Dwarf hamster wanted - Page 2

**Silver** · 07-12-2012, 05:40 AM

I agree with that

Silver xxx

**kyrilliondaemon** · 07-12-2012, 05:42 AM

Julie, feel free to get a single one. Ren seems to get their advice from somewhere that is completely and utterly incorrect about the hamsters in the UK, US and most of the other countries I know of. Unfortunately dwarf pairs need to have a lot of thought behind the purchase and if you only want one its probably the right call for both you and that dwarf.

It may well be that there're different genetics in the hamsters in each country. But those in both the UK and US do not follow the ideas Ren has said. They are likely to fall out and ultimately luck is required in most situations. Sometimes you get lucky, a lot of the time you won't.
We also have three lone roborovskis and two chose for it to be that way. All three are very, very happy.

Gumtree and preloved are pretty good for adoptions, or there are hamster shows sometimes too

Call me Alison · 07-12-2012, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ren

Chinese are different and it is advised to house them alone.

i know that now!!

i saw quite a few ladies on you tube who had pairs of Chinese and it had been successful, i stupidly thought it might work and unfortunately didn't.

they are very happy hamsters living alone xx

Lougarry · 07-12-2012, 06:19 AM

Like Sam (kyrilliondaemon) said, Gumtree and Preloved are good sources for unwanted hamsters needing a home, and plenty of single dwarfs come up that have had to be separated from a sibling. I would also try your local RSPCA rehoming centre - my local one always has lots of rodents, pets4homes.co.uk and other local shelters (Google will often find these). I'm happy to look on your behalf if you give me a rough idea where you are, as I'm a bit addicted to these sites!

Ren · 07-12-2012, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyrilliondaemon

Julie, feel free to get a single one. Ren seems to get their advice from somewhere that is completely and utterly incorrect about the hamsters in the UK, US and most of the other countries I know of.

That is completely rude and uncalled for. I was putting up a different opinion (and politely, I wasn't being rude at all, just giving advice that isn't incorrect just different) from what seems to be swamping these forums because it is a biased view. The majority of dwarf hamsters (excluding chinese) ARE happier together. I will provide you with links now to show that I do know what I'm talking about. Obviously if you adopt a hamster that has already been living alone, it is better that the hamster stays alone. But from the beginning you should aim to have at least 2.

The dwarf hamsters that I had together were in the US as well.

You can translate it since it is Swedish.

Dvärghamstrar i grupp - Beteende och grupphållning - Dvärghamster iFokus (You can even go through these forums and see just how many hamsters live comfortably and happily together)

http://www.sjv.se/download/18.26424b...FS_2005-08.pdf

Hamster fakta! | Coconut's Hamsteruppfödning

**kyrilliondaemon** · 07-12-2012, 07:17 AM

I'm sorry but you've sat there and argued against the advice of experienced members quite a few times. A different opinion is fine but realistically loads of us own dwarf hamsters who are happier alone and loads have separated their hamsters to have them that way.
Silvers figures were accurate.

And what about those litters with odd numbers of hamsters then? Trios are notorious for being absolute nightmares but you can't get all pairs from a litter of five can you?

I know some hamster pairs are happy together, but everyone I've spoken to in the UK has found that dwarf hamsters are likely to fall out - especially during puberty.
I'm sorry, but to me walking into this thread and telling someone they were wrong to get a single hamster was a lot worse than anything I've said.

Lougarry · 07-12-2012, 07:18 AM

I think it's fine to get a single dwarf too, especially in the case of a rescue who's already been living alone for some time.

Swagdemort · 07-12-2012, 07:36 AM

I agree with Sam. When I got my last Dwarf, Pudgy, he was clearly sad with all of his cage mates at the Pet Store. A few days after he came home with me, he was a really happy hamster, even if he was a single dwarf. Then again, I do have a pair right now, and they are doing extremely well and are nothing like Pudgy, so I think that it really just depends on the hamsters personality, whether they thrive with company or not.

**kyrilliondaemon** · 07-12-2012, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swagdemort

I agree with Sam. When I got my last Dwarf, Pudgy, he was clearly sad with all of his cage mates at the Pet Store. A few days after he came home with me, he was a really happy hamster, even if he was a single dwarf. Then again, I do have a pair right now, and they are doing extremely well and are nothing like Pudgy, so I think that it really just depends on the hamsters personality, whether they thrive with company or not.

Exactly. I've never seen a hamster who is happier than our Skip, I honestly don't think anyone could be. He's alone though, was before we got him and has always been the happiest hamster I've ever met. I can't imagine how a hamster could be happier.
On the other hand Whizz was depressed alone so we introduced Muffin to her. They fell out, then during the reintroduction Whizz attacked Muffin on sight and they've both been happy alone since.
Our hybrids do love the company but if we didn't have the space to keep them if they all needed to live alone we'd never have got them. We know we're lucky they're happy as pairs anyway.

So many people own lone, but happy dwarf hams. And as I've said, loads of us have had to separate dwarf hams too. I just don't feel that people should get a pair unless they're sure its what they want. The OP seemed sure that she wanted a single dwarf and that alone means that I really think a single dwarf will be best for her.

Ren · 07-12-2012, 08:02 AM

I never said that they can't live alone. I said it's best if they are in pairs or groups. But it is possible that there is a hamster that needs to be alone or is happier alone. I don't think the majority of hamsters are this way and while you guys have your own experience I know a lot of people that are breeders and very experienced with dwarf hamsters that support what I'm saying as well. What I'm trying to show is that it is very possible to have more than one dwarf hamster. (But where are the statistics that show that only a quarter of hamsters are happy together? I haven't found this anywhere.)

I've sat here and "argued" (stating what I think, I haven't been arguing at all) against the advice of experienced owners(adding my opinion, not actively against, since I do believe that there are occasions where the hamsters should be housed alone) on this site because there are other people just as experienced with different advice. I'm not a bad guy and I'm not being rude. I was very nicely expressing my, and many, many other dwarf hamster owners and breeders, opinion. There's no need to attack me. People deserve to have as much information as possible.

After all, it's illegal in Sweden to house dwarf hamsters alone for a reason. (This excludes Chinese hamsters and those that have been tried with another Dwarf and did not get along or were unhappy. So obviously there are hamsters that must live alone as well.)

I really didn't mean to upset anyone.