DS Forums

 
 

What's the point in pet Hamsters?


Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 25-09-2015, 12:48
Hank1234
Inactive Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 3,677

I mean other then to actually watch them role around in a plastic Ball... They bite and would escape at any chance given... Would the world be really that bad if Hamsters became illegal as pets?
Hank1234 is offline   Reply With Quote
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
Old 25-09-2015, 17:46
oilman
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,850

What about goldfish, rabbits, gerbils, birds,children etc?
oilman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-09-2015, 19:05
Hayley_baby
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 8,135
I had a hamster as a kid I think there great pet for kids or for people who want a pet but dont have a lot of time e.g like a dog who you have to walk daily.
There small so dont take up a lot of space perfect if you live in a flat, they stay in a cage unless you put them in that ball thing, they teach kids responsibility like cleaning the cage, giving them food & water, making sure there healthy. There also quite amusing to watch (when there awake) & there cute
Hayley_baby is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27-09-2015, 08:56
towers
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Midlands, UK
Posts: 10,943
I mean other then to actually watch them role around in a plastic Ball... They bite and would escape at any chance given... Would the world be really that bad if Hamsters became illegal as pets?
I had 2 hamsters as a teenager and neither bit me - one was frightened the day we got him ( he made that clear with the noise he made ) but after a few days of getting used to us, he would sit in my hand quite comfortably. You need to be careful hamsters don't mistake the end of your finger for a tasty treat though.

They're not good pets for very young children - they sleep for much of the day and require careful handling - but they're cute, amusing to watch, take up very little space in your home and very little of your time compared to dogs and cats. They teach children responsibility
towers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27-09-2015, 17:42
fredster
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 23,463
I had 2 hamsters as a teenager and neither bit me - one was frightened the day we got him ( he made that clear with the noise he made ) but after a few days of getting used to us, he would sit in my hand quite comfortably. You need to be careful hamsters don't mistake the end of your finger for a tasty treat though.

They're not good pets for very young children - they sleep for much of the day and require careful handling - but they're cute, amusing to watch, take up very little space in your home and very little of your time compared to dogs and cats. They teach children responsibility
We had one that I let out in the evening, unbeknown to us she was eating away the back of our settee.
fredster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27-09-2015, 20:48
EbonyHamster
Inactive Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 6,335
Yes it would be bad if they became illegal as pets, what a stupid thing to ask *rolleyes*

Not all bite and not all escape

I have multiple hamsters and I love them as pets
EbonyHamster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27-09-2015, 21:11
PsychoTherapist
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Liverpool, UK
Posts: 2,194
I used to keep pet Hamsters years ago. Their personalities are all different, some were grumpy sods that did like to bite, whilst others were big softies that would only bite if mistaken for food.

Some of them even loved Human company and would wake up at irregular times if they heard the sounds of human voices near their cage, hoping to be rewarded with a tasty treat.

Yes, they're all escape artists - it's their nature. The onus is on the owner to ensure their pet's enviroment is safe and secure, not on the pet to not escape.

Nowadays however, I prefer to keep Gerbils instead. They're cleaner, more social, smarter, have a tendency to nibble rather than full on bite & crucially are not nocturnal. Though they do cause much more destruction by chewing!
PsychoTherapist is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27-09-2015, 23:39
Fizzee Rascal
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Edge of Hell
Posts: 938
What a strange question
Fizzee Rascal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28-09-2015, 12:01
molliepops
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: woking
Posts: 21,657
Not keen on them myself but they make lovely pets for those who do like them. Prefer rats for young children they seem friendlier and more hardy.
molliepops is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28-09-2015, 12:02
wampa1
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,957
Obvious bait is obvious.
wampa1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28-09-2015, 22:15
CollieWobbles
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Another time, another place..
Posts: 24,629
I mean other then to actually watch them role around in a plastic Ball... They bite and would escape at any chance given... Would the world be really that bad if Hamsters became illegal as pets?
Strange question. If you asked what if rodents became illegal as pets, I'd understand, but why specifically hamsters? I would think their the least likely choice because hamsters aren't 'rat like' and don't evoke the same 'vermin' train of thought with them. As to rolling around in a ball, only if you put them in one, and any pet can bite and try and escape, even man's best friend will hare off out of the garden if it can and wants to. Would the world be really that bad if hamsters were illegal as pets? Not really in truth would it, it's not the be all and end all, you just wouldn't be able to own one. I've always wanted a dormouse for a pet but it's illegal to keep them, it's a shame as it means I'll never get one, but it's not the end of the world and it doesn't affect me anyway. It would be the same with hamsters. As it happens, it is illegal to own Chinese hamsters in certain US states, but I'm sure the inhabitants of California don't feel their really that worse off because they can't keep certain hamsters.
CollieWobbles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28-09-2015, 22:25
Mark39London
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: London
Posts: 3,847
Do they taste nice?
Mark39London is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 29-09-2015, 14:53
surfie
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,839
If you wonder what the point of Hamsters are, watch this YouTube clip
surfie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2015, 21:11
oilman
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,850
Do they taste nice?
Freddie Starr obviously thought so!
oilman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2015, 21:32
Iqoniq
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Nottinghamshire
Posts: 2,403
Do they taste nice?
Guinea pigs are eaten in Peru and a few other places.

