Reacting to PetSmart's NEW line 

Pet stores really love marketing hamsters like they're dolls to be played with, and their houses are doll houses.

Hey, Petsmart employee here! The Nate +Jeremiah stuff is extremely overpriced and we've literally been sitting on ours for about 3 months now and have sold MAYBE 2 units.

Omg 💀 I was SO not prepared for them to proudly announce the couches. Wtf lol

The fact that they're selling faux leather sofas is just making hamsters seem more like toys

I know they probably know nothing about small pets, but that's exactly WHY you should blame them. They shouldn't be doing things like this with no research and no thought for the animals

If only we lived in a world where all hammies could live happy lives :(

Looking at these prices, it's sad to think that there would undoubtedly be people out there who would be tricked into thinking "well, if I'm spending a ton of money this must be the best level of care for my hamster".

For the non hammies, that fish tank was actually looked pretty good for a couple of goldfish, but the bearded dragon enclosure was so small 😭

I really appreciate this. Sometimes its easy to get caught up in the cuteness or aesthetic, but yes, they are still not promoting the correct care. And they could have probably designed some cool wooden hides

Hi, Victoria. I've been watching you for about 4 years and recently found out im autistic. Animals, and especially rodents, have always been my special interest, and I can only thank you for the rodent part. I can't thank you enough for the amount of joy and learning your channel has brought me since I was a little kid. Edit: Yall, please stop arguing about self diagnosis. Nobody cares. Let people use resources that help them.

By the way, they failed at the fish decor as well. Sadly, that is also unfit for the animals. What they talked about, how fishes like to hide in plants and "natural habitat, then showed an almost empty tank with a plastic plant that is unfit for hiding (and unsafe), with 2 goldfish, that needs bigger tank like than, is really sad. And the way the fishes crowded into a corner indicates they have been put inside not much earlier than when the video was filmed.

a hamsters cage and all these pets cages can be aesthetic without having to look like literal house in an aquarium

hi reptile owner here! in case anyone didn’t know literally every single cage was to small for every animal they showed

As many products for children, healthcare, motor industry etc, come certified or approved , I think it's about time Pet Stores request an approval from you on Hamster Products. It would be great to see Victoria Raechel Approved Logo on their products you have certified.

Oh My F G. I can't believe they think a sofa etc is a great idea in a hamster cage. I absolutely laughed my socks off when you got to that bit. I kept thinking "Noooo. This can't be real". How can they be generally clued up with fish and reptiles and then go on a... I am too stunned.... omg. I am relatively new hamster owner of 6 months but crikey man, I'm gobsmacked. Like you.... speechless.

I can’t believe people think couches are a good idea for hamsters. That could actually kill or seriously injure the hamster. Also thank you so much, you really helped my hamster, and I love your videos.

I saw those couches for hamsters in the pet store last week and immediately thought "oh god these are awful! I know Victoria would be so pissed!" hahah

I work at a PetSmart and their items are some of our least sold, they have already gathered dust and literal cobwebs. Our Tiny Tales items are also like that thankfully

I saw this when I went to PetSmart, why do hamsters need leather couchs?!

the couches are so cute for temporary use!! i love making tiktoks of my hamsters and it would be really great for that, just not in the cage! 😊

On the flip side- the couch is doing really well for the bird community! 🤣 great nap spot for a lazy ringneck dove.

Keep checking these things out. The fact you highlight them on your well viewed channel spreads the word to encourage people to think about what they buy when they become hamster owners. Thanks for review . I'm Wales in UK but very much appreciate what you have to say

I love how they showed a 'natural' fish tank and then proceed to have plastic plants.

Pet stores are getting better! All the employees I’ve ever talked to when getting a hamster tell me to get a 50-75 gallon tank the LEAST.

Petsmart Employee here!! I really wish more of the petstores or employees would do more research on how to care for the animals. Most of our petcare team do their own research on their own time since petsmart doesn't really offer training for that. Since petsmart is a corporation company the employees really can't do anything or say anything. We are expected to smile and answer your questions as best as we can and not say idk. On the other hand, when getting a new animal you should NEVER take your husbandry advice from one person if you know nothing about the animal. Always fact check and find out more online or in books. I am a dog groomer (haven't worked on the floor ever) and even i don't like saying i work here bc of the corporation.

Another petsmart employee here! That couch is honestly more of a reptile thing, I dunno why they put it on the rodent section. We've sold several for geckos and zero for small animals lmao Edit: however pls be careful using those stands, anyone who buys them! We tried setting up a tank display on one and it scratched the top almost immediately. They're very pretty but the finishing isn't solid at all, and you'll need a cover. Very disappointing given the insane price, we just aren't allowed to say it in store to yall lol

My hamster Wink went from a 340 square inch enclosure with no sand bath and hardly any enrichment. Now he’s in a 522 square inch bin cage with lots of bedding, a sand bath, an 8 inch wheel, and a homemade multi chamber hideout (and more things ofc) and I am saving up for a Niteangel with 1,000+ square inches of floor space and I will get a 10 inch wheel. All I need to do now is convince my parents! I was gonna get a drum set instead but BaWinkADink comes first♥Thank you, Victoria!

