Are Hamsters good pets for children?

Are you thinking about getting a pet for your child? Hamsters are popular pets for families with children, but they do have some unique characteristics that make them less suitable for kids. In this video, we'll discuss the personality traits of hamsters, their care requirements, and what makes them a not-so-good fit for kids.
By the end of this video, you'll have a better understanding of whether or not a hamster is a good choice for your child and family.
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[@lisaregan-hayden1523]

I'm 11 years old and I have owned a Campbell's dwarf hamster for a year this Christmas. I came across your channel a few months after I got my hamster Pip. She went from a tiny store-bought cage to an all-natural Ikea Detolf! THANK YOU VICTORIA!!!

[@HamsterGamingCrew]

Victoria is why my hamster has a massive cage. My past 3 hamsters had a small glass tank 😅

[@lisaregan-hayden1523]

@@HamsterGamingCrew Pip is my first hamster but Victoria is also the reason she has such a good life now!

[@heckporter]

Good job on taking care of your little buddy! Never stop trying to learn the best ways to care for your pets and improve their lives, they’ll appreciate it.

[@lisaregan-hayden1523]

@@heckporter Thanks! That means a lot. I love all my animals!🐹🐴🐕❤

[@cocothehamstar6087]

That was me too but I was 10!

[@TV-1997]

The older I am the more grateful I am that my parents always had a "no pets until you're old enough take care of it yourself" policy. I got my first personal pet (dwarf hamster) when i was 23, after researching proper care for months and when i had steady income to provide him with everything he needed.

[@ChristieHelm]

I think it would be a great idea to do an educational video aimed toward teachers who are thinking about getting hamsters as class room pets. My daughter's former middle school teacher got one and because my daughter knew how to properly take care of a hamster it really stressed her out to see it living such a sad life. The teacher would wake it up and let the kids pass it around and "play" with it. The enclosure was way too small and it had no enrichment. I eventually made her a bin cage and gave her a large wheel and my daughter went to her class after school and gave her a tutorial, but a lot of teachers wouldn't be as open minded and may even be offended.

[@ilovefish9458]

I'm actually against class pets I don't think teachers necessarily have the time or money for just a class pet if it's not a personal investment and pet.

[@imme3958]

I was 14 when I got my first hamster. I sadly had a cage that was too small and my care just wasn’t it. When I saw my hammy climbing bars and she was doing it every night I knew something wasn’t good so I started researching and came across your channel. Thankfully my parents care a lot about every animal so we started building a proper cage right away she lives happily after until she was 2,5 years old and sadly passed away because of old age💔 now I’m 16 and Since the October I have a new hamster, a roborovski named Oatmeal and Im glad that I can give her a good life!

[@lisaregan-hayden1523]

That's great! And I love her name

[@Esme4everxx]

Aww im sorry 🥺 for your loss

[@donkey2871]

Hello, I’m very happy to know about this channel and I agree, a lot of kids don’t understand that they need larger enclosures and things to chew on and a lot more. I’m happy that you are spreading awareness ❤

[@MyCuteHamster00]

I also liked that she pointed out that there are kids that research about hamsters and want to give them a great life but their parents won't allow it. There are some really nice and responsible kids out there that will make great pet owners in the future. ☺

[@anywherebuthere91]

IDK, a lot of adults don't seem to understand either lol.

[@yuris.3167]

​@@MyCuteHamster00 That's true. That is the reason why Victoria asks the kids who still don't have a hamster to not ask for one or get one without the full commitment from their parents. Part of being responsible is knowing that they can't yet provide for their hamsters needs, even though they want to and know a lot about it. I'm certain that these kids will be great pet owners in the future when they are able to care for their pets with time and effort but also financial stability.

[@casluvs]

@@yuris.3167 I agree with this completely. When I was 13 I got a hamster during a time I shouldn't have. My parents had just got a divorce, and my mom was trying to take care of me and my siblings on extremely low wage. I don't wanna go into depth but because of that I was struggling to care of the hamster. He didn't have an awful life. I spent every bit of money I had that year from my birthday and christmas on him, but it wasn't the best and I definitely could've done alot better. I still regret getting him and wish I just waited. I'm 15 now with 2 little hamsters named Rory and Miku. I have a little job working at a cafe near my house, and that helps me get the things I need to give my babies a good life, and not to mention for the possible future vet costs aswell. I had done alot of research with my first hamster, so I knew the way he was living wasn't right, and it was really stressful and heart breaking for me watching him climb and bite on the bars every night before I went to bed. They're living beings with feelings, just like every other animal. Just because they're small, doesn't mean they need to be given horrible lives to live. If you couldn't afford to get a cat or dog, you wouldn't get one, and I don't know why it's different for hamsters and other rodents.

[@danielazanin3662]

I am a teenager and am trying to care for my hamster as best as possible and I seem to be doing well!

[@lilyandlexislife]

I’m 11 yrs old and my hamster Gizmo just turned 3. My parents got me a Syrian hamster at the age of 9, and I was responsible. I will say, I started out with a small cage and a very small wheel. I didn’t know much about Hamsters. I did lots of research, and I watched many many of your videos. You inspired me and informed me so much about the needs of a hamster. I now have an IKEA detolf that I saved up for, I have gizmo a large wheel, a variety of foods, and overall a very good enclosure. Gizmo has been sneezing for quite a while now, and my mum and I didn’t know to take her to the vets or not. The sneezing has continued, so we will be taking her to the vet tomorrow. I hope she is okay. Victoria, your videos have helped me, some of my friends, and many of other people all over the world! Thank you!!