As pets though, hamsters are demon spawn. I've kept a vivarium, rats, mice, chinchillas, guinea pigs, gerbils and hamsters and every hamster I've had has bitten me. I bought my ex-wife one when we started going out and when she moved in it came with her. One night I was feeding it and when put my hand in to put the food in it launched itself at me and clamped onto my finger. I actually ended up banging it against the sideboard so it let go. Even then it was going for my feet. I had my royal python (she was lovely) at the time and I was tempted to introduce them, but I was scared the hamster would rip her apart.
Iqoniq is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2015, 22:24
CollieWobbles
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Another time, another place..
Posts: 24,629
Guinea pigs are eaten in Peru and a few other places.

As pets though, hamsters are demon spawn. I've kept a vivarium, rats, mice, chinchillas, guinea pigs, gerbils and hamsters and every hamster I've had has bitten me. I bought my ex-wife one when we started going out and when she moved in it came with her. One night I was feeding it and when put my hand in to put the food in it launched itself at me and clamped onto my finger. I actually ended up banging it against the sideboard so it let go. Even then it was going for my feet. I had my royal python (she was lovely) at the time and I was tempted to introduce them, but I was scared the hamster would rip her apart.
They can definitely be nasty little sods, and do seem to bite more than any other pet rodent. If your lucky and get a nice natured one their lovely, but if you get a not so nice natured one look out! I had on that would lunge, sink it's teeth into your fingers and then hold on and try and drag your hand back like a furry piranha fish. Just putting food in the cage was a task in itself as the second your hand went in the cage she would fly out of her bed and attack you. Even holding her was risky as she would chomp down suddenly on whatever part of your hand she was near . I swear that hamster was either pure evil or all the lights weren't on upstairs, I've had over 50 of them and never had one as bad as the HellHamster. I can't say I was too sorry when I found that one permanently asleep one day.
CollieWobbles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2015, 00:51
Blackjack Davy
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,037
I mean other then to actually watch them role around in a plastic Ball... They bite and would escape at any chance given... Would the world be really that bad if Hamsters became illegal as pets?
Erm, kids like them. Its the cuteness factor I think. That and its supposed to make them more responsible by looking after them etc. Except that lasts for about two days until the novelty wears off and then mum is left doing it.

They die all too quickly as well. Cue much tears and heartfelt grief. Honestly why do parents put their kids through this?
Blackjack Davy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2015, 12:04
molliepops
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: woking
Posts: 21,657
They can definitely be nasty little sods, and do seem to bite more than any other pet rodent. If your lucky and get a nice natured one their lovely, but if you get a not so nice natured one look out! I had on that would lunge, sink it's teeth into your fingers and then hold on and try and drag your hand back like a furry piranha fish. Just putting food in the cage was a task in itself as the second your hand went in the cage she would fly out of her bed and attack you. Even holding her was risky as she would chomp down suddenly on whatever part of your hand she was near . I swear that hamster was either pure evil or all the lights weren't on upstairs, I've had over 50 of them and never had one as bad as the HellHamster. I can't say I was too sorry when I found that one permanently asleep one day.
We had two years ago, we also had mice for the kids and the hamsters managed to grab the mice and drag them into their cage where a blood bath occurred it traumatised the kids and we rehomed them (hamsters not kids). I think they were only doing what nature said they should but not really what you want kids to see. Rats on the other hand were lovely pets very friendly and gentle.
molliepops is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2015, 12:49
CollieWobbles
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Another time, another place..
Posts: 24,629
We had two years ago, we also had mice for the kids and the hamsters managed to grab the mice and drag them into their cage where a blood bath occurred it traumatised the kids and we rehomed them (hamsters not kids). I think they were only doing what nature said they should but not really what you want kids to see. Rats on the other hand were lovely pets very friendly and gentle.
Been through that, not nice and one of the worst sights a pet owner could ever see. One of my dwarf hamsters managed to squeeze out of its own cage, drop down to another level then climbed into another cage, and savaged the much smaller hamster in there. Something I had the misfortune to discover the next day and I couldn't believe how much damage it had done, literally ripped the other poor one apart to a point she was barely recognisable. Absolutely horrific to witness, I rehomed it instantly, quite unable to bear the thought of having it around. Nature's a funny old thing though, because on another occasion quite the opposite happened, one of the hamsters escaped her cage and I found her curled up very happily with my mouse!
CollieWobbles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2015, 18:10
Iqoniq
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Nottinghamshire
Posts: 2,403
Rats on the other hand were lovely pets very friendly and gentle.
I loved owning rats. I had 14 of them after a mistake sexing two of them. I think what makes rats unique is the fact that they have their own personalities, are extremely clever and curious, and they don't seem to know any fear at all.

