OUR MISSION
Hamster Hollows is a local small-scale hamstery located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee that breeds Syrian Hamsters. We continue to care about our hamsters long after they leave us. As such, it’s our strict policy to only sell to individuals or locally owned and approved pet shops; we will never sell to corporate pet stores or brokers.
To make sure our hamsters get the forever home they deserve, we aim to educate all potential owners. If you are a potential adopter and interested in bringing home one of our babies simply fill out the adoption application below and send it to us either through Facebook, Instagram, email, or through this website itself. The best way to get in contact and keep up with Hamster Hollows is through our instagram as that is what is updated most frequently. DM’s are always open! Once you have completed the adoption application it will typically take us 24-48 hours to respond. PLEASE read through our website before submitting your application. We will deny applications with improper answers! Once approved you will be put on the waitlist and be apart of the Hamster Hollows family in which you will receive exclusive updates on the babies. Once it is your time to choose, a nonrefundable deposit of $15.00 is required via Venmo or Paypal to reserve your chosen pup. The remaining $30.00 will be due in cash upon your hamsters pick up date. If a hamster is intended as a pet for a child this is welcomed and even encouraged under the right circumstances. With proper parental supervision and the right care, hamsters can be an excellent way to educate youth. However, the adult/guardian adopting the hamster must take full responsibility for the welfare of the hamster. Children must NOT be expected to take care of the hamster or handle the hamster without assistance and constant supervision!
ADOPTION APPLICATION
In order to adopt a hamster you must fill out and answer the following:
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Name:
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Date:
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State:
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Are you 18 years or older? (If not, will a parent or legal guardian be present upon pick up?)
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What are the dimensions of the enclosure you intend to house your hammy in?
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What is the size of the wheel you intend to provide?
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What is the diet you intend to feed?
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Is your intention to breed?
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Do you promise to care for your hammy to the best of your abilities?
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Do you have an exotic vet in your area?
(Copy, Paste, & Send Form via Instagram)
WHEN CAN I TAKE MY BABY HOME?
Once the application has been approved you will be added to the waitlist. Our waitlist is on average 3-4 months. However, it is common for people to back out or choose to wait for the next litter, giving the possibility of receiving one sooner. Once the babies have reached 4-5 weeks old you will be contacted to choose your baby. You will be sent detailed images of each baby and will be given 24 hours to choose/respond. If you do not do so within the allotted timeframe we will be moving on down the list.
Once your baby has reached 6 weeks old they will be ready to meet their new family! We will set up a location to meet. Unfortunately due to past experiences we do not allow adopters into the hamstery (our home). This is for the protection of both our furry and human family!
HOW MUCH?
The babies are priced at $45.00 each. In order to reserve a baby you must place a non refundable deposit of $15.00 down via Venmo or PayPal. (This deposit is not required to be put on the waitlist. It is only required when reserving your chosen hamster) The remaining $30.00 is due upon your hamster pick up date. Unfortunately due to many adopters not coming through we have had to enforce this. If for some reason you change your mind on your chosen pup you can choose for us to hold your deposit for another hamster down the road. Otherwise the deposit is not refundable. There is no special pricing for “rare” colorations as every baby here at Hamster Hollows is considered valuable as they are produced with a priority of health and temperament only. Each pup comes with the following: One weeks worth of lab blocks, sunflower seed/oat/meal worm treat mix, printed pedigree/birth certificate upon request, and a care packet which includes a list of hamster safe veggies that we feed here at our Hamstery. DO NOT forget to bring a carrier to transport your baby in! Please bring your carrier empty. We will fill it with used bedding from your babies enclosure. This will help them transition from our home to yours and reduce the stress a new environment can cause. We ask that you place this used stuffing in his/her new enclosure. Apologies in advance if it is on the stinky side! If you do not have a carrier we can provide one for an additional cost of $20.
COMING HOME
Once you bring your new furry companion home you will be filled with excitement. We know you will want to hold and interact with your new baby but know you are only hurting them! The first three days should have absolutely no handling. Make sure they are in a part of the house that is calm, quiet, and has low traffic! Your hamsters cage should not be in front of a window or air register/duct. Keep in mind your baby went from living its whole life up to that point with his/her siblings. Once separated and placed alone into a new environment with new smells and people they become quite stressed! Give them time to adjust, explore, and take in their new home. (This is also very fun to just watch) After three days have passed you can start introducing yourself to your hammy slowly using treats. NEVER let your hamster interact or be near other animals. An incident can happen in a split second. No matter how much you trust an animal they still have instincts!
