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Old 07-20-2022, 02:42 PM   #1
ilguy
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Default Hamster Myths

What are some of the myths you guys have heard about hamsters that aren't true?

Two I've encountered are: female hamsters are more aggressive, and hamsters will forget you if you don't interact enough.
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Old 07-20-2022, 03:02 PM   #2
AmityvilleHams
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Default Re: Hamster Myths

I think one of the big ones I've seen a lot even perpetuated by people with good intentions would be people saying Syrians are easier or somehow better for first time hamster owners due to their size etc.
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Old 07-20-2022, 03:38 PM   #3
cloudy
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Default Re: Hamster Myths

I have heard they can be released into the wild as they are a wild animal and they are a smaller kind of guinea pig.
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Old 07-20-2022, 05:01 PM   #4
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Hamster Myths

That they are unintelligent. They are very intelligent (sometimes) and have feelings and know who they like and trust and who they don't like and trust. They do stupid things sometimes (like humans) but they have an intelligence and instinct - and feelings.

I'm not sure I agree with the thing about Syrians being easier for first time owners - I think they are. Purely for size if nothing else.
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Old 07-20-2022, 05:03 PM   #5
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Hamster Myths

A few others

That they are vegetarian/herbivores. Which they aren't! And they like meat!

That they are good pets for children (which they're not without extensive supervision under age 10 at least).
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Old 07-26-2022, 02:44 AM   #6
flowerfairy
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Default Re: Hamster Myths

That they need small pet shop cages and wheels and tunnels and houses ...
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Old 07-26-2022, 03:06 AM   #7
Ria P
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Default Re: Hamster Myths

It's a myth that hamsters are silent when most of them are vocal.
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Old 07-30-2022, 02:49 AM   #8
ShadowNinjaHamster
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Default Re: Hamster Myths

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ria P View Post
It's a myth that hamsters are silent when most of them are vocal.
True. Mine is asleep and squeaking as we speak. I'm not going to wake him up anymore. Before I used to wake him up and ran to the vet, because I thought that hamsters are supposed to be quiet and only make noise when something is wrong.

A lot of people I've met say that hamsters are mean… I've only owned one hamster, but he's not mean. He's a gentleman most of the time. Sometimes he behaves like a child though, but most of the time he's a gentleman.

Then there's a myth that bar chewing is normal. My former coworker has hamsters and they're constantly bar chewing. I tried to explain him that he needs a bigger cage and hamsters don't chew bars and it can harm their teeth, but he kept showing me articles that said that it's normal and it's what hamsters do etc… I didn't win the argument. I'm not good at arguing with people, especially if they raise their voice. It is what it is.
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Old 07-30-2022, 04:07 AM   #9
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Hamster Myths

I'm sorry you had that experience ShadowNinjaHamster. At least it's a former co-worker - hopefully you don't have to have much to do with them. Those are the hamsters that will probably get put up for adoption. Hamsters are much more intelligent than people think - they can learn to trust and they can respond with mutual trust. But if you don't treat them with respect, they will understandably not feel safe with someone and protect themselves.

You clearly treat your hamster with respect and he trusts you. I think it's the same with most pets - they instinctively know who is good to them and who isn't.
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