Something that amazed me was how they interacted with my other pets. I kept them in large chinchilla cages, so they could easily get out and escape, but this was rare and the only time it happened was when the girls wanted snuggles from my Norwegian forest cat. As it was going blind, it's prey drive wasn't in existence so it was quite happy to fall asleep near the cage and one day they discovered he was warm and comfy and I came home to find them all asleep on him. I actually felt sorry for him sometimes because he'd fall asleep on top of the cage and they'd pull his tail through the top and be swinging on it, although he seemed to treat it in good humour.

They'd also share their food with the other pets. I used to feed them little bits of whatever I ate, apart from certain things which weren't good for them, as well as feed them cat biscuits as part of their diet. If the cats or the dog came sniffing around the cage, they'd actually throw bits of food out the cage for them. I wonder whether it was because they'd seen me doing it or because they'd come to an agreement where they wouldn't be hassled in return for food.

My wife had a rat in her teens and she actually managed to toilet train it. As it was a massive rat she used to let it out the cage when she came home from school and it would follow her around the house. When she needed a toilet (the rat not my wife), she'd either go back to her cage or a little "rat-potty" and then come back. They are amazing animals and I hate the reputation they have for being dirty.
Iqoniq is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2015, 21:03
mrsgrumpy49
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 6,365
What about goldfish, rabbits, gerbils, birds
It's wrong to keep any living creature in a hutch or a cage or a small tank. Not even sure about large tanks.
mrsgrumpy49 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2015, 22:15
CollieWobbles
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Another time, another place..
Posts: 24,629
It's wrong to keep any living creature in a hutch or a cage or a small tank. Not even sure about large tanks.
But they'd escape or come to innumerable harm if they weren't in an enclosure at all. A cage does need to be the largest you can manage though, with plenty of stuff in it to prevent boredom and regular contact with the owner. Those tiny poky shoebox cages with nothing but the bare essentials however I agree with you completely - nothing should be kept in them as their not fit for anything to be kept in.
CollieWobbles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-2015, 07:05
mrsgrumpy49
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 6,365
But they'd escape or come to innumerable harm if they weren't in an enclosure at all. A cage does need to be the largest you can manage though, with plenty of stuff in it to prevent boredom and regular contact with the owner. Those tiny poky shoebox cages with nothing but the bare essentials however I agree with you completely - nothing should be kept in them as their not fit for anything to be kept in.
Imo there shouldn't be this trade in the first place.
I know someone who professes to love animals and who has a menagerie of free ranging hens etc. Yet she has a shed where various small furry animals are incarcerated in cages. Some people hold that it's OK 'because they don't know any better'. I don't buy that argument.
mrsgrumpy49 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-2015, 22:09
CollieWobbles
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Another time, another place..
Posts: 24,629
Imo there shouldn't be this trade in the first place.
I know someone who professes to love animals and who has a menagerie of free ranging hens etc. Yet she has a shed where various small furry animals are incarcerated in cages. Some people hold that it's OK 'because they don't know any better'. I don't buy that argument.
It's odd that someone who cares enough to have free range hens would keep other small animals in small spaces. Of course, she could have a shed full but of perfectly adequate sizes, however, if she has got them crammed into tiny cages, she could be reported as she's not meeting number 4 of the 'five freedoms' (freedom to exhibit natural behaviour so appropriate housing) and breaking the animal welfare act of 2006. There are guidelines for cage sizes for small furry animals now too, set out by the RSPCA, after welfare groups realised that even tiny things like hamsters need a lot of space to be properly happy and thrive. Unfortunately, manufacturers still insist on making cages that don't meet these guidelines so people still buy them. The only way to stop small rodents being kept in too small cages is to stop these cages being made, or ban the keeping of small animals. I'm all for the first, but I'm afraid I don't agree with the second, I have a couple of small furry pets and wouldn't want to be without them.
CollieWobbles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-10-2015, 12:38
Steve™
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Glos / Hereford[shire]
Posts: 6,709
I mean other then to actually watch them role around in a plastic Ball... They bite and would escape at any chance given... Would the world be really that bad if Hamsters became illegal as pets?

Lol illegal, bit harsh!!

I had Hamsters and Gerbils as a kid...never had any issues apart from them chewing the corner off my mums sofa.

Never bit me, never escaped, but if they had, good luck to them.

They are actually very gentle animals. My attitude to animals is a bit different now though, don't really like anything in cages.
Steve™ is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply




 
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 10:07.