Before you buy a hamster, do some research on the responsibility that comes with it. You should be well versed in matters of husbandry and care, so that the cute chubby cheeks in your home don’t lack for anything.
Hamsters are very endearing animals that deserve humane and loving care and attention – Shutterstock / GUNDAM_Ai
Even though hamsters are small and cute, like other pets they also require a certain amount of care, attention and food. It is important that everyone living in the household is aware of their responsibility and agrees to the purchase. Please never give a hamster (or any other pet) as a surprise gift to a friend or family member without first discussing it thoroughly.
Buy hamsters from animal welfare or privately
If you want to buy a hamster and you don’t care about its age, you should first ask at the animal shelter or at animal welfare agencies. This variant is in the spirit of animal welfare, since for every hamster taken, a place is free for a new rodent in need of help. The same applies to private sanctuaries and associations that mediate adopted hamsters. Speaking of private: You can also hope for newspaper ads or classified ads on the Internet. However, before you buy a hamster privately, you should always pay a visit to the sellers and see what the circumstances are like for the animals.
Buy hamsters from the pet store or breeder
Of course, you could also buy hamsters from the pet store. However, you run the risk that the animal was not kept in a species-appropriate manner – in many pet shops, for example, the hamster cages are far too small or the little ones are not properly cared for. Make sure that the animals are separated by sex and ask the staff about housing conditions, food and other things – if you don’t get professional information, the pet shop may not be the best place to go to buy hamsters. Nevertheless, you can usually get accessories in all variations there, for example for the hamster cage.
If you would like to buy a specific breed of hamster or if you value a specific coat colour, we recommend going to the breeder. Make sure you get good advice and look at the breeding conditions on site. Unfortunately, there are also a few black sheep among hamster breeders. Tip: Ask the breeder a few hamster questions, the answers to which you already know, and lay pitfalls in order to unmask a possibly dubious breeder.
Important points before buying a hamster
As mentioned above, you need to be aware of the responsibilities that come with having a hamster. The running animals need a lot of exercise and enough space. The rodents are mostly loners, but need human attention in the form of care, food and play. At the same time, you should know that the animals are not cuddly toys, which must be respected by all family members. Aspects such as regular cleaning of the cage or species-appropriate feeding must never be neglected. It is essential that you find out in-depth information about all the requirements for keeping hamsters before you buy a hamster.
How much does a hamster cost?
Basically it can be said that keeping hamsters is not too expensive compared to keeping other, larger animals. How much a hamster costs cannot be answered in general terms, as several points must be taken into account, including the hamster species. While golden hamsters can be found in pet shops for less than 10 euros on average, breeding variants cost a little more. Dwarf hamsters usually cost between 10 and 15 euros, although this information is not guaranteed – a hamster from a breeder is of course more expensive than from the animal shelter.
You have to consider that in addition to the costs for the animal, there are also costs for the initial equipment, food, bedding and vet visits. On average, the initial purchase including a hamster cage costs between 90 and 120 euros, although deviations are possible, for example if you build or buy a particularly luxurious hamster cage. The running costs per month are around 8 to 12 euros for the food and 10 to 15 euros for the nesting material. Vet costs can vary widely and are difficult to predict. When buying a hamster, be sure to inquire about its state of health, possible underlying diseases and vaccinations.
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