My DD being bullied. Going to get hamster. Advice please!

[Hamsterthoughts]

So... long story.

Dealing with the school and it will improve.
However I am desperate to do something to make her happier in the interim.

She has been desperate for a hamster for last two years. She’s deeply caring and very responsible, so I have no doubts about her caring for it (with my help)

I’m very house proud though. So that’s concerning!

My questions
What are they like as hamsters?
What’s upkeep like?
Are they affectionate?
Do they smell?!
Best place to keep them?
Best breed to get?

Thanks so much

Breeder stressed no draughts as respiratory vulnerable

They stink, they are noisy at night, they bite.

Been there done that! Never again!

And it's cruel to keep them in a cage that isn't massive.

Get a goldfish

Our hamster was lovely though he escaped and we found him under the floor boards he was a lovely character and we miss him

@girlcrushonvillanelle

They stink, they are noisy at night, they bite.

Been there done that! Never again!

Sorry what Hamster?

I love hamsters but they need MUCH more space than one would think to be happy. My DIY hamster enclosure is far bigger than a store bought cage. Syrians look cuddlier and slower but a russian dwarf (not roborovski) are much better pets. They need less space, accessories designed for hamsters are actually the right size instead if being too small, and they tend to be awake in the morning and earlier evening much more than Syrians.

Syrians are amazing creatures but only if they are housed properly. Then they are very friendly bright and curious. Housed in the tiny cages sold in pet stores they can bar bite, try to escape constanty and be depressed and inactive. Also most hamster wheels are almost always too small- look for a rat wheel.

Dwarves are much easier to please and in my experience they are VERY food oriented which means they are very happy to come and see you for treats.

It's sad hamsters have a reputation for being boring or grumpy but it really is because of how we typically keep them. You would be grumpy too!

I also have pigs and they are hilarious. Loud and poop loads though.

For reference this is my hamster enclosure :) pink wheel in the middle for scale as the ham bat is sleeping 🐹

I ask the question because I have two hamsters and two rats... and neither fit your description

Great choice rats, however we had girls and they were very affectionate. I read that boys dribble wee as they walk around and smell so we got girls!
My sons used to let them roam on their bed and they would actually go in their cage to wee then come out again to play.

@Billericaydicky

Great choice rats, however we had girls and they were very affectionate. I read that boys dribble wee as they walk around and smell so we got girls! My sons used to let them roam on their bed and they would actually go in their cage to wee then come out again to play.

@Billericaydicky

How long did you have them did? Did you get more after they died?
Yes the gender decision is tough!

We got the one lot, when one died we kept the other one on its own, but with loads of handling. We would have got more but my boys got a bit old for little pets at that stage. We'd already had hamsters and Guinea pigs.

The smell and weeing thing I read, completely put me off boys. We had ours out loads and I couldn't cope with wee on the sofa! The girls were a little timid at first but got over it quickly.

Thanks @Billericaydicky

And you and your sons preferred the rats to guinea pigs and hamsters?

My sons preferred rats, as they were intelligent and friendly, then Guinea pigs as they were friendly but not intelligent, they weren't trainable like the rats. Lastly hamsters, they were nocturnal and not friendly at all.

We had some pet rats they were lovely little pets, very friendly. I do think it's important to get rats that have been well handled from babies and put the effort into taming them, but they are quite playful and can be trained to do little tricks. Be careful about letting them run loose or they will chew everything in sight, but make sure they have something to do.

I've been toying with getting rat after DD's hamster.

I love Hamsters and we've been very lucky with ours. Very sweet and they were very spoiled.

I really want a rat though.

So glad you decided on rats. My DD now has 4 - got the first group for the same reason as you.
They are very friendly and fun!

What ate they like at night? Trying to work out best position for cage!

DD’s are active at night. They like to play out of the cage in the evening. Sleep most of the day. She doesn’t mind the noise.

What cage do you have @parrotonmyshoulder

I can’t find our cage online. It’s really big though. We got the first rats from someone who couldn’t have them anymore and the cage came with them. We have a smaller one with our very elderly lady in as she finds the youngsters irritating now. They have free range together but she goes back to her own cage.

Is it multi level?

It has platforms you can add in and take out. Currently we don’t have any in as it’s full of ropes etc. But when they’re older we have platforms and ramps. I’ll see if I’ve got a photo.

Here’s a rubbish photo but shows the kind of thing we put in it. They like lots to run about and climb on

My DC had lots of hamsters, all lovely except for one who was our first. He was black and white which is unusual colouring for a syrian hamster and he was bigger and the pet shop told us to wear gloves when we handled him... we named him Dibley and brought him home, then we gently handled him, he was ok but then it was like a scene from the excorcist, I turned round and saw blood spurting out of my sons finger as he spun round with Dibley attached. I suspect he wasnt actually a pure hamster as the others we had were so lovely and gentle. Or he could have been older and not used to being handled.