Buying a hamster for the first time
At most pet stores, two popular breeds of hamsters are usually available. The Syrian hamster and Dwarf hamsters are the most common type kept as pets. You can read my page about the different breeds of hamster and find more information here.
Make sure to get your pet hamster from a responsible breeder or good pet store. You can also get a pet hamster from some animal shelters or animal rescue foundations.
It is usually best to buy from a private breeder because the breeding has usually been done carefully to produce very healthy hamsters. If you're buying from a pet store, look for one that is nice and clean. Pay attention to a hamsters condition before you decide to purchase it. You want your pet hamster to have bright, round eyes. Look for a hamster that seems alert. You want a hamster that looks friendly and healthy. A hamsters fur should be smooth and shiny and not patchy or dull.
Because of a hamsters short life-span, buy a young hamster, between 4-8 weeks old. Keep in mind when you're at a pet store, that it is most likely daytime hours and hamsters like to sleep most of the day, so they wont be as active, but your hamster should still wake up fairly easily, but be careful not to get bit! Sometimes a hamster will try to bite if it is startled awake suddenly, so wake your hamster up gently and lovingly.
When first buying a pet hamster, you can expect to spend approximately $35.00 for a cage. You should purchase a cage and some food & supplies before you buy a pet hamster, so your new pet will already have it set up and waiting when you bring him home!
You should clean the hamster cage good before you put your hamster in there, to get rid of any germs that could be on the cage. You can find a "hamster shopping list" of items you will need here. Once you have purchased a hamster cage and have it all set up, you can even carry it with you to the pet shop so you can put your new pet hamster directly into his/her new home. Otherwise, your hamster can be put in a cardboard box for the ride home. The pet shop should have an appropriate box for you to use. You shouldn't keep your hamster in the box for more than 30-45 minutes, so make sure you go straight home after you leave the pet shop.
The car ride home can make your hamster nervous. Once you get your hamster home, put him in the hamster cage you bought for him, and don't mess with him much the first couple of days. Let your new pet hamster relax and have time to settle into his new surroundings. Speak to your hamster in a soft, quiet tone and let him get familiar with your voice. I will go over the easiest way to tame your pet hamster on our Taming a Hamster page.
