Hello, I'll adopt a hamster in two weeks

[Mikoni]

Hello, It's my first time owning a hamster and after doing my research I have bought:
From Rodipet:

• LaOla® Nagarium XXL - MDF - 120 x 50 x 60 cm
• LaOla® Platform 50 x 25 x 15 cm
• Rodipet® Birch Bedding 10,8 kg (144 l)
• Rodipet® ʄʋʀɬɨɴɡ Goldi Large
• Rodipet® ʄʋʀɬɨɴɡ Set of 4 Stilts

From my local Pet Store:

• Exo Terra's Desert Terrarium Sand - Yellow
• Exo Terra Forest Branch
• Trixie Rotating Ferris Wheel Hamsters 28cm
• Trixie Cork Tunnel 14x40cm
• Trixie Natural Living Dumbell 4,5x9cm
• Bunny Nature Hamster Dream Expert

Do you have any recommendations?
I have doubts about the type of hamster to adopt. What do you think is the best option? My local pet shelter has:

• 1 male syrian adult with longhair
• 1 female syrian adult with longhair
• 2 male Syrian 10 weeks with shorthair
• 1 female Syrian 10 weeks with shorthair
• 2 female Russian dwarf 11 months

Thank you very much

 

[RainbowBrite]

Hello and welcome to the forum. I can see you have done lots of research and I love everything you have bought. Hamster species is so individual and I think that is something only you can decide.I would struggle in your position too as all the hamsters sound adorable. Perhaps it would help to have a read on each species just to see which one appeals to you or maybe going into the shelter and looking will help you to decide as you may fall in love with one in particular.

 

[Maz]

Hello and welcome! It's lovely to see someone so well prepared for adopting a hamster. I think most of the things you've bought would suit a Syrian hamster well. If it's your first hamster as well, a Syrian can be a good start - they are slightly larger to handle (this is just my opinion - others may not agree as to the best starter hamster!)

The thing to bear in mind specifically: Long hair can need some combing now and then to stop it getting tangled but is still very nice. Female Syrians come on heat every four days. If it was me I'd go with a short haired male Syrian - which is what I have now. But you might prefer a long haired hamster.

Have you seen photos of the hamsters or seen them in person? Sometimes a hamster just jumps out as "the one" when you see a photo. Or sometimes a hamster chooses you when you see them When rescuing though I've tended to say - which one needs a home soonest. But age is relevant too.

In terms of age. I would probably get one of the younger ones. Hamsters don't live very long and it can be quite heartbreaking to only have them for a year or shorter time. If it's your first hamster I think it's good to see them grow through their stages of babyhood, naughty child, teenager, confident middle age and gentle wise elderly.

Our current Syrian was adopted and I did say I wanted a younger one but one that needed a home soonest as well.

 

[Maz]

It's difficult because you feel you should get an older one and give them a home. I personally think it';s better if an experienced owner gets the older ones or an owner who has another hamster or two as well. If this is going to be your only hamster and your first, I'd get a 10 week old short haired male Syrian. Or a 10 week old female syrian! Do you have photos of them?

 

[Maz]

There is no need to feel guilty about getting a younger one either - they all need homes and some younger ones have been born in a rescue and really need a proper home asap.

 

[Maz]

What colour are the two 10 week old short haired male Syrians? Are they the same or different colourings? Just curious

 

[Member ID2]

Hello and welcome to the forum!

It's great that you have researched and bought such wonderful things for your future hamster.
If adopting a dwarf hamster, it's important to house them alone and not as a pair but you probably know that having done your research.

I also think that your set up would be most suited for a Syrian hamster. I've always kept male Syrians but that's my personal preferance.

I think you need to go and meet the hamsters. Sometimes they chose us or you feel drawn to one.

Whoever goes home with you is a very lucky hamster.

 

[Mikoni]

What colour are the two 10 week old short haired male Syrians? Are they the same or different colourings? Just curious

I haven't seen them yet but the veterinary said me that one has the typical colouring and the other a lighter tone.

 

[Maz]

Sounds like one is a golden syrian hamster. The lighter one could be anything - cinnamon, cream, sable etc

 

[Mikoni]

I have to say that this pet shelter depends directly on my council and you need to make an appointment to be able to see the animals they have. They recommended me that I adopt the hamster the same day I see them because if not I'll have to ask for another appointment.

 

[RainbowBrite]

So there would be the option to look at them all and see which one you are drawn to?

 

[Maz]

I think whichever hamster you choose will be very happy with you. When I got Raffy and Moo I had never met them and just seen a photo and you can't tell a lot from a photo apart from the colour but I still loved them.

 

[Mikoni]

So there would be the option to look at them all and see which one you are drawn to?

Yes, I'll see them, but I wanted to know if you had any recommendations because I won't have a lot of time to choose.

 

[RainbowBrite]

Yes, I'll see them, but I wanted to know if you had any recommendations because I won't have a lot of time to choose.

I would personally get a dwarf hamster. I do not suppose that is of any help to you.

 

[Member ID2]

As a recommendation for a first hamster and your set up i'd go for one of the 10 weeks old, short haired male Syrian hamsters.

 

[Maz]

Me too. I think it's a good start for a new owner. I'll attach a list of different Syrian colourings so you can see the difference They can look quite different in different colours but they're all adorable and all have their own personalities. The golden hamster is the original colourway.

This is a short haired golden hamster - they have dark flashes of colour at the side. Not the greatest photo!

Syrian

This is a better photo of a golden hamster (not sure about the article with it - I haven't read it - it may not be reliable!)

Guide To Caring For Syrian Hamsters

Hamsters make suitable pets for older children, providing they are taught the responsibilities of their petís routine for cleaning, feeding, and care. The average lifespan of a Syrian hamster is approximately two years. Syrian or Golden hamsters originate from Syria. In the wild, they live in...

naturalworldpets.co.uk

 

[Maz]

This is a Syrian cream hamster - cream is a misnoma - they are more a kind of orangey cream. This was Newt, one of my hamsters.



This is a Cinnamon coloured Syrian hamster - this was Pickle - one of my hamsters. Cinnamon is a sort of orangey brown

 

[Maz]

Cream and cinnamon are solid colours but you can also get "banded" ones of these - so they're the same colour but have a white band round the middle. Banded hamsters come in all sorts of colourways. A few colours are original pedigree colours like golden, cream and cinnamon - there are more. But there are all kinds of variations on them as hamsters have been bred.

This is Charlie who is a Heinz 57 type - he's a banded hamster in a sort of browny colour with no specific name - probably part golden. As you can see - whatever colour they are, they are all adorable!

 

[Frida]

Hello and welcome I'm looking forward to seeing and hearing all about your new hamster

 

[RainbowBrite]

Have you got an appointment for visting the shelter?