pets-mart

[scottme]

humm hi so yha im going to get a WW at petsmart friday and i was wondering are the males or females nicer and almost anything else you could help me out on because i havent ever had a hamster before so any advice would be greatly apreashiated :bouquet:

[Pantamallion]

You've never had a hammy before? Really? In that case, you have alot of work to do before you get your hammy. Okay first of all.

Are males or females nicer?
Well I've found when holding hamsters and such, the males tend to be a bit nicer than females. Although I have met some girls who have been so sweet you just want to squeeze them :) :D

Okay so with that answered, what do you know now? Do you know about the cage requirements? Have you asked around to find out which kind of cage people think is best. Have you searched to see what kinds of bedding could be harmful to your hammy and could possibly kill it? Can you afford a hamster? This includes possible vet bills, cage\s, food, bowls, wheels, water container of some kind, hamster balls if you want, decor meaning hide-a-huts, nesting boxes, such and such. Are you sure you're ready to take on the responsibily of a hamster? (Eek eek my finger got smashed in a door and now it's all purple and it burns so bad and I'm holding it above the keys lol) Now I'm not saying you're not ready, I'm just telling you. So, what do you not know? I'm glad to help, keep me posted!

[scottme]

yes i have hear of them i just never have had one and i have a cage with a wheel and a bowl and the water dripy thing with toys and bedding (cider or pine) i didnt know that one could kill it would eather of thouse kill it its the C. WW i didnt ask anyone what one they liked i just bought one that i liked and thought that they would like its the critertrail type

[Pantamallion]

Is it that like $40.00 crittertrail thing that's green and purple? Or maybe the one I'm thinking about is only 30....hm... anyways I'm working on the bedding. I do know that a kind of bedding can kill hammys, but I'm not sure which one, I used to know exactly, but I forgot, sorry :o . I'll post as soon as I can, I'm going to do a little research on go2net and google to find out :reporter: :grin:

[Pantamallion]

Yay I found something in like 3 minutes lol.

"Cedar bedding can also cause skin irratation, or allergies, in addition to lung problems, so should be avoided"

There ya go. ;) Who's good? I'm good, lol I'm joking. Do you have any more Q's?

[Pantamallion]

Ah HAH! Sorry for posting three times, but I found something else. Pine shavings aren't good either. They cause the same effects, but to a lesser amount. World of pets (the place I'm looking at hehe) says aspen shaving, or some other hardwood shavings, are a much better, safer option. I am a researcher at work! Okay again, do you have any more Q's?

[HundDD]

I hurried up and registered to answer your post. and the first thing I have to say is,

DO NOT PURCHASE WW HAMSTERS FROM PETSMART WHATSOEVER!!!!!!

Why? because they are HYBRIDS.

They are born from Campbell's and WW interbreeding.

Most books say that hybrids interrupt the purity of breeds of hamsters.

BUT THERE IS MUCH MORE TO IT why you shouldn't buy a WW from petsmart or get a hybrid at all.

here are the reasons:

well they do screw up the gene pool. but some hybrids can reproduce and some can't. What you are not finding is that hybrids actually have a tendency for some major problems. They are prone to all the problems that BOTH breeds have and most generally don't live as long as a "purebred" hamster. Plus if you decided to breed a hybrid and didn't know it's background you could come up with some major issues.
For example, you get a male campbells and a female hybrid. you don't know if the female is going to have the small birth canal of a winter white. so if you breed them the female may die while trying to give birth due to the large heads of the campbells.
hybrids are prone to diseases like
diabetes
glaucoma
cancer
tumors
cateracts
etc

[HundDD]

Now...to BEDDING..

AVOID KAYTEE's as much as possible. Now some pine shavings are heated to such temperature that the chemicals are no longer harmful at all. But most are not.

Personally, I use Aspen, but, the best from what I've seen and heard is "cat litter made from recycled paper". They are great, absorbant, natural... Unfortunately they cost much more.

NOW...sexuallity...

I've had both females and males and I say they are about the same. it DEPENDS on the hamsters. they have different personalities and cannot be determined simply by their gender. From my personaly experiences GIRLS are sweeter.

[scottme]

yha the bedding i got is premium small animal bedding natural pine shavings the brand i think is nature's gold

[HundDD]

Didn't want to post too much information all at once so I'm dividing it into 3 replies... hope that's okay with the forum's rules

Anywayz, I wanted to say something about caging.

