You can buy a hamster in 4 different places: a pet shopat a specialized breederin a animal shelteror at an individual that would have had a reach. Each of these locations has advantages and disadvantages, which we outline below. Whichever option you choose, be sure to do your homework before buying a hamster and choose a place that offers healthy hamsters.
Buy a hamster
In pet shops
Pet stores are the first place that come to mind when looking to buy a pet in general, a hamster in particular. It is a practical option because there are pet stores just about everywhere, and therefore close to your home.
Advantages of buying from a pet store:
- You will often have many choices of colors among the dresses of hamsters
- You will be able to buy all the necessary accessories on site
- The prices of hamsters are generally correct
Disadvantages of buying from a pet store:
- You will not have any history of your hamster's life before its purchase
- Difficult to know if the chosen hamster is healthy
- It is difficult to examine your future protégé from all angles!
- These are often the Russian and the SyriansThe most common hamsters that are sold there. Difficult to find other species
- They often come from industrial farms
- The salesmen are never "specialized" hamsters and will not often give you precise advice.
- Hamsters are usually not fed properly, which can lead to illness later on.
- You don't know exactly how old your hamster is
At a specialized breeder
They are an excellent alternative to the pet store for many reasons, more or less obvious:
Advantages of buying from a breeder:
- They are generally passionate people who will give you good advice
- They care about well-being of their pets, so you will have a healthy pet
- They will give you time to observe the animal
- They will be able to tell you the history and the "genealogy" of the baby hamster, give you its date of birth
- You can be sure that the hamsters are well fed
- In general, their hamsters are used to humans and therefore very docile.
Disadvantages of buying from a breeder:
- The price of the hamster will generally be more expensive
- Not necessarily present near you
In an animal shelter
This alternative is essentially motivated by the conviction of doing a good deed, that of rescuing an animal that will otherwise remain for the rest of its life, which is quite short, in a cage without much attention being paid to them. These animals have in the vast majority of the time been abandoned by their previous owner.
Benefits of buying from an animal shelter:
- The hamster will be free of charge, or purchased for a symbolic price
- You are doing a good deed by saving a little ball of fur!
- The shelter managers know their little protégés well and will give you good advice
Disadvantages of buying from an animal shelter:
- You will have no history of your hamster's previous life
- Your hamster can be docile if it has been used to humans, fearful if it has not been treated well. It's double or nothing.
- Hamsters are usually not fed properly, which can lead to illness later on.
- You don't know exactly how old your hamster will be
At a home with baby hamsters
It is a very interesting option in many ways, and rather easy to access. You will find a lot of ads on well known classifieds websites ?
Advantages of buying from a private individual:
- They will be able to give you the exact age of the little hamster
- They generally care about the well-being of their animals, so you will have a healthy animal
- They will give you time to observe the animal
- You can check how hamsters are fed to determine if they are healthy
- Their hamsters are used to humans and therefore very docile.
- The price of the hamster will be cheap
- You can check the "reviews" of this seller and therefore its reliability
Disadvantages of buying from a private individual:
- They are not necessarily specialists in breeding
- They may not be able to give you advice if this is your first hamster (but maybe they can!)
Before buying a hamster
Decide what type of hamster you want
There are several species of hamsters, but the most common are the Russian dwarf hamsters and the golden hamsters. Go to our comparison for how to choose a hamsterand know which one is right for you.
Choose a healthy hamster
When you buy a hamster, take a good look at it to make sure it's healthy. Make sure its eyes are bright and clear and that it has no pimples or sores on its body. Also make sure the hamster has a good appetite and drinks plenty of water.
Buy a hamster from a place you trust
Make sure you buy your hamster from a place that takes care of its pets. Avoid pet stores or homes that look dirty or unkempt.
Take the time to choose
Don't rush when choosing a hamster. Take the time to look at several hamsters before making your choice. If you go to a pet store, it is imperative that you ask the store if you can hold the hamster and pet it. This will help you to know if the hamster is affectionate and if you will get along well.
Buy the necessary accessories for your hamster
Prepare the home of the lucky pet BEFORE you bring it home. This will be a stressful step for the little pet, so it must arrive at your home and be in the best possible conditions. This is an essential step.
Conclusion
As you can see, there is a wide range of choices to find the little hamster that will make you happy! It is all a question of budget, ethics and desires. As far as possible, we recommend you to choose a breeder, which is the best alternative, the one with the most positive points. But now that you have in hand the advantages and disadvantages of each of the points of sale... it is up to you to decide? There is no doubt that you will make the right choice and that you will befriend your new companion very quickly!