Stop! Thinking of getting a pet hamster? Please read first.

[kyrilliondaemon]

If you get a pair you should definetly have a spare cage handy. I personally don't like to split dwarves from cagemates just incase they fight, so maybe find a rescue ham who already lives alone?
Then you get the ham and skip the pair/single debate completely because someone else made the choice for you. Plus you get a rescue ham which is always a plus

[TheFeldhamster]

@njwilde: experiences with group housing vary wildly depending on which country you are in. On US/UK forums you'll see a lot of happy dwarf groups, Italian and Spanish forums are strictly solitary housing only - you'll be kicked off the forum if you even bring up the the topic of group housing and on German forums it used to be strictly solitary but is now moving towards a mixed approach (depending on the forum). Dwarfs are complicated - they are not that easily classifiable into "definitely social" like mice or rats or "definitely solitary" like syrians.

So, why is it different between countries? There are several reasons - eg. in the US there are many more campbell's dwarfs than winter whites (at least from what I see on forums) and there is scientific evidence that campbell's dwarfs are more social than winter whites. In Germany there are much more winter whites and very ww-like hybrids than campbell's. So it's not that surprising that in the US many more groups will go well while in Germany many groups will fall out - the worst of which will end up at the Hamsterhilfe. Also, there is other stuff to consider - eg. the sociality of a line. In the US and UK the lines of robos seem to be very social while in Germany the lines seem to be less social. I suspect that the lines in Italy and Spain are very unsocial, too, because otherwise the forums would not be that strict.

If you are in Germany I'd suggest getting a single WW/WW-like hybrid from a Hamsterhilfe as your first ham. If you get your hamster from such a rescue you have the advantage that they will be able to tell you whether the animal is shy or tame and it's guaranteed not pregnant (which happens a lot with pet shop hams). They always have a lot of young hamsters, too, because they take in pregnant hamsters or litters from people who bought a pregnant hamster.

When you have got some experience and want to have a group later on I'd get in contact with one of the few reputable campbell's breeders and get a group from one of them. Your chances of the group working well are much higher than with two pet-shop bought WWs.

I'm Austrian and currently have two groups of Campbell's (from a German line) but I also have two Campbell's who live solitary.

[njwilde]

Thanks a lot guys, this was really helpful Really really appreciated. I have had Syrian/Teddy hamsters since I was little but never dwarfs so it is like a new animal to get to know so I want to be as prepared as possible before I get one.

The differences is countries actually does make sense, Feldhamster, when you think about the breeding going on. Funny, though as it is a bit like humans from different countries, they all have different personalities

[Gizmo_Gonzalez]

Very nice post however hamsters are not nocturnal. (Sorry to nit pick but this is a pet peeve of mine when it comes from people who profess to understand these animals)

[RCalabraro]

Originally Posted by Gizmo_Gonzalez

Very nice post however hamsters are not nocturnal.

The textbooks say they're crepuscular but all my hams have always slept all day and run in their wheels all night.

[CariNichelle<3Tink]

im glad this thread was made, alot of people dont think about the commitment that it takes when buying a hamster (or any pet) for the frist time.

[Alright]

I think it all just depends on the hamsters and how they feel about each other. They might be fine with each other or they might not. It's the same with all animals, really, whether they are social or not. The choice is whether or not you want to take that risk.

Anyway, this thread is great. It's always better to research before you get a pet so that you won't waste your time and money on things that you don't need or are unsafe for your pet (or will make them unhappy). Always a good idea to set up everything and buy everything before you get your pet. That way, you can make sure you have everything needed right away, AND the transition between the ham's old environment to his new one will be much smoother (as he doesn't have to wait 30 MORE minutes for you to set everything up).

[Hammy Ham Yam]

Great points.

[SueJ]

Originally Posted by babyboos

Some things you really need to seriously consider carefully before getting a hamster as a pet.

Hi I'm new here so maybe it's a bit cheeky of me to jump straight in, but I was wondering if I could add these to the list, as I believe they are also among the most important things to consider before getting hamsters.

!. Cage Sizes.

On the whole (obviously there are exceptions to this rule) I don't think it's advisable to blindly trust the advice you might get from pet stores on cage sizes. Many of them are way too small and highly unsuitable. Syrian hamsters for example run up to 5 miles a night in the wild, so to be housed in a tiny cage with an undersized wheel is simply cruel. If you have already bought a cage that is too small, please try and rehouse your hamster as soon as you can. You will be rewarded with a much happier, healthier and friendlier hamster.
The RSPCA (UK) give this advice for Syrians:
"Syrian hamsters should be housed in as big a cage as possible. They are large active animals and need space to move around. The RSPCA recommend that the minimum size of cage for a Syrian hamster should be 75cm x 40 cm x 40 cm. (29 ½ inches x 15 ¾ inches x 15 ¾ inches)."

Rat cages are generally very good for Syrian hamsters.
Please check carefully for suitable cage sizes of dwarf hamsters, they also need a lot more room than they are often given.

2. Temperature. Risks of hibernation and untimely death...

Please make sure the room you intend to keep your hamster in will be warm enough. I believe that hamsters can go into hibernation at 60ºF, although an apparently very reliable source recommends the temperature should not be below 70ºF.
They should not be placed in draughty areas or areas that get direct sunlight.

I hope this helps. If you take time to read up on hamster needs and lifestyle, and provide the best care you can, I imagine you will be as thrilled with your hamster as I am with mine! (That's a lot by the way! And I've only had her for 6 weeks)

[Mweekie]

Excellent thread here Babyboos and everyone who has added extra information and advice. I have copied this into my favourites, so should I encounter any problems I can refer back to this as a guide xx