I work at a very well known petstore. Today we found, in the trash, ready to be put in the dumpster, a tied bag with a taped up box full of hamsters. Looked like a mother and littermates, all dead except two babys about 21 days old from what we could tell.
the dead ones were very decomposted and it appeared that the two survivors were feeding on the dead ones to stay alive. it was so gross! the two survivors appear to be healthy but dehydrated. i offered to adopt them but they have to be quarentined for 72 hrs before the store will allow me to take them home. we figured that a customer abandoned them in our trash hoping they would escape and be caught and adopted out. as with what happens to alot of little unwanted animals at our store, sadly.
i just started working there three weeks ago and would feel stupid asking questions about hamsters. i dont have alot of experience w/ them and our store dosnt deal with baby’s, as they are not allowed to breed. any websites or advise?

even though the circumstances are dramatic, the two siblings will be able to live together, for the rest of their lives;
two (syrian) hamsters can be kept together under two conditions
- that they ALWAYS are kept together and keep having the same smell; they get aggressive towards another hamster when they smell the different smell; if they are still together right now (during the quarantine) you’ll be able to keep them in the same cage, which, for syrians, will however to be LARGE.
- that they have the same sex (!)

the shop owner / mgr. should be able to check later;
if they didn’t leave then together (most unlikely, anyway at this age) it maybe because they are a couple (thus male & female)

if you are willing to spend a little more money for a larger cage and they have the same sex (especially two males), you’ll end up having the cutest and happiest pets you may hope for.
instead of a house (which would be too small for two hammies to sleep together, give them a large "cavernous" housing so they always can sleep together.

with 21 days, they can feed on commercial hamster food (or small pieces of meat or vegetables and fruits)

if you started working there only three weeks ago, there is no shame in asking a couple questions about hamsters; if you never had hamsters before, it’s unlikely you’d even know what they look like, exactly; if you volunteer to take care of those two (unless the shop wants to sell them), the shop mgr. / owner might be glad that you show interest in hamsters and should be willing to help you get on speed.

best of luck!

I am getting hamster over the weekend and I need to know everything about them, such as what they need in their cage, what they eat and how long they live for, things like that.

Hamsters are lively and clean and most are happy to live alone, although some species will live as pairs. They can take time to become tame and need to have peace and quiet during the day because they are nocturnal.To live alone (some dwarf species will live as pairs).
Daily feeding on a mixed diet of seeds, grains, nuts and washed fruit and vegetables.
A constant supply of fresh, clean drinking water in a drip-feed bottle with a metal spout.
A large home that is kept in a warm place indoors, out of direct sunlight.
A nest box inside their home. The hamster needs somewhere it can burrow out of sight to sleep and hoard food.
A clean layer of sawdust on the floor of their home with soft hay and clean white kitchen paper for bedding. Do not use newspaper or cotton wool.
Plenty of exercise. A solid exercise wheel (no open rungs) should be fixed to the wall of the hamster’s home.
Toys, like cardboard tubes and wooden cotton reels.
Their home to be tidied every day and thoroughly cleaned every week.
A hardwood gnawing block to wear down long teeth.
To be brushed every day, especially if they have long hair.
Quiet during the day.
To be taken to a vet if they are ill or injured.
To be looked after when you are away on holiday.Pick up a hamster very gently using both hands as a scoop and stay close over a flat surface. hamsters move very quickly and are likely to jump if they are frightened. The RSPCA strongly advises that you do not breed from your hamster as it is very difficult to find good homes for the young. The best way to ensure that hamsters do not breed is simply to keep the sexes apart. If your hamster develops skin sores, bathe them with warm water containing a mild antiseptic. If they persist, seek veterinary advice. Loss of fur and sore skin could also indicate parasites or the fungal disease ringworm.

Sore eyes can be caused by dusty bedding, old age or breathing problems. Ask your vet for advice.

Hamsters may suffer from overgrown teeth and claws. Both can be trimmed by a vet.

The lining of a hamster’s cheek pouches is very delicate and can be damaged by wood splinters or sharp food. If any material becomes lodged in the pouches, seek veterinary advice straight away.

If a hamster is sneezing, breathing slowly and has a sore nose, it may have an infection that could develop into pneumonia. Keep the hamster warm and improve its diet, but seek veterinary advice if symptoms continue. Wet tail is a potentially fatal disease that is highly infectious. If a hamster is tired, loses its appetite and has watery diarrhoea, seek veterinary advice straight away.

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR NEW HAMSTER