Hello from Scotland!

[DrKMcK]

Hello 1WomanArmy. LOL, I LOVE the name! If you can get a 20 gallon long, that should be good too. I hope you find something that makes you happy. Post photos of your little ones when you get them. If you get 2 dwarf hammies you really need to know that a second set-up should be available if they fall out (fight). It can go spectacularly wrong when they fight. They can seriously hurt each other and they can be killed. I had two and they were fine, but I had another cage (Still in the box) ready if I needed it. Welcome to Hamster Central!

[kyrilliondaemon]

Originally Posted by 1WomanArmy

Thanks for the link. Looks straight forward enough. Partner came out with "that's too much hassle lets just get a normal cage" that's just in case he gets roped into helping
I'll keep looking anyway. I can't seem to find any breeders around so will go with roborovski since they are social. That means I can have one and my little girl can have one too.

Firstly I want to second what Libby and DrK said about being prepared for fallouts if you keep a pair. The most important rule is to never get more hamsters than you can keep singly if needed. The second most important is to separate if blood is drawn. Then there're tips and tricks for reducing the risks of fights. That said... Two of our hams are in a pair and we've kept pairs and groups before and for me and my OH its well worth the effort that pairs and groups can sometimes be

Secondly, clever partner lol. I hope you don't find meshing the cage too hard, we've meshed a few now and don't find it a major hassle anymore I'm glad the link was helpful anyway

Originally Posted by Libby01

Have you looked on Freeads.co.uk or gumtree or preloved? They are pretty good for finding breeders.

Er... I'd be careful with that Libby, while some great breeders advertise there a lot of backyard breeders advertise there too and many winter whites listed on preloved, gumtree e.t.c will actually be breeding and selling hybrids while claiming they're purebred. I've seen "sunfire" winter whites advertised before and "sunfire" is only a colour ever seen in hybrids, neither purebred winter whites nor purebred campbells have developed a mutation for it (and if memory serves me right sunfire is just another term for mandarin anyway).

[1WomanArmy]

Originally Posted by Libby01

Have you looked on Freeads.co.uk or gumtree or preloved? They are pretty good for finding breeders. Also if you buy two robos they will probably still fight when they are older so be prepared and make sure they have been together since birth. Can you not get any aquarium sealant stuff to fix your old fish tank? Obviously you won't be able to put fish in it again but It would be fine for a hamster.

I just deemed it unusable due to not being able to hold my breeding pairs! The way the tank actually split , the movers took it out in case it shattered.

Originally Posted by DrKMcK

Hello 1WomanArmy. LOL, I LOVE the name! If you can get a 20 gallon long, that should be good too. I hope you find something that makes you happy. Post photos of your little ones when you get them. If you get 2 dwarf hammies you really need to know that a second set-up should be available if they fall out (fight). It can go spectacularly wrong when they fight. They can seriously hurt each other and they can be killed. I had two and they were fine, but I had another cage (Still in the box) ready if I needed it. Welcome to Hamster Central!

Thanks I play call of duty, so the name fits! I was looking at the clearseal tanks. My partners not keen he wants a "cage designed for a hamster" and the fact i have 2 tanks in the living room and a fry tank in the kitchen!

Originally Posted by kyrilliondaemon

Firstly I want to second what Libby and DrK said about being prepared for fallouts if you keep a pair. The most important rule is to never get more hamsters than you can keep singly if needed. The second most important is to separate if blood is drawn. Then there're tips and tricks for reducing the risks of fights. That said... Two of our hams are in a pair and we've kept pairs and groups before and for me and my OH its well worth the effort that pairs and groups can sometimes be

Secondly, clever partner lol. I hope you don't find meshing the cage too hard, we've meshed a few now and don't find it a major hassle anymore I'm glad the link was helpful anyway



Er... I'd be careful with that Libby, while some great breeders advertise there a lot of backyard breeders advertise there too and many winter whites listed on preloved, gumtree e.t.c will actually be breeding and selling hybrids while claiming they're purebred. I've seen "sunfire" winter whites advertised before and "sunfire" is only a colour ever seen in hybrids, neither purebred winter whites nor purebred campbells have developed a mutation for it (and if memory serves me right sunfire is just another term for mandarin anyway).

