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Old 11-23-2021, 05:07 AM   #11
Lilafernim
Senior Hamster
 
Join Date: Sep 2021
Posts: 409
Default Re: New Syrian...how to prioritise cage contents...

I’m from Essex! I believe Tuftyfluff hamsters is the closest registered one to us in borehamwood although not many people hear a response from her. When I was looking for one around a month ago she hadn’t responded but from what I heard she had been in hospital! So I hope she’s better now ��

I don’t think they’re registered but these two are qualified breeders with certificates, Roma hamstery and twilight hamstery. Roma hamstery is based in Harlow and when I messaged Nicole from there she said she’d been having difficulty since the male was afraid of the female hamster and she didn’t want to put them under stress to breed. So she wasn’t sure if she was going to be doing it anymore.

She also recommended me Amberhill hamstery in Glasgow which is where she got her hammies from, she used a service on Facebook called ‘Guinea pig transport’ with a green logo. Now if you are REALLY stuck I thought of doing this because if you can get in contact with any breeder, this transport service might help although there is a base charge of £60 from any location. She did though quote me this price for breeders that were a 3 hour drive away so is highly reasonable!

Twilight hamstery never did respond to me through Facebook but I think they’re based in Stevenage.

Essex isn’t a great place to live for hamster things I find �� I’m based in Colchester and we have pet shops but they overcharge and don’t always sell things that are actually suitable for a hamster. I also don’t know if any exotic vets round here, closest one is London I believe.

All the breeders are listed on here: MHC Breeders – Midland Hamster Club

In the end I got mine on preloved and I picked her up in a tiny cage, with a tiny wheel, she was bar biting like crazy. My partner was sure she’d never change, the first couple of days she nipped us, but since then she’s an angel. We got her in a bigger home with a bigger wheel and she has never nipped us since, even when my partner smothers her with kisses �� lol

I just wanted to mention this just because I want to clarify that just because a hamster is not professionally bred, doesn’t mean they can’t be handled or loveable. I also felt really good adopting as my previous hamster passed away, I think now if I had got a bred one it might’ve made me feel guilty like I was replacing my previous hamster. But by adopting I feel like my previous hamster is probably super happy I’m giving an animal who has be deprived basic needs a good life.

Of course though, adopting probably means they came from a pet store so since they aren’t bred with health in mind, you could find them having shorter life spans so there are options and things to think about. I personally would discourage buying from a pet store as buying from here indirectly supports unethical breeding, even if you are getting a better life. So I would recommend either adopting or getting from a breeder if you can.
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Old 11-23-2021, 10:16 AM   #12
Ria P
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Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 7,103
Cool Re: New Syrian...how to prioritise cage contents...

Not related to housing, just an input from someone who buys unwanted hamsters and rehomes them to people who really want one.

Nearly all the hamsters i buy were bought for young children who quickly lost interest once it became clear that the hamster is awake when they are asleep.

There are exeptions of course like my own hamster Rodney who wakes between 18.00-19.00 and asks to come out to play. Ironically, i bought him from a family after he bit a young child who, presumably, had grabbed him. It took two months for him to trust me, he is very tame and he has never bitten me.

Your children are very young so it is very important that you want a hamster as well.

No matter where a hamster comes from, a lot depends on the individual hamster's personality. Ours range from one who wants my attention soon as he sees me to one who has no interest in humans whatsoever or anything outside his Hamster Heaven world. He wants to be left alone to do his own thing.

My advice would be to contact a rescue or someone who rehomes. That way you can find out more about the hamster's characteristics, routines, likes and dislikes, what time they are likely to get up, how they respond to humans etc. That way you should be able to find one who fits in with your family.

Someone who takes rehoming seriously, like myself for example, will do their best to match the hamster to their future humans' expectations and circumstances. It has to work for both parties involved, the hamster and the humans before i agree to an adoption.
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Old 11-23-2021, 11:55 AM   #13
Pebbles82
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Default Re: New Syrian...how to prioritise cage contents...

It can be best to get one from a breeder, so the hamster has gone straight from Mum to their new home. But even hamsters who've been used to being handled from birth will need a bit of taming - because it's a change of person and environment.

It's probably going to be hard to find one from a breeder at this time of year - I think most litters tend to be spring time. And not so many official breeders breeding it seems.

I also agree that a rescue can be a good option. Good rescues often have litters of baby hamsters and have handled them and treated them well.

Although to be honest, any baby hamster could be a bit frustrating for the kids as they are a bit scared and skitty as babies until fully tamed. My stepson was 6 when we got our first hamster and all he wanted to do was hold and cuddle it - and it took 2 months! To be able to do that. Of hand taming in the dry bathtub every 2 or 3 days. But once it happened it happened and suddenly he was very easy to handle and pick up.

On the other hand, if you can set up a playpen then someone can sit in the playpen with the hamster - the hamster runs over your legs etc - so gets used to human presence and scent.

I think they make a wonderful family pet for all the family to feel the hamster is a new member of the family. But the burden of care falls on you lol!

So for my part, I did most of the taming and looking after until the hamster was pick upable - and even then you need constant supervision - which I'm sure you know, as children can be a bit heavy handed and need to be shown how to pick them up and hold them carefully (my stepson used to want to instinctively hold on when the hamster tried to move away and I had to teach him to let him go and then just pick him up again).

