Getting another hamster?

[Elab3]

I'm thinking about asking my parents if I can get another hamster, possibly a Chinese hamster. I currently have a Winter White hamster and do not plan on housing the Chinese with it, as I have heard Chinese hamsters can be quite territorial. We already have a dog and several other pets and I'm afraid my parents will say "no" or "you already have a hamster" if I ask for another one. How do I persuade them to let me get another one? And how different are Chinese hamsters from Winter Whites? I know their personality is different and they can be handled more easily but what else is different? Do their cages need to be bigger or smaller than a Winter White's?

[meredithandyang]

I would persuade them by writing up a paper stating good reasons why -being responsible, cage cleaning schedule, care time, punishments if you don't take proper care, maybe even benefits for getting a new one. You should also pay for it and the supplies with your own money, that may give them good reason. Of course, DO NOT house a winter white with a chinese, that can end up with a fight to the death! Chinese hamsters require the same things as winter white. Get an aquarium tank because they're escape artists. Good Luck!

[cypher]

You definitely cannot house two different species together so you are right there but even with russians & robos which can live in pairs you have to have two same sex hams from the same litter.

I think you may need to do a little more research on Chinese hams to understand them better, they really aren't generally easier to handle than Russian hams, quite the opposite I would say, they are generally timid to begin with so you need to understand them & there ways well & have plenty of patience to tame them.

If you do want another ham do you have space for another good size cage in a room away from the other animals as they may well stress your ham if they have access to the room.
How long have you had your first ham & how are you getting along with that one?

Both ww & chinese need a good size cage but chinese burrow & climb more than ww, so you need a cage with a really good depth of substrate, at least 15cm, & things for them to safely climb on which means cage set ups do take considerable planning.
Chinese hams are also prone to diabetes so care needs to be taken over their diet, this is also true of hybrid russians so if your ww came from a pet shop it will be a hybrid & the same diet rules apply.

If you can think all that through & show your parents that you've done your research & are able to care for another ham maybe they'll agree.