Hamsters as Pets

Making up your mind about getting a pet is no small decision. It involves a lot of care, attention and responsibility. Nothing can prepare you for what you are about to experience, before getting that pet. I know exactly what that feels like - not doing proper research about behavioral traits of an animal and training methods, ends up with a huge problem on your hands. Before you can consider returning it, someone in the family has already grown attached to the pet, and then you blame yourself for getting the pet in the first place. Sigh. A hamster is relatively easy to take care of, provided you know how. The plus side is that keeping it loose in the house is not an option; so that eliminates a messy situation. The most you can do is pet it, and hold it, within a secured small space. Letting it loose will only prove to be stressful, since these aren't easy to find if they squeeze into hard-to-reach places.

Types of Dwarf Hamsters

There are different kinds of this species but we will look particularly into dwarf hamsters, that come in two kinds - Winter White Russian Dwarf Hamster and Campbell's Russian Dwarf Hamster. Keeping dwarf hamsters as pets is a non issue and will prove to be nice companions at home.

Winter White Russian Dwarf Hamster
They're about two to three inches when fully grown, and come in a variant of colors. During the winter these hamsters tend to turn a shade of white, as the word 'winter' suggests. The life expectancy of these hamsters is two years. They change coat colors during their breeding period and do well in groups or with the opposite sex. It isn't advisable to mix them with Campbell's hamsters, since they aren't used to being grouped with them.

Campbell's Russian Dwarf Hamsters
They grow into the same size as Winter White hamsters, with coat colors in gray and brown, with a black stripe running down their back. These are some of the other colors they come in.

• Normal Platinum - mix of brown, with white hair patches and darker stripe running down back, with black eyes.
• Dilute Platinum - these hamsters come in white coats, with no stripe running down their back, and have eyes the color of rubies, or just plain black.
• Black Eyed Argente - come in a cinnamon colored coat, with dark strip down its back, and black eyes.
• Opal - comes in a bluish black coat with strip down its back a light shade, and black eyes.
• Blue Fawn - comes in a combination of two color coats of opal and argente. Darker strip running down its back, with red eyes.
• Chocolate - combination of black-eyed argente hamster and black hamster coats, with light brownish black strip running down its back, and black eyes.

How to Take Care of a Hamster

If you decide on getting a hamster, the following guidelines are a must to follow for those who take on such a responsibility.

• Hamsters, like some rabbit breeds, prefer being left alone, as opposed to being petted constantly.
• Hamsters sleep during the day, and are most active during sundown.
• If you want to let your hamster out of its cage and play with it, let it first get used to you holding it.
• Teeth continue to grow for a hamster, that is why it is important to give them items to chew on. Chewing keeps them happy, so give them things to chew on like cardboard or rubber toys.
• Let hamsters get their morning sleep, since disturbing them makes them moody.
• More than one hamster in a cage can lead to fighting and stress. This overtime can lead to one of the two dying.
• Don't startle hamsters by picking them up from behind, instead get their attention and then do so.
• Hamsters need to get used to your touch, so bear with the initial biting.
• You need to constantly keep cages clean, to make sure it isn't infested with germs from feces or urine.
• They need to be fed fresh food, and water.
• Hamsters like to groom themselves, so you can be sure that they don't need to be bathed. Just be sure not to anyway, since they can fall sick and die.
• Be careful what you put into the cage, since they can swallow these accidentally. Example: plastic pieces from toys.

Pros and Cons of Keeping a Pet Hamster

Scrutinize this compiled list of pros and cons to understand all that you need to know about getting a hamster.

Pros	Cons
Easy to keep as pets.	Tendency to chew up furniture.
Keeping the hamster's cage clean requires less time and energy.	The hamster can escape from its cage if not locked properly, or if kept in the open / unattended.
Inexpensive to buy.	Can occasionally bite you.
Entertaining as pets.	Short life spans.

Hamsters as Classroom Pets

If you decide to include a hamster in a classroom, especially in a preschool batch then there are certain pros and cons that get into that decision as well.

Pros	Cons
Students are more attentive and ready to participate in activities.	Not advisable to give off these pets to students without involving the parents.
Teaching students about taking care of a pet, and the responsibility that goes into it.	Can cause an allergic reactions among students who are allergic to hamsters.
Atmosphere in the classroom is more congenial with the hamster around.	Can't let out hamster while kids are crowding around. Can cause squabbles among them when it comes to petting or holding it. Trampling feet can cause harm if the hamster makes a run for it.
The kids are taught about how to be kind to animals, and not cruel.	Needs attention and care everyday, and teachers may forget this if they are involved in class activities.
Can make presentations using the hamster as a prop.	Kids can give it foreign food to eat. It isn't okay to give candy and chocolate to a hamster, since it can lead to health problems.

Keeping all these things in mind and thus making a conscious decision, will help when taking care of your pet hamster. Just be sure to provide for it everyday and not give in to negligence.