[@DuuuuuuchVanDerLinde]

If anyone is out there struggling with parents not letting you care for your hamster properly, don't be afraid to take it to a rescue! I was on the verge of doing so, but I was lucky enough to get a weekend job and could afford a new enclosure ECT. Make sure to prioritize your hamsters wellbeing over your desire to own a hamster!

[@margalothegreat_hams]

getting my second hamster today from a rescue, doing EVERYTHING right from the get-go this time thanks to you!!

[@aviewerp8776]

Hello, 13 year old here. I spent 3 years doing research before just earlier this year I got my first hamster, followed by one more a few months later. (Both are Syrian hamsters kept in separate enclosures.) I have always been an animal person and loved caring for my pets :) love your videos

[@Cami_lla1]

I’m 13 and I have 3 hamsters, I started watching hamster videos when I was about 11 and I’m very glad that I enjoyed your video style which drew me into watching your videos which meant I was getting the right education, All of my hamsters are treated very well and all have great pawhut enclosures, sand baths, water bowls proper diet ect ect. I personally think MATURE kids could succeed when owning hamsters (may be a bit biased since im so young and educated lol)

[@SomeoneHuman]

I am so thankful for how much you've helped me with my care. My past dwarf went from a very small cage to a detolf, and when she passed i got a syrian female. She hated the detolf, and now she's in a 1500 sq inch diy ikea enclosure, with 12 inches of bedding! Thank you so so much!

[@J9star-x6b]

I'm happy for you making this video, you have actually my eyes in the past. I'm 16 so still a teenager I currently have 3 pet mice and even though my mom doesn't understand the correct care for them she's still supportive of talking the correct care for them. Like every time I tell her I should upgrade their cage she says why? But when I explain to her why she is understandable and supports me I'm really grateful for my mom being so open minded about the correct care of animals even if she herself doesn't understand it.

[@IzzyBizy202]

Me personally I would to consider myself responsible, and I got a hamster for my 10th birthday. My parents are animal lovers. I bought a few toys and some food, but my parents bought most. For my 11th birthday all I asked for was stuff for my hamster. I got all my stuff from you so thank you! I did my research and when I got her eventually I learned a ton and got her the niteangle cage. When we went away my cousin who has had 3 hamsters took care of her. I cleaned her cage, played with her, fed her, and even made her homemade treats. At the beginning my hamster bit all the time, but I eventually got to tame her. I watched tv with her and I loved her running all over me. When I went to overnight camp my parents who are pet people took care of her, and they did a very good job. They even got her Hanukah gifts. I loved her very much. When I went to overnight camp for the second time my parents took care of her, but this was when she was about two years old. 5 days before I came home from camp she suddenly got extremely sick and didn’t eat, didn’t burrow, and didn’t run around. My mom took her to the vet and turned out she had cancer. My mom gave her pain medicine, but she was to old to get surgery. So we got an appointment to put her down two days after I returned from camp. It was a very hard time, but she had a very good long life. RIP Tutu. Thank you for all the advice you gave me. She had a great life and you are the reason for it.

[@OnlyDreams807]

I also ask for all of my hamster supplies on my birthday and on xmas. People get confused whether it's my hamster's bday or mine haha 😅

[@strawberry2272]

Thanks to you instead of getting a small cage and bad stuff for my hamster, I got an ikea detolf cage, a big wheel, and other good things for my hamster. You taught me how to treat my hamster properly how he should be.

[@carriemiles937]

I completely agree. Technically, my daughter has 4 hamsters. I say technically bc I know plan on taking them to the vets if needed, but the foods, treats, hides, sprays, etc. I also bought the storage bins, galvanized steel mesh, & wire cutters, & zip ties. She’s also reminded to scatter feed, & refill the water dishes. Thanks to your videos, she also does health checks. She takes them out of their homes for short periods of time. There’s no way a younger child should have one. They can’t hold onto them the same, & can hold them too tightly.

[@Nariabeads]

I’m almost 11 I watched your videos before getting my hamster. When I asked my dad he said yes, but he’s my responsibility, and I was okay with that. My parents let me stay up for a while. I made sure to make sure my parents understand that if they are sick it’s our responsibility to take the hamster to the vet. My dad also told me that I have to pay for my hamster (some of it) that I was okay with since I had saved up money my whole life. Now I regret nothing from getting my hamster I have proper care for her. Thank you for teaching me everything I know about hamsters if it weren’t for you right now I would have owned two hamsters in 1 cage, I would have a VERY small cage, the wheel would be WAY TO SMALL, ect. Thank you so much, Victoria my hamster has the life she deserves!

[@poppy.saffron]

I love watching this because I’m a child ( under the age of 13 ) and have pretty good hamster care. I watch all your videos hundreds of times and I have a cage that has 883 square inches of floor space. Obviously that wouldn’t be possible without you Victoria. I love your vids. ❤

[@HYDROCARBON_XD]

Are u sure it’s Squared?

[@poppy.saffron]

@@HYDROCARBON_XD yes I’m sure. Thanks for checking!

