The Pros & Cons Of Keeping Hamsters

Today I'll be sharing with you my personal views on the positives and negatives of hamster keeping.
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Cameras: Nikon D7000 / Canon Ixus 132
Editing Software: Final Cut Pro
Microphones: Behringer C-1 / Rode VideoMic / In-camera mic
Audio Software: Audacity
Music: EpidemicSound.com
For urgent hamster care, health questions, or advice on hamster pregnancy please consult your vet or www.hamstercentral.com. I'm not active online all the time and cannot always reply to comments so please don't rely entirely on me for help in these areas.
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[@pickupnotes]

The biggest con for me is their short lifespan...

[@tatum416]

Especially when you create a bond with a them. It is so sad once they pass. :(

[@mysticpanda8526]

My hamster luna is turning two in early December I got got her December 22 2013 :(

[@readaboutpage3470]

+Aina Olsen robos do live for about four years though

[@SydneyTheHammy]

I have a Russian dwarf hamster and apparently the live for two years. But I've had mine for here years now

[@momomox8682]

This makes me miss my old hamster i had her for a good 2 years untill she developed a tumor it was late at night and i tried my best to find a vet but none of them were open and the ones that were open dont accept hamsters its been about a year but im starying to get reintersted into hamsters just that vets are the one thing thing that scare me

[@camiwami4973]

"Con: Hamsters are more active at night" It's a pro for me it's 4 am right now, and during in the day when they're asleep my 5 year old sister can't play with them. My sister is a bit rough when it comes to animals...

[@farah8406]

Camii Re: ha no! It 9:49

[@Yeewen88]

Camii Re: Is she still quite rough?

[@iluvpetsheh994]

Camii Re: omg relatable especially the sister part 😬lol

[@Ray-px3fk]

One of my old hamsters NEVER BIT ANYONE!!!! He was so friendly to everybody

[@CassideeRose]

I've only ever had one hamster that was more on the aggressive side and oddly it was the only female hamster I've ever owned. Not to say anything bad about females as my sister owns a female winter white hybrid, but my female Syrian was a brat 😂

[@sophieblankinship7472]

+utd mine too. 🐹🐹🐹🐹

[@Ray-px3fk]

Jessica Porter aw! I can't believe that she ran right towards you! Most hamsters run away from you

[@tomverkerk7384]

I have 4 hamsters, all brothers and sisters, all 2 and a half years old and they never bit me or anyone else?

[@chloebarton5530]

Ray same

[@PawsnWhiskershamster]

One of my favourite pros is just how adorable hamster faces are! And of course they are one of the few creatures who actually have a cute bum too!

[@suhanis9918]

Yep...I agree

[@annikaelizabeth8380]

+Suhani Srivastava ya

[@xxTheNaughtyAngelxx]

I put a sand bath in my hamsters cage and she pees in rather than bathe. lol

[@bestmathteacher1722]

Kaitlyn hall loll im still kid tho

[@primalham6492]

Kaitlyn hall that's quite normal. Hamsters generally see dirt and sand as a restroom as well.

[@amy6456]

ha well maybe that is a good thing

[@sorenderrick4785]

at least she doesnt pee in the bedding

[@LapahnYT]

Hello dis is Hamster.

[@tarobun7892]

+Cute Hamster HMPH, ARENT YOU SUPPOSED TO BE SLEEPING? -repeatedly taps foot-

[@megancook7259]

Cute hamster I have that picture on my wall!

[@Fudgeebar]

Omg! Can I adopt you plssss

[@colleenmalvina2194]

What species are you

[@LapahnYT]

Colleen Malvina Boyajian I'm a Roborowski.

[@ellamay920]

the hamster I chose was sleeping in the food bowl so non of them could eat for 5mins and kept burrowing under the Beding 😂😂

[@FrogFishbowl]

Omg durp Haha

[@ella-rt2kg]

Ella may Crossing my name is Ella too! Omg

[@caitlinwilliams9360]

Ella May: Awww lol

[@ellej6985]

hi everyone....Im going to build my own hamster bin cage, but I would like the kind of mesh that you see on a shop bought cage where you open it up. Does anyone know where I can find that?!

