Those hamsters must be pretty old BB. I thought they only lived about 4 years anyway.
We bought two for the kids when they were little. The first thing we learned was that the female is just like a lot of girls I know. When she's ready it's, come and get me big boy. She would squat down with her hiney up in the air until he did. The other 99% of the time she's like, come near me you son of a b**ch and I'll kill you. He was just like your average teenage boy, he wouldn't stay away. We had to get another cage to keep him alive.
We bought two for the kids when they were little. The first thing we learned was that the female is just like a lot of girls I know. When she's ready it's, come and get me big boy. She would squat down with her hiney up in the air until he did. The other 99% of the time she's like, come near me you son of a b**ch and I'll kill you. He was just like your average teenage boy, he wouldn't stay away. We had to get another cage to keep him alive.
Yikes....i spoke to soon. My son called me just a few minutes ago and told me that his beloved Twix had passed away :'( My daughter in law is so distraught that she couldn't go to work today. (come on now). I don't know if a passing of a hamster warrants a whole day off from work, but whom am i? %-) %-) Now she says it's just a matter of time before gummi bear leaves this world 8-| 8-| She wants it cremated, then when the other one goes, she wants them together, where? I don't know, i can only guess!! My son is trying to be understanding but..........there has to be a limit someplace.
Anyway, with proper and vigiliant care and hygiene, these little rodents can live a long and healthy life, as you see here, Twix was over 6 years old.
And yes, njoynlife, hamsters are rodents, just like gerbils or rats or anything else like that. They live to breed. If a male and a female share the same home you can bet that she will have one litter after another. We had 2 gerbils which we thought were both males. One morning i heard a very faint peeping noise in their room, sure enough, she dropped 7 little pink baby's. The father had killed one of them before we could confine him to his own seperate dwelling. Mom refused to take care of the runt, we tried to feed it but she killed it anyway. Needless to say, we gave them ALL away, cage and all :-|
Anyway, with proper and vigiliant care and hygiene, these little rodents can live a long and healthy life, as you see here, Twix was over 6 years old.
And yes, njoynlife, hamsters are rodents, just like gerbils or rats or anything else like that. They live to breed. If a male and a female share the same home you can bet that she will have one litter after another. We had 2 gerbils which we thought were both males. One morning i heard a very faint peeping noise in their room, sure enough, she dropped 7 little pink baby's. The father had killed one of them before we could confine him to his own seperate dwelling. Mom refused to take care of the runt, we tried to feed it but she killed it anyway. Needless to say, we gave them ALL away, cage and all :-|
yeah chew toys are important my three need some i did have two of these chew toys and summer (who passed away a few months ago was always chjewing until it fell to bits lol. i give my hamsters these treats that you can clip to the top of the cage and they chew it its good exercise and good for teeth and it is so funny watching them get the food off it fudge was hanging up side down on it once and crystal my youngest swings on hers :-D
They are using that as a swing, aren't they. :-)
Do take them out side? Do they like to play in the grass?
Do take them out side? Do they like to play in the grass?
well she only did it once i have never let them outside cos there are loads of cats here :-D
And they don't like cats do they? :-) Just kidding.
Well take good care of them as you have for now. If you have some interesting story about them feel free to write it anytime you want.
Well take good care of them as you have for now. If you have some interesting story about them feel free to write it anytime you want.
I just thought about this. Are they like rabbits? Do they need something hard to chew on to keep their front teeth from growing so long they can't close their mouth?
I had a rabbit when I was a kid and I learned to trim his teeth with wire cutters if/when they got too long. I think the vet. showed me how.
I had a rabbit when I was a kid and I learned to trim his teeth with wire cutters if/when they got too long. I think the vet. showed me how.
Isn't that painful for rabbit?
Why do you need to trim his teeth?
Why do you need to trim his teeth?
Apparently not although how would I know?
The vet did it and showed me how.
I think all rodents have front teeth that never stop growing and they keep them worn down by chewing. If for some reason they don't chew enough hard stuff or the teeth don't align properly, they will grow so long that they can't close their mouth and they can't eat.
The vet did it and showed me how.
I think all rodents have front teeth that never stop growing and they keep them worn down by chewing. If for some reason they don't chew enough hard stuff or the teeth don't align properly, they will grow so long that they can't close their mouth and they can't eat.
I really didn't know this. Interesting fact. I would never imagine that you need to cut rabbits teeth like nails. :-) I hope that this is not painful for them.