[@MyCuteHamster00]

Great video as usual! ❤ And it comes at such a perfect time with Christmas approaching. You gave some hard truths that some people might not like but it's such an important thing to talk about. I also liked that you addressed both parents and children. As you said, sometimes kids are more responsible and want to give a great life to their ham but parent's don't allow it. I am sure that this video will prevent some people impulse buying hamsters and also buying them as gifts. Thank you. ☺🐹

[@annellas_eq]

I'm 11 and I started my campbells dwarf hamster in a 300 sq inch cage until he was 1 and a half, he's now in a 600 square inch aquarium with 6 kinds of sprays, a multi chamber hide, a platform and a 12 inch wheel! (He also has thick bedding) He's now 3 and living happily

[@Lunarjellies]

Dear Victoria, I’m a 12 year old girl and i’ve wanted a hamster for a long time and my parents finally let me get one, her name is Roxy and she’s a Campbell dwarf. She came with a metal cage so I moved her to a bin cage but we plan on building a new cage that’s a lot more suitable for her. Your videos taught me a lot about how to properly care for her and give her the best life possible. Thank you so much for these videos❤️

[@veeontop2]

I definitely relate to the issue with parents not understanding. When I got my first rabbit, they wouldn’t let me free roam her and my mom always made very rude comments about our dog not being able to go down to the basement because of her, which was very upsetting. Though My parents were better than lots of stories I’ve heard before, because they usually understood once I explained to them, so I’m very happy for that :)

[@isabellabifano9119]

I’m 12 years old and I have wanted a hamster for the longest time and when I came across you Channel I got so involved with all the right care and I finally got a hamster maybe just over a year ago and she was in a tiny store bought cage because my brother didn’t believe me when. I said to get a bigger one and soon he started to not care for the little baby and I took her in and got a bin cage and I have finally upgraded her cage from the store bought to a bin cage and now to a large perfect cage for her and she is so happy!!! Thank u for helping me learn proper care

[@cj.486]

I'm so glad my parents let me upgrade my hamsters enclosure. My hamster used to live in a small pets at home cage but she's now happily staying in an IKEA Linnmon :)

[@jaredjordan9863]

J.J.! Of all your pets, he's my favorite. I think too many people judge a life by its size or longevity. I'm glad you brought that issue up and can see deeper. A hamster really isn't a great pet for anyone who can't handle or process death. I focus on what I gave instead of what I lost, which is why I try to give the best life possible. My first Syrian, Papa Midnight, wasn't much of a cuddler. I got lucky with my current one Horus. He loves to snuggle.

[@pringle96]

0:34 YES! I was one of those kids that would beg and beg and beg for a pet and they did not care for my small animals so that resulted in a lot of guilt and shame for me because my parents didn’t care to pay for them to have good enriching lives. That in turn stressed me out. Now that I’m an adult and can afford my own things my baby girl is well cared for! I still hold on to that guilt of caring for them and my other rodents wrong in the past however. I don’t think I’ll really ever get over that, but I’m certainly trying to make up for it now. My Georgie is so spoiled. I actually still have nightmares of finding live hamsters in small containers hidden in storage or the backs of closets like they’re forgotten. I’ve had these dreams even before I knew very much about my pets. It’s like my subconscious itself was telling me I was mistreating them. Curious if anyone else has had these dreams…

[@Vethom.Rose.]

When I was 11 my friend got a hamster, unfortunately they were unaware of the proper care but I fell in love with it. For the next three months I would watch hamster videos, mostly Victoria! After around 5 months of me sending my parents videos and telling them all about hamster care they got me one! I was lucky enough to have parents willing to provide the 6-10 in worth of bedding in a 55 gallon for my robo who passed a little over a month ago actually, and they took me to the vet with him when I noticed he had a wound, I was so lucky and I’ll miss him

[@foulflamingos2915]

I am 11 and me and my brother got hamsters in kaytee critter trail and then I found your channel and learned about it. My parents didn’t want me to upgrade and kept questioning everything and I ended up taking care of my brothers hamster when he became uninterested. So I was paying for all of mine and my brothers hamsters stuff. Thank you for teaching me how to care for a hamster!

[@Caliemha]

My first hamster was very easy, he was happy in the 50x100cm terrarium. My current hamster has a completely other energy level, so she's not happy in the same cage. So I'm in the process of upgrading her cage. It's wild they have such different personalities!

[@zolfirthedragon]

Aww, that's girl hams for you. All the cuteness and cuddles and twice the energy!

[@houseoftoffee6910]

My Syrian lady is a sweetheart and never bites but I can definitely go days without seeing her. My Robo boy I see numerous times throughout the day. He is pretty timid but getting braver, even runs up to me sometimes after a treat !

[@PetConnectionInternational]

Really well done video, and so needed, I get similar comments all the time from kids saying they can't upgrade their gerbils or get them vet treatment, or people that think spending hundreds of pounds on an enclosure for such a small animal "doesn't make sense" 😞 it's so sad that small animals aren't considered as worthy of care as cats and dogs Also, to add to the point of parents being responsible, in the UK at least, children cannot legally be responsible for a pet until they're 16, meaning that if an animal doesn't get proper care or prompt vet treatment, the parent is legally responsible and can be sentenced by a court (not really done for inadequate care though unfortunately) - so even if a parent says "it's my kids hamster", that doesn't matter, as far as the law is concerned that hamster belongs to the parents

[@alyssarossi9289]

I'm 13 years old and my sister had a hamster that I took over with caring for because she didn't want her anymore and I watched your videos but now she has passed and I have another hamster and he is in a pawhut cage with about 8 inches of bedding, a large wheel and lots of hides and enrichment because you educated me. thank you so much Victoria ❤

[@ThisIsNoahHii]

I wish I'd know more when my dad got me 2 hamsters 15 years ago... They were kept in cages that were wayy too small and ug that's why they died in a year.. I'm adopting another hamster this Friday and so grateful that I came across this channel

[@demibrown4297]

