Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] hamsters
[email protected]
I'm partially answering your question but also making a suggestion. I've had
hamsters and don't consider them to be good pets for children. They are
prone to bite and not very friendly. I'm sure some may have had different
experiences but I've owned quite a few and my dd has one now (given to her by
friends who were bored with it). The thing has already bitten both of us and
she is too afraid to handle it anymore.
I have also owned quite a number of rats and they make far superior pets.
They love people (get them from a breeder who handles them from birth) and I
have never been bitten by even one of them. They are much smarter and more
active.
As for protecting them from the other pets, get a cage that locks securely.
We had our rats with our cat and kept them in a wire cage that locked very
tightly. The cat could come up to the cage and smell them but it was
impossible for her to reach them. She even managed to knock the cage off the
table once but other than being shaken up a bit they were safe until we got
to them. We even put the rats out on the lawn once in a while and they were
safe from any neighborhood animals too. The fish tank kind of cage doesn't
give them enough protection, the lids can be pried up and if knocked over it
could break or even suffocate the animal.
Kris
<< O.K., now that I've made a short story long.. my 7 yo dd now wants a
hamster, so now that I'm older and more responsible (sometimes), I'm doing
my homework. My 2 biggest concerns are determining the sex of the hamster
before we buy it (especially making sure if it's pg or not) and what to do
about our dog and cats. We're already planning on keeping them in her room,
but I'm worried they might sneak in. Any suggestions or advice appreciated.
ThanksAmy
Mom to Samantha, Dana, and Casey >>
hamsters and don't consider them to be good pets for children. They are
prone to bite and not very friendly. I'm sure some may have had different
experiences but I've owned quite a few and my dd has one now (given to her by
friends who were bored with it). The thing has already bitten both of us and
she is too afraid to handle it anymore.
I have also owned quite a number of rats and they make far superior pets.
They love people (get them from a breeder who handles them from birth) and I
have never been bitten by even one of them. They are much smarter and more
active.
As for protecting them from the other pets, get a cage that locks securely.
We had our rats with our cat and kept them in a wire cage that locked very
tightly. The cat could come up to the cage and smell them but it was
impossible for her to reach them. She even managed to knock the cage off the
table once but other than being shaken up a bit they were safe until we got
to them. We even put the rats out on the lawn once in a while and they were
safe from any neighborhood animals too. The fish tank kind of cage doesn't
give them enough protection, the lids can be pried up and if knocked over it
could break or even suffocate the animal.
Kris
<< O.K., now that I've made a short story long.. my 7 yo dd now wants a
hamster, so now that I'm older and more responsible (sometimes), I'm doing
my homework. My 2 biggest concerns are determining the sex of the hamster
before we buy it (especially making sure if it's pg or not) and what to do
about our dog and cats. We're already planning on keeping them in her room,
but I'm worried they might sneak in. Any suggestions or advice appreciated.
ThanksAmy
Mom to Samantha, Dana, and Casey >>
Kim
I have heard that more than once. We are thinking about
getting one!
I have also owned quite a number of rats and they make far superior pets.
[email protected]
Amy:
I have lots of experience with hampsters and mice, animal lover that I am :0)
First, I would suggest a "teddy bear" hampster, as they are usually very
calm. Second, if it is a boy, you will see very large....um, whats a nice
way to put this.....round things hanging from the underside/rear of the
animal (geez! I hate these delicate descriptions!) :0). Now for how to keep
the animal, we have always had cats and hampsters (usually considered a bad
combination), but if your hampster lives in a glass fish aquarium (without
the water<g>), you should not have a problem. A plastic frame with mesh,
that fits perfectly on the aquarium, may be purchased at the pet store to
keep the little critter safe from the bigger critters. Make sure you use
pine shavings, not cedar, as cedar can cause respiratory problems in
hampsters. An enclosed hampter excercise ball can also be purchased in the
pet store, and is a lot of fun. It is a plastic ball with air vents that you
can put the hampster in and close up, then he can run around the house
without causing damage, or being eaten by the bigger critters. Hope this
helps!
