I kinda want a pet and am thinking maybe I have a ham sized hole in my life that needs filling. I want a chinchilla but it gets too hot in my house. Hamster could be ideal because they only live a couple of years, they are cheap to buy and run, doesn't take up much space or make much noise, doesn't need or want a hamster companion as they are solitary animals.
Should I Buy a Hamster?
AustriaBargain on 31/01/2024 - 14:36
Comments
This is correct. From memory they’re a Category 1 pest and can only be kept with a research permit, at least in Victoria.
how do i get these for um "research"
Richard Gere is on ozbargain?
Pest Animal Research/Education Permit
Applicable to universities and other appropriate institutions for research and educational purposes which are registered under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986. Applies to all categories of pest animals. Category 1 - Prohibited Pest Animals can only be held by VPC Approved Scientific Institutions.
Looks like OP can't get a gerbil either to fill his ham sized hole.
For real? I just assumed I could go out and buy one. I don't know if I want a guinea pig.
/uj and inb4 the lemmiwinks references
But have you considered a rat? (The ones bred to be a pet, as opposed to the wild ones).
They’re surprisingly clean and smart. Had a great time with them as a kid.
They do get a bit bitey if you don’t handle them enough though.
/rj
@pegaxs
100%… get rats. More people should have rats.
Rats are just like dogs, but tiny dogs. They are hellishly smart and very cheeky. They can do tricks and are master manipulators for treats. They are super clean and very very friendly. Female rats, if their area is kept clean, basically do not smell. Boys on the other hand… piss, piss everywhere, and it stinks. They take very little work to own but give out so much joy. They love being around humans and playing games. Rats are hilarious with their little mannerisms. Downside is you get attached to them like you do with dogs. Rats have massive personalities and no two are alike…. Then they die. They only live about 2~3 years, and every time I have a rat die, it rips my heart out for the next month or two. :( Oh, and vet bills… christ. $120 for a visit and some antibiotics for a $10 pet seems a bit rich sometimes…
Hamsters you cant get in Australia, the closest thing to them is either guinea pigs (about 4 times larger) or mice (about 1/2 the size of a hamster). Mice are not a replacement for hamsters, as mice as an observational pet, and not so much a have and to hold pet. You can hold them, but they do not seek human company and will often be very shy… Guinea pigs can be the same. They like hiding during the day and dont really car for human interactions. Rats DGAF and if you have treats, they have hands… and they are willing to talk about making a deal…
tl;dr - Ratatouille is not a fictional movie
@Muzeeb: And just for you, some “rat tax”
Two of my old girls, (since passed away), asleep on their bench. They had a perfectly good cage with bedding, but slept here because this is where I hand out treats.
@Muzeeb: This was in my recommendations this morning - I Trained A Rat To Make Ratatouille. Google is watching.
@ihfree: I was impressed that he mentioned
Ratatouille was a documentary
So I've added it to tonight's watchlist. Cheers.
+1 for the the lemmiwinks reference.
jesus chrsttttt
Mr Slave?
Had a great time with them as a kid.
Did you now? 🤭
While I don't doubt that a Hamster or a Chinchilla wouldn't make for a great pet, there are a huge amount of domestic animals that need rescuing in Australia. :)
If you're looking for a shorter term commitment, you can still feel good in providing purposeful love and care for the final years of an elderly dog or cat, which generally are harder to find permanent housing for due to social/aesthetic stigma, or medical needs that some aren't willing to take on.
Someone I know did Rabbit foster care - could also be worth considering as a trial.
That's a great idea! They're not exactly low maintenance, but they scratch the cute, small thing itch for sure.
Looks like there's a couple great looking rabbit sanctuaries around Sydney, and some provide care training/infopacks to successful applicants, too.
You will need to make sure they have a proper hutch and are well attended to. They will suffer from the heat and cold as well.
We had a house trained one to a kitty litter tray, although there were still accidents. The cat used to wash its face and trim the fur between its ears. This was very cute. However, rabbits eat through everything including electrical wiring. They also can dig like crazy. My original one used to dig out of its hutch and had created quite the warren under our house.
Have you considered pet sitting for when people go on holiday.
Pocket pets aren't easy. I don't know why people think they're good starter pets. They're cheap, but it shouldn't mean they're disposable. They're not has 'hardy' as dogs or cats, need frequent bedding and water changes, poop everywhere, and guinea pigs are hindgut fermenters that require very strict diets or they get gut stasis, etc. Also be aware that most companion animal pets don't like dealing with them, so expect to pay more for more expensive 'exotic' vet care when you need it.
guinea pigs are hindgut fermenters that require very strict diets
We just give them free grass and veg off cuts - e.g. corn husks, carrot peels and ours are very healthy.
