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As pets go hamsters are fairly easy to take care of. Hamsters require no walking, are not particularly dirty or stinky, they are small and don't take up much space and are generally inexpensive. Hamsters are also fairly hearty animals and can be a very good pet for a child or a family with several children. There are however, two distinct choices when it comes to adopting a hamster for your family, and that is the dwarf hamster and the syrian hamster. I spoke with Ken Brocx, the founder of Hamsterific.com, an authoritative hamster and small pet website about this question and what his recommendations would be to someone considering adopting a hamster but not knowing exactly which route is best for his/her family.
Andy Markison:
Thanks Ken for taking the time to speak to us. First of all,
let's assume a family with a young child or children (let's
assume around seven or eight years of age for this example) is
considering adopting a hamster or hamsters for their home. Would
you personally recommend either a dwarf hamster or a syrian
hamster in this case?
Ken Brocx:
Typically I would recommend a syrian hamster for younger
children. Dwarf hamsters are smaller which can make them harder
to handle. Also, if a dwarf manages to get loose they are faster
than syrians and thus harder to catch. Syrians tend to be more
docile if they are properly raised.
AM:
Syrian hamsters are supposed to be solitary once they are weaned,
but that's not the case with dwarf hamsters is it?
KB:
No. Most dwarf hamsters prefer some company, but that means more
space. That can be a problem since many commercial cages are too
small for more than one hamster, even a dwarf hamster.
AM:
Is there any reason to purchase a dwarf hamster solitarily? Or
would it be better to adopt two dwarfs rather than one?
KB:
In the wild dwarf hamsters live in colonies, so I prefer to keep
them that way. A dwarf hamster on it's own will need a lot of
attention to keep it from getting depressed.
AM:
If you initially purchase a dwarf hamster and later wish to
introduce a second (or third) dwarf hamster would that be
possible or are you asking for conflicts with such an
introduction?
KB:
It depends on the particular dwarf hamster and on how long they
have been alone. If a dwarf hamster has been on it's own for more
than a month I find it is very difficult to introduce a new
cagemate. Young dwarf hamsters will accept a new hamster much
more readilly than an older dwarf hamster. Also dwarf hamsters
tend to socialize better with siblings than with strange or
unfamiliar hamsters.
AM:
Are dwarf hamsters generally less hearty creatures than
syrians?
KB:
Both dwarf and syrian hamsters are very hardy creatures. Dwarf
hamsters have been domesticated for a much shorter time than
syrians, and because of that there has been less of an
opportunity for them to become inbred. Inbreeding can cause many
problems with the health of any breed of hamster. In syrians this
often results in a hamster that is difficult to tame. In dwarf
hamsters it is very common to see diabetes in inbred pups.
AM:
What kind of equipment would you recommend someone about to adopt
a hamster get for their hamster's new home?
KB:
Hamsters need a constant supply of clean water, a food bowl
that's heavy enough that it won't tip over when a hamster is
crawling on it, a wheel for exercise and a "nest" where they can
feel secure. Wheels aren't just toys. A hamster in the wild can
run several miles a night marking it's territory and looking for
food and the only way we can duplicate that in a confined space
is a wheel. In the wild hamsters live in burrows underground. For
nesting a hamster needs a place where it feels it can retreat
from danger. A hamster without a nest will feel insecure and
nervous.
AM:
What are the life spans of dwarfs and syrian hamsters?
KB:
Dwarfs usually live 2-4 years depending on breed, living
conditions and genetic disposition. Syrians live about 2-3
years.
AM:
What would you suggest someone look for when purchasing or
adopting a hamster?
KB:
The most important things are the hamsters health and
personality. The color, long hair and pretty eyes won't matter
much if you have a sick hamster. Look for clean and dry fur,
especially around the butt of the hamster, stressed hamsters can
get Wet Tail, which is a deadly type of diarrhea. Wet Tail can
spread to surrounding cages and it can be very difficult to
sterilize an area after an outbreak. Personality is very
important, too. If you pick an outgoing hamster that doesn't mind
being held you're probably going to have a much easier time
taming and making friends with him or her.
AM:
Is there a reason to adopt a hamster(s) from a breeder rather
than a pet store?
KB:
Professional breeders usually take great care in ensuring their
hamsters are not inbred. Inbreeding can result in many health and
personality problems. Many pet stores buy from these same
breeders, although some may just let their hamsters breed in the
store leading to rampant inbreeding and hamsters with poor
health. Also, just because a person has lots of hamsters and
sells them does not mean they are a quality professional breeder.
Don't forget to check your local shelters, too. Animal shelters
often have hamsters that need good homes.
AM:
Is the diet of the syrian significantly different than that of a
dwarf? I know, for example, that giving dwarf hamsters fruit that
may be high in sugar could be problematic because dwarfs may be
more likely to become diabetic.
KB:
Other than that, syrians and dwarfs have similar diets.
AM:
What is "heat" exactly? It's related to nuts in some way isn't it
or is it related to other types of foods as well? And does "heat"
affect a syrian and dwarf the same way?
KB:
Well, there are two types of "heat". "Heat" can be the term for
when a female hamster comes into season, but you are talking
about the condition that affects hamsters that eat too many fatty
foods. That type of "heat" is usually caused by an owner who
wants to feed their hamster a treat, usually sunflower seeds, and
goes overboard. Too much oil, like that in sunflower seeds, can
cause a hamster's metabolism to speed up and cause them to lose
hair. That's "heat" and I've only seen it in dwarf hamsters.
AM:
Any last words, warnings, recommendations or other thoughts in
general that you'd like to share with someone who is interested
in adopting a hamster?
KB:
Health and personality are the most important things in buying a
new hamster, buy the biggest home for your hamster you can, never
put two syrian hamsters together, and play with your hamster as
often as you can!
Interview with Ken Brocx, founder of Hamsterific.com an authoritative website on hamsters and other small pets.
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