Second chance hamsters

[elusive]

I can totally understand that Beryl, there are so many adorable looking hamsters out there needing homes but you can’t really fall for every cute face & be practical about it at the same time.
Russian hybrids are particularly prone to health issues & having two is quite a lot to deal with anyway, an unwell hamster always needs more time & attention as well as the emotions involved in caring for them so I can understand you not really wanting to take on another.

If you do find a Chinesey it might be worth bearing in might that they are also prone to diabetes & for some reason females also tend to have more health problems too.

 

[Member ID2]

Roza, i don't want a chinese hamster enough to get one from a breeder or to buy one in a shop. They sometimes sell them at Porton Aquatics.

I have bought hamsters in the pet shop before and one pedigree adult dwarf from a breeder. Once i realized that there are a lot of unwanted hamsters in the small ads, breeders and shops are no longer options for my mindset.

Elusive, yes, i prefer to keep male hamsters because of the added health issues females can have.

 

[Roza]

Roza, i don't want a chinese hamster enough to get one from a breeder or to buy one in a shop. They sometimes sell them at Porton Aquatics.

I have bought hamsters in the pet shop before and one pedigree adult dwarf from a breeder. Once i realized that there are a lot of unwanted hamsters in the small ads, breeders and shops are no longer options for my mindset.

Elusive, yes, i prefer to keep male hamsters because of the added health issues females can have.

No worries Beryl, I did think that would be the case

 

[Member ID2]

I received more photos of the dwarf advertised as a chinesey which confirmed that she is a russian dwarf.

The person who rescued her doesn't know much about hamsters and took her to the petsathome vet for a check up. That's where she was told that she's a chinese hamster. No idea why as dwarfie has a short white tail.

I've decided to walk away and concentrate on my own dwarfs. The time to take in and try to rehome a year old dwarf isn't right for me just now.
With a chinesey i wouldn't have the pressure of trying to find a suitable home so haven't taken the HH down as yet.

I have given the person advise on where else to advertise and to look into surrendering to a rescue or charity. The dwarfie has been advertised for a month and it can take a very long time to find a good home. Sometimes a home can't be found and they stay.

Sadly, the small ads are full of people breeding hamsters trying to make money, even children because there are no laws to regulate this.

 

[RainbowBrite]

Wow, that vet was really clueless. Just from the picture I thought she looked like a Russian Dwarf. It is great you have given the person advice on how to rehome the hamster.

 

[Maz]

It's awful there is no regulation on advertising hamsters. I thought some of these sites had their own criteria? I hope the dwarfie finds a good home soon.

 

[elusive]

It does say a lot about the P@H vet that they don’t recognise a Russian hybrid when the shop sells them!
Hope this little one does fine a home, it’s so sad that there are so many out there being advertised.

 

[Member ID2]

It's awful there is no regulation on advertising hamsters. I thought some of these sites had their own criteria? I hope the dwarfie finds a good home soon.

The only criteria i'm aware of is that hamsters can't be sold under 8 weeks old.

 

[Maz]

I can see Roza's point though. If you would really like a Chinese hamster and they are only available from pet stores (which is usually the case) and wish to have a longer term pet for yourself, I don't see the problem with it. The genetic issues aren't the same for chinese as they are for russian dwarf hamsters.

 

[Roza]

I think that is abominable. That vets cannot recognise hamster breeds!

My first experience of taking my very first Ham, PB (short for Polar Bear cos she looked like one ), was that she died 24 hours later. The vet didn’t know she was suffering from Wet tail . She was old but thats not the point. Unfortunately I didn’t realise either but you have to put your trust in them.

 

[Member ID2]

I used to think she was called Phoebe until i saw you write PB but didn't know it stood for Polar Bear. So she was all white?

Did the vet not prescribe antibiotics?

 

[Member ID2]

I can see Roza's point though. If you would really like a Chinese hamster and they are only available from pet stores (which is usually the case) and wish to have a longer term pet for yourself, I don't see the problem with it. The genetic issues aren't the same for chinese as they are for russian dwarf hamsters.

My point is that i don't want a chinesey enough right now to go to a shop and buy one. I have six hamsters which is quite enough to keep me busy and them happy.

If i see one in the small ads, preferably older because they are harder to rehome, i would get it.

Saying that, i know fine that i have to keep out of Porton Aquatics in case one looks at me.

 

[Roza]

I used to think she was called Phoebe until i saw you write PB but didn't know it stood for Polar Bear. So she was all white?

Did the vet not prescribe antibiotics?

Yeah easy mistake Beryl. She was white (well creamy white). Lovely Ham .

No she didn’t she said it was her age.

 

[Roza]

My point is that i don't want a chinesey enough right now to go to a shop and buy one. I have six hamsters which is quite enough to keep me busy and them happy.

If i see one in the small ads, preferably older because they are harder to rehome, i would get it.

Saying that, i know fine that i have to keep out of Porton Aquatics in case one looks at me.

Just go to Porton Aquatics!! X

 

[Roza]

I am bad influence x

 

[Maz]

So sorry to hear that Roza.

 

[Maz]

I take the point Beryl - six hamsters is a lot to care for. As you know I had been considering adopting recently from an accidental litter and so wanted one of them. But ultimately had to be practical. I don't have the space or time for more than I have now.

 

[Roza]

So sorry to hear that Roza.

Yes thanks Maz. I would know what to look out for now.

I am always looking at Davy’s bum. Poor thing