Fancy mouse or dwarf hamster? Which should I get?

They both make great pets. I started out with hamsters when I was around six or seven instead of a green anole lizard (best decision ever). I have had nine hamsters in total, three dwarfs, three Chinese and three Syrians. I've now had seventy-three mice.

I know when my mice die it kind of gets to me, not as bad a before knowing I gave them the best life possible. Mine have lived anywhere between four months and three years. It's all down to where you get them, genetics, age and so many other factors. They can be very hardy and others keel over at a sneeze. Just depends. As for going to the bathroom on you, they go more than a hamster especially if they're nervous mice. I can't count how many times they've crawled under my hair and peed on the back of my neck, but not all of them are like this. Most of mine can be held for awhile without relieving themselves. Mice smell nothing like guinea pigs! Male mice have a strong, potent odor due to territorial marking while females don't smell much at all when in a clean environment. I love and have much passion for mice, obviously since I breed and keep so many of them. If you have a lot in one cage, appropriately sized for all of them of course, they swarm up your arm, popcorn all around and try their best to sit in your hand. My mice even come out when they hear my voice. They are much less prone to biting when compared to hamsters, too. With some of my hamsters, I'd place my hand in the cage and they'd be already charging over. All that being said, quite a few mice tend to be super jumpy, skittish and difficult to handle.

Dwarf hamsters are also rewarding, interactive pets. I've only had Campbell's dwarf hamsters and remember them fondly. They definitely aren't faster than mice and can be let out for free roaming. To avoid an escape, setting up a play area in the bathtub or low table works better than the floor. Just watch out to make sure the hamster doesn't fall, they're much clumsier than mice. Many hamsters enjoy attention and are as curious as mice and can easily be handled, it's all up to the individual. They generally start waking up when it gets dark so you'd be able to spend time with them unless they're a really late sleeper. With a good five or six inches of bedding, hamsters don't smell at all. Dwarf hamsters keep their waste to a few areas of the cage where as mice try to but aren't very good at it. Most of my hamsters have had long lives and died from old age/natural causes. The tricky thing is, as you mentioned, some hamsters are highly anti social. If possible, try to interact with the hamsters you're looking to purchase to get a feel for their personality. Getting one at a younger age can help as well. Having progressive taming sessions can really help, like placing your hand in the cage, offering treats, handling them for extended time and so on. Ending up with an unfriendly hamster isn't the worst since a lot of them can come around and if not, they're still fun to watch just like skittish mice. I'd also probably just keep one dwarf in a cage at a time. My first three dwarfs were sisters and I kept them together before I knew any better. The runt died prematurely, likely due to bullying and stress and when the last one was alive, she seemed much happier by herself.

Syrian and Chinese hamsters are also really great. Two of my sweetest pets were a Chinese and Syrian hamster. The Chinese I had lived over four years with a tooth that grew out of her cheek (parents weren't willing to take her to the vet and I was really young or else I would have). Talk about resilient! Dwarf, Chinese and Syrian hamsters all require the same general care and all make wonderful companions. Mice and hamsters can end up wasting a lot of food due to hording but that's to be expected.

Whatever animal you choose for a pet out of the ones you listed, rest assured you are making a great choice! Mice and all hamsters make brilliant, lovely pets and I'm so thankful for everything they've opened up and brought into my life. Hope this can help.