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Archive 1 | Archive 2 | Archive 3 |
My dwarf hamster's claws are starting to get a bit long-- does anybody know a way to trim them or something? I'll Google it but there ought to be a section on grooming or something. Robot Chicken 22:24, 11 March 2006 (UTC)
Take little Hammy to a vet. If you want a challenge at cutting the claws, then cut only the white part, not the pink part. As long as it's pink, don't cut it! But I'd take the hamster to a vet, a vet is better at it. (Of course). 61.230.72.211 11:56, 19 June 2006 (UTC)
Apparently keeping a rough object in there (terra cotta pot or a rock) helps file their nails down as they play on it. -- 64.180.207.196 ( talk) 07:58, 22 November 2007 (UTC)
I started to extend the "hamsters as pets" section. Due to its size, it may be useful to make it into an extra article in the future. The information is partially taken from http://www.hamsterseiten.de/, a German page (hence no copied wording and no copyright trouble ;) that is worth a visit. -- Markus Krötzsch 23:30, 28 Mar 2004 (UTC)
Can someone help me? I'm a new user and I found some vandalism in this section and I don't know how to remove it other than going into the edit section and deleting the information. 206.57.3.114 03:28, 25 January 2007 (UTC)
Do hampsters carry leprosy? -- Ed Poor
Thanks, 62. Can you tell us a bit more about tropical hamsters? -- Ed Poor
I don't think hamsters are very easily infected with leprosy: otherwise researchers wouldn't have to resort to using Armadillos. I'd bet, though, that hamsters are potential carriers of bubonic plague Malcolm Farmer
If so this will be an example of a zoonosis.
Tropical hamsters? Are there such things? 61.230.72.211 11:56, 19 June 2006 (UTC)
Hamsters as pets--OK, I think I have exhausted my knowledge. I always had some for about 15 years, but I hate to tell you how long it has been since I have *not* had any. Corrections/additions/updates would be appreciated. Elf | Talk 06:13, 23 Mar 2004 (UTC)
About plastic hamster habittrails and balls and such: I and friends used these things for years and years and never had problems with them. My hamsters never peed in the plastic tubes that I remember; they always got off the interstate and used their usual rest areas. The issues raised about sufficient airflow and about hamsters getting stuck make sense, though, so I modified the "do not use these" wording to "use with common sense and under supervision" wording. Elf | Talk 19:50, 4 May 2004 (UTC)
About peeing in the tubes... We've had this problem, but I think it's because of the arrangement of my daughter's hamster cage. "Teddy" decided to nest in the bubble look out, makes messes and then kicks them down the hatch while he's sleeping. (We've actually seen him do this. He'll carefully haul bedding up into the tower then, while he's sleeping, roll around and kick it into the tube. The one day, he managed to completely block the tube.)
Porkchop 12:23, 9 November 2006 (UTC)
On breeding age: I read somewhere that hamsters are able to breed in a few weeks, not 3 months. Anyone have sources to back this?
—i read some where the can stater breeding in 4 weeds yes
On breeding age: It is different from breed to breed and gender to gender. Some hamsters may be sexually mature at 28 days old but it is not a good idea to breed they until about three months. (www.ham███rific.com) (site has malware).
I tried to change a lot of this but I didn't stick. I will come back and fix it later. In the last few years some really good habitats have been put out on the market. I also added that it is a good idea to have a hamster toilet(I'm sure that sounds weird but they work great!)And also a new non- wood bedding material was recently released which is less expensived and in my opinion much better. On hamster tubes: the hamster can become to large to fit in the tubes and they can sometimes be used for a chew toy if there isn't aomething better, like a dog biscuit. That may sound weird but it works really well. Also it is very important to have a running wheel. You can have a much smaller cage if you have a wheel. I speak from experiance on most of this stuff, having taken care of two hamsters and read all the information I could find on the internet. Thanks, Lorie Nov 15, 2004.
There were two entries for "Mongolian hamster" in the list (Phodopus roborovskii, "more commonly called the Roborovskii hamster", and Cricetulus curtatus). One web page, which unfortunately I forgot to bookmark, says that different sources use this name for different species. Because the list looked really confusing with the same name repeated twice, I swapped the first entry to "Roborovskii hamster, also called the Mongolian hamster".
One more problem, though - both of these were listed as "tiny, now becoming popular as pets", and I couldn't tell if this was actually true in both cases or if somebody put the note beside the wrong Mongolian hamster. Web searches show that there is a fourth "Dwarf hamster" used as a pet, but it's the "Chinese dwarf hamster (Cricetulus griseus)", not Cricetulus curtatus. To make things even more confusing, the main text says:
Two other varieties of hamster are also growing in popularity as pets, the Dwarf Campbell's Russian and the Winter White Russian Hamsters (both subspecies of Phodopus sungorus). Two further species (the Chinese Hamster Cricetulus curtatus and the Roborovski Hamster Phodopus roborovskii) can be found on occasion.