I am 12 and I started owning hamsters when i was around 8 😅😅😅 Thank the lords I found your channel and I convinced my mom to get a bigger cage! We are also upgrading to a bigger one this weekend… I have a robo hamster named marshmallow and he is living his life thanks to you 🙏

[@TheHamsterRoom]

Hey Victoria- amaaazing video as usual 🥰 I agree- children really should not have hamsters, unless the parent is 100% supportive and can pay for everything they need+ vet visits. I hate how hamster products are all marketed towards young children as if they are toys. It's awful. I also get really annoyed at the amount of comments I see that say 'I really want to get my hamster *something * but my parents won't let me'. Parents need to be 100% supportive in order for a child to get a hamster. I am 15 and have 3 hamsters (2 were adopted from Happy Hamsters UK!) They have amazing care (because of watching allll your videos multiple times🤣) and I spend ALL my money on them. I just spent £100 on an order from Germany for their Christmas present 😂 In my opinion, you should be at LEAST 13 to get a hamster, but it'd be better if you were 16+ so you could have a job. I now have a KZbin channel to promote proper care, and I know many other younger youtubers with AMAZING care. Thank you so so much for inspiring me, and many others and thank you for helping me for improving my care🐹❤️

[@alisonpauldeschryver2428]

my friend previously owned a hamster and i loved him so much, witch gave me the inspiration to adopt one of my own, i was going to get a small horrible cage with all the wrong things because i didn't do my research, but one of your videos appeared on my tv one day and i spent the next couple of months doing research and saving up to over 300USD and now my hamster Pumkin lives in a home-made cage from home depot with tons of sprays, hides digging material and over 11 in of bedding!

[@floracochran5383]

Funny story, last night, my hamster woke up and climbed up the back of her wheel to get as high as she could and when I opened the lid of the cage, she just looked at me and then climbed into my hand. It was so cute. ❤❤

[@Petsleyy]

I am a teenager, and I am so extremely grateful my parents are willing to provide for my hamsters needs. I really feel for the other teens/ kids out there that feel guilt over not being able to provide their hamster proper needs because their parents allowed them to get the hamster, but refuse to take any responsibility. P.S I'm going to ask my parents for some of your merch for Christmas, I really like your merch and I'm thinking of asking for the "not a toy" hamster sticker and the hamster servant tee :D

[@hazelnut3794]

🐹🐹🐹🐹🐹🐹🐹🐹🐹🐹🐹🐹🐹🐹🐹🐹🐹🐹🐹🐹

[@alexgallop6533]

I got my hamsters a few hours ago and I have been watching your vids for weeks.

[@littlekiwi5453]

My passed dwarf hamster, Nala she was the most tamed hamster i’ve beret had and i didn’t have to tame her she was just like that. She would sleep on me and i would cup my hands over her so she would feel safe. When i first went to see all the hamsters i laid my hand on the bottom of the tank and she crawled onto my hand and started licking it. I knew she was the one. That was also another habit of hers was licking me. I would put her on my bed and she would run around but would never jump off the bed. She was the best hamster i ever had. ❤️

[@quickbrickanimation3651]

Your right a child shouldn’t have a hamster. My sister got a hamster a year ago. She had no prior information.we had it in a small critter trail cage. It’s name was fluffy and it was a female Syrian hamster. It died after a month of child birth. While we had her we saw your channel and watch all you videos. We got a 600 inch hamster cage. A 11 inch wheel, sand bath, hide out, and even 7 inches of bedding. She died like 3 days after we got her in her new cage. I think because of childbirth. Now I have hamy and had him for 7 months and he is not stressing by bitting bars and he is even letting me hold and hand feed him. You have given a hamster a good life. I just hope I had stumbled among your channel sooner and maybe fluffy could have lived longer. I am 11 and my sister is 12

[@depressoespresso7631]

Dead ass wanted to take care of a hamster so badly I researched about it, study hard enough to prove to my parents I'm responding, did chores, took care of my neighbors pet, saved up nearly hundreds of dollars (that I had to give half to my grandmother) I waited for 9 years, I'm 13 now, still watching this channel to welcome my new hamster this weekend, wish me luck!

[@tftied]

Seeing ur videos actually help me calm down, there’s too many videos online with hamsters in bad care and I cannot stand it, watching ur videos are so refreshing knowing that there’s still people who actually care about their pets

[@lubmar1n3]

Im 11 and i have a winter white dwarf hamster. I provide all of its needs with my allowance i get each month! and my mom also helps buy food and will bring it to the vet if needed. i love my hamster

[@vxrxdiana2249]

As a 11 year old who has owned a hamster rip Oreo I did a really good job she lived a happy life I had a huge cage lots of food water and bought a lot of things to keep her intertained she died of old age and I really miss her :( Rip oreo

[@_Unkown_Man_]

I’m ten years old and thanks to you my hamster is going to live in a big tank and with a lot of enrichment, if it wasn’t for you I would just do everything the pet store told me so thank you

[@familyoffive7934]

i am a child and i watch your videos and take into account all the enrichment and a proper size cage and care due to you thank you!

