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The are several options when it comes to buying your hamster. Your choice might be determined by the species and type of hamster you want, depending on what is available in your area.

Both Syrian (also known as golden and teddy bear hamsters) and dwarf hamsters can be purchased from local pet stores. They can also be purchased from hobbyists and members of local hamster clubs. There benefits and drawbacks to each option.

Local pet stores are convenient and also provide other things you will need for your hamster, such as food, housing, etc. This makes for one-trip shopping and can be a huge time-saver. Price can be a factor, as well, because pet stores can purchase offer hamsters at a lower price than some smaller breeding operations can.

Keep in mind that local pet stores (especially the chain stores) do not often interact with the hamsters and this can lead to difficulties in socializing and taming your potential pet. Another thing to consider is that male and female hamsters are sometimes kept in the same housing area, and this could lead to a surprising hamster population explosion in your house after you find you have purchased a pregnant female. (It happens!) They may also be less likely to be able to give you a male or female hamster, since sexing hamsters can be difficult.

Overcrowding in pet shops is often seen, and there are some pet stores that do not clean the living area frequently enough. Before selecting a hamster, make sure you check to see that the living area is clean and relatively free of odor.

Local, hobbyist breeders can offer personalized service and will often interact with the hamsters, making the task of taming your hamster quite simple. Taming might not even be necessary – only a period of settling in for your hamster so he can get used to his new surroundings.

Hamster club members are also a great source of pets. Hamsters are shown (like cats and dogs), and hamsters that are nervous or bite are not considered good show quality and are, therefore, not bred. Hamsters are bred for the traits that win awards, and that includes being confident and easily handled. These qualities make for great pets.

Hobbyist and hamster club members breeders are often more careful to avoid unnecessary hamster breeding, since they are careful not to encourage the passing on of undesirable traits and also are mindful of space considerations, so the risk of purchasing a pregnant hamster is less.

No matter where you purchase your pet, look to see how the hamster reacts to the handler. Do not purchase a hamster that bites or is otherwise not easily handled – this means it has not been socialized and it might not be possible to tame the hamster once you bring him home. Do not purchase a hamster that looks sickly or weak, because he might be ill. Look for cuts or abscesses and any skin conditions, as well. Skin infections and hair loss can also indicate illness or unsanitary housing conditions.

Tyzzer's Disease is a disease that affects many strains of rodents, including hamsters. Most strains are unique to the species and are not transmitted from species to species (although gerbils can sometimes be infected from strains found in other rodents).

This disease is highly contagious and can be passed easily from hamster to hamster. The disease is usually fatal and can be fatal in as little as 48 hours after symptoms appear.

Symptoms include a lack of activity, scruffy coat, diarrhea, and dehydration (although there may not be any symptoms present, and the only realization that something is wrong is the sudden death of the hamster).

If you suspect your hamster might have this disease, immediately separate him or her from any other hamsters you have and carry him or her to the veterinarian in a covered cage (to keep the disease from spreading). If your vet thinks that your pet has Tyzzer's Disease, he or she will prescribe antibiotics for your hamster (and the other hamsters, if you have more than one). (The only way to be absolutely sure of a diagnosis of Tyzzer's Disease is a vet's examination of a dead hamster, unfortunately.)

Even though there are not any records of humans having any symptoms of Tyzzer's Disease, tests of humans have shown that there has been an active infection that has not been noticed prior to testing. As a precaution, you should always wash and dry hands thoroughly before and after handling your pet, even when he is well.

There are 3 things you can do to help prevent this disease:

First, make sure you keep your hamster's living area clean. Remove and replace all bedding at least once per week. Do not wait until you notice an odor to change the bedding, because by then it is too dirty. Wash and disinfect the cage once per month. Use a bleach solution (one tablespoon of bleach to one gallon of water) in order to disinfect it.

Second, keep stress levels for your hamster low. Do not wake him up to play. Keep him away from loud noises and too much activity. Do not let children mistreat or mishandle him. Be aware of the clues from your hamster and respect his wishes to be left alone if he acts like he is not interested in being held or handled.

Finally, make sure you keep any new hamsters quarantined for at least 2 weeks before allowing them to come into contact with your current pets. Even if a new hamster looks healthy, there might be an underlying condition that the stress of moving to a new home could expose. Although it might be expensive to have an extra housing facility, in the long run it will be worth it.

The good news is that this disease is rare in animals that are well-cared-for and not under a lot of stress, so do not be too worried about your hamster catching this disease – but do be observant.

Hamsters are an ideal pet for teaching and learning about a variety of subjects. They are suited for both the traditional classroom and for the homeschooling family. Because of their small size, clean habits, quiet natures and minimal care needs, they are perfect for almost any educational situation.

First you must choose what type of hamster you want to have. Syrian hamsters (also known as golden or teddy bear hamsters) must be kept alone in a housing unit. If you want to keep more than one, you must have more than one cage or aquarium. This can cause issue with space and monetary investment, especially with a traditional classroom.

Dwarf hamsters can be housed together if they have been raised together or are properly introduced to each other slowly. Keep in mind that having a male/female pair will cause a population explosion. It is best to have same-sex hamster groups for the classroom unless you are specifically breeding the hamsters for a project.

Note: if you have a traditional classroom, make sure you obtain permission before purchasing and bringing your hamsters into the classroom.

Here are some curriculum ideas for homeschooling families or the traditional classroom:

1. Use hamsters and the different breeds of hamsters to research and understand why scientific names are so important in describing and labeling animals. For example, the Syrian hamster is also known as the golden hamster or the teddy bear hamster, but it can be referred to by his scientific name (Mesocricetus auratus) and there would not be any confusion as to which species is being named.

2. Use hamsters to learn about genetics, selective breeding, line breeding, etc. Make sure that before you begin the project, you have homes for all of the pups. Hamsters mature early, so do not put off finding a place for them to go – they will need new homes at around 5-7 weeks.

3. Use hamsters to learn about scent, pheromones, and other chemicals that are needed for communication between certain animals. Point out that just because we may not be able to smell the chemicals used, doesn't mean they are not present. Our senses are simply not attuned to the hormones of other species.

4. Study the social order of the hamsters in the group. See if the students can pick out which hamster is dominant and which one is the least dominant. Research and discuss how other species also use this hierarchy system in order to keep a group under control. Discuss how this type of behavior relates to humans, if at all.

Hamsters can add a lively part to any curriculum. Having students care for the pets can also teach things such as responsibility and compassion. If in a traditional classroom, you can have students take turns caring for the hamster (feeding, cleaning the cage, etc.) and also take the hamster home over long holidays (but only with the parent's permission – having parents sign a permission slip is the best method for this).