I strongly do not recommend CritterTrial 1, 2, X, or whatever. I have a CritterTrial X and I wish I hadn't wasted that 30 dollars.

First of all, the structure and set up is horrible. The stair and the water bottle is located on the same side. Hammies like to make nest behind the stair and right under the water bottle. Which leads to problem NO.2

THE WATER BOTTLE LEAKS BAD. Not just to CritterTrial, but all water bottle of that kind is horrible. It's hard to dump the water out and refill because the hole's so small. The metal thing looks cheap and unsafe... AND IT LEAKS. Like, when nothing's moving or shaking or anything, the water would just drop occasionally. AND HAMMIES ABSOLUTELY HATE THAT. But they love to nest near a water source and behind something...

Now...the wheel is located on top of the cage... It's closed both sides and colored... means... -------------------- HAMMIES LOVE tight spots, and color give them a sense of security because they have bad eye sights and can't see outside well then. The one hammy I have, he makes a NEST in the wheel. He also treats it as a potty place. HE POOS and PEES and EATS and SLEEPS in there. During the night when he starts to run, everything, nut shells, food, wastes... scrumbling up and down...the noise is louder beyond belief.

The worst thing about CritterTrial is that it has absolutely no free space for a owner himself to make a change or anything. Everything is set up. If you put a toilet roll in there, look how much space is left! NOT A LOT.

Finally, it gets DIRTY easily. In my case, 10feet around where the cage is placed there are wastes, uneaten food, beddings, parts of my hammy's nest... AND IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO CLEAN UP.

So, I high recommend an aquarium. AND, consider this, "If you dun want to keep a hamster anymore, you can use the aquarium for other purposes.." BUT can you do that with CritterTrial? NO. CritterTrial can't even be used for Gerbils because GERBILS would dig through the plastic in a matter of weeks.

Forgot to add something. CritterTrial is half bared half container-like. It's vulnerable to drafts, and it stores up heat pretty badly, which is harzardrous to your hammy!

Conclusion - CritterTrial is the worst possible cage for hammies EVER!

[HundDD]

Oh and you know what? I forgot to add another thing about PETSMART and HOW THEY TREAT THEIR HAMMIES.

What they do is they leave a couple of WW or normal Campbells in a warehouse somewhere with bedding and food and water. They just leave them there to breed. THEREFORE there are a lot of INBREEDS too! Most inbreeds and hybrids cannot reproduce and have health problems!!! once in a while they send people there to pick up whatever they got and ship them across the nation in trucks. Many are ill and die on the way.

DO NOT BUY AT PETSMART!!

[scottme]

WOW i think i got that X one with the wheel on the stick things that make it go round and round on the track so i guess you have that one too im going to try and get alot more add ons so theres more room you know

[scottme]

so they have them at petco because i want a WW because i like the little ones

[scottme]

did you see what the bedding was its up there right before your big long post

[HundDD]

....well it's up to you....

Anywayz, I noticed that you reside in Utah. Which part? I live in ID and I go to SLC a lot..

[scottme]

Brigham it sucks its boring do you have a coment on the bedding because thats what i have right now and if it would kill one then i would want to really buy a new kind

[TobyRat]

If it's pine or cedar do not use it. Find something like Aspen or Carefresh. Also, if you want a dwarf hamster, why don't you get a Campbells?

[HundDD]

Well it's not that bad, it's not like bad bedding will kill your hammy instantly or something...

I've used Pine for a week or so but now I'm using Aspen.

You can always try it on your hammy and if it doesn't work, get some aspen or carefresh. When the nose of your hammy turns red, or if it starts sneezing, change the bedding.

[yodelinghamster]

yes, you should still remember to do a lot of research. Also I have a CT3 and a conected CTR with S.A.M tubes and a lookout etc. with an extra water bottle at the bottom, just in case. I had lots of room to do some costom work. I have a homemade ramp, swaying tube, and rope walkway. And all for one little syrian who LOVES to climb. She couldn't be happier! The quality of the cage is good too, I give her lots to chew on anyway!

[Tumbledown]

This is my own opinion but I prefer large wire cages with a plastic bottom to them.My own cage is nearly 3 feet tall with 3 levels , metal ladders for the hamster(Merlin) to climb on.Water and food on the ground floor,wood shavings to soak up pee(my Hamster pees in two corners of the cage)Plastic house which can be easily washed,loads of cardboard tubes to play in and chew,no need for expensive toys.