[@kamryn4906]

Three Pretty Piggies lol

[@haileyl3028]

I think that the lifespan of a hamster is a con, but for some could be pro. If you can't make a long term commitment to a pet, I think hamsters are great because they live for about 2 years.

[@itzcrystallps6566]

i just wanted to say, i love your profile pic! great job finding that Hailey L!

[@alphatoothlessnightfury8883]

Yea, itzCrystalLps. But, they can live for 5-6 or 4-5 years. Or more, or less. My hamster, I'm going to get him. A syrian. Well, that's months far. Lol. 🙄🙄🙄😣😣😏😏😌😌😌😌☠☠😌😌😌😌😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😘😘 For Erin. 😘😘😘

[@snekachoi2819]

The only think I don't like about hamsters is that don't live long enough.

[@sammycayton2731]

True you get attached for 2 years and it's gone

[@aaronsteventon705]

SammyRatty, too true

[@isame0085]

True

[@ellef2538]

true😢

[@Arthur-us7kj]

My hamster is 2years old 😭😭

[@zakuraRabbit]

I frankly never understood why hamsters are so popular among children... Chances are they're gonna try and wake it up in the middle of the day, stressing it out and possibly making it aggressive and decreasing its already short life-span... I was 18 when I got my first one :p

[@SomethingAnimal]

+zakuraRabbit You weren't much older than me, I was 16 when I got my first hamsters :P Hamsters can actually be fantastic pets for young children, especially for teaching them responsibility and encourage a love of animals. The problem with young children keeping hamsters is that some parents are under the false impression that a child can take full responsibility for them because they are low maintenance pets. That's obviously not true and not fair on the child or animal. There are lots of children who have hamsters that are very well taken care of but that is because their parents are aware that they are ultimately the ones who are responsible for the animal. So long as an adult knows when they get the hamster that they will have to take anywhere from 10% - 100% of the responsibility (especially when it comes to money) then there shouldn't be any reason the child can't have one :)

[@SomethingAnimal]

I think a lot of EU countries have the same laws (although here in Cyprus I've seen 5 years old buying cigarets for their parents so I doubt they would stop a child buying an animal!) but sadly there are still all of the parents who just see that as a formality, they go with the kid to buy the animal and then leave the child to take care of it. Legally the adult is the owner but some people just aren't educated enough to care! That's one of the reasons I keep posting videos to help educate the children and parents alike on the reality of keeping animals and the responsibility it requires :)

[@zakuraRabbit]

Yeah that's true... Norway isn't exactly the best when it comes to animal welfare... we have the laws in place but they're not often followed up on. I keep trying to educate people on proper pet care every time I hear someone as much as mention them:p I'm a bit worried it might make me sound obnoxious XD But like whenever I hear someone talking about "Oh I want two hamsters so they won't be lonely!" and such I have to speak up... For the sake of the hamsters!

[@zakuraRabbit]

They are? I've always been told Syrians are the easiest... Granted I have 0 experience with Chinese as they are rare in Norway... They gotta be pretty mellow compared to my syrians if that's the case.

[@SomethingAnimal]

Syrian hamsters are definitely easier for kids as they are much larger, much slower and more domesticated than other species of hamster making them quicker to tame :)

[@barathiraiyarul4812]

I could just sit down and watch you talk, for hours ❤️... The way you explain things... Lovin it

[@prinsesacevedo1886]

I love sleeping when my hamster is noisy it helps me relax

[@meridianheights6255]

Erin, you are so awesome. I've been a subscriber for a few years. I started watching your videos a few months before I brought home my first hamster. I still go back to your channel from time to time to refresh my memory and learn new things. Blessings ~ Jason )O(

[@jesselaarits4216]

I love your videos especially the hamster ones :) I'm going to adopted a little hammy soon and you are debunking what pet shops have told me in the past. thank you girl keep up the good work! The new addition to our family is going to be so spoiled and have such a good life because of you

[@shaycoyle2332]

I got a hamster last week. You had helped so much. He is getting a lot more confidence now. Also he might just be the fluffiest hamster ever.