So either the main text is confused, and it's Cricetulus griseus that's the Chinese Dwarf hamster, or the list is confused, and Cricetulus curtatis is not the Mongolian hamster. http://hamsterical.darn-tootin.com/aboutdh.html is my source for the Cricetulus griseus name, but it also thinks the Campbell's Russian Dwarf hamster is Phodopus campbelli, and not a subspecies of Phodopus sungorus.
I decided the notes on popular pets shouldn't be in the taxonomic list anyway, since there are no other notes except on naming, but the main text and the list should be brought into agreement.
Because the care for dwarf hamsters is somewhat different i would prefer to move the pet care section to golden hamster. Any objections? Lady Tenar 15:21, 9 Feb 2005 (UTC)
In the food section, there is much mention of not feeding hamsters sweets, and there should also be something about not feeding hamsters anything containing garlic. --S
Added Hamtaro and the Hamster Dance. I'm sure there are a lot more. Haoie 05:34, 3 September 2005 (UTC)
What about www.hamstertracker.com ? 91.125.101.109 18:31, 17 September 2007 (UTC)Sophie
The disambiguation at the top of the article seems inappropriate because it is unlikely that anyone would search for or link to hamster when they want computer mouse instead, and the hamster in programming doesn't doesn't even have an article. A large number of words have different slang definitions or obscure dictionary definitions, but it isn't always necessary to disambiguate them. -- Kjkolb 00:20, 3 November 2005 (UTC)
.
There may be searches for Richard Hammond using the Keyword Hamster. 172.206.108.47 18:58, 25 September 2006 (UTC)
There seems to be some misuse of the term "subspecies" in the article when it is actually referring to distinct species. Either that or it's confusingly written. 69.208.242.205 20:14, 12 March 2006 (UTC)
"The best known species is the Syrian Hamster, also known as the Golden Hamster, Mesocricetus auratus, which is commonly kept as a pet. It is also sometimes mistakenly called a "Teddy Bear" hamster."
Why is it a mistake to call them Teddy Bear hamsters? -- Writtenonsand 18:34, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
It's MOSTLY a mistake because it sets up a mind-set that Hamsters are nothing more than mere toys. That said however, used sparingly the term can be both helpful and pertinent, as a properly bred Syrian Hamster, should actually bear a slight resemblance to Theodore Roosevelt! -- 24.63.65.6 17:29, 21 July 2006 (UTC)
I think this article needs to be completely rewritten, for really only one VERY big reason: the article reads like a "How to take care of a hamster" guide, almost invariably. The best example of how this is the fact that the imperative is used at the reader very often (commands) e.g. "they should not...." "do not....". It's not that the information given is a problem, just that the tone and phrasing practically throughout, is inappropriate. For this reason, I think it should be completely rewritten (but using the information from the current version). - Рэд хот 11:36, 17 June 2006 (UTC)
I could give it a try, if you guys want. I'm not an expert or anything but I have been breeding Syrian Hamsters for nearly a year now, and currently have 5 adults and 4 juveniles, 2 of which I am selling to a local pet shoppe as soon as they reach 6 weeks old. In addition, I also have a pair of female, albino Russian Campbell's Dwarf Hamsters I have been considering breeding, too. Furthermore, I managed to take 4 rolls of film of my last litter in its various stages, unfortunately these are somewhat melancholy as the mother had trouble nursing this time and lost over two thirds of her babies. However, tonight I successfully bred one of her daughters from her first litter and fully intend to also breed the other female I kept, so more and better pictures may be forthcoming. Moreover, I would be willing to obtain a User Name beforehand as well, if it would make you guys more comfortable. So, does anyone think I should start? -- 24.63.65.6 09:07, 3 July 2006 (UTC)
Consider it DONE! By Wednesday (Work Ran Long), everything will be brand new!!!! -- 24.63.65.6 00:46, 21 July 2006 (UTC)
The page says that hay is good bedding because it can also be used as food. Later, it says that hamsters should not be given hay as it can ruin their cheek pouches.
Gazoogleheimer 01:36, 28 June 2006 (UTC)
I've edited the page, so it now says that it "can also be a valuble building material, although they should not eat it". Hopes this makes it less confusing.