The air circulates round the cage better,all plastic homes can cause condensation and are a nuisance to keep clean.My hamster loves climbing up the bars of the cage and then running down the ladders! :D .

The only thing I would really beg anyone not to do is to purchase fluffy cotton wool type synthetic bedding,this can get into the hamsters gut and kill them.It can also get caught round their little toes and legs cutting off circulation.Use water soluable paper nesting material,easily available in the U.K. not sure about U.S.A or Canada,or just tear up some plain white kitchen paper.Oh!one more thing,lol,don't leave your hamster too long in an exercise ball 10 or 15 mins max...Whew! done now.

[yodelinghamster]

I like your av tumbledown, lol!!!

[TiaMaria]

I recommend carefresh, aspen, toilet paper..i use kilned pine, everyone says its bad, but i have no issues with it, and none of my hamsters have ever had any respitory problems..but then again, when someones hamster dies or passes away, the person always blames something like bedding or food..on someone else, when in reality it is there fault because they do not change the bedding regularly or take care of the hamster properly.

[scottme]

thanks i am getting him/her tonight

[Pantamallion]

Since you're new I'll say this right now... if you have questions about any kind of animal, you'll usually get more than one opinion, which leaves you alone to choose what you want to do. So rest assured you'll get varied answers, but good ones :)

All of you are saying petsmart has hamsters that were bred wrong, I have a freind who's had her hamster Chica for a long long time that she got from petsmart and so far nothing has gone wrong with it.

[scottme]

petsmart is the only one that has the one i want hey do you know anything about panda hamsters like the look of them :bread: :tomato: :bread: :tomato:

[TobyRat]

Panda bear hamsters are syrian hamsters (the bigger ones). They are usually black and white.

[LuckyBunny888]

Well it depends on the breed. In the teddy bears I'v had, it tends to be the males who are nicer. They seem to be more lazy which I like. But if you want a really great hamster, get a black bear! I got my first black bear 3 years ago from Pet Supplies Plusand he just recently died this october. We called him Boo and was one of the sweetest hamsters I have ever had. Then about 1 week later b/c I loved Boo so much I decided to get a female to breed to him. Her name was Dolly Levi and we got her at PetSmart. She had 10 beautiful babies and they were all so nice because Dolly was soo comfortable with people she let me take them out even before they were coming out of the nest. She then died about 2 weeks after they went to their new homes. I still had Snoopy, who was the baby I decided to keep. Snoopy is going on 2 years this May 5. Since then she had one litter and has gone to American Pet Idol with me. Its just a small competition over here in Ohio. Shes really smart and I love her do death. So what Im trying to say is male or female doesnt really matter if you get a black bear. Males are just more lazy. Another thing about females is when they go into heat they sometimes smell and can get what I call "Stinky Stuff" on your clothes. Hope that Helps!

[scottme]

i just got my hamster and its so cute i wasnt planing on getting it at petco because i dont like them that much but i just saw clowy (i dont know if you know how to say that but its like clover but clowy) that name i never thought of before but i just saw her fell in love and that name just poped up in my head and she looked at me when i said it so it mush be fate

[Pantamallion]

Ooh congrats! Do you think you can get some pics of this gorgouse hamster of yours for us? And I got the name... Clowy, I like it, I think it's pretty.:cutie: :dazzler: So is it a syrian? You guys are making me want to get a blackbear hamster but of course my dad would never allow it. They sound adorable :)

[scottme]

i was going to get one of them but there 20 BUCKS!! and i saw clowy and had to get her. How do you get pics on here

[scottme]

o sorry Siberian not syrain because its a dawrf one so im pretty shur its Siberian thanks to sergeyone on a diffrent web page

[scottme]

theres a post on the other page that i posted just if you didnt see it

[LuckyBunny888]

Yea, they are 20 bucks thats y I was sooo lucky to find Boo for only 7$, then when I got Dolly, I found out how much they really were but they are sooo worth it! I love my blackies! Their white little paws and chins their adorable!

[scottme]

yha the one i saw was pretty big thou my club is failing :(

[LuckyBunny888]

what club?

[scottme]

http://clubs.wanadoo.co.uk/group/group.cfm?gid=3040034 its about hamsters but no one is joining

[HundDD]

Can't copy the link....this forum is so inconvenient

[LuckyBunny888]

Ill join it sounds like fun! I love hammies!