[@TopHamster]

A great informative video Erin!!! You put out a lot of good points!!

[@hawk_-nh5jo]

Hello y'all, I have just today purchased a female 6 week old Roborovski hamster. I previously had a lovely Syrian, but he has passed away from old age. Because I have gotten all of my information from this channel, a few other good ones and forums, I take very good care of my little guys😄 this little girl I have gotten from a pet shop, because the few reputable places around do not have hamsters at the moment. When I saw her in the store, she was running along the side of the aquarium nonstop back and forth. She had a flying saucer, but it was tiny. The employee took her from her cage, and she was friendly, energetic and didn't display weird behavior. The store cage was half the size of my cage, as mine in exactly 360 sq. in. When I got her home I let her out in her prepared cage. She did the normal bout of exploring, took food and horded it, drank a bit, then started on her wheel. She has been running for eight hours, only stopping periodically to groom. Is this normal? I'm worried..

[@grambino.25]

Not to be rude but, is your lovely robo still alive?

[@alphatoothlessnightfury8883]

That is absolutely normal behaviour. You don't need to worry. Hamsters are natural explorers, so they can walk till 9, 10, or 11 miles. (I don't remember the exact number ). Have a great day!!!!!

[@idaam8564]

Hi! Erin!! You are my favorit animal youtuber!!

[@ameliebrown8613]

Sames

[@alphatoothlessnightfury8883]

Mee too!! 😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘

[@stellina_5752]

I totally agree with what is mentioned in this video. Hamsters are my first pets and I truly love them!!!

[@roan_person6254]

Thank you so much I love everyone you do!!!

[@Ara-iw7xm]

I just discovered your channel and now I cant stop until I watch all ur vids lol

[@BudgieHamsterWorld]

Hey, lovely video Erin ;)

[@BillPerryBCPythons]

Great videos thanks for sharing!!

[@sycohearted3315]

The ending of this video made my day omg...

[@Inletwatcher1965]

I liked the fun part at the end :D Great information too~

[@lightscamerahamsters9504]

Thank You So Much! LOVED The Video!

[@gankdontstank]

Hey Erin I just got 2 Russian dwarf hamsters and your videos are helping out alot

[@marrun7708]

Good information- Thank you!!!

[@adelinadiaz9329]

I love your hamsters and all of your pets in general! :D ♡ °●°

[@masterjacob7155]

This girls channel is so helpful

[@Yourfavpotterhead]

This was the most helpful videos ever

[@EmilyJudgetv]

That's a really good idea of a video!

[@raithblyth8719]

love ur vids Erin

[@pgvejnovic9602]

Hello mis Erin,my name is Anja,I am 12 years old and I just recently got a siryan hamster.His name is Harry and I adore him.He was the only siryan in the pet store I went to,and when I came to choose a hamster he looked kinda weird to me,but anywais I wanted a dwarf.Next day I came to buy my dwarf,but the man that worked there said he does not recomend them,cause they are to young or to agresive.Then I looked at the small cage where my siryan was and looked at him on totaly another way.When I looked at him I knew he was the one even tho I have been prepairing for a dwarf.My mom does not like gim aspesualy cause he is black,but I adore him.Today he is moving in about 500 sf cage and I just adore him and want to provide him the best.You are the person that ejugated me the most and helped me the most.When I grow up I want to have as many animals(hamsters;)) as you do.Sory for the spelling mistakes,I am from Serbia,so my english is not perfect.Again thanks so so much,i send you thousdands of kisses from Serbia.Love you! Ps. subscribed,duh!

