Petstore

Question
Hi! I think my parents want me to get my hamster from a Pet store. We have a really good one near us that is called Roxwell Pets. Would it be okay to get the hamster from there? Thanks!                                             Melissa

Answer
Melissa,

please remember that pet stores only care about getting their money.

No pet shops are ever "Reputable" - most hamster breeders and people on the hamster forums will always recommend going to a responsible and experienced hamster breeder to get a new hamster.

Pet shops are not very reliable because they usually support the mass breeding of hamsters where the hamsters are kept in overcrowded and dirty conditions, are not checked for health conditions and are bred from hamsters who are related - which should never be done!

The hamsters may look alright in the pet store, but you can never tell what health conditions they may have and you never know how long they will live.

They can have any number of ilnesses which are not apparent to the naked eye, and many pet shop hamsters have very short lifespans because they have been inbred so much.

I would suggest that you get your hamster from an experienced breeder who can tell you all about the genetic background of all of their hamsters and can asure you that they do not breed from unhealthy or related hamsters.  Feel free to look around a few different breeders and if you are not satisfied with the hamsters or their living conditions then dont buy from them.

Always remember that you are spending your money on a hamster which you hope will have a healthy lifespan with no health conditions, so ask to see the hamsters parents and maybe get in touch with others who have purchased from them to see if they are happy.

Also, remember that there is  no such thing as a "Panda Hamster" or a "Teddy Bear Hamster" or "Polar Bear Hamter" etc.  - All of these names are just fancy names that the pet shops give to different coloured Syrian hamsters to make them sell for more money!

Please remember that all Syrians are worth the same no matter what colour they are.


Please try and tell your parents that it is much better to get a hamster from a responsible and experienced breeder.

Kind Regards,

Tammy x