4
cypher
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Hi & welcome to HC
I have zero experience of keeping any small rodent other than hsms so can't offer much advice or comparison between them, I know little about Chinchillas really, rats & gerbils are both social animals so you would need to do some research into group dynamics, introductions, possible problems with declanning etc.
Hamsters are solitary although some people do keep Robos or Russians in groups all species do best living alone as they are territorial animals.
Most people tend to have either Syrians or Russians as a first hamster as they do tend to be easier to tame & handle than either Robos or Chinese.
You may not be aware just how much space you need for a hamster, a cage between 80x50cm & 100x50 cm depending on species plus enough space for an out of cage play area.
Hamsters bond well with humans & some can be very cuddly too but not all, they are such individuals it's hard to generalise but they are great little characters, & most active in the evening & early mornings so you may want to think about how that fits in with the time you have to give them.
You'll find lots of info here on the forum that should help, maybe if you read some of the hamsters individual threads in the species section it will give you more idea of the kind of pet they are, if you have any questions just ask & someone will try to help.
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Old 01-09-2019, 04:42 AM   #5
Pebbles82
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Hello and welcome - they are all very different kind of pets Chinchillas live for a very long time - 12-20 years, so need a big commitment to care for them throughout their life and also a very very big cage!

Gerbils need a similar sized cage to hamsters although they are good with height and climbing (to a degree) which hamsters aren't. Gerbils do need a tank style with deep bedding though and a particular kind of set up. They are very fast and can live in 2's and 3's. I think they have specific dietary requirements as well so you'd need a species specific food mix. Gerbils shouldn't have wheels. They need deep bedding and tunnels buried in the bedding and a branch or something to climb I believe - they are very much burrowing pets. They can jump quite high and be fast so not sure how easy to handle, but they are awake during the day.

Rats also need very large cages - taller cages and at least 80cm x 50 or 100cm x 50 floor space - they can also live in groups and in fact must have company in their cage or they get depressed. I have not owned rats but they are supposed to be very affectionate pets. They are prone to respiratory diseases - chest problems. Their cages are probably easier to set up than hamsters as they can cope with height and like hammocks, whereas hamsters chew things and material is best avoided. I am not sure how much waking time rats have - maybe google it.

Hamsters - there are a few species. The most commonly known pet is the larger Syrian hamster - they are good for children or a first time owner, as once tamed they tend to be more holdable for a new owner. Their personalities vary considerably - some are more lazy and do their own thing - some are maverick and highly active and always wanting to be out. Their waking times are usually between 5pm and 5am although they do have naps during the evening and night sometimes. They can be a very easy pet if you're working and you can spend time with them in the evenings or have breakfast with them

Because their most active time is at night, they do need a good sized cage with plenty of enrichment and activity. They also need out of cage time regularly. Once hand tame they can really bond with an owner. They need at least a 75 x 45 or 80x 50cm cage and the sweet spot, in my opinion, is a 100cm by 50cm cage which gives a lot of scope for enrichment and filling with toys and a large wheel etc. Although for some syrians no cage will be big enough! And some people make large diy cages. It isn't just the size of cage though, it is the way it is set up and the amount of enrichment and the amount of out of cage time. But as a general rule I wouldn't go smaller than an 80 x 50 cage for a Syrian.

Syrian hamsters must ALWAYS live ALONE! This is crucial - they will fight to the death and they need a solitary lifestyle. However they need a human friend and will bond with you.

Dwarf hamsters come in 4 (5?) species. The russian dwarf hamsters are two species plus hybrids of both species. Winter Whites and Campbells. Just about all dwarf hamsters sold in pet shops will be hybrids of those two species - they may look like a Winter White or look like a Campbells, but genetically will be a mix of both. The hybrids make lovely pets but can be prone to diabetes and generally may have a slightly shortened life (but not necessarily). They need a specific diet to help avoid diabetes, usually sugar free. You can get pure bred Winter Whites and Campbells from breeders but there is usually a waiting list. Dwarf hamsters are still very active and need a good sized cage - about the same size as a syrian cage - although their personalities vary and some are more shy and retiring - best thing is to start with a good sized cage and then see if they need more space/upgrading. Their toys, wheels and houses are smaller than syrians so you can fit more in a cage. They have a reputation for being harder to tame and handle (although most experienced dwarf hamster owners on here would disagree!).

Dwarf hamsters can be kept in pairs or groups - if they are siblings from the same litter and have always lived together - but this is not recommended unless you are an experienced owner and it is better to just have one to begin with. Pairs and groups invariably need separating when fighting breaks out (and they will fight to the death) and then they need a cage each. A cage set up for a pair or dwarf is also a bit complicated and limiting - to avoid territorial behaviours leading to fall outs.

The smallest breed is the Roborovski dwarf hamster - these are tiny - about the size of your thumb - very fast, cute and entertaining. They are known more as watching pets than handling pets, but they can be tamed (with a lot of patience!).

They can also live singly or in sibling pairs/groups - but see above -the same applies - not recommended except for experienced owners.

A single dwarf hamster will be fine living alone and will also bond with their owner.

Despite being the smallest species, roborovski's are very very active and may need more space than some syrian hamsters - but again it depends on their personality - some of their personality is genetic, some is formed by their experiences before you get them - so some hamsters may be more nervous or hide away more if they have had rough handling in the past. So some Robos will be highly entertaining and active - some may be more shy. But at night they still need plenty of space to roam around, dig etc. So I wouldn't put a robo in anything smaller than an 80 x 50cm cage personally - or a 75 x 45cm tank. Our robo is in an 80 x 50 cage and it's fine but I would have preferred to give him a 100cm cage with a lot more stuff in the cage and more variety of things to do and places to go!