[scottme]

me too thats why i got one and i want to get more add ons and mybe just one more

[scottme]

can i get her a play mate to play with and a add on would that work or would they fight she is a siberian and is a siberian the same as a WW

[Jiffykat]

Finally, it gets DIRTY easily. In my case, 10feet around where the cage is placed there are wastes, uneaten food, beddings, parts of my hammy's nest... AND IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO CLEAN UP.

So, I high recommend an aquarium. AND, consider this, "If you dun want to keep a hamster anymore, you can use the aquarium for other purposes.." BUT can you do that with CritterTrial? NO. CritterTrial can't even be used for Gerbils because GERBILS would dig through the plastic in a matter of weeks.
Crittertrails are pretty crappy, however, gerbils do not "chew through them." Most of my gerbs, live or lived in crittertrails. All of them chew/ed on the bars. However, only the boys chewed on any other part of the cage and that was only on the crawly tubes and on the saftey ledges on the platforms.

[TobyRat]

can i get her a play mate to play with and a add on would that work or would they fight she is a siberian and is a siberian the same as a WW

I think a siberian is a Campbells. Try this, It can help you know for sure: http://www.hamsterific.com/DwarfHamsters.cfm

[PonyPalJuMpEr]

i had that cage but it wasn't really a good one i traded it in for this other one and i like my new one a WHOLE LOT better...the crittertrailX is not your best choice ! go with a regular wire cageTHERE THE BEST!!!!!!!!! I PROMISE!

[scottme]

yha i guess it is a winter wight well a winter white russian hamster so the sight says so what if i like the plastic and wire ones because you can add to them and i could get an aquarium and have the tubes go into it you know just make it bigger any openions are welcome

[Da One]

Well it's not that bad, it's not like bad bedding will kill your hammy instantly or something...

I've used Pine for a week or so but now I'm using Aspen.

You can always try it on your hammy and if it doesn't work, get some aspen or carefresh. When the nose of your hammy turns red, or if it starts sneezing, change the bedding.

so you mean when your hamster is suffering with a red nose or gets an allergic reaction and starts sneezing, then you shoudl swtich?...... Please, only use Aspen or Carefresh, it is "scientifically proven" to not harm your hamster like pine and cedar do.

[scottme]

i have carefresh in my cage and the pine in my closet i dont know what to do with it

[Jiffykat]

I personally prefer corn cob bedding. It smells kinda funky when you first open the bag, but after it airs out for a minute or two it doesn't smell at all. After a few days it definatly smells better than a carefresh cage. I used to use only care fresh, then my suppsedly only females gerbils had babies and I read that corn cob is the best bedding to have them on, although care fresh is a close second. Anyway now that I have rambled about my gerbils in a hamster forum... I am in here trying to find out information on hamster because I am probably going to be getting one or two tomorrow.

[TobyRat]

I would only use corn cob if I had a pet who was allergic to carefresh and aspen. Even then I would use Eco bedding, shedded newspaper, or yesterdays news before corn cob. Corn cob isn't a bad bedding but I find it grows mold FAST, can be hard on little paws, and I have heard some cases of small animals choking on it.

[Jiffykat]

I have never had it go moldy in a cage. I do put carefresh in there for them to make a bed out of. About the animals choking on it, when I first put the pups on it, they sniffed it a little, but they didn't try to eat it or anything.

[TiaMaria]

Carefresh, aspen and Eco are the best you can use for your hammies...corn cob bedding is too!

[scottme]

ok what about this one once a hamster gets pregnate do they keep haveing babys after like that one animal like it gets pregnate then has babys every ? days/week/month do they dod that

[scottme]

any one know how to put up pics

[theboysmommy]

Hi,
We've had several hammys and bread one too. I would only buy another female to have babies again. The males are so much sweeter and more docile than the females and they never smell. Females cycle every couple weeks and smell when they do. they are very finicky about their beds much more than males.
You should know that pet smart only sells either all females or all males. Be very careful and be sure you hammy does not have wet tail. It is almost impossible to save a hamster that has this. We had several problems with petsmart with hamsters with wet tail.

[scottme]

i got a female her name is cloe but are hamsters like bunnys and have babys every 3 months because petco tryed to sell me one that was pregnant but that question poped in my mind so i was wondering that and how you can put up pic on here?