some general questions

[shawniyatwain]

It really varies from female to female I don't think you could really get a definitive answer. Males would most likely be calmer if held, but do tend to sleep a lot and less likely to be active during the school day.

[WinnieTheHam]

Neither male or female will be up during the day to be honest, they usually come out when it starts getting dark, or later. It might be safer to get a male because you really don't know how the smell is going to be.

[candice clews]

Originally Posted by Enh98

So it sounds like the overall theme is females *might* get smelly but tend to be spunkier and more curious. Maybe if I explained where my hammy will be living I can get more advice to help me make a decision. I am an elementary school counselor and during the school year my hammy will live in my office at school. I have a huge cage (Marchioro Kevin) and have learned lots from on here in terms of providing good care for the hamster. It comes home with me on holidays, I do not send it home with students. How smelly is smelly when it comes to a hamster in heat? Like, you have to get close to the cage to smell it or the scent knocks you in the face when you walk in the room? My students might like a cheeky little spunky female to play with but it would be unprofessional to have a smelly office!

The smell isn't horrendous, if you get close up to the cage you may smell it, and i find female hamsters cages smell a lot quicker! sounds like a great idea i think a male would probably be a lot more beneficial for the purpose you are having one for, but thay choice is totally upto you! they are much more laid back and friendly so, you could get the children to take it in turns to fill the food bowl and water bottle up (maybe in order of the register!)

[candice clews]

Ps: great cage!!

[pinkneon]

I've had both male and female Syrians. To be honest I've never noticed the females being in heat, as mine have never smelt! I had one boy that smelt a lot, but that was probably more to do with him sleeping in the tubes of an enclosed plastic cage so was probably not him really!
As for temperament ... Mine have all been very different, but I have noticed that my boys have all been lazier than the girls! I have had some girls who would sit on your lap and fall asleep, just like some of the boys did. And I have had others that have been right little madams! I think it's mostly due to their individual character