“THE HAMSTER HANDBOOK” | REACTING TO AWFUL HAMSTER CARE 

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I have a British hamster care book from around the 1950's-1960's which makes sure to point out that ' a hamsters bite is non-poisonous' . Did make me have a good giggle! Although I'm sure their recommendations for cage sizes are about the same as your book, which is quite worrying that hamster care is taking so long to improve.

Ah listening to this video made me even more sad about what I saw this weekend. My boyfriend and I stopped at a Petco a city over from ours that we have never been to, and right away I could tell it was bad. But as we were picking up food for our little babies, we witnessed something so sad. Someone was purchasing a hamster and in her arms she was holding a 5.5 gallon tank, and the associate assured her it was definitely big enough. Then she told him she was opting not to have a wheel because it’s way to loud at 3am, and he said that’s okay, they don’t really need one. He said just take them out in their ball whenever you are home, which she said yeah I will take him out while I eat lunch. He said they are nocturnal but you can train it to be awake in the day time. We just stood there mouth open, and finally said something. But neither of them wanted to hear it, and she purchased everything. That poor little hammy is going to have nowhere to run. I feel so bad for it. That hurt my heart so bad.

This was fun and I just wanted to let you know that my first hamster had a very small cage. And I started watching you and I got a switched to a bin cage because of how much you taught me

Off topic and possibly "rude" but your slight lisp is the cutest 😊

Love your videos and glad I found them before I got my next hamster I thought I was doing everything right I spoke to the pet shop people and now I wish I hadn’t even the cage they recommended now knowing the size she should of had I feel awful xxx

When I was about 8 I had two guinea pigs, both separate in ten gallon tanks that weren’t ventilated, on cedar bedding, only got iceberg lettuce and commercial hamster seeds, no vet care at all, and had no toys. They lived 6-7 years. It always boggled me how a lot of guinea pigs live longer than most guinea pigs that actually have adequate care.

I found that book at a Value Village when I first got a hamster. My dog dog ended up peeing on it before I got a a chance to read it and I threw it away. I guess I wasn't missing much lol.

Lol, loved the dial up image.

I went go a petshop to find a silent wheel but they only had bar wheels 🙁

Tysm pickles!! I just ordered a 6.5 inch wheel from your shop for my cute little dwarf!!😍❤️

I used a plastic rat wheel back in 1999/2000 as only way to get big ones. Thinking about the care i did back in day is so triggering. lol

I had hamsters in 2003 and I thought I was giving them a mansion by using an old 30 gallon aquarium which is obviously better than what was recommended but I definitely had a barred wheel and I'm pretty sure I used pine bedding and that cotton fluffy stuff. Oops.

I’m writing my own hamster care book because of how inaccurate these books are. It’s mostly for if I need to make sure something is safe, or if I need to get a pet sitter. On page twenty or so, on a page about Robovoski dwarf Hamsters!

These old books are terrible... I once read in book about dogs care from 60-ties that the best way to teach dog stop peeing in house is to hit it with chain while doing its business because it not only hurts, but also makes noise and both will be a good lesson for a dog how not to behave. I was thrilled... Poor little puppies :'(

I have 50+ books on pet care (mostly Barrons series). Seven of them are about hamsters. The Hamster Handbook isn't the greatest, but it's far from the worst too :P My favourite book on hamster care is titled "My Hamster" by Peter Fritzsche. It's outdated now, but I think it's still relevant as it had some unique chapters on things like, hamsters in the wild, preparing your child for a hamster's passing, and ideas on how to have interactive play time. The Hamsterlopedia is a great book for avid hamster owners too. It's out of print, but you can track it down on used books sites.

5:10 Barred wheels can be used as a climbing accessory (not an actual wheel!) for hermit crabs on the dryer side of the tank so it doesn't rust. I have one from a tank a friend gave me when her hamster died, but I don't use it for mine because they're fully bioactive and that's not a good plan haha

Hello!

27 years ago this was about as good it got... 20 gallon fish tank three females and cedar bedding ... they looked much more like wild hamsters and it was unheard of to take them to the vet the critter trails were an improvement and kaytee and bin cages a vast improvement

I had a book like this for guinea pigs when I was a kid for my pet guinea 😥

The sad thing is the average rabbit cage is still smaller(Like half size and they usually don't have nest boxes/hides in them!) than the one my sister and I keept our rabbits in the late 90's-2000's. Don't get me started on the yard, they had as they were outdoor rabbits, they also had transportable chicken pen to grass on our lawn. Back when the only chews you could get was fruit branches, mineral stones, carrots and those dreadful honeydripped sticks from Vitakraft, and toys were cardboard boxes with cut holes in them(Or Plastic Drain pipes/small dog tunnels, we didn't have), and if you were really crafty you made a set of springs(I wasn't allowed to). I wish I got them more vegetables and Hay, and more activities, but we gave them extremely good care for era, because we feed them grass pellets and hay. I feel only thing that don't age much is books on Fish keeping and that is because people who write these is pretty knowable about the subject, as it is really nerdy(Tanks sizes has gone up, the basic care is the same, breeding is changed a bit). It is really funny to think despite that has been good ressources on the subject since the 60's, people still think a 10l tank is acceptable home for a gold fish, or Betta, or 10 guppies.

