Is he long haired

[AprilPearl]

Just bought my new hamster home and I do not want to frighten him by getting too close just yet, so I have only managed to take a few photos of him. I have had a long haired hamster in the past who, as an adult, had a long skirt of hair. My new baby hamster is certainly fluffy, but his hair is only about a centimetre long. He is currently around 10 weeks old. Do you think he us a long haired hamster? Or is he just a fluffy short haired one? Either way, I love him! If he is long haired, will his hair continue to get longer?

[Drago]

I'd say he's a long haired Every individual hamster is different, and some will have longer coats whilst others will have shorter ones. Do you know his parents? You may be able to get an idea of how long his coat will become by using theirs as a reference. He's an absolutely adorable little guy, congrats on him!

[AprilPearl]

Originally Posted by Drago

I'd say he's a long haired Every individual hamster is different, and some will have longer coats whilst others will have shorter ones. Do you know his parents? You may be able to get an idea of how long his coat will become by using theirs as a reference. He's an absolutely adorable little guy, congrats on him!

Thanks very much! No, I don't know his parents as he is from Pets At Home (please don't hate me, I know it isn't the best place and I have never bought a hamster from there before, but he was so cute...). All of his litter mates were definitely short haired, though. I guess only time will tell how long his fur will grow.

Still trying to pick out a name. My favourites currently are Charlie, Rodger or Teddy.

[Drago]

Originally Posted by AprilPearl

Thanks very much! No, I don't know his parents as he is from Pets At Home (please don't hate me, I know it isn't the best place and I have never bought a hamster from there before, but he was so cute...). All of his litter mates were definitely short haired, though. I guess only time will tell how long his fur will grow.

Still trying to pick out a name. My favourites currently are Charlie, Rodger or Teddy.

No need to feel bad over a pet store ham! As long as you love him, that's all that really matters My personal favorite of the names would be Rodger! Good luck with him

[AprilPearl]

Originally Posted by Drago

No need to feel bad over a pet store ham! As long as you love him, that's all that really matters My personal favorite of the names would be Rodger! Good luck with him

Thank you! I figure he can’t help where he comes from any more than I can. And of course I will love him. Already do! The one thing I am slightly concerned about is the reputation of pet shop hamsters for being badly handled and difficult to train. But, I can be patient and I have a lot of experience with taming hamsters. (I had 2 myself growing up and shared one with my brother. I also helped out a lot with my brother’s 3 hamsters).

[Humphrey_hamster]

Originally Posted by AprilPearl

The one thing I am slightly concerned about is the reputation of pet shop hamsters for being badly handled and difficult to train).

I got Humphrey from a pets at home- he's the most tame little thing ever! If he doesn't want to get picked up, he pushes your finger away with his little paws! In nearly a year of owning my darling hamster, he hasn't bitten me once! He hasn't bitten Amy of my friends either, even though some weren't holding him right as they hadn't held a hamster before ! At the pets at home I got him from, I saw that they fed the hamsters, rabbits, etc fresh veg as well as their mix, and handled them regularly.
Sometimes your heart just melts and you know THAT'S the hamster you want. When I was in the Pet shop, I was actually buying cat food with my mum, and Humphrey was there scrabbling at the glass when we went over, when someone else walked past he ran and hid! I knew straight away I wanted him... I hope that doesn't sound "spoilt-brat" ey.

At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter where your hamster is from, it matters where he's going. You might get a hybrid from a pet shop and it be a lovely pet, you just can't enter it in shows or put a high price tag on its pups; and then get some fancy pedigree blah blah blah hamster that's a bity, lazy thing that doesn't want to be near you, but you can enter it in shows and make profits out of its pups. I think the"pure bred" status only really matters if you want to breed it or show it, for a loving pet home, who cares?
There's no need to be ashamed you got mushu from a pet shop, as long as it doesn't mis treat the animals!

Btw, mushu is ADORABLE

(I don't have anything against pedigree hamsters, I was just trying to make a point, please don't get offended)

[AmityvilleHams]

To me he does seem at least a bit long haired,though I could be wrong.Time will tell!

There's really no judgement with where hamsters come from here,as long as they get a loving home and appropriate care As wonderful as it may be to get pets from other sources(like adoption and ethical breeders),it isn't always possible,and in other cases you just have a connection with certain hamsters which cannot be avoided.

[AprilPearl]

Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams

To me he does seem at least a bit long haired,though I could be wrong.Time will tell!

There's really no judgement with where hamsters come from here,as long as they get a loving home and appropriate care As wonderful as it may be to get pets from other sources(like adoption and ethical breeders),it isn't always possible,and in other cases you just have a connection with certain hamsters which cannot be avoided.

Thank you for the help and lovely message. I certainly did feel a connection with him, so hopefully this is the start of a long happy furry friendship!

[souffle]

He is lovely and is a long haired hammy. He looks to be maybe a red eyed cream with possible a pattern there? Does he have any white on him?
I'm sure he will soon just fit in to a name It will come to you x

[AprilPearl]

Originally Posted by souffle

He is lovely and is a long haired hammy. He looks to be maybe a red eyed cream with possible a pattern there? Does he have any white on him?
I'm sure he will soon just fit in to a name It will come to you x

Thanks for sharing your wisdom He has black eyes and is mostly a pale cream/greyish brown colour. I think he has a few flashes of white. In the first picture his fur looks a lot whiter and lighter than it actually is. When he is settled in, I look forward to showing more photos.

Re names, am currently thinking either Charlie or Teddy but I'm not sure yet.