Hamsters live generally between about 18 months and 3 years - it's unusual for them to live longer than that. The average for a syrian hamster is probably about 2 years. Our last syrian lived to 2 years 8 months. Roborovski hamsters can live a bit longer and average about 3 years I think.

Then there is the Chinese Dwarf hamster which has a little tail - these are quite hard to find - cage set ups etc similar to other hamsters.

I believe the average life of rats is about the same - 2 to 3 years. Gerbils a bit longer - 3 to 4 years (unless they escape or have an accident!).

Hope that helps.

Obviously, on here, we all love Hamsters! Although some members have other pets as well. Personally Hamsters are my favourite pets - I'm allergic to cats and dogs. And I have got to know how fascinating hamsters are. They are a bit pernickety sometimes but they do communicate and have a range of expressions (from love to black looks) and can be funny and make you laugh. They have the softest fur and although they may not sit still for a stroke for very long, they are very therapeutic to stroke. They get to know your voice and smell and make it very clear if they're not happy about something. Their raison D'etre is foraging and nesting - foraging for food and bedding, and making a big cosy nest with a hoard under it and snacking in bed.

They are quite clever and clean little things, but will also do stupid things - like climb too high (they can't get down easily) then drop and they can get injured - so tall cages aren't good. And they will try eating or chewing just about anything so materials in their cage need to be safe - and they shouldn't be allowed near chocolate or apple pips. There are hamster safe chocolate drops but I prefer healthy treats like pumpkin seeds

Hamsters can give you the most adorable looks that melt your heart and be very very cute and sweet - it is very easy to fall in love with them.

Last edited by Pebbles82; 01-09-2019 at 04:51 AM.
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Old 01-09-2019, 11:44 AM   #6
winterespets
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Welcome!
Personally, as someone who was thinking about a chinchilla and decided against, you'll have to do a ton of research to decide if they're for you.

They live 15-20 years. The cage minimum for them is 5 foot in height, 3 feet in length and 2 feet in width (size of a double critter-nation, which can be expensive). You must have 2 unless it is stated that one doesn't get along with other chinchillas!

They need specific temperature and humidity requirements. Temperature cannot go over 70 degrees F (inside) and humidity can't exceed 50% inside.

Food is fairly simple, oxbow pellets for chinchillas and 24/7 timothy hay. No fruits or vegetables as they are very sensitive to sugar. Treats can be given 1-2 times weekly. They love rose hips!

I've heard varying amounts on out of cage time. Some recommend no more than 30 minutes because they are prone to overheating, but I've heard some owners say 3-4 hours a night as long as they have places to cool down, like granite tiles. They will eat baseboards, drywall, and cords, so you must keep the chinchilla away from those. They also jump and are very fast, so a tall playpen is needed. If they are under 6 months, they cannot have any out of cage playtime, since they need every calorie for growing. It's also not recommended to have wooden shelves super high up for young ones either, since they are still figuring out how to jump and balance.

Grooming requires dust (not sand, dust), so if you have breathing issues I would not recommend. They cannot get wet. At all.

They also need wheels, 15 inches to 16 inches, anything less will bend their back. It must be metal. The best wheel on the market is the Chin spinner, and on exoticnutrition . com they are $100 USD.

They also need wood jumping shelves in their cage, as they need to jump from panel to panel. These are on etsy for fairly cheap. They need fleece bedding, paper bedding can be eaten and leads to blockages. Any loose bedding isn't recommended. On the bright side, if you buy a double critternation many people on etsy sell liners for those. They cannot have any plastic in their cage! No plastic huts, no plastic toys. It must be wood, or if it's plastic shelves the shelves can be covered by fleece.

They also don't do well with loud noises or a changing enviroment. I would also recommend owning your house, not renting, because their damage level is way up there. They have also been known to hold a grudge, some for literal months on end!

I cannot give advice on the care of rats/gerbils/ other rodents, I just happened to do some research on chinchillas! I would recommend hamsters as a shorter, less difficult commitment if you're new to rodents in general!

Welcome to the forum!
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Old 02-10-2019, 12:58 AM   #7
marthalayla
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Hi sorry for the late to reply. Thank you everyone, for the details answer and explanation. Especially from Serendipity7000 and winterespets. I really appreciate it and I need to study this very carefully. I also have a cat at home now, but she more likes to stay outdoor.
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Old 02-10-2019, 04:23 AM   #8
mikatelyn
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Hi, just thought I'd throw this in:
Years ago I took care of a friend's rat for a couple of months. As I recall, there were no issues with needing to tame the rat. It was immediately affectionate from the store, and whenever I would come home it would jump on the side of the cage wanting to come out. However, the biggest drawback for me was that the rat peed everywhere! It would just leave little drops of pee every few minutes. I was constantly getting pee on me and everywhere it ran. I later looked it up, and i don't think it was just an incontinent rat. This appears to be the norm.
I'm a pretty new hamster owner, but I have already noticed my hamster does NOT do this. However, I've had to put a lot more time and effort into taming the hamster (I have a syrian), but I find the little guy to be so much more interesting to watch and interact with than I did the rat despite this (or maybe because of it?) My hamster just has so much more personality, and its own ideas on what it wants to do and how it wants to use things. Hope that helps.
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Old 02-24-2019, 04:22 PM   #9
marthalayla
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What a good story mikatelyn. Kind of weird that rat pee everywhere. I think after a week did some casual reading and research, my heart goes to hamster
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