I have been on there and thats where I found the hamstery which is owned by 1 of the mods here or was but I just can't contact her.
At the start of this post I did mention the local pet store chain I really don't want to go there but I will if I have to.
By 2 I meant one in my room one in my girls. We'll have the runaround balls and they can run about the livingroom!

[kyrilliondaemon]

I'm sorry you can't contact the hamstery you found.

Ah ok, two separately makes sense

[1WomanArmy]

Originally Posted by kyrilliondaemon

I'm sorry you can't contact the hamstery you found.

Ah ok, two separately makes sense

I know im so frustrated! It's like the fish forum, everyones down south lol.
Yeah she's not getting one without me getting one.
The question I do need to ask is, on our fish forum we talk about multi tank syndrome, you get one then the next thing the house is full-is hamster ownership the same? If so then im doomed

[cypher]

Originally Posted by 1WomanArmy

The question I do need to ask is, on our fish forum we talk about multi tank syndrome, you get one then the next thing the house is full-is hamster ownership the same? If so then im doomed

Are you sure you want to ask?! It definitely happens

[kyrilliondaemon]

Originally Posted by 1WomanArmy

I know im so frustrated! It's like the fish forum, everyones down south lol.
Yeah she's not getting one without me getting one.
The question I do need to ask is, on our fish forum we talk about multi tank syndrome, you get one then the next thing the house is full-is hamster ownership the same? If so then im doomed

I think its the same with most things unfortunately

And er... I know of some who use this forum reguarly and only stay with their initial number of hamsters. Then I know plenty of others who started the forum with one and now have a lot more than one lol
Cypher is definetly right that it can and does happen though (I had one hamster when I joined this forum... My sig shows you what thats turned into lol)

[Libby01]

Originally Posted by kyrilliondaemon

Er... I'd be careful with that Libby, while some great breeders advertise there a lot of backyard breeders advertise there too and many winter whites listed on preloved, gumtree e.t.c will actually be breeding and selling hybrids while claiming they're purebred. I've seen "sunfire" winter whites advertised before and "sunfire" is only a colour ever seen in hybrids, neither purebred winter whites nor purebred campbells have developed a mutation for it (and if memory serves me right sunfire is just another term for mandarin anyway).

Ahh right I guess people will try anything for a bit of money! I know freeads isn't terrible with all things, like I have used it a few times to sell my bunnies that I have bred. But I always make sure they go to a good home and I never bred them for the money. I've stopped breeding them now though cause its unfair & had them neutered. But no, you can't trust anyone!

If you go to your pet shop to buy the hamsters make sure that you ask what breeder they came from and NEVER buy them if they have come from a breeder called 'Simon's Rodents'.

[Libby01]

I say Simon's Rodents but any big commercial breeder is likely to be just as bad.

[1WomanArmy]

Originally Posted by kyrilliondaemon

I think its the same with most things unfortunately

And er... I know of some who use this forum reguarly and only stay with their initial number of hamsters. Then I know plenty of others who started the forum with one and now have a lot more than one lol
Cypher is definetly right that it can and does happen though (I had one hamster when I joined this forum... My sig shows you what thats turned into lol)

Haha that's what I am afraid of! Your babies are all gorgeous! Congrats!

Originally Posted by Libby01

Ahh right I guess people will try anything for a bit of money! I know freeads isn't terrible with all things, like I have used it a few times to sell my bunnies that I have bred. But I always make sure they go to a good home and I never bred them for the money. I've stopped breeding them now though cause its unfair & had them neutered. But no, you can't trust anyone!

If you go to your pet shop to buy the hamsters make sure that you ask what breeder they came from and NEVER buy them if they have come from a breeder called 'Simon's Rodents'.

You can get them neutered? It must be such a fiddly, delicate operation, but that's very responsible so good on you.

That last line of your comment gave me a lightbulb moment. Could I ask them where they get them and go there direct? Pet stores are in it for the money it's 2 for £17 at their store where as on gumtree or free ads they are just £4 or £5. That's not the point though, I'm sorry I'm going to bring up fish again but I have had years of bad experience and fish dying because the store get are usually overstock or not up to standard so are sent there. I used to buy them and they lasted a few days and died they would blame my water-my tanks are fully cycled and the water stats have been stable for at least 5 years-I'm scared of getting a hamster from them and a week later it dying then both myself and little one being heartbroken. This is why I'm so desperate for a breeder.