How to Search for and Buy Your New Pet Hamster

Most pet shops that sell live stock usually sell hamsters. This is where most people acquire their new pet. Unfortunately many mistakes can made when buying a hamster this way. Very little thought is given to the health or the temperament of the animal they are buying. People seem to accept the fact that a hamster is a hamster, regardless of where it is bought. This is not always the case however. Some BSB's (Back street breeders) have no concerns about the health or temperament issues of the animals they breed, breeding for profit rather than quality. Children in particular are more likely to make mistakes buying hamsters this way. After picking a nice pretty colour, it's into the box and off home we go. Only at a later date find problems start to arise. Either the hamster becomes sick or starts biting when trying to handle them.

If luck was on your side that day hopefully none of those problems will arise. Unfortunately this is not always the case. Many people do experience problems days later after arriving home with their new pet.
Here, we hope to outline a few of the finer points when searching the local pet stores for your new hamster. These tips may help you to make the right decision when it comes to selecting your new pet. Hopefully, avoiding any heartbreak that may follow after making the wrong choice. It is generally acknowledge that acquiring one from a reputable breeder does have some considerable advantage over a pet shop bought hamster. The health and temperament of theses animals acquired from a reputable breeder are given priority over profits. It is also viewed or considered with some that many of theses pet shop bought animals are of inferior quality. With respect, I can agree with some of those views after experiencing some of theses animals for myself.

However, that does not mean to say that all theses animals should be put into the same category. Many pet shops do sell hamsters that can make very good pets. Some good and reputable breeders put their surplus stock into the pet trade, just as i do. I would love to keep all the hamsters I breed but I have to be practical about just how many I can keep .There are some very nice, very attractive and very sweet natured animals sold in theses stores. Depending of course who the breeder was, and if that breeder had any concerns about health and temperament issues.
If the selection is made positively and decisively any future problem with health or temperament should be minimized, or even eliminated.
It is very unlikely that you will acquire anything of show quality standards from a pet shop. But it has been known on occasions. Theses animals bought from a pet store should not be acquired with the specific intention to be used for breeding from them. The temperament of the animal can be assessed almost immediately on handling. But any underlying genetic or health problems may not become apparent for quite some time.

Do a little bit of research first, ask around and try to find a shop that has a good reputation for selling hamsters' with a good temperament. Once you are satisfied that you have found the right shop. Then first check out all the other animals, do they look healthy, clean, content, and well looked after. Make your way to the hamsters' enclosure these are very likely to be glass tanks (Aquariums).

Once the hamsters' are in the shop they should be separated into the same sex cages, males in one cage, females in another. Hamsters should be separated by gender at 4 - 5 weeks of age. As at this age they are capable of reproducing. If you suspect that they are not, then go to another shop. It is now a requirement by law that any hamster put for sale in a pet shop in the uk , should be a minimum of 5 week olds. If you suspect them to be any younger than this, leave them alone. If the tanks look dirty that is, if the corners are excessively soaked in urine, more than an acceptable amount of dropping around the cage, or they are in overcrowded conditions. Then this is a breeding ground for bacteria. I would think again about purchasing any pet that is keep in unsanitary or overcrowded conditions.

This is the most critical point in the transition of a hamster from the breeder to the pet shop, then on to its new home. If anything is going to happen this is where it usually occurs. The ears on a hamster should always be in the upright position when they are awake. If the ears are down and flat against the head this is usually one of the first signs that all is not well. If in general the conditions of the tanks look good, looking relatively clean, with food and water. Then have a good look at all the hamsters' that are in there. If they are awake they should be bright, alert and inquisitive. Their activity either playing or eating should give you some indication of their general health and condition. If you should see any, even one that is lethargic, hunched in a corner, ears flat, unkempt fur, and generally does not look right, walk away. Don't buy any, even if the one you have selected looks alright. This is a sick hamster and should he have any contagious disease the rest may have already become infected but not yet showing any out ward symptoms.

Their coats should look clean, thick, and well groomed. The eyes should be open, bright, clean, and with no discharge. Check around their rear ends, any sign of wet or dirty smears, or any sign of diarrhea, don't buy any. The older a hamster gets around 8 week old, their territorial and solitary instincts start to emerge. Fighting will become more persistent. Watch for signs of injuries, cuts and infections. Once you have finally selected your hamster you must always ask the assistant may you handle the animal. If the answer is no walk away, very often a refusal is an indication of a temperament problem. If one of the assistants won't handle the animal this should confirm your fears. If the answer is yes, then the animal should make no attempt at all to bite when you try to pick it up. Although they may show signs of being nervous and maybe a bit jumpy, this is a natural reaction, once he has been tamed he will be fine.

Don’t buy any animal that bites thinking you may be able to tame it later, you won’t. A hamster that bites on handling has temperament issues, this is the result of bad breeding. Don’t be tempted pick the smallest of the bunch just because you feel sorry for it. It may be cute and little, but it may also be the runt of the litter. It is not always possible to tell the age of a baby hamster: but in general terms a young healthy hamster will be alert, lively, and bounding around. It should have a well groomed coat, be inquisitive, clean, and bright eyed. Older hamsters seem have a slower moving pace. The general condition of the coat and size of the hamster should give you some indication that it may be an older animal.

Finally, once you have your hamster all ready to go home. Ask the assistant what food they have been feeding on, and buy some of the same. Don’t be fobbed off with a “well this is better brand” Odds on and in their favor it will also be a better price. You want the same food he has been kept on and enough to last around 2 weeks.
One mistake a lot of people make when buying a hamster is changing the diet suddenly. Dried food or otherwise, the diet should be changed gradually over a period of around 2 weeks.

Hamsters in transition from the breeder to the shop, then on to his new home will always undergo a certain amount of stress. Stress in itself is not particularly harmful for short periods. It is when the stress becomes prolonged and persistent the symptoms may become aggressive and severe. Stress in a hamster can produce a variety of unwanted reactions. The symptoms of stress in animals and humans usually produce the same results. Stress related symptoms usually begin with the digestive system. Stress can also depress the immune system leaving it wide open to attack. Once this happens illness and disease may then eventually occur. Changing the hamsters diet suddenly under stressful conditions can result in upset tummy's and diarrhea. It is important to understand the causes of stress and how to minimize some of it.