For the longest time, my eldest child, Akira has been begging for a pet hamster. He asked for a hamster for his 6th birthday, one Christmas season and other occasions.
I really don’t know where his interest for these furry creatures came because hamsters are not common in the Philippines.
I tried looking for hamsters in our local pet store but they sell in bulk – many pups at once. I can’t handle that. Well, my lucky child finally got his pet in Kalibo, when we were in town for a travel writing assignment I did for Mabuhay magazine. My husband was looking for some drift wood for his fish tank and there were these two lonely hamsters in a small cage. Obviously, it was not a challenge for Aki to ask his father to buy the hamsters.
He was mesmerized with his new pets. We placed the cage at the back seat for the boys to watch them, saving me from unending questions on our way home. “Look mama! He is looking at me!”, ” They are sooo cuuutteeee!”…
We named them Mao ( as in Mao Tse Tung) and Alexandra ( Alexander the Great). 😉
Mao is the male – now the Daddy hamster
Alexandra – the Mommy hamster. I call her the “baby killer Momma hamster”. hehe
Hamsters are known for cannibalism. They eat their pups when they feel they are threatened. We did a terrible mistake. When Alexandra first gave birth ( 8 pups), we transferred them from the bird cage to the glass tank. And then my husband built some toys for them out of PVC pipes, we saw that only two pups where left! And finally, all gone! I hatred Alexandra for a while. haha!
They multiply so quickly so I think that cannibalism is part of their natural population control. For her second batch, she only got 3 babies. We didn’t clean the tank until the pups are big enough and I can already smell their smell. And viola! Alexandra gave birth again!
Did some research and I asked my helper to use a spoon when putting back the pups back to the tank to avoid her smell transferring to the babies. Please Alexandra, let them live till adulthood…
The little hamsters waiting to be transferred back to their tank. I will be giving them to Liam ( my second child)’s teacher.
Little hamsters have red eyes. She is not on drugs ok? haha!
Aki adores his hamsters especially Mao. He is a hamster whisperer especially to Alexandra who bites when you hold her.
One of their “games”. Mao getting into his sleeves or pants. 🙂
Pets are very important for kids, it teaches them how to be responsible. It is Aki’s task to feed them and give them water. And of course, kids have to wash their hands after feeding or playing with them.
My problem with pets is that we lack space and I don’t want to take care of another creature. Maybe when they go to college or high school, I can get myself a Persian cat.
These hamsters are just perfect. They are small and they require less attention from their master. They are also asthmatic-friendly. Akira and I are asthmatic but we love furry animals. Who doesn’t?
How about you? What’s you pet?
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