Hi, I'm currently rodentless, but soon I hope to be a first time Hamster owner.

I've recently decided that in a few months when I move into a bigger room I'm going to get a hamster(s) to care for. I had initially decided upon a pair of dwarf hamsters (possibly Roborovskii) but recently after visiting the pet store again (I had to go back and have another awww moment, plus look at cages/books on offer) the Syrian hamsters also caught my eye.

And now after doing a bit more research online into the different breeds I'm starting to think a Syrian hamster might be a better Hamster for me (obviously I am aware that individual temperament can play a key role):

1) Supposedly robo's may be a little bit more skittish and more a watch then play with breed. Though I do like to think of myself as being mature and the like, I would like a pet I can handle more often, or just have laying on my bed and being cute. As a former student I’m well aware of the fun of sleep, so though I say I’d like one I could handle more, I obviously don’t mean I’d be waking him/her up and constantly trying to play

2) I can be a bit clumsy. Not "whoops I just crushed him/her" clumsy, but I'd always be worried about losing the dwarf hamster whenever it was out of its cage. Plus I can be a bit slow to react to things/cumbersome at times so a small fast hamster at a height (e.g. bed or desk) could be in trouble if he heads for a place to take a fall

3) On a more silly note just like me syrians are more solitary animals


In all honestly I’d like a pet that can “amuse” me and make me adore him/her just by watching them in their cage, while at other times having the hamster(s) out on my bed or something to explore and cuddle with perhaps when watching TV, or just letting them have some exploration time.

I find myself leaning more towards the Syrian breed now, but at the same time having a pair to watch playing would be quite adorable. It seems to be trying to decide between the cuteness of a pair or having one hamster to dedicate all my time to and interact with more.


So what would your suggestions be? Both Dwarfs and Syrians have caught my heart, but it'd probably come down to which are better for a person like me who'd want to interact more often with my pet then just observe in a cage.

Obviously after browsing this forum I realize the best answer could be to get both (and make sure they never come into contact with each other) but there’s no way my parents would be happy with that My dad still doesn’t like the idea of “rodents in the house” >.>

Thanks for any help

Get a syrian.

My robos are cute, but to be honest don't like coming out to play and frequently hide when I'm in the room. I can pick them up and cuddle them, but it took a long time to learn how to and I don't think they appreciate it. Although some people seem to get on fantastically with their robos.

My russians are cute to watch interact with each other, and you can handle them, but they aren't as clumsy proof and mine nibble when they've had enough.

Chinese are supposedly cute and climb dangle off your fingers. However the only one I had was disabled, older and previously abused and wanted to be left alone in his cage.

Most syrians are fairly bomb proof. Though if you are only getting one make sure you can handle it before you get it home. I was lucky my first syrians were friendly from day one. If I'd ended up with Sunshine first off I think it would have put me off hamsters. I have 6 syrians. 2 are super friendly and cuddly, two are very cuddly - but I'm not convinced they fully like human interaction, one is an attack hamster - though getting better and one is friendly but still not tamed. I can handle and play with all of them, but Smokey needs watching or she'll jump and run and Sunshine likes the taste of human. I don't mind getting the scared rejects these days as I have other hamsters to play with while they are settling in and getting tamer. It would be very frustrating to have just one unfriendly hamster so make sure you can handle it before you buy/rescue/adopt it.

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I think a Syrian would suit you well. I have both, and honestly, I much more enjoy owning the Syrian's than the robos, because as cute as they are, they are skittish and jumpy, even with a lot of handling (although I do know of ones who aren't like this). I've never met a worried Syrian, they are usually outgoing and cheeky

Plus, who can resist this little face!

Doughnut's first strawberry! by Chocolate Bubbles, on Flickr

Only thing is, Syrian's do need larger cages, I recommend anything over 60cm, but the larger the better really The Ferplast Duna Multy is a guinea pig cage, but great for Syrian's at a good price!

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Photography

I'd recommend a Syrian for a first timer

Bigger and easier to handle, also if you get more than one dwarf hamster then more often than not, they end up falling out eventually and have to be separated, which means 2 cages and double the work.

Defo a Syrian

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R.I.P Buster - Causing mischief over the bridge, sleep tight soldier

Yeah I too would recommend a Syrian. But go to a breeder and they will have probably handled the babies more than most pet shops!!

