But don’t let the name fool you – this tiny Syrian hamster is brimming with personality, charm, and a surprisingly big appetite for life.
In a home already bustling with a black Labrador, four birds, and three children, Nibbles has carved out her own little kingdom.
Her “mansion,” as Anusha Nair, Priyanka’s mother, calls it, is a carefully designed hamster paradise.
“You need a deep substrate for the hamster to dig around,” Anusha, a medical doctor, explained. “She’ll sleep most of the day, then play all night. And trust me, she does – she’s running on her wheel like a marathon runner.”
And that wheel? It’s no ordinary hamster wheel. “If you get a small one, the hamster has to bend too much, and it can actually deform their spine,” Anusha said. “So we got her a big one, and now she’s got the perfect setup.”
It’s clear that Nibbles isn’t just a pet – she’s a pampered little queen with top-tier accommodations.
But what makes Nibbles truly special is her temperament. Not all hamsters are friendly, but Nibbles? She’s an absolute sweetheart.
“Whenever kids come over, she’s the first thing they want to see,” Anusha said. “Even the two and three-year-olds try to play with her. And while their version of ‘playing’ might be a bit… intense, Nibbles just tolerates it. Her eyes might look like they’re about to pop out of her head, but she’s never bitten anyone.”
That patience and friendliness are what set her apart. Syrian hamsters are known for being solitary, preferring their own space, but Nibbles enjoys a little social time too.
Anusha attributes this to KL Hamsters Farm, a professional hamster breeder and store in KL that produces top-quality hamsters, and products for the little ones.
“They are pretty good because they make sure that their hamsters are well socialised before you buy them. And here, they’ve all been kept in a very nice area and nutritionally optimised. So you get a genuinely healthy animal,” she said.
She pointed out that hamsters make a good starter pet for young children like Priyanka as “it’s quite easy to look after a hamster. It teaches them to feed, clean, and care for the hamsters. Priyanka does everything from cleaning the water bowl to feeding Nibbles. It teaches her responsibility.”
Priyanka, who adores her furry friend, loves spoiling Nibbles with treats. “I give her mealworms, nuts, hay pellets, and sometimes fresh fruit,” she said. “She doesn’t eat a lot in front of me, but later, all the food disappears.”
“She’ll stuff all the food in her cheeks and then she’ll empty it all out in her burrow and eat when she feels like it. It’s quite amusing to watch her cheeks getting bigger and bigger. My daughter loves seeing how much food Nibbles can stuff in her mouth!” Anusha added.
For a hamster that fits in the palm of your hand, Nibbles has made a big impact on this family. She’s proof that even the smallest creatures can bring joy, laughter, and a little bit of mischief.
“She’s my very good friend,” Priyanka said, giving Nibbles a gentle pat. And in return, the little hamster gives a tiny, appreciative nibble – because of course, that’s just what she does.
This article was written by Dinesh Kumar Maganathan @ FMT Lifestyle. Read more pet stories here.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PET: FMT Lifestyle readers are invited to send in pictures (landscape format) and a short video (if any) of their furry, scaly or feathery friends to [email protected]. Don’t forget to include details like your pet’s name, age, breed and a short story about them.