Bearded Dragon? They are pretty cool animals and pretty easy to maintain. Just need a basic wildlife license in VIC. A bit costly for setup, but once done costs are pretty small.
Should I Buy a Hamster?
CSIRO have a few…
I guess it would be cool to have a knockout hamster. As long as the gene they knocked out wasn't a tumour suppressing gene or whatever.
they are cheap to buy and run
OP you make it sound like you're buying an appliance.
OP Read the horror stories about European models and has decided to stick to Japanese/Korean
Hamsters are from Syria
Perhaps rent one for a couple of weeks to see if it's a goer.
Maybe start with one of those electronic pet games and a stuffed toy.
Is Tamagotchi still a thing?
Amazing. I thought it would be an app now a days.
Pet Rocks - once a thing in the 70’s are still available. Easy to train (sit, stay, play dead), low maintenance, landlord friendly and last a lifetime.
I have a ham sized hole in my life that needs filling
B#@siality is illegal.
"Should I Buy a Hamster?"
Do you have an empty wheel?
.
None of those animals mentioned are legal here.
Agree about rats - smart pets, very clean.
Or a goldfish or fighting fish. Until you can prove that you can keep something alive for more than 6 months.
I would like a small mammal that prefers to live alone. Needing a mate like guinea pigs and rabbits would be a pain, if one dies I'd always have to get another, it'd be an endless cycle.
Get a mature age cat. As long as you give it lots of attention it will be happy to be without other animal companions.
Or a goldfish or fighting fish.
One of each, perhaps?
Round One, Fight!
Buy an untrained male Ferret. That will keep you on your toes.
lol… my friend has ferrets, and holy shit they are hilarious. They are so goofy and playful. They do the craziest shit and are always turned up to 11 at play time. Play time lasts about an hour, if that and then it’s snooze time, and I could literally watch ferrets sleeping all day.
They do remind me a lot of rats. They are very cunning, smart and funny. They all have very different personalities and love interacting with humans. They are absolute goof balls…
But… my god… that smell. It isn’t a pleasant one. My friend has both males and females and I am not sure of what they do, de-gland them? But holy shit they still stink. It’s a very musky odour once you smell it, you will never forget it. And the females have to be bred, or something, if they don’t, they die from oestrogen poisoning or something?
After I am done with rats, I wouldn’t mind giving ferrets a go.
I don't want any pets. I used to have an Aquarium and enjoyed it.
But I look at other countries and marvel at their relaxed regimes. Allowing, hamsters, Chinchillas, sugar gliders, wide variety of lizards etc.
but they don't have our "pristine" environment nor unique flora & fauna!
Those countries also have rabies, foot and mouth disease, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease),
varroa mites, avian influenza, African swine fever, numerous bat-borne diseases, and a whole tonne of other things that would decimate livelihoods, industries and indeed entire communities if they arrived here, not to mention human health impacts as evidenced in the last few years.
$$vet$$ bills now days are frigging eye watering.
Spent thousands over the years on a cats health. Vet prescribing the wrong treatment for an ailment when it was old that accelerated its demise, then charged a hefty fee to put it down, then tried to pressure me to not bury it in my backyard and for them to handle the remains. Not happy Jan.
Buy a plant.I highly suggest a little cockatiel, they are wonderful pets.
I rescued mine from a Coles carpark, she was so little, and either was dumped or escaped. She was sitting on the car next to me when I parked. When I got out of the car, she flew undermine, and thought to myself, if she's still there when I'm done shopping, I'll do something. When I got back, she was still there, it was a hot day and I managed to pick her up and put her on the passenger seat. Before I knew it, she had walked over the central console and was sitting on my shoulder. Unfortunately, I didn't know much about them, and when I first got her home, I was able to get her to sit on my index finger. I got her a cage and I stupidly chased her around the house and now she will not, 'get up' on my finger. But she's just the best, wakes me up in the morning with whistles, wondering where I am, and when I get home, she's so excited to see me. As I write this, she is sitting on my shoulder begging for head rubs. I leave her cage open and when it's time, she puts herself to bed. Sometimes I leave the cage open when I'm not working the next day and she will fly up to my bedroom wondering where I am. They're just the best :)
Thank you for sharing!
No
Yes, but you can't.
You can't have Hamsters or Chinchilla in Australia. Maybe a Guinea pig?