questions

[phillip]

now i have £30 i cAN SPENd on either getting a mice or hamster still dont know what one so would this be enough for 2 hamsters right price and that

[Leahv1]

It depends on what kind of hamster. If you want a big one ie: a Syrian they HAVE to live alone.

But if you want 2 of the smaller ones ie: Dwarves, they can live together. Please do as much research as possible.

[phillip]

ok i am doing research it depends on what my lps has

i went today but flippiun shut soo

ok mice or hamsters

[looroll destroy]

now i have £30 i cAN SPENd on either getting a mice or hamster still dont know what one so would this be enough for 2 hamsters right price and that

is that £30 on the actual animals or £30 for animal Cage, bedding etc.

[phillip]

well yes £30 for cage and i have £5 for hamsters

[Leahv1]

DON'T get the animal till you know everything you need to. Wait a few weeks, continue to do research. These animals need alot of research done.

[phillip]

well what do i need to reasearch

[Leahv1]

Housing, food, bedding, which gender you want, what illnesses they can get, how big the tank/cage has to be, etc.
Don't EVER get an animal on impluse. Its dangerious for you and the animal.

[phillip]

well i cant see much on that got any links

[Leahv1]

No, but if you go to google and type in like "hamster care"
That should bring some stuff up.
You can also browse on some of the past pages on here.

[phillip]

well ilkl do that tommoz

what is most important to know

[Leahv1]

The most important is probably are you perpaired for vet bills?
You can not have a cage or tank smaller then 20 inches long by 12 inches width.
Do NOT use pine or cedar as they cause respitory infections.
Aspen is the best bedding to use.
Don't use Kaytee food. theres a perseritive in it that has been linked to causing cancer.
Any questions inparticular?

[phillip]

erm well i was thinking go into shop get the cage the hamster then get the food with it and that everytrhing i need and theyl hopefully tell me if its not rightand just get the same all the time then

[phillip]

well get the cage and hamsters then get tthe food etc and get the same all the time sure they will tell me if not suibatble

[Leahv1]

Most petstore people have no idea what they are doing. That why YOU have to do the research.

[phillip]

ok well if i go in and get hamser food will it say suible for the ones i have

[Leahv1]

Do you even know what kind of hamster you want?
Can you take it to the vet when it is sick?

[phillip]

the hamster in the store forgot the name get it tommoz

there is a vet just up the road

[Leahv1]

Please do more research first. If you don't do research you could end up with a sick hamster, or one that bites, ect.
Can i ask how old you are? Are your parents ok with you getting this type of animal?

[phillip]

yes there fine im 32

[PetLuver21257]

Ok phillip, this is what you need for a healthy happy hamster:

Food- Which ever food they are feeding the hamster at the petstore.

http://www.arcatapet.com/images/4319.jpg

Food Bowl- Get a ceramic one.

http://www.bunnyrescue.org/bowlpicsm.jpg

Water Bottle- Get any kind, as long as it works.

http://www.havahart.com/store/Assets/product_images/3274.gif

Cage- I prefer glass aquariums, 10 gallons for 1 or 2 dwarves and 20 gallons for a syrian. You need a screen top and clips with an aquarium.

http://www.qualitycage.com/pics/10tank.jpg

(Like the bottom part)

Bedding- I now switched from Aspen to Carefresh. Carefresh is softer, smells nicer, and absorbs more.

http://www.qualitycage.com/pics/carefresh.jpg

Wheel- Use either a plastic wheel, or a wire one with horizontal and vertical wires.

http://www.petdiscounters.com/files/images/d_4507.jpg

Wooden House- Any kind would work, no plastic houses.

http://www.arcatapet.com/fullsize/7712.jpg

Toys- Tubes, cardboard, ladders, fun stuff!

http://h4hamster.sgpets.org/picts/toys.gif

Some of the stuff depends on what hamster you are getting, if you are getting a Syrian, some of this stuff varies, and if you are getting a dwarf, it varies also.