I'm now imagining a rabbit with very big teethes that he can not close his jaws. Wow, it's like from some zombie movie. Big teeth killing rabbit. :-) o.O
I'm now imagining a rabbit with very big teethes that he can not close his jaws. Wow, it's like from some zombie movie. Big teeth killing rabbit. :-) o.O
Yeah, I don't think I'd take a chance with having them play on their own because they aren't exactly known for being able to defend themselves. Did you mention how long you've had them?
Hi. I have a wonderful black bear hamster named Midnight. He's about a year old and is such a joy to have. I have had a few hamsters and they have all been wonderful companions. My husband was unsure about getting a hamster at first because we were not allowed pets in our apartment, but I convinced him that it was no harder than having a fish. In my opinion hamsters are very easy to take care of. Midnight lives in a cage the can easy fit on a t.v. tray table (just to give you an idea of the size). The cage can be cleaned every two week. Of course if it smells or there is a lot of waste you should clean it sooner of course. I also recently found out that hamsters can be trained to go in liter boxes. All you have to do is to put something like a sunflower seed in the liter box and after he eats it clean the litter box by removing the shells. It may take some time, but the hamster will learn that the litter box is a place that gets clean every day and will be more likely to use the litter box. You don't want him storing food in there so watch for that, but hopefully your hamster will adjust to it, mine has. Also, all the hamsters I have had have been extremely social. I hold my hamster every night. When we first got him we waited about a week or two before we would take him out and hold him, but we talked to him everyday and gave him treats so he would get used to us. He warmed up to us and he snuggles with me for about a half hour every night. He tends to get a little hyper after he is fully awake (he tends to sleep when I hold him). Pet store sell a plastic ball that you can put the hamster in and let him/her run around the house. You should also have a wheel i n the cage. When picking a wheel make sure it doesn't have slits that the hamster's leg or foot can get stuck in or they can get hurt. The plastic wheels are usual good. If they get squeaky you can rub vegetable oil on it and it should stop. I would highly recommend getting a hamster as a pet, they are cute and lovable and I wouldn't trade mine for the world. I hope that this information helps :-)
Hi Viperbunny,
What about baths? Do they need baths every now and then, or they just clean them self?
They all seam so nice to me, but I still don't have a pet. Don't actually know why. %-)
What about baths? Do they need baths every now and then, or they just clean them self?
They all seam so nice to me, but I still don't have a pet. Don't actually know why. %-)
Hi Dark_Red,
The great thing is they wash themselves. I know Midnight is very clean, and is darn cute when he does so, lol. I've heard that certain hamsters are friendlier than others, for example I heard that siberian (sorry I can't spell, lol) can be a little stand offish, but I have no experience with them. I've had teddy bear hamsters and they are very cuddly. My black bear hamster is the same. As a rule the smaller they are the faster they are, so if you are worried about the hamster getting away getting a larger breed is probably better. My hamster has only bitten me twice. Once on the night we got him he ate through the cardboard box the pet store put him in and I had to keep him from getting out. The second time he bite me I accidentally startled him. I've had him for about a year and he hasn't bitten me since. It's just about giving the hamster time to get used to you. My biggest problem is when you get to the pet store they all look so cute that I just want to take them all home with me. Hamsters are nocturnal so going to the pet store in the evening when they are awake is a good idea. You also want to look for a hamster that is somewhat active because that hamster is probably healthy. I hope this helps you make your decision. Let me know how things turn out. :-)
The great thing is they wash themselves. I know Midnight is very clean, and is darn cute when he does so, lol. I've heard that certain hamsters are friendlier than others, for example I heard that siberian (sorry I can't spell, lol) can be a little stand offish, but I have no experience with them. I've had teddy bear hamsters and they are very cuddly. My black bear hamster is the same. As a rule the smaller they are the faster they are, so if you are worried about the hamster getting away getting a larger breed is probably better. My hamster has only bitten me twice. Once on the night we got him he ate through the cardboard box the pet store put him in and I had to keep him from getting out. The second time he bite me I accidentally startled him. I've had him for about a year and he hasn't bitten me since. It's just about giving the hamster time to get used to you. My biggest problem is when you get to the pet store they all look so cute that I just want to take them all home with me. Hamsters are nocturnal so going to the pet store in the evening when they are awake is a good idea. You also want to look for a hamster that is somewhat active because that hamster is probably healthy. I hope this helps you make your decision. Let me know how things turn out. :-)