[@quickbrickanimation3651]

My hamster is in my room and I love hearing his wheel because I can look over at him and know his doing well and is ok

[@alexsis6889]

you helped me so much in learning the basics of giving my hamster better care, she went from one of the pet smart cages to a niteangel enclosure. she just recently passed and i miss her sm but without you she wouldn’t have had the proper care she needed so thank you for that ! r.i.p luna 🌙🕊❤️

[@raanarda5729]

I'm a mom to a 1 and a 5 year-old girl. You need to have a very special child to consider getting a hamster, especially at that age. The older one was asking for a pet for a while after we had to give our cat away due to allergies she and my husband developed. Thanks to the cat tho, I knew she had learned how to handle animals, be calm, gentle and careful while around them. She's also more interested in watching animals do their things than cuddle with them - also due to the cat being a rather distanced one. We got a syrian hamster after I told her what we could and could not get. Our hamster sleeps until around 11 p.m. The only times my daughter gets to see her sometimes is during early morning, when we say her goodnight, take her out of her enclosure and she can have a little time with her before kindergarten. She likes taking care of her, cleaning the enclosure, bring food and water and such and I record some videos when I catch the hamster at night while she's in bed. I handle the hamster since her hands are too small to even give her enough space to sit on. So yeah, she's patient, she's okay with rarely interacting with her and during the past 6 months she's shown no signs of losing interest. We'll get her tested for what animals trigger her allergies and when Rosie's crossed the rainbow bridge some day, we might allow a pet that she can have a little more 'fun' with. It's a great learning experience tho, being responsible for a pet that rarely actively shows acknowledgement for it.

[@carsondacar4507]

I just wanted to let you know I do not comment much but I had to say I have been having trouble finding a second pet for me and it has really been affecting me but I had the idea of getting a hamster and you have really open in my mind to the proper care needed I honestly thought a store-bought cage was proper now knowing all of this information I will come at this properly and hopefully finally have a second pet to stay with I am so appreciative and I want you to know you are impacting a lot of good in lives please don't stop

[@margalothegreat_hams]

I feel you wearing that sweatshirt and vest lol! it's so cold!!

[@flolovescrochet]

hi victoria! im 13 yrs old and i really want a hamster and i offered to fully pay for the basic things for the hamster as i have a small business, my first pet was a senior bunny i had grown up with then she was passed down to me as i really wanted a pet of my own! she was 6 when we brought her home and she sadly passed at 8. i always knew she would pass eventually so i prepared myself. i spent time after she passed mourning her and i now feel ready for another pet. i turned to hamsters so i had peace of mind that they wouldnt feel threatened outside. THANK YOU for your informative videos! they have really helped me research about hamsters and i feel ready to ask my mum for a hamster! THANK YOU AGAIN!!

[@gabideeh2029]

Kids having a hamster is a nightmare. Older kids and teenagers sometimes fly

[@Gfffgfgiihdzs]

I agree, if you are a parent and have enough money for vet bills, enrichment, and training then yes i think its okay for a present if they're responsible enough.

[@Justdatonefloof-]

Listen kids can still be responsible no matter what age. As long as they care for them correctly

[@jasmynpurewal]

@@Justdatonefloof- No there’s definitely and age limit a 5 year old for example hasn’t developed fully and still needs a help with a lot of things from parents never mind being left responsible to take care of an animal it’s not fair on the animal whatsoever

[@ButterFromDiscord]

No they don’t, they don’t have wings! (I’m sorry, that was a horrible joke and I will see myself out)

[@user-wh5fj6pj6m]

@@ButterFromDiscordhey speak for yourself 🕊

[@janenandi1990]

Lots of the same issues with bunnies. People think they are easy to look after but they need a lot of care. Made me smile though. In our house I was the one buying the pets and my kids were like, mum you don't need another rabbit! And I was like shut up kids, you're not the boss of me.

[@isabellecox2338]

i got my hamster when i was 12. for the first few months, it lived in a 20 gallon aquarium tank, but it chewed the plastic on the top, the glue on the sides, and it crawled upside down on the lid. finally, i bought a way bigger tank with my parents. i payed for half, they payed for half. now, my parents pay for the bedding and food, and i pay for the enrichment toys and structures (wheel, dig boxes, bendy bridges, hidey chambers, etc.) your videos are the reason my hamster lives a good life now. thank you victoria!!

[@Mini-cv6uq]

I’m 11 and I got 3 hamsters and gave 1 to my brother, my 2 hamsters were in the same cage in a while, I researched a lot before getting them but I’ve look into your acc and you really helped me and now my hamsters and my brothers hamster live in a 115qt bin all in different cages, thank you for helping my hammys

[@Mini-cv6uq]

I was 10 when I got them!

[@Tas-qt1xm]

Very accurate! For one: I've spent way more on my hamster then my parents probably spend on their dog. Second, I can probably count on one hand the number of times my son got to see our previous, extremely shy, hamster.

[@Sebass0-0]

I learned all about hamsters in your Channel, something animals and many more and told my Parents all about proper Care and they listened First time and got me everythings i needed

[@AnniexParedise]

I'm a child but I do have parents who help me but I have done a lot of research and I am not buying a critter trail I talked with my parents.

[@C6Wolves]

6:47 I appreciate u blurring out there face I think we should protect the privacy of all children online when they step under 18 as they may dislike that they have been in a video that is public and popular when they are older. Depending on the video type as when it could cause bullying, judgement from others or job problems if a kid or teen does something stupid or silly and it comes back to get them when employers check their online footprint (family vlog channels putting videos of their 7 and 8 yr olds sometimes embarrassing things like tantrums, that wont be good if someone digs it up at their highschool).

