Pet hamster?

Question

Hi ladies! My husband and I are considering getting our daughter a hamster for her 5th birthday. She LOVES animals and has been asking for either a pet mouse or a pet snake so I figure a hamster would be a decent compromise. I’ve never owned one though and am curious about their upkeep. 
Do they require a lot of daily maintenance? This would be a way for her to grow independently, but I of course will need to supervise. 
How do they do in different weather scenarios? It’s pretty chilly in her upstairs bedroom, I wouldn’t want to freeze her pet lol 
Would a hamster be a good first time pet for someone of her age? Once we commit to this new pet, there’s no going back. I’d like to make sure that we’re not setting her up for failure. 
Do they do better singularly? Or should we get two so they’re not lonely? 
Thanks! 😃

Answer

Hamsters should be kept alone because as they get older there is a higher likelihood of them fighting especially if they are the same gender. They also require quite a big space for them to run around so they don’t get bored and you should be cleaning their cage every other day to keep the smell down. My experience with hamsters is you also have a high chance of getting bit in the beginning because they are scared and trying to get use to their new home, if you do research and make sure you learn to properly handle them they make good pets but just like any other animal they have their own personality so you may get one that never learns to like being touched which can be hard for younger kids. Mice are great but can be the same way. I have always loved rats but they require much bigger cages and should be housed with at least one other rat but I understand that a lot of people don’t like the way they look but they are super sweet and curious. Do a lot of research and even talk to some people on hamster specific blogs and they can tell you a ton. Hamsters can be great additions to any family just make sure you know what your getting in to :)

Answer

Hermit crabs have been the easiest pet I've had (even easier than a fish) still fun to take out and let them crawl around and interact with. I actually use them during play therapy sessions for kids. They can be gentle enough to walk to palm of your hand and kids like creating obstacle courses for them. May be a fun alternative to start with for her. Hamsters can be iffy. I have had some great ones and some that were awful and bit me a lot. They also require frequent cage cleanings.

Answer

I’d say go with a fish for a first pet and save the hamster for a couple more years. My first pet at 5 was a fish and he lived a long time and the maintenance was relatively easy. I got a hamster around ten-ish and i was able to take care of it much better being older and more responsible.

Answer

Hamsters at times are easy to take care of, depending on how many you have depends on how many times you need to change their bedding, always make sure that it(he or she) has enough water and food, they tend to hide there food as well since it’s their survival instinct. Always make sure your hands don’t smell like food or they will bite you, well nibble but it does hurt. They are very active at night since they are nocturnal, so if she’s a heavy sleeper then she will be fine or if the hamster wheel is quiet. She also needs to let it explore outside it’s cage in a hamster ball preferably but it can be outside of it just keep a good eye on it cause they can be rlly fast. Make sure what type of hamster your getting as well, not all of them get along with each other if you buy multiple.

Answer

they are very fragile, so if she had a tendency to get rough, delay pets. Also, they need to be held a lot, be active, otherwise they can get mean and bite

Answer

I’ve had every rodent ever and while we had a couple good hamsters generally they’re actually not as friendly as everyone assumes. IMO they’re the worst small pet to give a child, known for being nippy. I’d suggest a rat over a hamster they’re very social and smart. Guinea pigs are also great alternatives. At the end of the day though it comes down to handling if your daughter is at an age where she’s responsible enough to interact with it daily then it will probably turn out well socialized. All small pets tend to smell they need their cage cleaned at least once a week but honestly I do mine at least two times because I can’t stand the ammonia smell.

Pet hamster?

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