[AbbieOliver]

I got my first hamster at Christmas 2011. In the last couple of days I noticed he was acting a little weird. He was a lot more hyper and he would be up nibbling at the cage at 7am. I looked online for vets nearby but I couldn't see any that mentioned hamsters. The next day I came back from school and saw that he was lying in his hideout. I went out and when I got back he was lying in a weird way. I opened up his hideout and saw he was lying on his side. He wasn't breathing. I noticed he had a yellow belly and a small bump that looked like a spot or bite on his paw. I don't know what was wrong with him. As he was my first ever pet I had grown really close to him and felt really guilty I hadn't done something as soon as he started acting weird. I really miss him. My mum told me I should get another but I don't know. No hamster can replace Stitch.

[taxesforaliens]

Hamsters have a short life span. They are very sensitive and die quickly if you don't catch that they are ill early.
Also, they are nocturnal.

I would suggest to get a different pet with a longer life span. I had guinea pigs and they all lived to be 10-14 years old.

[AbbieOliver]

Hamsters have a short life span. They are very sensitive and die quickly if you don't catch that they are ill early.
Also, they are nocturnal.

I would suggest to get a different pet with a longer life span. I had guinea pigs and they all lived to be 10-14 years old.

Thanks. I might look into getting a guinea pig as I really loved my dwarf hamster and it was really hard when he died. If guinea pigs have longer life spans I wouldn't have to worry as much.
Thanks so much for the advice!

[UK Apple]

I think guinea pigs would be a great idea but do look up about caring for them as there not quite the same as hamsters and make sure you gaet more than one :)