Needs Pet Advice
So I'm in my thirties and for the first time in my life I own a phucking hamster. However, I've noticed he is pretty smart after having him for a couple days.
Anybody have any advice at all?
Food?
Exercise?
Tricks?
Habitat?
Hamster Gear?
Anything?
Yes, I'm in my thirties and I am also a father. A hamster should be no daunting task, but I'm the type of person who likes to have all tips and tricks.
Thank you in advance.
Originally posted by Clovie
hamsters live short, no need to bother about it 😬
life is fleeting. a dog lives 15 years.....maybe. does that mean I shouldn't invest time into it? should I get a tortoise? they live much longer.........
I bought the hamster so I really want to invest into it what I can. plus I bought it for my fiancé. we had a dog that ran away after we separated. it's temporarily filling a hole in our hearts and it is special to her already
Re: Needs Pet Advice
Originally posted by Raisen
So I'm in my thirties and for the first time in my life I own a phucking hamster. However, I've noticed he is pretty smart after having him for a couple days.Anybody have any advice at all?
Food?
Exercise?
Tricks?
Habitat?
Hamster Gear?Anything?
Yes, I'm in my thirties and I am also a father. A hamster should be no daunting task, but I'm the type of person who likes to have all tips and tricks.
Thank you in advance.
I've had hamsters as a child and currently have one for my kids.
Food: A quality rodent food, preferably one with a hamster picture on the bag. A few times a week give it small portions of fresh fruits and veggies.
Exercise: Get a hamster wheel for the cage.
Tricks: No idea. But I'd avoid most "Hamster Treats" they sell in stores, as they're usually just food coated with some kind of sugar.
Habitat: I have used both cages and aquariums, I prefer aquariums, as they're easier to clean. Bedding: the shredded paper works great, but it does nothing to control the urine smell, so I like to do a mixture of paper and woodchip bedding. I also throw in about 6-12 inches of white (non scented, perfumed etc) toilet paper, since hamsters like to shred it and nest.
Hamster Gear: Be sure to include something the hamster can chew on to wear down his/her teeth. They sell wood items in pet stores for this. If you have hardwood floors or a tight carpet,
you can also get a hamster ball. Beware of stairs.
Originally posted by Raisenmy turtle lived 3 months 😬 so...
life is fleeting. a dog lives 15 years.....maybe. does that mean I shouldn't invest time into it? should I get a tortoise? they live much longer.........I bought the hamster so I really want to invest into it what I can. plus I bought it for my fiancé. we had a dog that ran away after we separated. it's temporarily filling a hole in our hearts and it is special to her already
Originally posted by Raisen
life is fleeting. a dog lives 15 years.....maybe. does that mean I shouldn't invest time into it? should I get a tortoise? they live much longer.........I bought the hamster so I really want to invest into it what I can. plus I bought it for my fiancé. we had a dog that ran away after we separated. it's temporarily filling a hole in our hearts and it is special to her already
Funny you should mention life being fleeting-earlier this month one of our cats passed away, she was 14 years old. Nice long life for a cat, but it's put a hole in my heart, as you said. The other cat is alive and well and going for 16 years. Love them while they're here because like you said, life truly is fleeting 🙁
Re: Re: Needs Pet Advice
Originally posted by Robtard
I've had hamsters as a child and currently have one for my kids.Food: A quality rodent food, preferably one with a hamster picture on the bag. A few times a week give it small portions of fresh fruits and veggies.
Exercise: Get a hamster wheel for the cage.
Tricks: No idea. But I'd avoid most "Hamster Treats" they sell in stores, as they're usually just food coated with some kind of sugar.
Habitat: I have used both cages and aquariums, I prefer aquariums, as they're easier to clean. Bedding: the shredded paper works great, but it does nothing to control the urine smell, so I like to do a mixture of paper and woodchip bedding. I also throw in about 6-12 inches of white (non scented, perfumed etc) toilet paper, since hamsters like to shred it and nest.
Hamster Gear: Be sure to include something the hamster can chew on to wear down his/her teeth. They sell wood items in pet stores for this. If you have hardwood floors or a tight carpet,
you can also get a hamster ball. Be ware of stairs.
I really appreciate you taking the time to give me this great advice.
Originally posted by Fallschirmjäger
Funny you should mention life being fleeting-earlier this month one of our cats passed away, she was 14 years old. Nice long life for a cat, but it's put a hole in my heart, as you said. The other cat is alive and well and going for 16 years. Love them while they're here because like you said, life truly is fleeting 🙁
dang. I'm sorry to hear that.
quote: (post)
Originally posted by Fallschirmjäger
Funny you should mention life being fleeting-earlier this month one of our cats passed away, she was 14 years old. Nice long life for a cat, but it's put a hole in my heart, as you said. The other cat is alive and well and going for 16 years. Love them while they're here because like you said, life truly is fleeting sad
Originally posted by Raisen
dang. I'm sorry to hear that.
Thanks :-) For me though, knowing that I managed to keep both cats alive for nearly a quarter of my life in human years is a boost to me, because it shows that I care for them and that that care is paying off.
As to hamsters, I had a few that lasted a few years, and I also had a guinea pig that lived to be 9 or 10, which is unheard of if I remember right. I used to feed him a carrot every day and always gave him whatever veggies I could. Maybe that's a cue for us humans to start doing the same thing? Maybe, but until then burgers are still on the menu 🙂
Anyway, a hamster or a guinea pig will make a great pet too.
Originally posted by Fallschirmjäger
Thanks :-) For me though, knowing that I managed to keep both cats alive for nearly a quarter of my life in human years is a boost to me, because it shows that I care for them and that that care is paying off.As to hamsters, I had a few that lasted a few years, and I also had a guinea pig that lived to be 9 or 10, which is unheard of if I remember right. I used to feed him a carrot every day and always gave him whatever veggies I could. Maybe that's a cue for us humans to start doing the same thing? Maybe, but until then burgers are still on the menu 🙂
Anyway, a hamster or a guinea pig will make a great pet too.
I had two guinea pigs as a kid. for years all they did was bite everyone. then they died. I can understand one that bites, but both of them? it was like a gang.
quote: (post)
Originally posted by Fallschirmjäger
Thanks :-) For me though, knowing that I managed to keep both cats alive for nearly a quarter of my life in human years is a boost to me, because it shows that I care for them and that that care is paying off.As to hamsters, I had a few that lasted a few years, and I also had a guinea pig that lived to be 9 or 10, which is unheard of if I remember right. I used to feed him a carrot every day and always gave him whatever veggies I could. Maybe that's a cue for us humans to start doing the same thing? Maybe, but until then burgers are still on the menu smile
Anyway, a hamster or a guinea pig will make a great pet too.
Originally posted by Raisen
I had two guinea pigs as a kid. for years all they did was bite everyone. then they died. I can understand one that bites, but both of them? it was like a gang.
Were they hand raised before they came to you? Hand raising is an important thing for any small rodent such a gp's or hammies. Our guinea pig was always in the mood for being picked up because he was so used to it as he was hand raised prior to purchase.
When he heard a bag of lettuce rattling or saw a carrot he would start crying for it, it was so funny. Also, if you do get a gp again, make sure to have a gnawing stone so they can keep their teeth at the proper length. Their teeth grow all thru their life and need to be regularly cut down by a vet or by a gnawing stone.
Originally posted by Bardock42
Nvm, it died.
my fiance left it with her sister when we went to san diego for two days.
i come back and the thing is falling over as it attempts to walk. this is a sunday and no vet is open.
i hold it in my hand for 30 mns as it goes into death throes.
i'm pretty shocked and pissed off actually, but i'm not responsible for its death