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CostHelper > Pets & Pet Care  > Hamster

Hamster Cost


How Much Does a Hamster Cost?

 
 average costMedium: $10-$35 

Hamsters are a nocturnal member of the rodent family. There are a variety of hamster breeds that are distinguished by color, markings, size and personality.

Typical costs:

  • Adult Syrian hamsters are about 6-inches long and have been bred for a variety of colors and run $5-$20 each. They are territorial and should be kept one to a cage. They live 2 to 3years.
  • Full-grown Dwarf hamsters reach only 2-3 inches long and cost $4-$13. They are often sold in pairs for around $20. They live around 1 and a half years.
  • Robvorski Hamsters are small even for dwarfs at 1-2 inches and cost $13-$30. They have an easygoing temperament, but are very fast and difficult to catch.
Related articles: Guinea Pig, Ferret, Chinchilla

Additional costs:
  • Hamsters thrive best in open-air cages which run from $30-$50.
  • Pine or cedar litter can cause respiratory problems, so hamster owners use either Aspen shavings that run about $3.50 per bag, or Carefresh -- a recycled newspaper product priced around $5, to line the cage bottom. Hamsters will pick a specific corner of the cage to use for droppings, which should be spot cleaned daily. The entire bedding material should be changed out once a week for a monthly cost of $14-$20. The Humane Society website gives tips on hamster care.
  • Basic hamster food mix runs $5-$6 per 2-pound bag, which should last about a month. Water bottles cost around $2.
  • Carriers for outings run $10-$16.
  • Hamsters exercise at night and may run several miles on rotating wheels that cost $4 to $20.
Discounts:
  • Hamsters love to shred and hide in cardboard tubes from toilet paper or paper towel rolls.
  • Toilet paper (plain white) makes a soft nesting material.
Shopping for a hamster:
  • Use Petfinder.com[1] to locate hamsters available for adoption. Enter your zip code and under animal check "small and furry."
  • To prevent unwanted litters, each Petsmart[2] carries either female or male hamsters. Call ahead to find out which breeds they carry.
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments
Hamster
Amount: $0.00
Posted by: Jayden in PalmBeach, FL.Posted: October 7th, 2019 04:10AM
Type: SyrianStore:
Iโ€™m planning on getting a Syrian Iโ€™m not sure how much I should save up me and my parents are splitting the cost.Any tips on how I should convince them to let me get a hamster.My mom is on the โ€œIdkโ€ side but how do I do more convincing but not too much.
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Hamster
Amount: $15.00
Posted by: Jennifer Davies in Monaca, PA.Posted: September 14th, 2019 03:09PM
Type: Russian DwarfStore: Petsmart
I bought a new cute lil white russian dwwarf today and he's so cute. I wish these little fellows lived longer. This is my 3rd russian dwarf hamster in about 4 yrs. I name my lil friends after influential ppl I like. My 1st was Cobain (after Kurt Cobain) 2nd who died a few mnths ago was Grohl after (Dave Grohl) from Nirvana and my little cutie I got today, his name is Rio which is spanish for River and I named him after River Phoenix. I'll be 40 in February and I've had hamsters since age 5. They make great pets and are very easy and low maintenance. I love my new lil furry friend.
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Paid $91 out the door at Petco
Amount: $91.00
Posted by: son bought a pet hamster in San Jose, CA.Posted: March 25th, 2019 03:03PM
Type: dwarf hamsterStore: Petco
My son had been eyeing getting a pet hamster for some time. He read up about it on the Internet, then one day at Petco he decided to buy one. He adopted a baby dwarf hamster at the store, and came home with the supplies: a 20 gallon aquarium, a running pad, a hamster ball, a water bottle, and some initial pet bedding and food. It was a $20 adoption fee and $71 for the initial supplies with tax. It sounds like some people save money buying supplies online, we may check that out for future supplies.
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Hamster
Amount: $200.00
Posted by: @shadowprince007 (instagram) in Houston, TX.Posted: January 3rd, 2018 10:01PM
Type: Russian dwarf campbellStore: Breeder in the locality
He gave me really good looking and active hamsters.The cost written on top includes Hamster Cage and other accessories. The hamsters costed me around $30 a pair.
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Bunny's!!!!๐Ÿฐ
Amount: $25.00
Posted by: Jordan alstrup in Coonrapids, MN.Posted: August 23rd, 2017 11:08AM
Type: Lop earedStore: Christmas tree farm
I love my bunny, he is so soft and his name is cotton and he has never bitten me he is so funny and lays on his back,and acts like a cat sometimes!
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Hamster
Amount: $150.00
Posted by: Amalia in Kalispell, MT.Posted: July 19th, 2017 05:07PM
Type: Winter WhiteStore: PetSmart
They had really good prices I bought a lot of extras so it was more pricey.
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Hamster purchase
Amount: $10.00
Posted by: Gracie dunnavant in Fort worth, TX.Posted: April 29th, 2017 01:04PM
Type: Teddy bearStore: Petsmart
Awesome
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hamsters are cute!!!!
Amount: $50.99
Posted by: panda in none of your buisness, MA.Posted: January 30th, 2017 03:01PM
Type: teddy bearStore: petco
soooo cute if you don't have a hammy I recomend getting one! they are also easy to handle.