Deku-Scrub 09:59, 1 July 2006 (UTC)
Not really. How exactly, do you propose to stop them? It reminds me of a piece of advice I once heard about the best way to keep Dwarf Hamsters from mating, "Make them sleep in opposite corners!" Question is, of course, "HOW?" -- 24.63.65.6 09:11, 3 July 2006 (UTC)
![]() | This is an archive of past discussions. Do not edit the contents of this page. If you wish to start a new discussion or revive an old one, please do so on the current talk page. |
Archive 1 | Archive 2 | Archive 3 |
My dwarf hamster's claws are starting to get a bit long-- does anybody know a way to trim them or something? I'll Google it but there ought to be a section on grooming or something. Robot Chicken 22:24, 11 March 2006 (UTC)
Take little Hammy to a vet. If you want a challenge at cutting the claws, then cut only the white part, not the pink part. As long as it's pink, don't cut it! But I'd take the hamster to a vet, a vet is better at it. (Of course). 61.230.72.211 11:56, 19 June 2006 (UTC)
Apparently keeping a rough object in there (terra cotta pot or a rock) helps file their nails down as they play on it. -- 64.180.207.196 ( talk) 07:58, 22 November 2007 (UTC)
I started to extend the "hamsters as pets" section. Due to its size, it may be useful to make it into an extra article in the future. The information is partially taken from http://www.hamsterseiten.de/, a German page (hence no copied wording and no copyright trouble ;) that is worth a visit. -- Markus Krötzsch 23:30, 28 Mar 2004 (UTC)
Can someone help me? I'm a new user and I found some vandalism in this section and I don't know how to remove it other than going into the edit section and deleting the information. 206.57.3.114 03:28, 25 January 2007 (UTC)
Do hampsters carry leprosy? -- Ed Poor
Thanks, 62. Can you tell us a bit more about tropical hamsters? -- Ed Poor
I don't think hamsters are very easily infected with leprosy: otherwise researchers wouldn't have to resort to using Armadillos. I'd bet, though, that hamsters are potential carriers of bubonic plague Malcolm Farmer
If so this will be an example of a zoonosis.
Tropical hamsters? Are there such things? 61.230.72.211 11:56, 19 June 2006 (UTC)
Hamsters as pets--OK, I think I have exhausted my knowledge. I always had some for about 15 years, but I hate to tell you how long it has been since I have *not* had any. Corrections/additions/updates would be appreciated. Elf | Talk 06:13, 23 Mar 2004 (UTC)
About plastic hamster habittrails and balls and such: I and friends used these things for years and years and never had problems with them. My hamsters never peed in the plastic tubes that I remember; they always got off the interstate and used their usual rest areas. The issues raised about sufficient airflow and about hamsters getting stuck make sense, though, so I modified the "do not use these" wording to "use with common sense and under supervision" wording. Elf | Talk 19:50, 4 May 2004 (UTC)
About peeing in the tubes... We've had this problem, but I think it's because of the arrangement of my daughter's hamster cage. "Teddy" decided to nest in the bubble look out, makes messes and then kicks them down the hatch while he's sleeping. (We've actually seen him do this. He'll carefully haul bedding up into the tower then, while he's sleeping, roll around and kick it into the tube. The one day, he managed to completely block the tube.)
Porkchop 12:23, 9 November 2006 (UTC)
On breeding age: I read somewhere that hamsters are able to breed in a few weeks, not 3 months. Anyone have sources to back this?
—i read some where the can stater breeding in 4 weeds yes
On breeding age: It is different from breed to breed and gender to gender. Some hamsters may be sexually mature at 28 days old but it is not a good idea to breed they until about three months. (www.ham███rific.com) (site has malware).
I tried to change a lot of this but I didn't stick. I will come back and fix it later. In the last few years some really good habitats have been put out on the market. I also added that it is a good idea to have a hamster toilet(I'm sure that sounds weird but they work great!)And also a new non- wood bedding material was recently released which is less expensived and in my opinion much better. On hamster tubes: the hamster can become to large to fit in the tubes and they can sometimes be used for a chew toy if there isn't aomething better, like a dog biscuit. That may sound weird but it works really well. Also it is very important to have a running wheel. You can have a much smaller cage if you have a wheel. I speak from experiance on most of this stuff, having taken care of two hamsters and read all the information I could find on the internet. Thanks, Lorie Nov 15, 2004.
There were two entries for "Mongolian hamster" in the list (Phodopus roborovskii, "more commonly called the Roborovskii hamster", and Cricetulus curtatus). One web page, which unfortunately I forgot to bookmark, says that different sources use this name for different species. Because the list looked really confusing with the same name repeated twice, I swapped the first entry to "Roborovskii hamster, also called the Mongolian hamster".
One more problem, though - both of these were listed as "tiny, now becoming popular as pets", and I couldn't tell if this was actually true in both cases or if somebody put the note beside the wrong Mongolian hamster. Web searches show that there is a fourth "Dwarf hamster" used as a pet, but it's the "Chinese dwarf hamster (Cricetulus griseus)", not Cricetulus curtatus. To make things even more confusing, the main text says:
Two other varieties of hamster are also growing in popularity as pets, the Dwarf Campbell's Russian and the Winter White Russian Hamsters (both subspecies of Phodopus sungorus). Two further species (the Chinese Hamster Cricetulus curtatus and the Roborovski Hamster Phodopus roborovskii) can be found on occasion.