Amy (ex-pre vet student)
In a message dated 08/11/2000 1:08:32 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
aworthen@... writes:
I have lots of experience with hampsters and mice, animal lover that I am :0)
First, I would suggest a "teddy bear" hampster, as they are usually very
calm. Second, if it is a boy, you will see very large....um, whats a nice
way to put this.....round things hanging from the underside/rear of the
animal (geez! I hate these delicate descriptions!) :0). Now for how to keep
the animal, we have always had cats and hampsters (usually considered a bad
combination), but if your hampster lives in a glass fish aquarium (without
the water<g>), you should not have a problem. A plastic frame with mesh,
that fits perfectly on the aquarium, may be purchased at the pet store to
keep the little critter safe from the bigger critters. Make sure you use
pine shavings, not cedar, as cedar can cause respiratory problems in
hampsters. An enclosed hampter excercise ball can also be purchased in the
pet store, and is a lot of fun. It is a plastic ball with air vents that you
can put the hampster in and close up, then he can run around the house
without causing damage, or being eaten by the bigger critters. Hope this
helps!
Amy (ex-pre vet student)
In a message dated 08/11/2000 1:08:32 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
aworthen@... writes:
> now that I'm older and more responsible (sometimes), I'm doing my homework.it
> My 2 biggest concerns are determining the sex of the hamster before we buy
> (especially making sure if it's pg or not) and what to do about our dog and
> cats. We're already planning on keeping them in her room, but I'm worried
> they might sneak in. Any suggestions or advice appreciated.
> ThanksAmy
>
Lynda
Well, we told the kidlets NO hamsters. They don't live very long and most
kids get tired of them real quick as there isn't much you can do "with"
them. My little sister had about a dozen "Rosie's" when she was little and
each time one died my mother would sneak in a new one. I'm not sure who
was fooling who <g>
Now, that said, I would buy from a private party, not a pet store. If you
buy a habitrail instead of one of the wire cage type things be sure that it
isn't in the sun or in a hot area of the room (by a heater or air vent)
because the habitrails heat up like an oven.
Lynda
----------
From: aworthen <aworthen@...>
To: huuh-l@...
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] hamsters
Date: Friday, August 11, 2000 1:00 PM
I need some advice here. I had hamsters when I was young, but I must admit
was pretty niave about them and their care. Then right before my husband
and I got married we got one and surprise! three days later it had babies.
I held on to them (or at least the ones the mom didn't eat) for 5 weeks
then brought the whole litter and mom and cage to the pet store, put ti
downa and walked out. Part of me felt bad, but I really felt that I had
fufilled my obligation and we we're leaving for our honeymoon. O.K., now
that I've made a short story long.. my 7 yo dd now wants a hamster, so now
that I'm older and more responsible (sometimes), I'm doing my homework. My
2 biggest concerns are determining the sex of the hamster before we buy it
(especially making sure if it's pg or not) and what to do about our dog and
cats. We're already planning on keeping them in her room, but I'm worried
they might sneak in. Any suggestions or advice appreciated.
ThanksAmy
Mom to Samantha, Dana, and Casey
kids get tired of them real quick as there isn't much you can do "with"
them. My little sister had about a dozen "Rosie's" when she was little and
each time one died my mother would sneak in a new one. I'm not sure who
was fooling who <g>
Now, that said, I would buy from a private party, not a pet store. If you
buy a habitrail instead of one of the wire cage type things be sure that it
isn't in the sun or in a hot area of the room (by a heater or air vent)
because the habitrails heat up like an oven.
Lynda
----------
From: aworthen <aworthen@...>
To: huuh-l@...
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] hamsters
Date: Friday, August 11, 2000 1:00 PM
I need some advice here. I had hamsters when I was young, but I must admit
was pretty niave about them and their care. Then right before my husband
and I got married we got one and surprise! three days later it had babies.
