My Hamsters

Campbell boys Vande and Graaff (although they're sat the opposite way round). They're 6 months old.



Reggie, an ancient Winter White, he's 28 months old.



Hank and Peggy, winter whites, they're about 10 months old.


Finally Redrum, Ruby's brother. He did a sex change on us so now lives alone, although we will be collecting one of his younger brothers soon so he has a buddy. This is him at 4 weeks...he's still just as cute!

aww there really sweet - Are they mini hamster?

Yeah, they're three different species of "Russian Dwarf Hamster". Unlike Syrians (the big ones that people generally picture if you say "hamster") they're sociable and love to live in pairs or groups.

we've kept both in the past, must admit that I wasn't very keen on the Russians hamsters - maybe they just didn't like me but I found them very nippy

They used to be much nippier. Now if you get them from small-scale private breeders you get a lovely animal. Those from pet shops who buy in from industrial breeders are nuts! There's a colour of campbells, "Argente" (its kind of orange) and they are all bitey nutters. Very strange!

Hi,

Most of the small animals now are bred in Europe now in very large rodent farms. They are very rearly handled and have reverted back to wild animals.They are so cheap, pet shops buy them in lots now.

I think it's best to go to a local breeder for any kinds of livestock, there, you can see their other animals, housing, get advice on feeding etc.

Your hamsters love very well looked after, and have plenty of toys to play with.I hope you do well at the shows in the future. Derek.

i used to keep russian hamsters about 20-25 yrs ago and mine where great pets good to handle and play with i used to set up assult course"s for them to see which one was the fastest they never bit me but they were proberly not bread in frams ?

You were probably lucky to get them before they started being "mass produced". The russians my friends had when I was younger (10-15 years ago) were really bitey, I only ever had Syrians. 6 of my current hamsters are from small-scale breeders, two were originally pet shop but came to me when they fought with their cage mates and their owner had to re-home them. The other was from a pet shop mis-sexing someone's hamsters so they had babies. When I got my first pair of dwarfs I had no idea that there were hamster breeders, shows etc, nor did I realise quite how industrial the pet industry is!

yes, my brother has a shop, he has stopped selling the small furries , and is sticking to aquatics and reptiles,
the rodents he was getting through the trade were terrible,
totally wild, and with unbelievable health problems, the death rate/vet bills were crippling

its a myth they are cheep through the trade,
one dealer charges £15 for a female guinea pig,