They are really full of personality. And less quick. I have dwarfs too but although one jumps on my hand...most don't...they tend to run. And yes Syrians are solitary! xx

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MY ZOO-LET
Syrian: Dini
Winter Whites: Alaska, Apollo, Hero and Ares
Bunnies: Saffy, Gus, Cookie and Cream and 5 babies!!
Piggies: Bubble and Squeak

RIP Tilly, Thom, Tiny, Cassius, Stuart Little, George, Baby Pom (Mice), Melvin (Chameleon) Harry (Cambells Russian) Charlie and Roma (Syrians) Eros (Winter White) Jet, Rainbow and Angel (Rabbits) Neva (Ratty girl)

Thanks for the help! I have been thinking a Syrian probably would be a better choice for me, but I thought I should check with people who actually have experience first

Also I've been wondering, would anyone suggest a specific gender? So far the only major difference from my research seems to be one gender is a bit larger then the other.

Smell would be an important difference, as my dad is frequently mentioning that when grumbling about me owning a hamster, plus of course he/she will be living in my room. Though of course so far it would appear if I do my job and clean the cage ~once a week there should be a happy hammy and a happy me


At this moment I would prefer a female for one silly reason- I have a host of female name ideas, but I'm struggling with male ones But then I am worried about if I get a female who by accident is pregnant...but then again that should be pretty rare right?


edit: regarding cages I'm trying to find the largest but nicest one I can (within a budget of £40-60ish). If I'm going to have a pet, I want to have a happy pet

Females tend to smell more than males, they come into season every 4 days, so have a smelly day, and just in general, smell a bit more, no matter how often you clean them! Of course there are exceptions to this rule, but males don't come into season I personally prefer males, my females have all been really bratty, and my Doughnut is smellier than previous females, but it might just be because she lives with 2 males!

As for cages, I recommend this...
Cages : Ferplast Duna 'Multy' Guinea Pig / Hamster Cage + FREE DELIVERY : www.EquineCanineFeline.com the place to buy all your Pet Products, Horse Products and Pet Supplies online

Have you considered a rescue hammy? There's always lots needing homes as kids get bored of them rather quickly. If you want a baby, I recommend going to a breeder, as pet shop hamsters are usually just bred with profit in mind and not health, and I have lost count how many times I have heard of people getting hamsters from pet shops and dying shortly after.

This has happened to me 3 times in the past year, and now, I avoid them like the plague.

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I have males and females.. I would defo say the boys are a bit slower and lazier... making them much more easy to handle..

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Hamsters basically don't smell. They keep themselves clean and as long as you clean the cage out once a week then it should be proactically odourless. Yes females come into season every four(ish) day which can give off an odour...but certainly not strong enough to irritate anyone else!

Cage wise I would tend to go a little bigger than the one mentioned only as they are very active creatures. At least three tiered Imac Fantasy,

Imac Fantasy with extension (3 floors) and accessories on eBay (end time 30-Oct-10 12:15:41 BST)

the Hamster heaven is great,

Hamster Heaven cage on eBay (end time 30-Oct-10 11:49:48 BST)

I have one in a Leon cage

Large Leon small animal cage (hamsters,mice,gerbils) on eBay (end time 31-Oct-10 16:16:10 GMT)

and even the large zoozone (40" plus one) though this would mean creating a lot of room!

ZooZone Rabbit Guinea Pig Habitat Cage Box Blue Large on eBay (end time 19-Nov-10 12:30:49 GMT)

Hope this helps xx

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MY ZOO-LET
Syrian: Dini
Winter Whites: Alaska, Apollo, Hero and Ares
Bunnies: Saffy, Gus, Cookie and Cream and 5 babies!!
Piggies: Bubble and Squeak

RIP Tilly, Thom, Tiny, Cassius, Stuart Little, George, Baby Pom (Mice), Melvin (Chameleon) Harry (Cambells Russian) Charlie and Roma (Syrians) Eros (Winter White) Jet, Rainbow and Angel (Rabbits) Neva (Ratty girl)

Maybe a syrian for the first hamster?

I've got a chinese dwarf and they're great

very friendly and inquisitive..

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