[@signinfor348]

I'm 20 years old and got my first hamster when I was 11/12. I completely agree with everything you're saying. Whilst I did take responsibility for feeding, etc., the cage I had for them was extremely small. When my cat got a hold of one of my hamsters, we didn't take him till the vet till the morning when I was begging my parents to take him immediately knowing they go downhill fast. They would keep me up all night since I kept them in my room. 99.9% of children should never have hamsters in my opinion. No child under 16 years old is mature enough to properly care for these animals or other animals that require ALOT. I have a roommate in college who's 21 and can't even properly care for her dog. I also work at PetSmart and people, especially children, are consistently returning their animals because of lack of research. As a PetSmart employee, I always have my own printed out guide for hamsters with the proper sqinches of space, the proper food, enrichment, etc. A lot of parents look at me funny but it's so worth it, because I haven't seen someone buy one of our disgusting "caged" cages since. I sound like a Karen probably, but knowing the hammy or guinea pig will have the best possible life that I contributed to is always nice. Our staff also owns a hamster in our breakdown, with a cage that spans the entire room lol. Regardless, seeing the children with mistreated animals (not on purpose), makes me strongly advise to parents against buying a hamster. I've seen parents with children as young as 3 buying a hamster, and telling their child they have to take care of them, which I have refused sales to. It's not a toy, and most of our customers like to think so.

[@emersome1]

as a 13-year-old child, I owned hamsters for 3 years, before I studied hamsters for around 3-4 years. my mother had no idea how to take care of hamsters so I had to find information the best way I could, it was extra tricky because I had no internet access until I was around 9. my mom said that the only thing she would help with is vet bills and adopting a hamster, fortunately, I have never had a hamster fall ill or have to be taken to the vet. my knowledge really started skyrocketing when I found your channel. It helped me understand so many things so I am very thankful for that. since hamsters and all things they need for nutrients are expensive I saved money up for years. and due to prior events in my life, I grew up somewhat more mature and understanding than kids my age and a large number of adults. the only hamster I have ever had pass away from stress was my first hamster Donut I got them from a local animal shelter and I have no idea what their gender was or age neither did the shelter, I was extra careful with them because the shelter had told me about how Dounut was abused by a 4-year-old girl for a couple of months and moving around to different places so much was stressful. now I have around 400 sq inches of floor space but with 13 1/2 inches of bedding with a diet that includes protein, grains, fresh veggies and dried veggies with an 8-inch wheel for my Sirian hamster Rosalia, who I got from the same animal shelter 3 years later. I have many things to improve on but I am proud of where I am today, thank you for all the help and education it means so much to me.

[@OpheliaNoelleW481]

Victoria I have some questions that I hope you will be able to answer for. I had gotten a hamster for Christmas this year and I was so happy, he is a winter white hamster of course. I decided to let him settle in for a day or two to make sure he felt comfortable in his home. (His home is a good side but I don’t think he has enough bedding for a big burrow and such, also he might need some new things and little hideouts and such to make him feel nice and not stressed) I tried to do the finger technique, giving him a treat with my two fingers in his cage, he took is eventually but he was a little skittish when I would pull my hand away and he would hiss at me. I understand that he was scared but I tried to show that I didn’t want to be a threat to him and wanted to be a person to give treats. I kept doing the finger treat technique for two more days and he stopped hissing, I tried not to put it in his face or anything and let him come to me. I even used paper towels to rub onto my skin to get him used to my scent. (I didn’t have any lotion or any other strange scent but my own on) I know how to have a happy hamster and I will get future things for him to make him feel more at home but when I tried to do the hand treat technique he hissed at me! Understandable I backed away and tried to just to the finger technique and when he came close he decided to bite me! And to be honest it seemed out of defense. Like I took his treat or something, maybe he was really curious and just wanted to see what my hand was. Should I just leave him to settle in for a few days on his own and then try to train again??? Should I have been more patient?? I don’t want him to be unhappy which is why I try to get new things for him but I don’t know.

[@terezasuchankova6237]

Hi Victoria 👋 i am 13 years old and i got my first hamster when i was maybe 8. We got her from a nice lady. She had two hamsters and they accidentaly bred. Our hamster lived year and a half. I was really sad when she passed away and she also passed away maybe a month before summer breake. I have to say that when we first got our first hamster she had maybe 30 x 20 cm cage. On the first night when we got her, she managed to escape even tho the cage was closed. We upgraded her cage onto a little bigger and especially higher cage so she wouldn't escape. I have to say she had pretty good enrichment like she had full cage of interesting hamster toys. We bought another hamster even tho she was still alive because the hamster was for my sister. So we bought 67x50 cm cage and the smaller one was for the new hamster witch was roborovsky from pet store. When the syrian hamster died we had only the roborovsky and after the summer break we bought new syrian hamster. Her name was Skaya and we also bought proper sized house, cage, weel because the lady ( breedee ) make sure we had proper things for her. She lived almost two years but we had to let her go. The little roborovsky died at home he was maybe 2 years i dont really know they never told us how old he was and he died after the summer break few months later after we got the new syrian. once again the second syrian died before summer break and we were going to vacation, and she was just suffering so we took her to vet and they put her into forever sleep. I loved her and still love her so so much but i know that i have done the right thing. She was just skin and bones and couldnt even walk properly. She didn't even sleep in her house anymore. When i saw her i just immediatelly changed her bedding and instead of her normal bedding i put there paper towels so it wouldnt be so cold for her. She just slept all the time, didn' t even eat or drink. My heart was ripped into million pieces and i cryied like 2 days straight. I am also crying while writing this comment. She would sleep in my arms and never bit me. After summer break we got again two syrian hamsters that i have to this day. Their names are Pie and Paw. After we got them my english really improved ( english is not my first language ) and i started watching english videos and then i found you. I could give my hamsters proper care and food and everything. I am so so glad that i found you because if you weren't my hamsters would live in small cages and espeacially their enrichmentwouldnt be this good. Also i wrote comment under one of our pet store vids and it helped lots of people because they were saying some dumb stuff about hamsters and it got pinned, all thanks to you, you really helped me, and others. I love youre videos and i am sure my hamsters Pie and Paw are much much more happier now. You deserve a huge huge huuuuge thanks because you helped lots of people with hamster care ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Bluspethouseandriding]

I am a teenager and I worked super hard before I got a hamster to do as much research as possible and my hamsters cage is huge and I have listened to all your videos trying to give my hamster, tatertot his best life he can possibly have

[@quickbrickanimation3651]

It took a while to convince my mom but I got a 600 inch hamster cage with 7 inches of bedding and a second story around 200 inches. I like him in the corner of my room.

