...because I ran into a guy at the pet store who was looking for a pet gerbil or hamster for his daughter. I couldn't stop giving him advice! He said he appreciated it, but I think I went on a bit much. Some other guy told me that hamsters jump, too - not just gerbils. Is this right? I haven't seen my hamsters jump yet, although he said he used to own a little hamster - it's dark brown and looks more like a chipmunk to me. I have teddy bear hamsters. Also, the guy wanted to know which bite more often - hamsters or gerbils? I told him that I don't know yet, but I told him his daughter would most likely enjoy gerbils more, because hamsters are more nocturnal. In fact, our hamsters are upstairs sleeping right now while our gerbils are running around digging. And I told him hamsters have to live apart from each other whereas the opposite is true of gerbils. I didn't have nearly as much time as I would have liked to give him all of the information he'll need. Perhaps I'll drop off instructions on how to sign up for this list at the pet store the next time I go. Often enough, the pet store clerks don't know much about gerbils and hamsters. I did steer the guy toward an aquarium, although I know he was looking at the plastic cages, too. They're very colorful, but you have to keep replacing them because the gerbils chew through them. And I warned him about corn cob bedding and Cedar.
Our hamster hasn't managed any more escapes. My 10 y.o. daughter must have checked out every hamster book in the library today. I think she's determined to tame her hamster! -Jean