[@megancook7259]

Good video Erin

[@GabeVarns]

LOVE the viewers corner! Tweeting images now...

[@paularnone2937]

Thank you for the information.

[@animallove2382]

This was realy helpful!!

[@seddn]

Loved the video ☺️

[@Aspen_Husky]

My hamster has been really agressive until today when I was doing bathtub and she was wonderful and I have been holding her tones since and I'm really happy

[@abbylynch6425]

What is bathtub I don't know what you meant

[@nikkiburcham4382]

I love the way you change your hair almost in every video

[@smileyface2441]

Great video, especially for new hamster owners. :)

[@tulsisevadasi]

i justmlove their beauty and their inquisitive nature

[@thegrimpa1176]

my brother surprisingly tamed his right when he got home, it loved him and even watched videos with my brother, his name is flurry, he's mine now because by brother slowly stopped feeding him and taking care of him and stuff like that and my parents told me I should take care of him since I'm good at taking care of my hamster snow, and so I did (flurry is a winter dwarf hamster and snow is a white long haired Syrian hamster)

[@jasmien8312]

You deserve way more subscribers. I love you so much.!😗😋❤️💗

[@natasho4835]

Great video thank you

[@sawyer8242]

I'm over here researching hamsters one more time! Because I'm getting a robo and i want to make sure u shop for them ( i meant I was getting 2 robos ) I'm so exited!

[@unused8871]

I love all your videos & they have been great advise seen as I am buying a syrian on xmas eve!!!!!!!!!!

[@MH-sw6fs]

Thanks for doing this video, I'm going to show it to my parents bc they think they will smell and I will not clean the cage, but with this video I can show them that hamsters are good pets to have

[@alyssaberry5060]

Luv you sooo much and your animals and videos

[@thebudderlegend1015]

Guess what Erin!!!! I am new here and today I am getting the Detolf!! Gandalf the little RCD hybrid will be sooooo happy! He is currently in a 20 gallon long.

[@thebudderlegend1015]

By the way, I just want to say thanks. As I am just a kid, without you CC26 hopping hammy and joy georgina Gandalf would've had a horrible life. I am also glad I did reasearch and that you guys were here to help. From The Budder Legend and Gandalf.

[@Rainbowhamster39]

Wonderful video

[@squeakheartcavies2662]

Thank you for this video! I love it! Do you think you could do something similar on rabbits???

[@hammy_paw3637]

Perfect video❤️

[@petrinekjr8320]

Hi Erin, love your channel and just subscribed! Do you have a show-and-tell video with all your pets? I am considering to get a hamster. Thank you :-)

[@alicelolamax]

plz can you do a vid on hamster products you regret buying =)

[@alphatoothlessnightfury8883]

Oh!! Saw. She did make that video. But, I'm writing 3 years after your comment. Lol. 😅😅😅😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆

[@brookelynweber4771]

My pros and cons. Pros: 1: they are so cute. 2: they are chubby. And 3: just so colorful. Cons: 1: cleaning their cage. 2: getting seeds and grains 24/7. And 3: my hamster bites my finger when ever I give him a treat thinking its a yellow treat.

[@willowrobinson7965]

If you give them a treat or have had your hand in the food bag wash your hands before handling because your hands will smell like food.

[@ninazomaya7835]

I see you in every hamster video! 😂😂

[@ellabehan801]

Brookelyn Weber my hammy thought I was food for a bit, but I let him nibble me and he realised I wasn't

[@marissa4154]

Brookelyn Weber stop giving your hamster yellow treats

[@snoopyhowlgaming2541]

Lol u have yellow fingers? 👋

[@bicesiva]

Thx for posting my pic :3

[@chuies1314]

I have a teddy bear hamster took me about three weeks to rilly feel completely comfortable picking him up when ever

[@user-mv8fc5og3h]

Toatally Agree with Everything!!

