Mice & hamsters

[Goldilookingchains]

Ds has been asking for a hamster for over a year now. I'm happy to get him one, however I'm pretty sure we have mice in the house, so was just wondering how that would work with a hamster?

Obviously I wouldn't want the mouse to get in the cage and being a rodent, would the smell of a hamster entice the mice?

Also if I used a sonic wall plug in would it affect the hamster?

How old is he and why does he want one? They really are not very good pets, especially for young children. Hamsters bite and they're nocturnal so it's not like he can play with it.

Remember it's a living creature, not a toy.

Yes I do understand it's not a toy, which is why I haven't just gone out and bought him one just because he wants it.

He wants one because he loves animals, he has read everything about them so he & I both know what their habits are.

My Ds bought a hamster with his first ever wages from a paper round. Despite grave promises to look after it, clean its cage etc, the novelty soon wore off. I had to take over🙄
He kept the cage in his room.. without realising hamsters are nocturnal... so it lived in the corner of the kitchen. Then we had bloody mice😲 attracted by the food/ rodenty smell / invitations to party with the hamster! Took weeks to get rid of the damn mice!
It bit him and me, and piddled in his bed (what a stench!) then after less than 2 years the hamster died, causing floods of tears.
As a ‘pet’ they are not exactly pettable! Generally they don’t like being handled, aren’t affectionate like a dog or cat and, when all’s said and done... they are still a ruddy rodent!

Forgot to say, Ds was 13 when he got the hamster, we had already loved and lost a rabbit.

Have you thought about pet rats? They are very clever and love being around people. They aren't nocturnal either.

solomon theyre good with being handled once tame, but they take a lot of time and patience, hence I agree they're rubbish pets for children.

They're the thin end of the wedge.
DD has a hamster and is currently talking me up to a dog!

OP - There's a 'small pets' board which is very helpful.

I think kids only want a hamster because they are not allowed a better pet.
Growing up in my household we had:
Hamsters
Goldfish
Tropical fish
Rabbits
Labrador
Horse

The pets that were the best were the dogs/horse because although they were a bigger commitment at least they gave something back!

What I really wanted was a cat - I couldn't because my sister was allergic - so I had rabbits/hamsters. Hamsters were terrible pets.

Now I'm older I have my beloved cat, it was the first thing I got when I moved into my first permanent home. She was a rescue, so didn't have to train her - apart from the cat flap - and she is so low-maintenance and so loving/rewarding!
I also have a dog - higher maintenance (again a rescue, I've done the puppy thing and it's hard work! And I prefer to rescue) she's not much work, and very fun/rewarding.
I would find cleaning a hamster cage out once/twice a week much more work that my dog/cat because I walk/run anyway so the dog walking isn't too much of a bind - even in the winter because my dog loves it so much I get a lift from her joy.

My advice: upgrade to a dog / cat.