>>>>Hamsters have bright expressions but I can't imagine them being too happy. They are most famous for running endlessly on wheels, they live for two years on average, and they have a tendency to eat their young. (Sadly, I have witnessed that last one personally -- my daughters' hamster, Energy, found one morning chowing down on her inch long babies). Squirrels and chimpanzees are the only other animals I can think of who have so much more good PR than they deserve.
>>>>
>>>>Mike
>
>Interesting because my 9-year-old daughter has been bugging me for a hamster for some time now. Now I know to buy a pregnant one so we don't have to feed it! :-)

Take a guinea pig instead. Much more cute, and they don't try to dig into your walls. We've had them for years now, and the only problem we had was to hunt sufficient number of friends who would take the piglets :).