Hamsters (Animal Planet Pet Care Library) [Hardcover]

Sue Fox (Author)

Book Description

Series: Animal Planet Pet Care Library | Publication Date: September 2006

These popular pocket pets require specific care to ensure their health and happiness. This book details proper handling techniques and all necessary care information required for any owner who wants to make these tiny creatures part of their family.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

T.F.H. Publications, Inc. has teamed up with Animal Planet(tm), the only television network devoted to the unique bonds between humans and animals, to present an exciting new series of comprehensive guides to superior pet care.

Each book in the Animal Planet(tm) Pet Care Library offers incredible value, featuring:

* 112 pages of all-new, current information from pet care and animal experts
* No canned text--content text is newly written for each book
* Family-friendly design with over 60 full-color photographs plus helpful tip boxes
* Includes advice on feeding, housing, grooming, training, health care, and fun activities

From the Back Cover

Hamsters are among the most popular pocket pets in the world, especially for children. Aside from their charming looks and amusing antics, these small animals make ideal family pets because they are quiet, take up little space, and are easy to care for with the right information at hand. Hamsters will cover everything you need to know to ensure a long and happy life for your new pet, including expert advice on housing, feeding, health care, and training tips that will keep both pet and keeper entertained.

Each book in the Animal Planet(tm) Pet Care Library contains original, lively text, complete with informative tips and colorful photos illustrating all aspects of pet care. Expertly written, these user-friendly guides are bound to delight the entire family.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Tfh Pubns Inc (September 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0793837685
• ISBN-13: 978-0793837687
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 6.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #98,645 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #10 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Animal Care & Pets > Rabbits
  • #11 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Animal Care & Pets > Mice, Hamsters & Guinea Pigs

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for new hamster owners., March 16, 2009

By 

Noname - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Hamsters (Animal Planet Pet Care Library) (Hardcover)

I used to own a dwarf hamster as an adult, but I didn`t raise him by any book. Now that I have children, I wanted to get some for them. At first, I was going to get the robo dwarf hamsters. They are so cute. Then, I read the book and watched the pet store clerk handle the dwarf hamsters. The book was right, those things were too quick for little children to handle. We went with the winter white hamsters, instead. Great choice. They are much tamer and slower than the robo dwarf. Thanks to the book, it helped us make our first important decision.

The book is well-written for first time hamster owners. It goes over all aspects of care, including choosing the proper breed, housing, bedding, feeding and general care. It answered all my new owner questions, like how many hamsters can I put in a cage? What kind of treats can I feed it? And very importantly, what do I do when the hamster gets loose? I found it to be thorough and complete. It is filled with colorful photos and a list of some useful resources, like hamster societies and internet sites.

I had my 7 year old read some parts of the book so that he would know what to expect. It is written at a level he can read and understand, yet it's not too simplistic for an adult.

I highly recommend this book for anyone buying a new hamster.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An ideal introductory guide, January 19, 2008

By 

Anyechka (Rensselaer, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hamsters (Animal Planet Pet Care Library) (Hardcover)

I only wish I'd had an invaluable concise guide like this 20 years ago when I had a short-lived pet hamster (whom I found out years later had actually been two hamsters; my parents secretly bought me a second after the first died, but the second died even quicker). Probably the first mistake most otherwise well-intentioned people make with a pet is not doing their homework before getting the animal. Buying any pet, particularly a small one with such unique needs and traits as a hamster, should not be something done on impulse. This brief but information-packed book covers all of the bases, hopefully improving the odds that any potential hamster-owner will know what they're doing and won't contribute to the animal's early death.

Topics covered include scientific information about the hamster in general and specific domesticated breeds in particular, diet (it was news to me that hamsters are omnivores and not herbivores!), children and hamsters, finding a lost hamster, breeding, housing, toys, training, when to see a vet, grooming, common types of illness and injury, and handling. There are also adorable pictures of the little guys on nearly every page; like many people, my only experience with the animal had been the Syrian hamster, and hadn't known they come in nearly so many different colors and markings. The back of the book provides a list of resources, such as various hamster societies, rescue groups, and emergency services. Though a serious downside to the pet is that they only live between a year and a half to three years, otherwise they're really described as an ideal low-maintenance pet. The biggest chore associated with their care is regularly cleaning the cage and bedding; they ordinarily don't even need to see a vet, get vaccinated, have their coats brushed or trimmed, have their nails clipped, or even get bathed. Their short lifespan could even be seen as a positive, since they're not as long-lived as other pets such as rabbits, dogs, cats, ferrets, or salamanders, whom children often get bored of and dump on their parents, or who end up being cared for by the parents when their owner goes away to college. Overall, this book paints a picture of a fascinating little rodent, whom I wasn't old or mature enough to fully understand or appreciate when I originally had one in my care.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best overall book about hamsters, June 5, 2010

By 

John W. Keith "Ryokan" (Dayville, CT. (USA)) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hamsters (Animal Planet Pet Care Library) (Hardcover)

This was the best book I had seen about Hamsters. What made this book so good was the many color pictures and kid friendly style. In my local pet store the book was priced much higher than what I ended up paying.