I like dwarves better because they are smaller and can live with other dwarves, and are (I think) cuter... ;)

[phillip]

pet luver thank you so much that is great thanks

[PetLuver21257]

You are very welcome! :)

What kind of hammie are you going to get? A syrian or one of the kind or dwarves. I personally would choose a dwarf or two of the same sex because they are small and cute! Also, I need to know because the items vary with the hamster and if you are going to get 2 dwarves! :D

Syrian:
http://hometown.aol.com/theriverrd/m_augie.jpg
Dwarf:
http://www.petoftheday.com/archive/2005/July/19.jpg

[phillip]

yes it will prob be dwarfes

[PetLuver21257]

Ok, so then I guess you will be getting 2 dwarves. Very good choice! :D

The aquarium tank can be 10-20 gallons for 2 dwarves. By the way, in the picture that I showed you for the aquarium tank, the "cage topper" (The wire part) isn't necessary. But you do need a screen top and clips:

Clips: http://www.petco.com/assets/product_images/4/4566380592A.jpg


All the other stuff is fine for dwarves.
Good Luck!!
And when you are buying your hamsters, make sure that the petstore actually checks the hamster when saying it's a male or a female. Make sure the hamster has bright eyes, is energetic, and looks happy and healthy, and make sure you get 2 sisters or 2 brothers! Yay, I am so excited for you! :)

[phillip]

lol thanks by the way will a cage round this big be big enough

oh it wont let me copy and paste wel its measurments are 21.25 h
12.75 d
18 w

[babygirl159]

i would say hamsters cuz you would have to get a aquearium or however you spell it cuz mice will chew threw plastic

[phillip]

will they well if so we have a problem

[Leahv1]

Mice do not chew through plastic.
If you are getting dwarves from a petstore be perpaired for alot of bitting. You will have to hold them everyday for at least 15 minutes.

[phillip]

why do they bite a lot

would hamsters be better

[Leahv1]

dwarf hamsters, they are hamsters.
alot of dwarves bite because they don't get held that often.
And they need to be held everyday to tstay tame. If you don't hold them everyday they will start biting.

[phillip]

ok will they stop after a while

so what would you get defo thats the better one for a pet

[Leahv1]

Well i personally like mice, but syrian hamsters are also nice, bbut i also know of many people that have had great success with dwarf hamsters, i just won't own any again. It is really up to you.
So do as much research on them, and see which one fits you best.

[phillip]

ok ta ill look

[PetLuver21257]

Leahv1: If you don't hold them everyday they will start biting.
That is not true! I got my dwarf from a petstore and I held her the first day I had her and she was a little angel, she didn't even give me a nip! She was perfect! And I went on vacation for 2 weeks without her (My dad was feeding her) and nobody held her until I came home and when I held her, she didn't bite me at all!!!!!

Yes, it is true that they become "wild" if not held everyday or so, but it depends on the hamster. Some are natural biters and some are natural sweeties! But if you get a syrian, it can be a biter too and that is no different than a dwarf biter. It doesn't matter what kind of hamster it is.

phillip: Yes, like Leahv1 said, it is up to you to choose which kind of hamster you want, but I would definatly choose 1 or 2 dwarves for sure! Like I said before, it depends on the hamster when it comes to biting. If you get a natural "sweetie" (you know a really nice hamster) it stays nice for almost it's whole life! But if you get a biter, well unless you tame it, it is a biter for the rest of it's life.

So do reaseach on the web and I would personally go with a dwarf... And take it from me, I own a dwarf, and they are great little pets! Good luck!

[babygirl159]

Leahv1:
That is not true! I got my dwarf from a petstore and I held her the first day I had her and she was a little angel, she didn't even give me a nip! She was perfect! And I went on vacation for 2 weeks without her (My dad was feeding her) and nobody held her until I came home and when I held her, she didn't bite me at all!!!!!

Yes, it is true that they become "wild" if not held everyday or so, but it depends on the hamster. Some are natural biters and some are natural sweeties! But if you get a syrian, it can be a biter too and that is no different than a dwarf biter. It doesn't matter what kind of hamster it is.

phillip: Yes, like Leahv1 said, it is up to you to choose which kind of hamster you want, but I would definatly choose 1 or 2 dwarves for sure! Like I said before, it depends on the hamster when it comes to biting. If you get a natural "sweetie" (you know a really nice hamster) it stays nice for almost it's whole life! But if you get a biter, well unless you tame it, it is a biter for the rest of it's life.

So do reaseach on the web and I would personally go with a dwarf... And take it from me, I own a dwarf, and they are great little pets! Good luck! I totally agree! :p