WARNING
When bringing a new baby home they are exposed to a multitude of stresses. Unfortunately some babies are more easily stressed than others and can develop wet tail. Wet tail is the over growth of intestinal bacteria caused by high amounts of stress. Pups under 12 weeks of age are much more susceptible than adults. It presents itself in the form of wet and loose stool. Not all diarrhea is wet tail. (Too many veggies can cause diarrhea which is why they should only be given in moderation) No matter, if your baby has a wet bottom/ loose stool seek veterinarian treatment immediately! It is not worth the risk to find out if it is wet tail or just diarrhea. Wet tail is fatal! Once symptoms occur death is typically 2-3 days after if not sooner! Only antibiotics prescribed from a vet can treat this bacterial infection. Oasis wet tail drops from Pet Smart help the symptoms but do not treat it! Wet tail also causes extreme dehydration so electrolytes and syringe feeding is a must. This is why we tell our adopters NOT to play with their babies for three days once brought home! Once you start handling your baby after three days do it slowly and gradually inside of their enclosure. You can eventually work up to having them out for long periods of time but this should be a process that takes weeks if not months. Hamsters are intelligent and sensitive animals and it can take time and patience to form a trusting relationship. Keep in mind these are prey animals that have only recently been domesticated.
BITE PROOF
Their is no such thing as bite proof! If you see a breeder claiming they sell “bite proof” hamsters they are unethical and truly do not understand the behaviors of a hamster. Hamsters can bite and you may own a hamster for the entirety of his/her life and never be bitten but it can happen. What determines wether or not you get bitten by one of our babies is how you handle them. Handle them low to the ground with palms flat. Do not squeeze or walk with your hammy in your hand. As long as you are respectful, keep your movements slow, and wash your hands before handling then you should be fine. Most times when a hamster bites it is either out of fear from being startled or your finger smells mighty tasty.
RETURN POLICY
If you have adopted one of our babies and find yourself in need of rehoming your Hammie we will always take him/her back! Our obligation to our hamsters care does not end when they leave the hamstery, but when they have lived a long and fulfilled life.
About Hamster Hollows
HOW IT STARTED?
I bought my first hamster Daisy when I was only 13 years old from Pet Smart. Of course we purchased the horrible critter trail enclosure that most pet stores recommend. After much research and binging hamster YouTube videos she was given a massive 75 gal fish tank with a mesh top lid for her home with all the things a hamster could have possibly wanted. Despite my best efforts of proper housing, diet, and enrichment, she died at only 1 years old due to being the product of unethical breeding that is so common among pet store hamsters.
This initiated my dive into the affects of certain health issues, poor genetics, and inbreeding which has played a vital role into what I know today. I have owned many hamsters since Daisy but one thing always seemed apparent and that was pet store hamsters were very poorly bred and cared for. They are produced by mills which have only one objective and that is quantity. These animals are merely a source of profit. I wanted to become a source where people may adopt a hamster with confidence that they come healthy and truly cared for!
Skip forward over a decade and I am now a vets assistant having went to Middle Tennessee State University with a major in Biology (Two years) After lots of thought, research, and deliberation my husband and I have finally decided to make the leap into creating our own Hamstery. We may be relatively new to the breeding aspect of the hamster community but are in no way new to the ownership and proper care of hamsters. This is a passion and a hobby and in no way considered a source of income. Every penny made through adoption fees is put right back into the Hamstery.
WHY ADOPT FROM US?
We provide our hamsters with a pedigree, meaning an accurate record of ancestry/decent. We breed only hamsters with the best temperaments in order to produce babies that thoroughly enjoy human interaction. They are handled from the day they open their eyes to the day they go home with you! Many hamsters from pet stores come improperly aged, sexed, and without the proper care they need. Our mission here is to educate and provide another adoption source that will give you a pet that is healthy and properly socialized.
DO WE SHIP OUR PUPS?
We make the transition from our loving home to yours as easy as possible and can accommodate long distance meet ups if needed with additional fuel costs. Unfortunately due to the high risks associated with shipping (weather conditions, too long of a trip, no access to water etc) we DO NOT ship our pups. All pups must either be picked up from an agreed upon location close to Hamster Hollows Hamstery. As stated above If you live far we are willing to transport over long distances if fuel and time costs are covered. We reserve the right to refuse this service if the trip is too long. Our hamster’s health is our top priority! Please contact us if you have any questions.
Ethics and Care Standards
Ethical Breeding
“An ethical breeder is someone who breeds hamsters for the right reasons, and does so with the necessary knowledge and support. Their hamsters are treated with kindness, dignity, and respect at all stages of life. They uphold their obligations to the animals they create throughout the entirety of their lives.”
OUR ETHICS
Here at Hamster Hollows we strive to keep up to date with the ever changing complexity of breeding hamsters as there is always more to learn. We are apart of a large group of hamster breeders across the United States, some even being international. Our purpose and goals as an ethical breeder is to prolong the lives of hamsters and improve the species with each generation born with longer lifespans and less hereditary health conditions such as hair loss, respiratory issues, short/stunted snouts, diabetes, spinal deformities, blindness etc. If we are not careful we will breed domesticated “pet” hamsters right into extinction with a long and horrible road of deformities and health conditions. In order to avoid possible genetic deformities/health conditions, we keep accurate and detailed records of every hamster born here at Hamster Hollows and only breed the healthiest hamsters with the best temperaments. We never breed females before the age of 4 months or after their one year birthday. Females are also never bred more than three times, our goal is for them to live the majority of their life either in retirement here with us or spoiled in their new adopted homes. These adult females require no adoption fee just a promise of lifetime care and love.
