WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN CHOOSING A HAMSTER

There are many places where you can get a hamster. The most obvious place is a pet store (that's where I got all mine). Perhaps you have a friend whose hamster just had a litter. Maybe your local animal shelter has a hamster waiting to be adopted. If you would like a specific coat type or color, you may want to locate a breeder. Wherever you get your hamster, you'll have to make sure that your new little friend is healthy.

Pick up the hamster and hold him in your hands. Is the hamster lively? Is he sniffing the air and alert? Don't worry if the hamster you choose seems scared and tries to run away. He's just not tame yet. It doesn't really mean that there's something wrong him. The key thing you have to look for is that the hamster looks healthy and happy. It will take anywhere from a few hours to a couple weeks before the hamster is tame. But don't worry. Once your new hamster becomes tame, he will always stay tamed, and will be your best friend!

It's not hard to tame a hamster. First, leave the hamster alone for the first day or two in his cage. The little hamster was suddenly jerked from his familiar environment and put in a strange place. He needs time to get used to his new, permanent home. If you handle him now, he'll probably try to bite you. Once it appears that the hammy has settled in, offer him fresh lettuce, a sunflower seed, or some other treat between you fingers. If he's still scared, don't panic. Just keep offering to handfeed him over the next few days. Soon, he'll gather up the courage to take the food. Then the hamster will discover you're not so bad after all. After that, see if the hamster will let you hold him within his cage. Once he allows you to do that, he probably won't be as afraid now if you take him out to play. Now you two can have years of fun together!

When choosing a hamster, you may be looking for certain personality characteristics. All hamsters are basically the same, personality-wise. However, there can be some differences. Males are typically less likely to bite than females. I've only kept male hamsters, and none of them ever bit me (well, the first few days after buying them doesn't count!) Long-haired hamsters, a.k.a. Teddy Bear or Agora hamsters are often calmer than short-haired hamsters. However, if you want to have a long-haired hamster, there's special fur maintanance involved, which I'll discuss in the Grooming and Cleaning Section.

BOTTOM LINE: Go out and get a hamster, be it male, female, Teddy Bear or short-haired! They're all so adorable, fun, and they make great pets! And, of course, make sure the hamster you choose is lively and healthy. And by the way, be sure to give your hamster a really cute name. It'll make the hamster seem all the more cuter!