So either the main text is confused, and it's Cricetulus griseus that's the Chinese Dwarf hamster, or the list is confused, and Cricetulus curtatis is not the Mongolian hamster. http://hamsterical.darn-tootin.com/aboutdh.html is my source for the Cricetulus griseus name, but it also thinks the Campbell's Russian Dwarf hamster is Phodopus campbelli, and not a subspecies of Phodopus sungorus.
I decided the notes on popular pets shouldn't be in the taxonomic list anyway, since there are no other notes except on naming, but the main text and the list should be brought into agreement.
Because the care for dwarf hamsters is somewhat different i would prefer to move the pet care section to golden hamster. Any objections? Lady Tenar 15:21, 9 Feb 2005 (UTC)
In the food section, there is much mention of not feeding hamsters sweets, and there should also be something about not feeding hamsters anything containing garlic. --S
Added Hamtaro and the Hamster Dance. I'm sure there are a lot more. Haoie 05:34, 3 September 2005 (UTC)
What about www.hamstertracker.com ? 91.125.101.109 18:31, 17 September 2007 (UTC)Sophie
The disambiguation at the top of the article seems inappropriate because it is unlikely that anyone would search for or link to hamster when they want computer mouse instead, and the hamster in programming doesn't doesn't even have an article. A large number of words have different slang definitions or obscure dictionary definitions, but it isn't always necessary to disambiguate them. -- Kjkolb 00:20, 3 November 2005 (UTC)
.
There may be searches for Richard Hammond using the Keyword Hamster. 172.206.108.47 18:58, 25 September 2006 (UTC)
There seems to be some misuse of the term "subspecies" in the article when it is actually referring to distinct species. Either that or it's confusingly written. 69.208.242.205 20:14, 12 March 2006 (UTC)
"The best known species is the Syrian Hamster, also known as the Golden Hamster, Mesocricetus auratus, which is commonly kept as a pet. It is also sometimes mistakenly called a "Teddy Bear" hamster."
Why is it a mistake to call them Teddy Bear hamsters? -- Writtenonsand 18:34, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
It's MOSTLY a mistake because it sets up a mind-set that Hamsters are nothing more than mere toys. That said however, used sparingly the term can be both helpful and pertinent, as a properly bred Syrian Hamster, should actually bear a slight resemblance to Theodore Roosevelt! -- 24.63.65.6 17:29, 21 July 2006 (UTC)
I think this article needs to be completely rewritten, for really only one VERY big reason: the article reads like a "How to take care of a hamster" guide, almost invariably. The best example of how this is the fact that the imperative is used at the reader very often (commands) e.g. "they should not...." "do not....". It's not that the information given is a problem, just that the tone and phrasing practically throughout, is inappropriate. For this reason, I think it should be completely rewritten (but using the information from the current version). - Рэд хот 11:36, 17 June 2006 (UTC)
I could give it a try, if you guys want. I'm not an expert or anything but I have been breeding Syrian Hamsters for nearly a year now, and currently have 5 adults and 4 juveniles, 2 of which I am selling to a local pet shoppe as soon as they reach 6 weeks old. In addition, I also have a pair of female, albino Russian Campbell's Dwarf Hamsters I have been considering breeding, too. Furthermore, I managed to take 4 rolls of film of my last litter in its various stages, unfortunately these are somewhat melancholy as the mother had trouble nursing this time and lost over two thirds of her babies. However, tonight I successfully bred one of her daughters from her first litter and fully intend to also breed the other female I kept, so more and better pictures may be forthcoming. Moreover, I would be willing to obtain a User Name beforehand as well, if it would make you guys more comfortable. So, does anyone think I should start? -- 24.63.65.6 09:07, 3 July 2006 (UTC)
Consider it DONE! By Wednesday (Work Ran Long), everything will be brand new!!!! -- 24.63.65.6 00:46, 21 July 2006 (UTC)
The page says that hay is good bedding because it can also be used as food. Later, it says that hamsters should not be given hay as it can ruin their cheek pouches.
Gazoogleheimer 01:36, 28 June 2006 (UTC)
I've edited the page, so it now says that it "can also be a valuble building material, although they should not eat it". Hopes this makes it less confusing.
Deku-Scrub 09:59, 1 July 2006 (UTC)
Not really. How exactly, do you propose to stop them? It reminds me of a piece of advice I once heard about the best way to keep Dwarf Hamsters from mating, "Make them sleep in opposite corners!" Question is, of course, "HOW?" -- 24.63.65.6 09:11, 3 July 2006 (UTC)