A Little Bear

[Queen Of The High Teas]

I never thought she was actually thin, as my Chinesey's have all been long and flat, and I assumed that's how they are. My current one, Willow is so flat I swear you could post her in an envelope! And a Harrods food bowl? Very posh - all your other hammies would be so jealous if they knew

[Vectis Hamstery]

Siwan's mum used to take photos of her in a little metal bucket. Siwan wasn't aware that the bucket had snuck into her luggage when she moved here. I don't think she was impressed when she found out, either!

"I'm not talking to you."

"How do you expect me to get comfy in a bucket?"

"Ahhh, a nice warm hand to snuggle on. That's better."

[Sterluv]

Aww, she's such a little cutie! It's a shame Chinese hamsters are illegal in California

[The Hamster's family]

Originally Posted by Sterluv

Aww, she's such a little cutie! It's a shame Chinese hamsters are illegal in California

How come they are illegal ???

[alanjamesblair]

I'm not sure either, The Hamster's Family. But from my dealings in aquatics, I know that the pet trade creates a space for some unscrupulous characters. I imagine it might have to do with the kind of exploitation involved in getting a Chinese to California. I want to imagine it's that anyway.

[Vectis Hamstery]

There was an article about this in the California Hamster Association newsletter (Chinese). In USA, only dwarf hamsters of the Phodopus genus seem to be classed as 'dwarf hamsters'.

[alanjamesblair]

Vectis, that is a really good link in that it tells us "What" (i.e. what is not allowed in California), but it does not seem to tell us why (why that species is not allowed in California).

[Vectis Hamstery]

I thought it was to do with preventing invasive species (such as the pythons in the marshland in, i believe, Florida) and the fact that it wasn't included in the legislation as an allowed species. Whenever I've asked why on American forums, I usually get a "because it's not allowed", and since I am unlikely to be wanting to take my little ones to America I haven't really looked into it further! Perhaps you could contact the article's author via the CHA or the government department mentioned if you want further clarification.

[alanjamesblair]

Vectis,

I completely understand this. I am often frustrated by the American (North American, particularly USAian) reluctance to specify why certain species are off-limits. Brachypelma smithi, for example, is a controlled species that I often see in the pet shops. I even saw a Macaque in a pet store in Gallopolis, OH once! Completely illegal. Completely unregulated. This is the same state in which an exotic animal owner who took his own life after releasing a number of his charges precipitated the collision of an american automobile with an African lion. My point is that the laws are murky at best, yes.

If contacted, those agencies are equally murky however.

I assume it has something to do with the progressive laws in California and although I've quite fallen in love with the Chinese that others have posted (including Vectis) I honor and follow those recommendations, even here in Oklahoma.