Question:

Are hamsters worth buying?

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I was looking to buy a syrian hamster. I was wanting to know if they are worth the money. Or should I buy a fancy rat?

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  1. Hamsters are definately a good buy. A hamster is not that expensive and they are very lovable.


  2. YEAH! they're like 12 dollars!

  3. Hamsters are great, but I would rather buy a pet rat, they are smarter, cheaper, and less likely to bit, I have 3 rats and never got bit by them, always get bit by hamsters though, I figure that hamsters are always going to get a home but rats are most likely going to get fed to a snake, save a rat!!

    PLUS YOU CAN TEACH THEM TO DO TRICKS!!

  4. I'll be honest, I am a rat person. I currently have a syrian hamster, two guinea pigs, a Roborovski dwarf hamster and two fancy rats (husky rats), and there's simply no comparison in regards to the affection that I get from my rats. Yes, hamsters are cute, funny to watch and very endearing, which is the same with my guinea pigs and Robo, but if you're looking for a pet with that little bit extra then go for rats - I stress plural as keeping one alone is not recommended.

    The thing is, hamsters are ideal if you want a pet that is easy to look after in terms of money being needed to spend and time needed to dedicate to it, but likewise you don't get /that/ much back for it. I don't mean to insult anyone who's got hamsters for I have one myself and wouldn't part with her for the world, but likewise she has her limitations.

    Rats, on the other hand, are not wholly noctural like hamsters therefore provide much more entertainment during the day. They are infinitely more intelligent so are easier to train, generally far more affectionate and less likely to bite, and also seem to have far more identifiable personalities.

    HOWEVER, with all of this intelligence and affection comes a greater need for responsibility from the owner. Rats are almost too clever for their own good, and left without stimulation, they will almost certainly become withdrawn and aggressive. Therefore they need a LOT of attention and care. Mine are kept in a cage which is approximately five foot tall by four foot wide. It cost over £200 to build and is literally full of toys and things for them to do. Even so, left alone in it for more than a few hours they become restless and demand attention. As a result, I have to get them out at least five or six times a day for a good runaround the house and up and down the stairs. It's a good job I don't work full time or it would simply be cruel to leave them without any interaction. Also, as I said earlier, it's always best to keep at least two so that they have company when you're not able to give them any - obviously this now means that you have to spend almost twice as much on stuff whereas Syrian hamsters have to live alone.

    To put it bluntly, rats are amazing and I would only ever get a rat from now on and would not consider getting a hamster or guinea pig again, but likewise, you only get out of a pet what you put in and if you haven't got the time, money, or inclination to spend hours looking after rats, then a hamster is probably best for you as they're far easier to only get out once or twice a day, require a lot smaller cage and are relatively cheap to keep.

    Either way, I'd recommend getting your pet from a young age so it's easier to train - and I'd also suggest looking at adoption centres such as in Pets at Home whereby there're often a lot of unwanted young pets from litters that people can no longer look after.

    Hope this helps!

  5. my hamsters were only £6 each and i have had them for 3 years now. i love them to death. it is definatly worth it. that £6 is the best £6 i have spent.£6 for a friend. rats are much more expensive

  6. yea my hamsters were worth all the money i spent on them they were only $7 each and the bedding was like $4 and food was $2 and i already had a cage from a previous pet but do some research around your local stores see how much it would cost total to buy everything you need for it cause you dont want to buy it then have non of the things it needs...

    i recomend buying all the things it will need first before buying the actual hamster that way you know your not missing anything..

    plus look up different hamster breeds some are very sociable and will get along with other hamsters and others will perfer to be by themselves but note just cause it likes to be by itself does not mean you cant play with it some just dont like other hamsters but love humans.

  7. RatSSS (as in get TWO not one) are soooo much better than hamsters. Hamsters hate being around people whereas rats LOVE the attention. Whatever animal you get, please do your research first.

  8. go for a couple of rats. they wont bite like a hamster will. yes they maybe more expensive, but they are alot cleaner, friendlier and smarter than hamsters

  9. they are not worth buying. instead, find someone who is giving them away for free.

  10. i use to think that hamsters weren't worth buying that u should get a rabbit or something else..till my kids were giving two hamsters..and i fell completely in-love with them..there the cutest little guys and they love to cuddle..and ive never once had them bit me..i think there the greatest little pets and definitely worth buying..

  11. Well I dont want to be mean but you shouldnt look at pet ownership the way you are. You should get a pet that fits you. What your lifestyle is and such, it just seems kinda mean when you say is it worth it. I dont know I own 2 hamsters myself and I love rats but I would never get a pet thinking is this guy worth it.

  12. YES definitely worth buying!  

  13. I would suggest a gerbil. They are much cleaner becuase they actually do not urinate as much as other rodents. They are very sociable and they usually do not bite out of aggresion. They are not hard to take care of at all. I got mine for maybe $10 the most. I also had a hamster and I didn't really enjoy him as much as my gerbil. He always bit me and was way too fast.

  14. hamsters are cute and furry.

    of course they're worth buying.

  15. Is a pet who loves you unconditionally worth it, even if it's "just" a hamster? In my opinion, yes, a hamster is worth it. I found my gerbils completely worth every single penny I spend on them.

    Whether you should get a rat or a hamster depends on what you're looking for in a pet. Rats are social and should always be kept in same s*x pairs or more. If you want a rat, get at least two. Rats are known as the "dogs of rodents". They're extremely intelligent and affectionate. They   can bond strongly with their people. They can learn their names, come when called, learn tricks, ride on shoulders, etc. They're fun pets. They do require a large cage, though, and at least an hour of out-of-cage playtime. They require more care than a hamster, but they're not necessarily better than a hamster. Hamsters can be wonderful pets as well. They're small, inexpensive, and easy to care for. They don't require as large of a cage as rats do, but it's still nice for them to have some room. They're nocturnal. Syrian hamsters are solitary animals, so only ONE per cage. Once they're tamed, they remain that way. They can also be affectionate and could possibly learn their name and a few tricks.

    I would recommend you do research on both hamsters and rats. Choose the one that best fits your lifestyle, the care you can provide, and what you're looking for in a pet. Don't get the one that gets the most votes here on Y!A. We're complete strangers. We don't know anything about you. All we know is what pet we believe is the best for us and which pet is the best in our opinion. The pet that is best for us may not be the best pet for you, so it's really up to you to decide. We can only give you suggestions.

  16. yes they are no matter wt some1 ses they are if u have the time oom and heart for 1 then yes  

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