I held on to them (or at least the ones the mom didn't eat) for 5 weeks
then brought the whole litter and mom and cage to the pet store, put ti
downa and walked out. Part of me felt bad, but I really felt that I had
fufilled my obligation and we we're leaving for our honeymoon. O.K., now
that I've made a short story long.. my 7 yo dd now wants a hamster, so now
that I'm older and more responsible (sometimes), I'm doing my homework. My
2 biggest concerns are determining the sex of the hamster before we buy it
(especially making sure if it's pg or not) and what to do about our dog and
cats. We're already planning on keeping them in her room, but I'm worried
they might sneak in. Any suggestions or advice appreciated.
ThanksAmy
Mom to Samantha, Dana, and Casey
[email protected]
In a message dated 8/11/00 4:43:57 PM Pacific Daylight Time, AmyKCA@...
writes:
<< Second, if it is a boy, you will see very large....um, whats a nice
way to put this.....round things hanging from the underside/rear of the
animal (geez! I hate these delicate descriptions!) :0). >>
Rats have a rather large "package" as well, we refer to this as his
"manhood". *grin* We prefer female rats, however, their temperament seems
calmer.
Kris
writes:
<< Second, if it is a boy, you will see very large....um, whats a nice
way to put this.....round things hanging from the underside/rear of the
animal (geez! I hate these delicate descriptions!) :0). >>
Rats have a rather large "package" as well, we refer to this as his
"manhood". *grin* We prefer female rats, however, their temperament seems
calmer.
Kris
[email protected]
In a message dated 8/11/2000 1:26:49 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
louisaem@... writes:
kept saying 'no!'. Then I was introduced to one and liked her personality.
(Can a rat have a 'person' ality? Maybe I should change that to
'temperament'.) She turned out to be one of the best pets we've ever had!
We could let her out in the room we were in and play with her, (although I
was not willing to allow free-roaming!) She would even come when we called
her. We put our's on a little leash and took her for walks outside. They
are clean and friendly.
Eiraul
louisaem@... writes:
> I have also owned quite a number of rats and they make far superior pets.I
> They love people (get them from a breeder who handles them from birth) and
>more
> have never been bitten by even one of them. They are much smarter and
> active.Rats are great pets! I never thought I'd want one. Ds was after me and I
kept saying 'no!'. Then I was introduced to one and liked her personality.
(Can a rat have a 'person' ality? Maybe I should change that to
'temperament'.) She turned out to be one of the best pets we've ever had!
We could let her out in the room we were in and play with her, (although I
was not willing to allow free-roaming!) She would even come when we called
her. We put our's on a little leash and took her for walks outside. They
are clean and friendly.
Eiraul
Tracy Oldfield
'temperat-ment,' even!! hoho, haha, hehe...
Tracy
Tracy
On 12 Aug 2000, at 3:26, braunville@... wrote:
(Can a rat have a 'person' ality? Maybe I should
change that to
'temperament'.)
[email protected]
In a message dated 8/12/2000 7:43:45 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
tracy.oldfield@... writes:
LOL
Glad you shared. Made my day.
Eiraul (who will be chuckling for the rest of the weekend over this one.)
tracy.oldfield@... writes:
> 'temperat-ment,' even!! hoho, haha, hehe...That was good! Wish I'd thought of it.
>
> Tracy
>
> On 12 Aug 2000, at 3:26, braunville@... wrote:
>
LOL
Glad you shared. Made my day.
Eiraul (who will be chuckling for the rest of the weekend over this one.)
Tracy Oldfield
I could make some comment about little things being pleasing, but
I won't...
Tracy
I won't...
Tracy
On 12 Aug 2000, at 16:34, braunville@... wrote:
That was good! Wish I'd thought of it.
LOL
Glad you shared. Made my day.
Eiraul (who will be chuckling for the rest of the
weekend over this one.)