eeets a siberian hamster...   I call heeeem Basil....

that is not a hamster...  its a rat

no... eees siberian hamster...




Basil the rat!

best Faulty Towers episode ever!



oh..  I dunno what breed it is Saz..   it is very cute though!

Its such a cutie That was when it was a baby, its bigger now, but just as cute

Ditty you beat me to it


Saz, I think you only want one to entice Richard Gere and/or Freddie Starr to your gaff!

He's a Syrian hammy,he's cute.Remember he's solitary,don't think of getting him a pal they will fight,seriously,even kill each other.I'm on my sixth Syrian.Jake" he's about six months old.They live 2- 3 three years all being well.

It can be luck if you get a gentle one or a "biter" .Jake was fine,however the one before him "Elwood" bit me about six times before I  hand tamed him.You have to perservere,some folk give up after being bitten once  and you get a hammy that can't be handled etc.

Thanks Katty It was you and Deman I had in mind when I started the thread, but thought there were maybe more hammy experts here too Maybe it is just luck... he's always been quite timid and gentle... gently takes food out of your hand and nibbles it

They bite because they are scared,some are bolder than others.A deep hamster bite can hurt like hell and bleed like anything.You just have to take your time and be patient with them.My cousin's daughter got one a few weeks ago and he  was easy to handle right away.She called him "Theodore"..Syrians have very poor eyesight and can only see clearly for about a foot in front of them.Excellent sense of smell and acute hearing though,so always make sure you approach them quietly and make  gentle sounds,so they know you are there.A big hand suddenly reaching in to grab them will scare them,and that's when they can bite ,'till they get used to being handled.

Oh, I have another question. The previous hamster used to go in the exercise wheel all the time and run round really fast... this hammy (Fraizer btw ) wont go in the wheel at all He likes the exercise ball and climbs out of the cage himself and gets in the ball when you bring it over, but he's just never got the hang of the wheel. Any idea why? I feel like he's missing out

As long as he's getting exercise it doesn't matter.All my hammies have loved the exercise wheel,though the one that comes with shop bought cages isn't big enough for an adult Syrian.You have to buy the large "rat" wheel.I've had  a few hammies that weren't too keen on the exercise ball ,I think that's more for human anusement than theirs.Ten minutes max is all give them in it.Any longer and they can get a bit distressed,it's usefull when you have to clean out their cage etc.

oh ok, we usually leave him in for about half an hour cos he seemed happy, will reduce his time He is quite a bit smaller than the last one too... he did get too big for the wheel

The best thing they like most of all is to run free on the floor.If you can let them,  have  a safe area where they can't escape from etc,they will love it.I have a hall where I can shut all the doors and let them run abou .His  little legs go mad scuttling about .

"Jake" is a ginger! Our first reddish coated hammy,he's got a cream underbelly and brownish tinge/stripes on his cheeks
and head....but defo a ginger.

He escaped from the ball once and got upstairs He must have been knackered, slept for ages the next day

Aww sweet...