Their personalities vary a lot. Some are quite maverick and outgoing. Some are shy.

I seem to remember from when Lila was looking, that there aren't many hamster rescues in Essex. So suggest you try contacting Tuftyfluffs (but yes she can be slow to reply).

And also look on gumtree and pets4homes websites. Because you often find a young hamster for rehoming that is already quite tame - either someone is allergic or something.
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Old 11-23-2021, 01:54 PM   #14
Stubbo
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Join Date: Nov 2021
Posts: 16
Default Re: New Syrian...how to prioritise cage contents...

Thanks all. Agree with everything everyone says...initially.this was my wife's idea (she had a hamster as a child) and I've no experience at all, but she was suggesting small cages etc (from what she knew as a child) so I took it on to do the research of how to do it right. I keep fish and dart frogs too, and know there is a big difference between an animal that can survive in an environment, versus one that will thrive.

You're all absolutely right about the kids and what their interest will be. My boy (4) won't really hold any interest other than from afar, and my daughter (6 although mature for her age for sure) will like the idea of holding/stroking, but probably be more scared of it than the hamster will even be of her as and when it's running around and will take time to get used to it (so inevitably all care and taming will fall to me and my wife, more than likely me).

However from the research I've been doing, I'm looking forward to owning a hamster personally now. Am doing all I can to get the cage setup right, doing lots of reading and YouTube comsumption (really should be doing more actual work!), have identified local vets and also small animal boarders for when holidays come around, and keen to source from somewhere reputable if possible.

Obviously a forum like this is also invaluable to learn from the experience of others.

Back to my posts topics...managed to make the end shelf today from some untreated Spruce, as well as the platform for standing the wheel and potentially sand bath if the Hamster likes that...might need to get creative with the platform though since the base is a bit flexible in the middle so wobbly to stand...have an idea on that though. Got some quadrant section to raise the Rodipet Maze too so progress being made.
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Old 11-23-2021, 04:50 PM   #15
Pebbles82
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: New Syrian...how to prioritise cage contents...

Sounds great! Do post the diy - it could help others have ideas for the cage. It’s not all hard work - hamsters can be very entertaining as well. Our first one was definitely part of the family - he used to sit between us in the sofa
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Old 11-23-2021, 05:24 PM   #16
Ria P
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Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
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Default Re: New Syrian...how to prioritise cage contents...

Sounds all wonderful to me. Hamsters are lovely little creatures. Looking forward to see your set up and of course, meet your future hamster.
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Old 11-24-2021, 02:38 PM   #17
Lilafernim
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Join Date: Sep 2021
Posts: 409
Default Re: New Syrian...how to prioritise cage contents...

Wishing you all the best and looking forward to future posts! Really glad you’ve taken responsibility to ensure the best care for your hamster.

Everyone is completely right about the children thing as they say a lot of kids get bored. I do think though in a lot of cases, parents get children hamsters thinking they naturally look after theirselves and just give up when a child stops playing. From what you’ve said, even if your children lose interest it sounds very much like you’re holding full responsibility and have full interest in one yourself for this new hammie. Just be sure they don’t rough handle them!

Also I was 9/10 when I had my first hamster and my parents did absolutely nothing. At the time the cage was a suitable size and we used wood shavings because I knew no better but I did absolutely everything myself. I even used my pocket money for all the supplies. I think if your children are mature enough and with your correct guidance your hammie will be well looked after for sure
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Old 11-24-2021, 04:17 PM   #18
Pebbles82
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Default Re: New Syrian...how to prioritise cage contents...

I think that's why having it as a family pet helps. Stepson didn't lose interest with the hamster at all, but it took quite a bit of effort on my part to do out of cage time with stepson and hamster regularly. We had great fun. But he ended up being my baby . I was the one who talked to him the most. Having said that all our hamsters have perked up at hearing childrens voices - they tune in to the family atmosphere and feel part of it in my view.

One thing I meant to add was - taming in the bathtub can be great fun for the kids as well. We had an Octopod which we used as a toy in the bath (dry bath of course). I have a short video of it I'll add. But generally a tube or other hamster toy in the bath gives them something to do while they're having the taming session. Taming starts with just a stroke on the back with one finger, while they're in the bath. If they jerk around then leave it and try again. It took a couple of sessions before our hamster accepted a stroke by one finger. After that they're used to you're touch and things move on quicker. Letting them walk over your hand, flat on the bottom of the bath (palm up). After that you do the same but lift your hand slightly but still let the hamster walk off. A session or two later the same again but this time let them walk hand to hand. After that you should be able to pick them up without them pinging (wriggling free and leaping 2 feet in the air at the same time). Ours went from completely untame to fully tame and let you do anything, within 4 to 6 weeks. Some are quicker to tame than that or already partly tame.

When we had the hamster in the bathtub, stepson used to take videos of it. And that's how the youtube channel started (his idea). I don't add much to it these days.

The other thing that makes it interesting for children (and the hamster) is out of cage time with childrens toys. You have to check things carefully for safety, but we had a big truck, lego ships, all sorts in the playpen area! The Octopod in the bathtub is in the video as well but that bit is speeded up.


Toys for Syrian Hamsters! - YouTube
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