[@ashleymccartney6704]

Hi Erin! I love your channel I have spent the past week watching a learning everything I need to know about my new hamster I'm getting him on Tuesday and I could only get a long 20 gallon tank is that big enough? I saw on +hoppinghammy she said it was ok I just need some advice on what kind of toys I should get to make my Syrian happy!

[@TheRccreator]

My local pet shop didn't have chinchilla sand but the had bath powder.does that work too or is it bad

[@stevenortiz7984]

Erin had such beautiful eyes!! 😍😍

[@jacobringram2801]

So true

[@user-lm7oq8ic1x]

Love this

[@annaoroujev282]

ErinsAnimals i have 2 dogs and when they were little we got them a cage but they never used it so its just been sitting in our house. i am planing to get a hamster so do you think that if i put something like a piece of plastic or cardboard around the bottom, so the bedding wont fall out, the hamster will be fine living in it? please help me because thats the only con i have on getting a hamster.

[@boobop7522]

Erin I have a question. I have a 515sq inch cage with 5 toys, chew toys, 2 hides, and an 8 inch wheel. Also my food is a mixture of 2 foods one has 12% protein and one has 15%. He is a serian hamster too btw

[@funnybunny9144]

I’m a heavy sleeper but I share a room with my sister who is a light sleeper do you think a hamster will bother her to much our room is fairly large

[@randomhooman9042]

hey Erin which video editor do you use

[@ilincaspataru3951]

Thanks a lot I've researced a LOT of internet pages but I think this is the best video with the best info I'm sure that a hamster is the best pet for me but this video will SURELY convince MAY PARENTS to bring me one A milion Times thank you ! : )

[@isaacterry1506]

thanks

[@brookewolfnight]

When I was five we had about 4 guinea pigs and they wouldn't keep still in my arms so I kept dropping them, causing them to permanently lose their teeth and starve to death. But the fourth was mine and her name was Smiggles and she never bit me and she was so calm, I really wish we still had her so I could properly take care of her because when I was younger, I didn't know a whole lot about caring for animals

[@julitterichards4521]

Thank u 🐹🐹🐹😄

[@avamooreee]

Hey Erin! I was wondering, do you trim your hamsters nails? My hamsters nails are a little long, and, I don't want to cut the quick if I do it myself. Any advice?

[@Catrilo]

Hey Erin , My dog has been destroying his bed lately like destroying it . He thinks it's a toy . How do I stop him from destroying it .weve stopped getting him a new bed because that's a waste of 20.00 euro buying one that's be gone in a few days I don't think stuffing is good for him either how do I get him to stop !! All help is wanted

[@dorotaslabu6670]

I have a robo hamster I feed him kaytee fiesta is that okay. I also add some other ingredient s but is kaytee fiesta good?

[@dafydd47dr]

+Erinsanimals can you do this on cats as well?

[@kystxbythx2279]

My pros are they are clean, it's fun to clean the cage and experiment with toys and themes, and they're so cute. Cons are- I have one dwarfie that bites, and bedding.. It's so expensive for just small bags.. I always have to pick up multiple bags so I don't run out as often..

[@daphneyue5703]

yup

[@lydiaclinton1132]

Hey. Erin I got a hamster last Sunday his names gizmo but one worry is I've let him settle in 5 days and every day visited him every hour and he is always on his wheel I don't know what do he doesn't seem be eating and drinking so I don't know what to do is he stress he has a 460 square inch cage so it can't be that so what could it be please reply asap

[@soniatshishimbi749]

Hi Erin my hamster is kept in a bin cage but now it's lost I set up a trap for it but i can't seem to find it

[@katiecookie6712]

What do I do if my hamster does his business on his wheel?

[@SomethingAnimal]

You just have to clean the wheel more often :)

[@alphatoothlessnightfury8883]

Right, but that's a funny one, ErinsAnimals. Lol.

[@samwalker3269]

Can u do an updated top 5 hamster products? Please !