I’m so glad you did a reaction vid to these! I’ve noticed these in pet stores the past few months and was definitely side eying them.

I’m just glad that they are basically saving to use a tank instead of one of those critter trails

I love tiny furniture. I used to buy wooden doll furniture to put in with my rats, in their massive wardrobe tower. I loved my rats, and I would give them a ton of toys and fun things to do, and the furniture items were just because I thought it was cute, my one rat Nori used to carry around a little lamp, she enjoyed to chew on. She used to leave it in the weirdest places. I’d find it in amongst the leaves and branches or in her hammock.

"Maybe they should have hired someone who knew somewhat about the animals." PetSmart needs to hire Victoria Raechel 💯 😉

Imagine if there was a pet store with good care, i'd love that

Hi Victoria so glad you did this video. I have been following you for the last couple .of months and learned a lot from you. I had seen the set up at PetSmart and I was not feeling it. Thanks again for caring much about our pets and give excellent advise. 🐹

Hey Tori! I've been watching since the days of ChocolateColors26, and I'm so happy about how far your care has come, and mine alog with it! I bought some of your merch for Christmas, including a Hamster Servant hoodie and shirt, and I adore them, they're comfy and adorable! I keep getting compliments on them :D Thank you so very much for all you have done for me and the currently 6 furbabies you have helped over the years (5 of which are rescues!). My current syrian girl is very soon getting a big upgrade from 0.7 m²/~1000 in² to 1m²/1550 in², including a lot more space for burrowing since that is her one true passion in life :D, even if it means I rarely get to see her out and about, she only comes up when it's absolutely necessary for her to drink and collect food :(

3:32 you see hamsters actually live indoors like humans with furniture the people who say they live in the wild are lying

Petsmart employee here, we never sell these items and our location constantly bullies Nate and Jeremiah. We don't like it either. It angers me so much, that habitat they show at 1:26 has AN ADULT BEARDIE IN IT, it's WAY TOO SMALL. They also show enclosures WAY too small for small animals. I always do my best to convince customers not to buy their stuff.

I'm so glad you're doing this review and I hope they see it.

I wish they could team up with you for designing hamster things! That collab would be fantastic to see! 😍 I understand they hired designers for the stands but they should focus on the literal most basic thing, the cages. I also can't imagine someone buying one of these stands to fit their decor but then getting a plastic cage. 🤔

My hamster's setup is fully IKEA: Detolf enclosure on a wooden bench. They don't make the model of bench that I have anymore, but there are other IKEA benches which could be a good option. For someone looking for a cheap stand for their hamster enclosure, you can also look for a used bench from a thrift store, kijiji or craigslist. It's also not too high, so for a shortie like me it's easy to reach in.

We need a person like you in this world Victoria.☺️ You are such a huge help to so many people including me. I wish everyone would see your videos, so if they get a hamster or already own one they would all have these amazing cages and care! Thank you for being the biggest help!😊😊 👇If Victoria helped you with your pet care 💗

I remember seeing the couches like the day they came out and I was like " this is the stupidest thing I have ever seen"

Love this video. I still don't know too much about hamsters and I would have been fooled by these nice-looking habitats! Guess there is always more to this than meets the eye. Thanks for the video 🙂

Bro really thought he ate when he said "they can eat it" and then it cuts off to music 😭😭😭

I live in the UK but quick pound to dollar conversion in my head these things cost a fortune. And as mentioned before add nothing to the animals care. Keep my rabbits and hamster stuff in boxes shed etc. Hamster hasn't complained neither have my rabbits. More money than sense buying the cabinets

Great video .. I hope they will watch this to help them do what’s best for animals and not there profit margins .. great video Victoria 🙂

Hi Victoria I love your videos so much! I just wanted to thank you because if I wouldn’t have found you 1 year ago my hamsters cage wouldn’t have nearly as much enrichment as it has now!!❤️❤️

Wow ! I love your videos they are always so informative

As a reptile person, the fact that they used sand substrate is also a no go as it causes impaction T.T I think the fact that the hamster setups at least advertised glass enclosures instead of the small wire cages is a mild improvement, but the supplies and decor they advertised is simply Not It. The couches are so dangerous. Reminds me of the 'hamster cars' and other decorative items that are used to treat hamsters like they're dolls to play with in a dollhouse.

Saw the couches yesterday. Went into there with my mom because it was adoption day and she's currently looking for a new dog. We went by the small pet area because we always enjoy looking and my thoughts on the couch was pretty similar to yours. I would certainly be afraid of choking or other injuries because of it. It definitely seems like one of those "use under supervision only" type of toys when you're actively paying attention to what's going on.

As a Guinea pig owner I can confirm that the couch would not work, so f they were to chew on it it could be dangerous for them/ a waist of money.

I’d love the couches for photography props. That would be so much fun

hey, another petsmart employee here! seeing other employees takes on the hammie stuff, yeah, its super overpriced and doesn't sell super often. you know who buys our tiny couches? puppy and kitten breeders, as little beds for their newborns/for photoshoots for adoptions! i've never seen one sane hamster owner actually get the couch.

the pumice stone would be great for my chinchilla! she has many pumice ledges and not only does she enjoy chewing on them but it helps keep her teeth in check

I looooooove using tropical reptile ornaments for my hamster their so dope

OMG Victoria I think your videos should be more popular I love your videos🐹🐹🐰🐇

I got my first hamster yesterday! I watched all your videos and thanks to you shes living her best life! I went to petsmart and I saw these there.

Some stores have been removing the cotton fluff bedding the UK which is good. We all need to keep educating our friends,family and people we know,sharing on social media, put up posters where you can and link hamster care into different parts of your life. We must be their voice as they don't have one.

As an interior designer and a hamster owner myself, I like to make sure that my hamster has a very large enclosure with as much enrichment as possible that is as close as possible to a natural hamster habitat. I have never been tempted to give my hamster a sofa etc.

Hi! I love your videos!!!! You taught me so much about hamsters and now I have a nite angel cage with 1,038sq inches (I think I may be wrong) and he has 24/7 access to his 1,650sq inch free roam area!!!

I was impressed about the two first ones even tho I cringed at their sizes but the hamster one is just sad, they’re marketed like they’re toys :(

From what I’ve seen regarding Nate & Jeremiah collection, & PetSmart’s overall improvements: they don’t care about hamsters’ safety, quality of life, basic needs. They do, however, care about Guinea pigs (I’m assuming their sales declined due to more people becoming aware of their needs). What’s funny is, idk how most adult piggies would even fit on N&J’s sofas But ALL their New Guinea pig cages meets or exceeds minimum cage requirements. Their hay is really high quality, nice & green (I have to get orchard grass & if the shipment is late, Full Cheeks hay is my emergency go to). Their hides are pretty roomy AND they made their own fleece liners. When I 1st walk into my PetSmart, I see a N&J enclosure setup that caters to hamsters BUT is in the aquatic section, in a 10 or 20 gal tank, maybe 2” of bedding & a full cheeks 6.5” silent wheel 😡 So, if PetSmart is capable of making piggies lives better, I KNOW they can do the same for hamsters. It really angers & saddens me that they won’t. I wish they would do a collab w you! Then they really would carry good hamster things!!

😂 faux leather is mini sofa is such a huge part of the hamsters natural habitat.

Hi! I just thought I’d tell you this in hopes you’d see it! I just got my first hamster about 2 weeks ago, she is a long haired Syrian hamster and she has a 40 gallon bin cage. But I have been seeing signs of stress, so I am upgrading her to a Ikea detolf! Without all of your help I would’ve never been able to give the proper care for her! So thank you!

the couch would be cute for a reptile enclosure! they would love to lay on it

I love this video you never disappoint. Its frustrating how pet stores will take habitat designs from people who know nothing about animals and continue ignoring people begging for better care requirements.

This would have turned out fabulous if they 2 dudes actually knew what they were talking about and did research.they did hamsters dirty reptiles and fish get lovely and natural and the hamsters get couches and tiny cages 😵‍💫

Victoria I love your videos so much! Would you be able to make a video about 40 gallon tanks and how to decorate them! ❤

I found the sofa in the store recently and thought exactly what you said about it!

I was so excited and then the sofa came.

Totally agree with you, Victoria…as always 😊

your nails are gorgeous!!!

I got a hamster 2 and a half years ago he was in a small cage until I found you, for his first Christmas I got him a massive cage and all the stuff he needed. he sadly passed away today and I want to thankyou because I don't think my hamster would have lived 2 and a half years if I had not found your channel

As a British person, when it said 75g I was like, WHAT?! Cause I read it as 75 grams 😂❤

First I ❤ you channel so much you are such an inspiration

YAY! I finally have aa hamster. I got her yesterday. her name is Horcahta after my favorite drink. She is a robo dwarf and is gorg. She has a great cage thx to uu. So thank you!