A local pet shop had a 1yr anniversary sale today. Tons of deals, and 50% an item aside from a few exclusions. But omg, "buy a hamster care kit get a hamster free" and the kits were with little critter trails! I feel bad for the babies, but here's hoping the parents do some research at some point and upgrade them to a bin cage or something.

That dial up sound though. Ah the memories.

Most books I have found recommended a 10 gallon tank and that’s what I kept my childhood hamster in he lived 3 total years 2 with us and 1 year at the petstore. Edit: my hamsters have above minimum cages now.

Barred wheels are only okay for gerbils. Gerbils can chew through plastic.

I go to my local PetSmart often. They have recently upgraded all of their wire small animal wheels with their animals for plastic ones. Thought of you and smiled.

My local pet store uses wire wheels in all their hamster cages. At least it's not permanent for animal.

It would be my dream to open a pet shop that actually gives adequate care advice and refuses to sell to people who don't give off a responsible impression. Instead of buying from rodent mills, I'd want to breed my own animals to sell there, and keep the breeding animals on display at the store, setting an example for what an appropriate cage setup looks like. It would mean there might not always be animals available for sale, but I'd also want to offer wait lists for interested people, and sell the babies with proper contracts detailing the required care. Obviously, I alone wouldn't be able to breed the same variety of animals as huge rodent mills, so there'd only be a few species available, but they'd be the ones that I'm actually knowledgeable on, and can give proper recommendations. If possible, I would also partner with rescues to offer animals like rabbits, which are commonly found in rescue and don't need to be bred more of. (Hamsters and rats are rarely found at rescues, so I'd be okay with breeding those kinds of animals.)

Tbh the pictures in the book were super cringe & terrifying for the hamsters lol

The horse pellets work for odors in the corners they poo and pee in

Can you use cork or grape vine in a Syrian hamster cage?

I was born in 2003🤔

I tried convincing my parents to get my hamster a bigger cage since we had a really small wire cage. But they were against it even though I explained it was bad xd I wish I gave my hamster a better life. I won't get one anymore since I can't give its priorities like a big cage - thx for the video and all the info / knowledge

I’ve seen rats and mice in racks

10th! 13 mins late.. Still happy! Love Your videos keep it up ❤❤

Hi

You should make your own book on how you take care of your animals like hamsters and others with their own chapters like chapter 15 hamsters or 16 bearded dragon etc. I know how you because I watch your videos but if anyone wanted to double check they could grab their book look at the index and see what page they are and do I quick glance and I would love to read all that too

Hi! I just have 1 question, what kind of bedding should I use? Because I use carefresh colorful bedding. I really do care is my hamster happy ❤

My parents were super against an ikea detolf diy cage, now they love it and want another 😂

Please do some more videos going through Pet Care books! I remember when I was a kid (in the 90s) I had a book from the 70s about hermit crab care and they recommended feeding your hermit crab dog food and keeping them on broken glass or cat litter as substrate. Very cringy indeed

Had an old book for gerbil care from maybe the 70s or earlier. It was definitely not great, but not quite this bad. The cage suggestions, however, were indeed tiny and sparse. I think the main issue with old care books is that the mindset at the time was more so that small animals were a source of intrigue and entertainment, as opposed to the modern perception of them as individuals, our enjoyment coming from providing optimal husbandry, thus seeing the animal thrive. However, even with good care books therein lies the problem of one singular author, therefore one singular opinion and experience.

I have the exact same book!

❤️

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Love your videos!

Awesome vid :)

Great video

When you’re so early you don’t know what to comment. **-**

I love this idea!

08:06 yaaas

Hi l love your channel

i am early

That hammy info is way outdated!! Fortunately, I'm hoping most of your viewers know how to take care of a hammy by now. Love your hair btw!!

Is kiln dried cedar bad?

And my teacher said that all the books are correct lol :)

Gj.

Early!

What is wrong with sawdust I used it with all my masters and gunnies

I loaf u uwu

Great Video

Hi