Pet hamster costs
Discussion
Have been told that I'm getting 2 dwarf hamsters for Christmas, loving the idea, but thinking ahead about the cost of feed etc.
Never having had them before, outside of the initial/one off costs of cage,toys etc, what are the general monthly costs for them (feed. bedding etc) and would you worry about pet insurance for them?
Never having had them before, outside of the initial/one off costs of cage,toys etc, what are the general monthly costs for them (feed. bedding etc) and would you worry about pet insurance for them?
mikef said:
Mutley said:
Have been told that I'm getting 2 dwarf hamsters for Christmas, loving the idea, but thinking ahead about the cost of feed etc
In that case, whatever you do, never even think about getting a horse
, and am not intending to put a saddle on the hamster.Munter, thanks, helps having a tangible idea of cost.
Edited by Mutley on Wednesday 10th November 21:54
Don't worry re: pet insurance, howver do put a few quid to one side every month for a just in case, hammys do get ill, get lumps and bumps, eye/ skin conditions which can all be treated however whilst the cost should be a lot lower than cats/ dogs etc it can still add up a bit, so it'd be a comfort to have a fund just in case.
Hamsters have no fear, it gets them in trouble.I did send a hamstet flying once, in front of it's owners!! A truly horrifying moment for me, it was an aggressive little s
t (the owners knew this which is why they wouldn't hold it) vet was trying to clip it's nails. I've handled hamsters for yrs of varying temperaments and been bitten before but I'd never sent one flying before or since. Hamster was fine, owners were fine I was not I felt dreadful!Thanks for all the constructive comments, and it wouldn't be PH without the sarcasm
Hamsters have no fear, it gets them in trouble.
I did send a hamstet flying once, in front of it's owners!! A truly horrifying moment for me, it was an aggressive little st (the owners knew this which is why they wouldn't hold it) vet was trying to clip it's nails. I've handled hamsters for yrs of varying temperaments and been bitten before but I'd never sent one flying before or since. Hamster was fine, owners were fine I was not I felt dreadful! they are resiliant creatures, and yes, because you've sent little hammy flying you feel bad - I would, hammy just thinks 'that was fun, lets do it again!' ;-)
bexVN said:
Hamsters have no fear, it gets them in trouble.I did send a hamstet flying once, in front of it's owners!! A truly horrifying moment for me, it was an aggressive little s
t (the owners knew this which is why they wouldn't hold it) vet was trying to clip it's nails. I've handled hamsters for yrs of varying temperaments and been bitten before but I'd never sent one flying before or since. Hamster was fine, owners were fine I was not I felt dreadful! they are resiliant creatures, and yes, because you've sent little hammy flying you feel bad - I would, hammy just thinks 'that was fun, lets do it again!' ;-)I had a couple of russian dwarf hamsters when I was a kid. Looked very cute but were, unfortunately, positively evil with a taste for blood. Your highest cost may be chainmail gloves and plasters.
Perhaps mine weren't typical of the breed, but might be worth a little research into their temperament just in case. Normal hamsters on the other hand are lovely.
Perhaps mine weren't typical of the breed, but might be worth a little research into their temperament just in case. Normal hamsters on the other hand are lovely.
The Mrs has had a couple of pairs of russian dwarfs. The first two (felix and chester) were worlds apart. We think Chester was doomed from birth. WE don't think he could see well, was never happy and never seemed comfortable and had diorreah from day 1. We took him to the vets a couple of times, but one night the OH found a lump on him, and he was dead the next day. He was aonly a few months old. Felic on the other hand was the nicest, friendliest Hamster i've ever seen, and had a great personality. Never bit, always came to say hello and loved to be held. He died at a healthy year and a half, and was going strong right up until his last day.
The next and current pair (Percy and Charlie) are very different again. Charlie is a wimp, and squeaks a lot and when they're eating is terrified of percy stealing his food. Charlie does nibble your fingers too. Percy is a bit of a bully, but doesn't bite and is nice. We think Charlie was the runt of the litter, he was tiny when we got him! They live in the same cage felix (and chester for his short time) did, but they do completely different things in it. These ones are nutters!! climbing on the roof etc.
Expect them to fight, and squeak similar to a dogs toy kind of noise. Ours bikcer a lot, but have had a few serious fights with little bite inuries. Be prepared to seperate them if this continous. Ours seemed to have calmed down now.
If you want them to be friendly handle them loads when they're young! Give them a few days to settle in, bu then get them out all the time. They will be scared, and probabaly bite a bit at first. The trick is to expect this. Its doesn't really hurt, its just more of a shock so if you react and quickly withdraw your hand you can really scare the hamster, which will not help in terms of making them friendly. Literally handle them as much as you can, let them run around in a ball, or in a pen and interact with them. this is the trick to have nice ones you can handle, comaped to ones you are scared of for the entire time they're with you.
A bag of hamster food costs about 2 squids and will last forever. Like wise sawdust, a few coins and last a while as they don't need loads like a gerbil for example.
The next and current pair (Percy and Charlie) are very different again. Charlie is a wimp, and squeaks a lot and when they're eating is terrified of percy stealing his food. Charlie does nibble your fingers too. Percy is a bit of a bully, but doesn't bite and is nice. We think Charlie was the runt of the litter, he was tiny when we got him! They live in the same cage felix (and chester for his short time) did, but they do completely different things in it. These ones are nutters!! climbing on the roof etc.
Expect them to fight, and squeak similar to a dogs toy kind of noise. Ours bikcer a lot, but have had a few serious fights with little bite inuries. Be prepared to seperate them if this continous. Ours seemed to have calmed down now.
If you want them to be friendly handle them loads when they're young! Give them a few days to settle in, bu then get them out all the time. They will be scared, and probabaly bite a bit at first. The trick is to expect this. Its doesn't really hurt, its just more of a shock so if you react and quickly withdraw your hand you can really scare the hamster, which will not help in terms of making them friendly. Literally handle them as much as you can, let them run around in a ball, or in a pen and interact with them. this is the trick to have nice ones you can handle, comaped to ones you are scared of for the entire time they're with you.
A bag of hamster food costs about 2 squids and will last forever. Like wise sawdust, a few coins and last a while as they don't need loads like a gerbil for example.
Edited by balders118 on Thursday 11th November 08:38
Had several when I was young, one was so evil it was renamed Fang! Get a rat instead 
Poor thing
Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff