Is is better to buy a hamster for Petsmart or Petco... or any others?

Question

Is is better to buy a hamster for Petsmart or Petco... or any others?

Answer 1

Neither. Both obtain animals from large-scale pet mills who care little about health.



And what exactly prevents you from rescuing?

Answer 2

Get it from a BREEDER! Last time me and my sister bought a hamster they were not socialized they ate each other, and when we bought gerbils they ate each other too!

Answer 3

I bought one from Petsmart. Three months later is literally exploded. One of it's organs was messed up, so it caused it to expand until the body couldn't take anymore. I had my face against the cage, too. The people from Petsmart told me is was in perfect health when I bought it, and that nothing was wrong with it. The hamster had this condition since is was born... It might have been that the people from Petsmart just didn't know, or something like that. But, coming from my own bad experience, I'd advise against it or at least make sure everything about the hamster was healthy. But I really enjoyed having it during the time it was still living, so I hope you enjoy yours too. I hope I helped in some way. (: - Kelsey Renee

Answer 4

Avoid any pet stores. Pet stores get their animals from mills and if you buy a hamster from them you are supporting those mills. Pets from pet stores are usually sick, mis sexed, pregnant or have parasites. They are under socialized.

Adopt and save a hamster. You can look on petfinder.com or at shelters and rescues.



Don't get any pet without doing lots of research.

Answer 5

My nephew got a hamster from PetCo and it was the sweetest thing. I have a hamster now who came from a small, locally owned pet store where I've bought many guinea pigs, hamsters, and gerbils and they took excellent care of their pets. The same lady owned the store for many years and was always there and she was always spending time and talking with the animals. Every single pet that came from that store was happy and healthy. Sadly, due to the economy, that pet store has closed so the last time I got a hamster I had to buy from the nearest pet store in our local shopping mall. There's a difference in our pets, as the mall hamster is not as tame, she was kept in a cage in a corner of an enclosed room, with no wheel or toys in her cage. Her neighbors were mice, hamsters, and snakes. Yes, snakes. The first time I saw her was last December and she was still there a month later, so I just had to have her. It's been almost a year now and she's still not nearly as tame as the hamster that we bought from the small mom and pop type store. But I love her and wouldn't give her up for the world.



Anyways, my point here is that it's not the pet store itself, but the STAFF that makes a difference in your pet. If the animal has been hand trained and well cared for right from the start, whether it's by the breeder or the pet store, then you have a good chance of bringing home a good pet. The best thing to do is to browse each store's selection during the evening, when the animals are active. When choosing a pet, make sure you handle several different animals. A hamster may be shy or nervous since it doesn't know you, but signs to watch for would be if the hamster flips on its back, chattering its teeth and shielding its face with its paws. Those are signs that a hamster will not be as friendly and will be harder to tame, if ever. That's how our little female hamster behaved, and although she's not as anti-social as she used to be, she's still not nearly as sweet as our other hamster.



Another point: a friend of mine worked for both PetSmart and PetCo and confided in me that both companies got their stock from the same exact breeders.... so it doesn't make a difference which company you choose to go through.



Good luck on finding your pet...

Answer 6

I would like to say neither but sense you don't want me to I would have to say Petco. I don't know about where you live, but the petco i usually go to has lively animals. they are always playing and interacting with each other. But they do mush the mice together. people might disagree, but i think petco is better to the animals then petsmart. but i wouldn't recommend either.

I would recommend rats instead. they are much more social and playful. you can hold them and keep them out to play with them more. after a while they know that their home is their cage so they will always go back. they are very nice. I don't know about you, but i love rats!

Answer 7

You should go to Jacks Aquarium. I have had hamsters befor and i got one form Petco and it died, but Jacks Aquarium has a large selection and has healthy animals. If You get a certain type of hamster you should get a Teddy Bear Hamster they are cuute, sweet, and long living. :)

Answer 8

It depends on where you live.



I have a Petsmart that has nice animals, but up near my friend's place, their Petsmart practically abuses the animals with neglect. And the same can go for a Petco.



Check out the selection in each, and just find the one that looks most lively and lovable.

Answer 9

petco they have a much bigger selection

Answer 10

Have you done research on hamsters? On any other rodent? Of course I find their are much personable choice, but hamsters are the smallest and have the easiest care out of them. Heavy research should always be a must, in your mind, before picking a critter.



Really, pet store doesn't matter. In any pet store, you can NEVER be sure where their animals are coming from. More times they come from breeding mills. This makes the chance of them being sick or "untame" more likely. I have had a few good experiences and a few bad with pet store animals. So you can never be sure how yours will be if they come from the pet store.



I urge people to track down actual breeders. Especially ones that handle the babies from an early age, socializing them, taming them, and getting them ready for new homes. You can be a lot more sure of the animal you are getting this way.

Answer 11

I've saw a video taken at pet smart once before, where they forced bred a pair of rabbits.

I've not once saw a video of them inseminating an animal from petco.

I do live in the uk however, but using this site frequently and using their websites to help people decide on cages etc helps me make my decision more clear about which ones best, and if i didn't see that video? I would still say petco.



Hamsters are amazing, just don't get 2 syrians, you have to have a pair of dwarf ones, but don't get a female pair of chinese dwarf hamsters - they tend to fight as they are territoral.



Guinea pigs are a great choice, i own guinea pigs hamsters and gerbils...and a dog. But guinea pigs are quite expensive, especially as an initial cost. They also eat a heck of a lot.



So it depends on your circumstances and financial ways. If you want some advice, please do email me on here.



I hope I helped! :)