Thinking about getting a Chinese hamster.

[Animal_Lover]

So I posted in the Welcome thread, also mentioning that I had a previous hamster, a Syrian named Chip that had to be put down last Friday night.

The thing is, I'm find it really hard being without a bundle of fluff, do you guys think it is too soon to get another hamster?

I had also been thinking about Chinese hamsters for a short while, I thought I would love to have one at some point in the future, but I didn't realise how soon though.

A question about this breed: What are the temperaments between a boy and a girl Chinese hamster?

Is it possible to keep two of these in an Imac Fantasy cage at all?
I'd love to keep two of them, but will shell see.

What about having a Duna Fun or a Mini Duna for one Chinese Hamster?

I'm still trying to learn about this type of hamster, so if you have any advice, hints and tips, that would be great

[Colby and the Dwarfs]

I've never had a Chinese; it's the one species I haven't had actually!

It's not too soon to get another. The one thing a passed hamster can leave behind is the love and care he got from his owner to another deserving ham.

Usually in all animals, including hamsters, males are calmer, and more likely to snuggle. Females are on the go, and love to play. There are exceptions though! My female Campbell's, Phoenix, is such a snuggle bug!

[ashleynchl]

I saw these types of hamsters for the first time when I went to pick out my Syrian a little over a week ago. All of the hamsters at the store I bought from were very well tempered and were used to being loved on because the workers were constantly interacting with them. I figured the little Chinese hamsters would be timid, but not these. They loved being held. Unfortunately, I don't know much about them, but they do seem to be really sweet and are obviously really cute!

[Esmy]

Chinese hamsters are very timid and take a long time to trust. Their behavior in a pet store is not the same as what you'll see at home. They have no place to truly escape from you at the store. Beanie was crawling all over me at the store but when I got him home, all he wanted to do was hide. 2 months later I am picking him up and he'll take sunflower seeds from me but still prefers to hide. He has never tried to bite though. They take time and patience.

[kyrilliondaemon]

One thing to know about chinese hams is that they're by far the most likely to fall out of the dwarf species, many people regard them as solitary now and to be honest I can't say I'm disappointed that our three were single when we got them.

We have a female and two males and all three are fairly similar in temprament, nervous but tame enough for handling and lately the female has realised we're a great source of treats if she asks for them so she's smart enough to be taking advantage lol

[Skeever]

I just read today that the Chinese are actually more prone to slowness and cuddling than other dwarfs. Don't know if that's true.

I do know from personal experience that it's 'never too soon' to replace an animal that passed away. If you are a conscientious pet owner, it's not like you will do a hamster on the 'rebound' and then just use them to get over the pain of a relationship? It's a hamster. Which means the ground rules are kinda laid out. No games, feed me, take care of me , love me...and I will do what I do as a hamster, which is generally? reciprocation.

Like others said...its simply making room for another deserving critter who would probably NOT prefer to stay in a tank in a pet shop? Go with your feelings......IMO, it's never too soon really.........

cheers

[GhostsInSnow]

Definitely go for a Chinese if you've looked into it and think they might be right for you. My Chinesey hammy Willow has been a cuddler from day one. When I got her home she fell asleep on my hand and since then she loves to snuggle into my neck every evening whilst I watch tv or use my laptop. I personally think they're right up there with Syrians as a good first hammie

[racinghamster]

Hello and welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear about your recent loss. It can be difficult to adjust when a hamster is no longer around and it can make sense to be thinking about a new addition if you love the company and caring for a small furry.

First thing I would say is, don`t rush. Read through all the posts in this section as it will help you to gleen far more information on the Chinese as a species than we can recall in a few posts. On the whole, females probably will be more prone to womb infections, which is why I was devastated to lose the one and only Chinese female I had and she was a darling wee creature.

If I went looking for another Chinese hamster tomorrow, it would be a male and a SINGLE animal. Please don`t buy a pair because they are seen as solitary, just like Syrians, no matter what a pet shop may say. They will sell you three or four if they think they can make money...

Chinese hamsters are shy, but they are also bold once they get settled in. The Duna Multi (selling on Amazon.co.uk at the moment cheap!) would make a nice forever home for a single Chinese. The Duna Fun would also be fine for a single Chinese as I think the central bars are narrowly spaced, but I`ve never had one of these cages personally, although I`m sure the bars are narrow and safe.

So in a nutshell, learn more about the Chinese by reading these threads (rather than the fiction on most websites) and hopefully you will read enough to be able to make a decision. I`m a big fan of the Chinese hamster, but I love mice, so they remind me of mice but without the long tail! They are not your typical dwarf hamster. They are much more mouse-like in appearance and intelligence. x