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love them!
Amount: $100.00
Posted by: ๐Ÿ˜Š๐Ÿ˜‰๐Ÿ˜† in phoenix, AZ.Posted: August 7th, 2016 06:08PM
Type: dwarfStore: petsmart
๐Ÿ˜œ
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i have 3 hamsters
Amount: $10.00
Posted by: Deseray Edwards in Pasco, FL.Posted: June 21st, 2016 08:06PM
Type: teddy bear and RobvorskiStore: A friend
I just got my hamsters maybe a little over a month ago and Sadie already had a litter of pups.. 7 tiny itty bitty hamsters!!! There a mixed breed!!
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initial cost and first week of owning a male Syrian
Amount: $70.00
Posted by: a user in New York, NY.Posted: August 26th, 2015 02:08PM
Type: SyrianStore: Petland Discounts
My hamster cost $10 and I bought it from a local pet shop when it was around 6 or 7 months (according to the shop, anyway). I ordered the All Living Things Starter Kit online from Petsmart, at a great price of $37 for the cage, food dish, water bottle, chew toy, wheel, and initial food and bedding. I bought a larger wheel and exercise ball, as well as a couple of mineral chews. The hidey home of my previous Winter White was a bit small for the Syrian, so I decided to make one out of an empty Kleenex box.
When he arrived home and was let into his cage, he started to roam around and explore. He was absolutely adorable, especially when he was chewing up toilet paper and stuffing his cheeks. I left him alone for about 3 days to let him get used to his surroundings. He wasn't particularly skittish or violent, so the taming process was easy. I am planning to buy a larger cage, since his current one does not meet the recommended 360 square inch floor space.
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my pet hamster.
Amount: $25.00
Posted by: talia in Lynchburg, VA.Posted: August 18th, 2015 03:08PM
Type: brown bear hamsterStore: a friend
my pet hamster is the sweetest thing on earth. When I got him he was jumpy but when he got used to everyone in the house, he became more calm. We feed him 2 T. of fruits and veggies daily.
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Hamsters
Amount: $35.00
Posted by: Zarg in Lawence, KS.Posted: May 18th, 2015 08:05AM
Type: DwarfStore: Pet world
Hi
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Hamster<3
Amount: $11.99
Posted by: Elee in falls church, VA.Posted: November 9th, 2014 08:11AM
Type: Teddy BearStore: Petsmart
They are a lovable pet and easy to take care of!
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Great Friends!!!!
Amount: $75.00
Posted by: Shontae Wrightt in Granite Falls, WA.Posted: September 17th, 2013 09:09PM
Type: Dwarf HamsterStore: Pet Smart
I paid just over 75 at Pet Smart on cage, tubing, balls, bedding, treats, food and forts. I actually adopted the hamster because our Pet Smart only carries females and he was a male. Please ask your local pet shops if They have any furry friends for adoption.
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Hamster
Amount: $40.00
Posted by: Mslove239 in Naples, FL.Posted: July 20th, 2013 09:07PM
Type: LovingStore: Pet store
I love hamsters i all ways wanted one
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Hamster
Amount: $16.99
Posted by: fabgurllove in Northampton, MA.Posted: May 29th, 2012 03:05AM
Type: dwarfStore: Dave's soda and pet city
My hamster is the sweetest thing imaginable the people at the store were sooo friendly and helpful
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The costs are Cheap for a loving animal...
Amount: $15.99
Posted by: a user in Nashua, NH.Posted: November 2nd, 2010 03:11PM
Type: Chinese DwarfStore:
I got my male Chinese Dwarf hamster from petsmart on 10/22/10. He is sweet and loving. He has not bitten me once in his whole life. (Which he is 1 month old.)
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hamsters
Amount: $10.00
Posted by: Lindsey Swan in Harrisburg, PA.Posted: July 16th, 2010 04:07PM
Type: Teddy BearStore: Pet Smart
These hamsters have a very easy temperament. I have had several of these hamsters and just love them. If not litter box trained they tend to choose one spot in the cage to go to the bathroom. Love to play and rarely bite. Very low maintenance and great for kids!
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Hamsters
Amount: $10.00
Posted by: kimderly12345 in DC, WA.Posted: March 17th, 2010 11:03AM
Type: Teddy BearStore: Petco
i named mine carly and she lived for about 3 years she never once would bite.all u really do is when u first get it just pet it and then feed it give it water clean its cage and nurish it and youll have a gerat well trained hamster.and with my second hamster freddy i diddnt know he was sick when i got hin and so he was alive for two weeks.:-(
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How Much I Spent On Robvorski Hamster
Amount: $50.00
Posted by: a user in Los Angeles, CA.Posted: June 7th, 2009 12:06PM
Type: Robvorski HamsterStore: Petco
The hamster itself cost around $15 and then the cage, food, and other things cost around $35-$55.
Robvorski hamsters are really quick and literally impossible to hold. =)
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cool
Amount: $12.00
Posted by: Amber baily in Montrose, MI.Posted: April 21st, 2009 12:04PM
Type: goldenStore: petco
veary eazy to tack care of. he will run if you scare him.
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External Resources:
  1.  www.petfinder.com/
  2.  stores.petsmart.com/
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