Kids are asking for hamsters. Please help!

[ladywhipple02]

Consider talking them into a pair of rats instead? Rats are a lot friendlier, actually bond with their people, and adapt their naturally nocturnal schedule to when their people are around instead. Hamsters are often bitey, generally prefer to be left alone, will stay nocturnal because they don't really care about you, generally should be housed singly, and are a lot less trainable and tameable than rats.

I think there are different hamsters like there are different snakes! Lol rats are definitely smarter, but I'm not sure I believe they make better pets in all circumstances. My sister and I bought a hamster for my niece for Christmas (my niece is actually 8 years old and was given the idea from school - her classroom had one). The little guy was skittish to start and nipped here and there, but now Miley can whisk him out of his cage whenever she wants and he will sit nicely, hasn't nipped in a long time, and has even won over my brother in law with his adorable-ness. I was over there yesterday and my niece plopped the little guy right in my lap and he was perfectly fine to sit there and chill. He particularly likes to be scratched behind the ears like a dog.

And this hamster is spoiled rotten - he's grown half again as much in the 4 months they've had him, and is twice as fluffy lol

I believe he is a teddy bear hamster. We just got him from a petstore, so nothing special. Very easy to take care of, and my sister is good about making Miley completely clean out his cage on a weekly basis - scrubbing in the sink and all as they can get stinky, like any rodent. She's learning responsibility, and the little guy has brought a lot of joy into their lives. I get a video of him doing something new about every week lol