[@chloebarton7632]

Thank u for this video and all the others I'm getting 1 in 2 weeks I was bitten by my older brothers when we were little because I messed with his ears

[@snazzlad5168]

Hello, at some point in the future could you make a tutorial on how you made your shelf in your Detolf Cage? (:

[@titties8244]

you will probably never see this but ill try anyway so i went to get a hamster today and when i got home i opened the box they put my hamster in so i could put her in her new cage i noticed she had diarrhea so the i took her back to the store have her checked and she has wet tail and they took her back to cure her and will call me when she is healthy and ready to brought home and i was just wondering if you knew how many days it would take to cure wet tail ?

[@maryann9604]

i have two roborovskis and litteraly in the middle of this video they were sleeping peacefully and then woke up and got into a tiny fight so i got up and broke the fight up was that the right thing to do?

[@ludwigmendoza5742]

hi! im planning to keep a robo hamster. can i keep them in an airconditioned room? just want to know cuz my roommate always want the aircon on. im afraid that they might freeze to death if ever. ☺☺

[@noellekuhns5419]

Okay, good to know thank you.

[@kennedysalone4889]

hi my name is kennedy and I have a question so recently after four years of research and binge watching youtube videos my mom said yes about a hamster the only thing is we travel kinda often usually for 2-3 days at the least but I also go o our summer vacation and I am kid of worried so should I get a hamster or would be better without one.

[@haileyfuller54]

I have a 20 gallon tank how often do I need to clean it please respond :) thanks

[@aliced5751]

ino you said that hamsters rearly bite but my hamster kept bitting me even after i had it for 3 months and i made sure i wasnt makingit scared i slowly put my hand towards my hamster making sure it knows im there and even gave it a treat it still bit me and its tame but i dont know what i did

[@debbiegarland93]

Just wanted say you saved my hamster s life. His eyes we we different so I took him to over as you said. It was something else. He had cheek pouch infection. Vet said he might have died. Thanks to you he is fine

[@christinakenward8208]

One of my gerbils has to get surgery a couple months back and let me tell you, it sure did cost as much as cat vet bills! I have 8 gerbils and 4 hamsters now, everyone seems to be doing great so hopefully no more vet trips anytime soon

[@abbydeppen]

What do you use for your thumbnail?

[@meghandietz4179]

Hello can you make a video series about dog care? Thanks!

[@missborealis8418]

(hmm..) rarely get an aggressive one that would wish to bite your finger off.. well I couldn't tell from the start that one of my Hybrids was aggressive until we tried to pick him up, and that ended with him sorta getting throw into the side of a tank... yeah still working on his taming

[@casperrouges9253]

I've done a lot of research and they say that rats usually die from tumours, it also says that their life ends at around 3 years (for my breed of rat). they're both 3 years old now and have tumours, we brought them to the vet as soon as we saw this happen. they said that it would cost 300$ to have an operation and since they're so small they might not live through it. is the operation part the same for hamsters? does their size affect the surgery?

[@Menawiz]

Thank you Erin. I have a question. I was playing with my hammy the other day, and I think he scared a little bit (or a lot) because he stop moving, I pick him up in my handsand talk to him but he didn't react at all so put him backin to his cage. Is this normal? :( Did I hurt him or did something bad?

[@animalcrossing909]

Some hamsters, when frightened, stiffen up for a while. Before I was born, my sisters got a dwarf hamster named Zippy. They accidentally dropped the ball it was in (cruel, I know). Zippy survived, but was stiff for two hours. I think everything will be okay, just try not to scare your hamster as they can get heart attacks, too.

[@aliyahjackson2504]

Hey I have a question so every time I say my hamsters name(which is pumpkin pie) or when I open up the cage he hides under his hay and starts breathing faster and yes he did have an older brother but sadly he died in June and ever since then he started doing that is something wrong can u help please

[@chanlove2506]

He may be frightened by your voice, but if you talk to him everyday softly he should get used to it.