[@SOPHIEGAMING-ck7bq]

I am really wanting one and ive been asking for quite a while and my mom said yes finally so I've been binging ur videos so I know how to care for him!

[@junelondon1703]

Great video! It´s good that you adress the kids AND the parents. I will share this with everybody who thinks about getting a hamster.

[@HYDROCARBON_XD]

Can u also use metric system? Sometimes imperial makes no sense and most people ( except US Americans and some countries) are educated with metric system

[@beachsandd]

I’m a kid, and wanted to buy a hamster after seeing my friends with one. Although, my friends hamster care was horrible with tiny tale cages. At the time, I didn’t know much about them. When I convinced my mom to get me one I came across your page. I watched HOURS of your channel doing research and all I could do. Thanks to you, I have a 1 1/2 year old Syrian hamster living in an 850sq inch enclosure with good care. My mother and sister help me with medication and surgery when she got ill. I’m so glad I came across this account before I got a hamster :) Thanks Victoria! Although I still agree some people shouldn’t own hamsters…

[@keirakeira932]

I am 12 years old and my entire family does not like my hamster. They didn’t understand why I have a tiny hamster in a 600 sq inch bin. I’ve tried to educate them but they won’t listen. So if it weren’t for me having money, my hamster probably would’ve been neglected and wouldn’t have a good life. So if a parent says that you have to buy everything, then i would not recommend having a hamster.

[@moodz4703]

My mom used to hate rodents but I’ve always wanted a hamster it took 2 years to convince her and now she loves hamsters and after my first hamster died when he was about 1 1/2 and they surprised me with my new hamster buddy from petco and after about 2 weeks he always wants to be in my hands. And now he has 450 floor space and wakes up at about 9 and i am 12 and my mom has learned a lot from you. Thanks you so much Victoria.

[@Serphyr]

I got my first hamster when I was around 10/9 years old, yes we did have a small cage but then I noticed after about a year after owning her that she was very discomforted in the cage, I looked it up and did some research and fortunately my parents understood that she was stressed and bought me a new cage she was so much happier after that, she also love being petted she'd sit in a tea towel and sleep on me it was so precious, she was the reason why I love hamsters so much ♥

[@Scotto444]

I got my first at 11 and he lived in a critter trail I miss him so much we had such a strong bond he was always out and around my room I can't wait for my new one

[@emilymeredith9350]

My hamster is extremely sociable so I have to get him out 3 times a day for 45min- 1hr (usually at 1am, 6am and 9pm) every day otherwise he will become very stressed. He honestly needs more maintenance than my two cats combined. It's a good job I'm a night owl and I love him to pieces 💕

[@Cutiechannel13]

I am a tween and I own 3 hamsters Chewey,Zippy and Cloudy.🐹🐹🐹🐹 my hamsters wake up around four thirty.I have had one since I was 5.

[@lizzielogic]

When I was around 10 I had a hamster and at first I didn’t know the proper care but after a week I found out the proper care and the hamster lived for 3 years (I miss her very much)

[@giovannisingergs4159]

I want a hamster since I was a little kid but I didn't start owning them until I turned 16 my mom thought it would be a better idea for me to own a pet when I was a bit older and now next to your videos I'm learning a lot and I'm also doing some of my own research and I'm doing a lot better with my pet care

[@AngelaTMotheringWithGrace]

I know a few kids that are grate hamster owners and it’s because of you thankyou👍🏼❤

[@swift_chicken2301]

I’m 13, and I got my 2 budgies last year. My mom said I had to pay for most of it, and I ended up saving up around $600. It was $100 for the flight cage, $250 for a kit that had natural perches, toys, and stainless steel bowls. Then I bought a couple extra perches and toys, the food, which is about $10 per bag of about 1 lb I think. The cage cover was 50 dollars, and I got a play stand for $20. I also got a travel cage for $20 at the thrift store, and the birds themselves only cost $25 each. Since then I still have to get food every month and I bought a cargo net for them. Plus treats like seeds millet when I run out, it adds up A LOT. I love animals and spend most of my time researching on different pets, even if I’m not gonna get one anytime soon. I know a lot about care for rabbits, hamsters, birds, fish, hedgehogs, Guinea pigs, rats, etc. I hope I can get all of these animals at some point in my life because I find them so cute and interesting 😊

[@beck2752]

Oh man, this takes me back…. I got a hamster when I was 10 (named him brownie!). Sweetest little thing ever! And spoiled rotten, I can’t tell you how much enrichment I bought him (personally favorite of mine was a pink ball, he loved that thing!) my folks where pretty good at taking care of him too! Namely, my dad (always the animal person.). Such a good little dude that I still felt cross the rainbow way too soon.