It's such a shame they failed so hard on the small pet stuff because the rest looks really nice :( The fish stuff is really nice! Those fake plants look like they'd be great for a tank with loaches, cichlids or other fish that would absolutely destroy a planted tank lol, or if someone just didn't want to worry about real plants. EDIT: If you're using plastic plants please make sure they're not too sharp. Test them with your fingers first. Fish with long or large fins can be hurt by sharp plastic plants. The reptile stuff looks nice too, I might even grab one of those bowls for my tarantula.

But tbh, I am proud of petsmart for improving guinea pig cages. They now have fleece liners AND YOU WILL NOT BELEIVE THIS..... . . . . A GOOD SIZED CAGE!!!! I'm proud of them for piggie care, but they still have to work on the hamster care!

i've been waiting for you to tear into this line.

I had a tiny wooden chair in my mice’s enclosure and it was so cute, they never used it though obviously.

I was in petsmart the other day getting dog food and I noticed their hamsters were in separate cages with names written in the glass. I was actually shocked considering they normally have a big cage with like 20+ hamsters in it together. Obviously, these “aesthetic” accessories and stands are not it- but they are making changes, so maybe that means they are listening.

Happy late birthday Victoria 😊🎉 or at least I think its your birthday? I’m also really happy to have my birthday on Jan 19 too!

Great video, Victoria! i’m 13 and I’m really glad my parents made me wait to get a hamster or he would be living in a CritterTrail! And It gave me enough time to find your channel❤How are the hamsters doing?

during the fish section i was thinkin "okay, they're getting better" but then.. I'm just tired.

I actually bought the yurt small pet hide for my guinea pigs. It's actually way larger than it looks and there's plenty of room for at least two of my guinea pigs inside of it. I'm not exactly sure why they labeled it the way they did because it kind of makes it seem and look like a hamster hide but it's much larger than that lol. It's also surprisingly very sturdy and durable. I've not had any issues with it and the pigs have not chewed it or clotted up or anything. It still looks new

Good video BTW I love your video and nails ❤

Ah, yes, my favorite natural hamster item, a couch, all the wild hamsters have one, it was only a matter of time before they started selling those. Next time they'll make a small TV I bet.

Even guinea pigs will trash the couch. My lil piggy’s where so destructive when they wanted to be 😂

"I know these guys probably know literally nothing about small pets, so I'm not going to blame them for that...". I am. Why do they or anyone think they should design something for any animal without knowing something about that animals actual needs? It's common sense. It's like if I try to teach someone how to build a nice wooden rocking chair, while I know nothing about carpentry. You're going to have a pretty pathetic chair. How much more important is this when dealing with living things? You're going to have an animal that isn't thriving, or worse, not even having it's basic needs met... Ok. Rant over. I love your channel and what you do. 😁

My hampter sadly died like 1 month ago,sadly my mom doesn’t let me get another hamster (I also have a bearded dragon and 2 female Doberman),I still have the bin cage,I will still watch your videos because they are entertaining

hey victoria raechel! i was wondering if you can do a video about what's good and whats not good at petsmart! i love ur videos!

This is why I want to work in the pet store or around small animals because I think they need to start having people that are educated and know what they are doing

2:08 , 'petsmarts knowlage' made me giggle. hamsters aren't decoratio either.

that tiny sofa was a JUMP SCARE

My hamster Luna passed away yesterday.. I wanted to tell you i’m very greatful for helping me with giving him the best care I could and I think he lived a happy life because of that. Every time I walk past his empty cage I want to check up on him and remember he’s not here anymore. Even though he’s small, he was still such a big part of my daily routine and my life. I miss him so much

When I saw the title I already went ‘Oh Gosh’

I love watching your videos sm! I started watching when I got my hamster Daisy. She was a winter dwarf hamster that I unfortunately bought from pet smart😩. My hamster used to live in a tiny cage that was also from pet smart and I only put in less then a inch of bedding😢 After I started watching your videos I immediately changed my care. I made a bin cage and gave her 6 inches of bedding and lots of entertainment and scatter fed. Unfortunately she passed away on December 24, 2022 . I still watch your videos anyway even though I don’t have a hamster anymore.❤

Good review! I agree 100%. I was hoping the big tanks would be part of the collection! Maybe the large stands will encourage people to get a bigger hamster enclosure. Otherwise, not a fan of this product line.

I don’t know about pumice but my mice used to love gnawing on the dragon stone inside of their enclosure. They weren’t big into chewing wood but they loved the stone. Makes my teeth hurt just thinking about it.

The tank they had the bearded dragon in was VERY small. PetSmart definitely is not improving their care at all

Since the aquarium is still heavy glass, water or not, & needs to be big I'd still be worried a normal IKEA shelf might break under pressure. Especially with sand bath, rocks, ceramic items in it. An aquarium stand would make more sense. My hamster enclosure is also way too big to sit on anything but the floor though. It'd be thousands of dollars between a big tank and stand to even compare to what I have now & my enclosure was like $200.