OUR STANDARDS
We follow the NHC care standard guidelines. We never breed with the intention of creating a “rare” or “unique” coloring as this is not our goal.
HOUSING
All hamsters here are housed in either Bucastate (746 sq inches) acrylic enclosures or DIY 200 quart (50 gal) sterilite tubs that have been modified with screwed on 1/4 inch steel cloth to improve ventilation. My expecting mommas are housed in a “Nursery” which is an even larger 55 gal EXO Terra reptile terrarium that has a mesh top for ventilation and swing open front doors for easier access. Each hamster is provided with a multitude of toys/chews, hides, a minimum of 6-8 inches of care fresh bedding, 12 inch exercise wheels, water bowl/bottle, and many hours outside of their enclosure which is considered valuable enrichment time with their human parents! They are given a multitude of different sprays and each hamster gets a minimum of six different substrates/textures! (Wood shavings, Kozy bedding, cocoa husk fiber, sand, cork granules, rocks/pebbles, moss, and logs!)
DIET/SUPPLEMENTS
Our hamsters are fed a preferred staple diet of Harlan Teklad 8640 mixed with Mazuri Rat & Mouse Diet which is purchased off of Amazon and supplemented daily with various foods such as carrots, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, broccoli, raw unsalted sunflower seeds, kale, spinach and the occasional strawberries. For protein they are fed scrambled eggs and shredded boiled chicken. This is especially important for expecting mommas who will be lactating! Hard and dry food items such as blocks, seeds, dried meal worms, and oats are never placed in bowls as hamsters enjoy the search for food! We scatter their blocks (pellets) and treats throughout the whole cage which serves as both a simulation of their wild behavior and enrichment! (So no food bowls unless for veggies to avoid soiling bedding) Much time and money goes into the care and over all well being of our hammies who we love and see as a part of our furry family!
OUR GUARANTEE
Hamster Hollows guarantee that your baby will come properly sexed, socialized, and healthy! We have never had a baby die upon being brought home but if death were to occur within the first three days we will offer a replacement! Proof of deceased pup would be required and maybe even desired in hand so that we may take it to our vet for a biopsy. We do reserve the right to refuse the replacement of a pup if we suspect foul play or improper handling/care was involved. We guarantee a healthy hamster however, we do not guarantee it will not develop some form of health issues at some point in its life. Hamsters over the age of a year are prone to a multitude of health issues. Hamsters can develop cataracts, kidney failure, cancerous tumors, liver complications, baldness, and even dental issues! This is why we stress the importance of a quality diet and enrichment. All these things are not necessarily due to genetics but simply aging. Just like humans, hamsters can develop all of these problems in their old age which is why we advise all adopters to have an exotic vet. If you have adopted a hamster from us in the past that is developing any sort of health issue we do ask that you inform us so that we may keep record of it. We always strive to breed the healthiest of hamsters and if one of our lines consists of any sort of hereditary health issues we will cease it/breed it out.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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How long is a hamsters life span? Anywhere from 18 months to 3 years.
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Can I keep two together? NO! Hamsters are solitary creatures and will fight to the death!
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What are these spots on my hamsters back? Scent glands. Located on their lower back/hips
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What color pee should they have? Milky yellow! Never orange or red/pink! This is a sign of blood in the urine (UTI). This is why we advise white bedding to monitor such things!
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Is yellow teeth normal? Yes! In fact white teeth could be the sign of something wrong and should seek vet attention!
Available Hamsters
Jack Sparrow
June Bug
Jiminy Cricket
Jazmine
Juniper
Judy Hopps
Jacques
Testimonials
“My baby’s first Christmas! I love her so much, thank you again for my baby! She is the sweetest!” ~ Sam
“They're so much better than getting one from a petstore all cranky and mean! 🥰They're spoiled rotten already Thank you so much for them!” ~ Rebekah
“He is slowly but surely warming up to me! His name is Julien🥰” ~Bonnee
“Thank you! I’m absolutely in love with him“ ~ Lorissa
“I’ve owned many hamsters in my life but never have I had one so sweet and who genuinely loves to be handled” ~ Debbie
“I was beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to get her from a local ethical breeder! She is a ball of cuteness!” ~ Kaitlin
“My daughters love her! Already looking into upgrading my tank to spoil her!” ~ Allie
“She’s definitely photogenic! She really is an explorer! Thank you so much for her.” ~ Leigh & Shannon
Contact Us
If you have any questions regarding our available hamsters, ethics, or care standards don’t hesitate to reach out to us! DM through Instagram or email us for quickest responses!