[@worqt6481]

Hi victoria i Live in Turkey and there is no paper based or aspen shavings you can buy paper bedding but its 800 tl with shipping and other fees 1200 tl and 1200 tl is minimum wage is 250 tl per day so what should ı do i use pine shaving i know it is bad but i cant do anything

[@ulfhildur08]

My hamster just died today. His name was Pippin. He lived for 2 years and 4 months. I just wanted to thank you for making these videos so I could give him a good life. He was the sweetest animal I had ever met and I’m so thankful that I got to take care of him and have him in my life. Pippin, 18/8/20 - 11/10/22

[@s_shake23]

I’m a pre-teen and I’ve been owning hamsters with your advice for about 3 years now, I own a Chinese hamster and he’s really fast, has a good cage, and is now coming up on his 3rd birthday in January. Thank you Victoria happy👍

[@happyhammies4u]

I so agree! My parents were really happy about the lifespan because they do not want to end up taking care of it when I'm at college. And even tho their lives are short we are still giving him a great life!

[@MyLittlePetsYT]

This video was really interesting to watch as a teenager myself. You made some really great points on things you should consider before getting one ☺ Loving the outfit, it looks very warm/cozy

[@bloxyyfamx69]

I’m 11 and thanks to you I know love hamster I found out someone In my city that makes hamster enclosure plus hamster food+treats all thanks to you Victoria I’m so thankful and I’m on the process to convince my dad to let me get a dwarf because I had a hamster when I was around 6-7 and my poor baby had the worst life he was surviving not thriving and I want one to give it the life my other hamster never had i found so many stuff for hamster in my city that are safe I digger and digged and found a a store that sells paper bedding thank you Victoria!

[@rosepoppy544]

I got my first hamster at 11. I kept her in a half-cracked tiny cage. When I found out about proper hamster care (thanks to you Victoria), I convinced my parents to get a larger cage. I remember always having to stay up late to see her, but she was a wonderful pet. I think that if you have a kid who is under 10, I probably wouldn't get them a hamster. Definitely around the age of fourteen-fifteen is a lot better. Hamsters are amazing animals, but just remember to tell your kids about proper care and handling.

[@eriathwen1320]

I got my 2 hybrids as the child they were bought for got bored of them after a year. I've been extremely luckily to be able to enjoy them as long as I have, they'll be 3 next month but the last couple of months have been so, so expensive with vet visits, special diets, medication etc to ensure they are comfortable and well during the time they have left.

[@princessmai5839]

So true 😂 I’m a lifelong hamster owner and am very protective when kids are over bc I know from experience. I just wanted to say I had my sweet hamster baby for 2 years and she just died a few days ago. It’s difficult to love something SO much for only a short time but I don’t regret it. She had a good life and it mattered.

[@gabbiegetyina5165]

I am 13 years old and I wanted a hamster. while I was on KZbin I stumbled a crossed your page and saw your videos and I am so glad I did because if I didn't my hamster would be in a full cheeks hamster cage but instead she's in a diy enclosure I made watching you tutorial!

[@HammyCare1]

One time my syrian teddy slept in my lap for an hour, best day ever

[@cutecats4576]

I’m 12 and my parent refuse to upgrade my 2 hamsters cages they said that I’m not allowed to upgrade there cages even if I pay for it 😢 I’m really sad about this but I still try my best to give them the enrichment they need and giving them as much bedding as possible

[@C6Wolves]

Have you tried showing them Victoria Raechel, SomethingAnimal HoppingHammy and HammyLux's channel to show you have a range of people who agree with you and that this is correct proven information. I would gather some research studies as well and some bbc videos on hamsters to show there is science and nature proving this information. If this still doesnt work just try get them out everyday and let them roam around in a playpen in your bedroom when you are there so they can get more freedom.

[@R0manSk8er]

hi Victoria as a child, I love how you say that some children have more maturity then others. i have seen so many other type of youtubers of rabbits guinea pigs and more saying to not get a child one of these animals because they will get bored of it or they will put in proper care on them. I have a hamster and both my parents don't really like him so i had to watch all your videos on how take great care of him. Obviously, some children can not take care of a hamster or get bored of it so the parents have to take care of them, but as you said its not always like that.

[@rileycoleman2148]

I am almost 14 and I have owned my male dwarf hamster smokie for a little over 2 years and he still is having no signs of aging thankfully. When I wanted a hamster I studied really hard and found your channel and I slowly would tell my mom a fact about hamsters everyday and then asked her for one and she at first said no but then after some convincing she said yes I got him from a pet store because I couldn’t find any other hamster any where else at the time but the next hamster I get I will be getting it from a breeder. If it weren’t for you Victoria my hamster wouldn’t have such an amazing life in a big cage and the right bedding food etc. thank you so so much❤ love you all💕

[@everythinghamster7270]

As an ethical hamster breeder I do adopt a special few hamsters to children. These are few and far between, and the hamster is a family pet. I literally grill the parents, they must provide very large enclosures and we discuss routines, kids being monitored (we even have an agreement about the fact that friends can’t handle etc). In all cases whilst the hammies do have daily cuddles and play with the kids (supervised) they all get adult time daily - free roaming etc all all parents have said how much they love having them! Lastly I do a 3-4 hour in person handover at their house with the parents and kids. Our process is very in depth and I pick specific hammo’s for children. Not every litter has a hamster I feel are appropriate.

[@Cacti_Of_Mexico]

My hamster Cheese just got put down because of cancer 30 minutes ago and this video cheered me up thanks.

[@thehamsterhouse3]

Hey Victoria, I’m fostering a baby Syrian! I’m was wondering if there are any things I should be doing extra because he’s only 9 ish weeks old

[@zdragonfruit]

Victoria I'm dying to know, can hamsters eat raw spaghetti pasta (barilla brand) I'm thinking of adding it to my Syrian hamsters diet