Where to get a hamster (and what kind of hamster)?

[Medea]

I'm in London. I contacted a breeder that was recommended, but they won't have any hamsters for months. I'd like to get one now, though, as I've promised my daughter she'd have one in January. Are pet shops reliable for hamsters? If so, does anyone know a good one in London? Or a list of breeders? The internet hasn't been very helpful.

Also: what type do you recommend--Dwarf? Syrian?

Many thanks.

Geez. So everything one has heard about NYC is appparently true! Glad the humans are winning though! In your shoes, I wouldn't be able to contemplate a rat as a pet either and I think that, in the circumstances, it is brave of you to contemplate any kind of rodent, in fact! Good luck with the hamster - I am sure that you will be delighted with him/her!

We had a very sweet dwarf hamster who, despite growing quite plump, still managed to squeeze through the bars of the cage twice. First time, she was lucky and we found her hiding from the cats in an Action Man tank on ds's floor. Second time she wasn't so lucky

Robos can squash themselves flat and get through any wire cage. The only cages that are safe for them are the big Duma ones where they can't reach the wire at the top.

Gives them plenty of room to rush about in though.

'Fancy' rats look nothing like sewer crawlers. They're smaller and much much prettier. SO looking forward to getting some more this year . I'd post a pic but wouldn't want to upset anyone

pictures of our robos on my profile.

I miss them

UPDATE FROM MEDEA

(Always nice to be updated, I reckon.)

I bought a hamster from a breeder in East London, even though it was a several-weeks wait.

I liked the breeder a lot and the hamsters (all Syrian) were very cute.

Amazingly the hamsterwho seemed robust and happy in his new homedropped dead after 1 week. He was well looked after. Cause of death mystery. (Not 'wet tail' or any other illness by the looks of it-- much too sudden.)

Then someone tipped me off that Harrods has a pet store, so just we bought a hamster from there. (Slightly cheaper than from the breeder: £10.)

I hope this one lives longer; my kids were pretty traumatized.

Thanks again for the suggestions when I first posted.

yah you got a hamster, tho that died after a week

didnt know harrolds sold hammies and was cheaper than abredder?

hammies are about £8 from petshops, breeders are normally about £10, esp if pedigree

my 1st hammy was a pedigree, his great great great great great grandfather was in a hammy show and won 1st prize for nice temperamtn and coat/markings

So there's always pets at home and if you want just type in hamsters near me and their will be lots of options snd for kids I would recommend Syrians but Its really up to you look at the pros and cons of each breeds and you'll learn alot