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Old 06-24-2019, 03:07 AM   #1
Schwartzie
Adult Hamster
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 385
Default Realistic shopping

The skill of patience has never been my strong point and waiting for my order to arrive is agony! In order to not climb the walls I am now onto researching choosing a healthy looking Syrian. I’m leaving taming and training to the three days I give my hamster to settle in so will do reading up about that then.

I’ve researched and gone through information on looking for bright, clear eyes, nose that is not clumped with anything, bum that is clear etc. I’ve read about looking at the lay of the coat etc...it’s pretty much the same as looking a horse - the rule of thumb applies for both animals.

I am a little nervous though...I’ve read that you should look to see if the hamster is lively and showing signs of being active.

How is this possible in reality? You enter the pet shop excited and go straight for the hamster section. You’re moving fast and stop in front of the glass. The layout of the pet shop I’m going to has glass areas where you can’t look in from above - the glass areas are built into the wall and the only access to the area is from the other side which is strictly staff only. You have to also go down onto your haunches which takes skill when the country you are an expat in stipulates abayas to be worn in public. You are faced with a vacant glass area accept for a meager amount of shavings on the floor and huddles of hamsters trying to get away from the glaring light. It’s obvious that they are left in the open for prospective owners to see but how are you supposed to tick off the boxes of a healthy animal if they are in clumps or sleeping? It’s very difficult especially when your calves are burning and your glutes are screaming because you’re on your haunches and it’s so difficult to gage which hamster is the one for you.

You have to see the comical side to it amidst the fact that you would love to take them all home just to save them from the glass area and bright lights. Any advice to take with me when Im in the moment. I went to the pet shop once to buy a parrot and I dropped the ball terribly and came home with a bird with beak and wing disease. The poor thing passed away after months of me taking it to the vet twice a week to be nebulised. It was very traumatic! I don’t want to get caught up in the moment and make a choice where all common sense left the building because I got overwhelmed. Lol!
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Old 06-24-2019, 03:22 AM   #2
Rads
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Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Peterborough UK
Posts: 2,046
Default Re: Realistic shopping

It's all right researching, but go with your gut, how do you feel about a particular hamster does it look interested in you is it curious about you as opposed to shying away that is my rule of thumb oh and it's general health too.
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Old 06-24-2019, 04:46 AM   #3
Ria P
House of Hamsters
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 7,103
Default Re: Realistic shopping

Yes, i agree with Rads. I wanted a male Syrian hamster and bought the one first in the queue trying to get out of the shared glass tank. The shop guy was very good and handled and inspected the little hamster. We both ended up sitting on the shop floor so the hamster could walk from the guy's knees onto mine and i was able to let hamster walk on my hands to have a good look at him and being grey he looked a bit ratty which appealed to me. Once Henry was on my hands there was no way i could have put him back and chosen another over the one that was so desperate to go to a new home. I'm feeling all emotional now, silly old me.
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Old 06-24-2019, 06:12 AM   #4
Grace6446
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 16
Default Re: Realistic shopping

I would also say that if you’re interested in purchasing one, the employees may be able to help you see an animal in more detail - just ask and they may be able to open the cage up for you!
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Old 06-24-2019, 10:08 AM   #5
Schwartzie
Adult Hamster
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 385
Default Re: Realistic shopping

Thanks everyone. English is limited but will ask to be allowed to go through the back door so I can get onto the other side of the glass areas on the other side of the wall. The people helping can’t really speak English so if they won’t let me go around I will try ask them to try move the hamsters to wake them so I can see them better. Customer friendliness and help isn’t on the top of the list. It makes shopping for anything quite a challenge but if I have to ask them to transfer the hamsters into a small cage and bring them into the shop side where the customers are allowed to go will do that.
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