Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters On The Web - 2nd November 2009

Here are some of the recent Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters related picks from around the web over the last week or so:

Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters On YouTube

There are loads of reviews and Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster related videos on YouTube, with more being added every day. Here are some of the best recent clips:

This video shows a bunch of kids (well 8 to 10 kids actually) racing their Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters. They line them up, let them go and those little pet hamster toys are off and racing. Who's going to win?

This is a really good view of the hamster environment, they seem to have most of the accessories. You get to see the hamsters jumping around, you seem them driving their car, navigating the tunnels, etc.

Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters On Twitter

Here are some of the best recent Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster related tweets, along with my comments in italics:

• by ZhuZhuHunters: Where have YOU been having luck finding Zhu Zhu Pets at retail? Do you have any tricks/hints to share?
  Comment: If you're having trouble finding them in a retail store, I'd recommend buying Zhu Zhu Pets online. Even then there are no guarantees that you'll be able to find them at retail prices, but it's the place to start looking. Much easier than driving around stores only to find that they are out of pet hamster toys.
• by kittykat6182: is on cloud 9 we found zhu-zhu pets. they are a VERY hot item this holiday season
  Comment: Hey great stuff! It just goes to show that you can find Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters out there if you persevere.
• by memoriesbymicha: Honestly can't figure out why O wants Zhu Zhu pets for Christmas! Looks boring to me! But at least I found the house and garage ;)
  Comment: I'm not sure I understand WHY, but I definitely understand that kids DO love the Zhu Zhu Pets range for some reason.
• by ZhuZhuHunters: Where have YOU been having luck finding Zhu Zhu Pets at retail? Do you have any tricks/hints to share?
  Comment: Buy the Zhu Zhu Pets (and associated accessories) online.
• by sbennettwealer: It's not my imagination! Zhu Zhu Pets are basically impossible to find. We've had some on back order from Target since Sept!
  Comment: You really have to hand it to Cephia, they've really whipped up a storm with these toy hamsters. But stick with it, I'm sure you'll find some soon!
• by teknofetish: none in walmart, none in toysrus.. we need zhu zhu pets! :(
  Comment: If you're wondering where to buy zhu zhu pets hamsters, then try buying them online.
• by therealTKNOCK: Brendan wants those damn Zhu Zhue Pets....Are they for boys???
  Comment: Zhu Zhu Pets are for both boys and girls. There are lots of little girls out there who are very happily playing with their hamster toys even as I write this.
• by beth__: My kid wants Zhu Zhu pets for Xmas, but hello - they are not cheap!! Real hamsters would cost less, but they smell.
  Comment: Well you're missing a major point regarding the cost. Real hamsters cost you money week after week. You have to feed them, take them to the vet if they get sick etc. I know they don't cost as much as most pets, but they are an ongoing, recurring cost. Electronic toy hamsters only cost once, then they're free (well apart from the occasional battery).
• by heatherjahayhay: @Claritybleeds Matty b are you camped out at target waiting for a shipment of zhu zhu pets?
  Comment: Don't camp out. Wait at home and buy Zhu Zhu Pets online!
• by happycube: would like Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Mr. Squiggles
  Comment: Get across to our page showing the full Zhu Zhu Pets product range. There you'll find links allowing you to buy Mr Squiggles online.
• by Caitsmomma: I HATE every person who buys all the Zhu Zhu pets and sells them for 3 or 4x the price. So many kids will be disappointed this Xmas. JERKS!!
  Comment: Yes, I agree that this is wrong. They are driving up the price beyond the means of many people. Still I'm hopeful that more units will be released in the near future and that it will ease the price.
• by myfunkycamera: Ohmygosh!! people sleep outside of ToysRus to get zhu zhu pets!!!
  Comment: And that says everything about how popular Zhu Zhu Pets will be this Christmas. Of course, I would have slept at home and bought them online!
• by MomTalkRadio: Very excited to be the marketing team behind several hot sellers right now- Zhu Zhu Pets and Temple Touch Themometers.
  Comment: Well your marketing team has done an exceptional job to keep the popularity of the Zhu Zhu Pets so high and have everyone desparately trying to buy them.
• by meghuff99: I'm on the hunt for Zhu Zhu Pets! If anyone can help a sista out and let me know if u see any of the items at any stores! Thanks!
  Comment: I'll say again - why not buy the Zhu Zhu Pets online?
• by SarahSumpolec: May be banned from target for a while, but I have Zhu Zhu pets (can't find the pink one!) Funny how important these things are to a mom.
  Comment: LOL, "might be banned from target for a while". Classic! I hope you didn't have to hurt anyone to get your Zhu Zhu Pets - there's a level of desperation that you should never go beyond. Of course you could have bought them online.

Final Thoughts

That's it for this post - I'll be adding more Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster updates from around the web every few days.

More Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters To Come

More Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters To Come

As the Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters currently available (well when they're not sold out), Chunk, Pipsqueak, Mr Squiggles and Num Nums are becoming very well known. However, there are other little toy hamsters out there waiting for their moment in the spotlight.

The first of these is Patches, the least known member of the Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster clan. Patches is already available, but only as part of the Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster House Starter Set or the Funhouse Set with Hamster. You can't get him via an individual hamster pack or any of the other combo pack. If you really want him, you're going to have to buy one of these sets.

Also, the official Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster blog has said that there are more Hamsters coming:

There are some amazing new characters coming out in the future for everyone to enjoy! You may have seen them on the back of some packaging that is in stores now. There is a great new girl named Jilly, who is sporting some pink and white. There is also a dark brown hamster named Scoodles, a black and white buddy, who goes by the name Winkie, and last but not least, Nugget!

The same post also give a little more information about the new pet hamsters, when talking about their birthmarks (the patterns on their backs):

Jilly has cherries (she is sweet and happy!), Winkie has a footprint (he is a world traveler!), Scoodles has a nut (he loves nuts and being nutty!!), and Nugget has a butterfly (she is a daydreamer and loves chasing butterflies!)

I think I'm going to be a Winkie fan!

Anyway, there are definitely going to be more pet hamsters coming. Counting the current four, plus Patches, plus four new hamsters, that means there will be a total of 9 hamster toys. I wouldn't be surprised if Cephia LLC (the company who make the Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters) were keeping a few more their sleeves as well!

Also, I'd extremely surprised if there weren't some new accessories to come as well. If Cephia have been clever enough to keep some new hamsters up their sleeves, to be released a little closer to Christmas, you can be sure that there will be some super accessories coming as well.

Of course, the logical extension of that is that there'll be some new packs coming out as a result of these new pet hamsters and any new accessories that do materialise. Just what combinations they come up with for their packs is anyone's guess.

Cephia do seem to be very clever marketers, so I'm thinking that there will be some great, must have Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters packs coming out in time for Christmas. Whether the new products actually stay in stock is anyone's guess. I'd recommend try to buy the Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters online.

Full Range Of Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Products

Here is a list of all the Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster products available through Amazon.com. Click the links to visit Amazon and buy these products today!

Note: The product descriptions here are often taken from Amazon and are a little bit basic. I will be updating these descriptions to include more detail in future.

Individual Pet Hamsters

Chunk

Color: White

Official Description: Whoa, dude! This laid-back surf hamster is famous for chillin' out, hanging back, and layin' low. But when he gets a whiff of some slammin' surf, he's off and running! Don't spare the hugs for this rad rodent. He lives to feel the love.

Pipsqueek

Color: Yellow

Official Description: She may be sweet and small, but this petite powerhouse isn't afraid of anything. A daredevil with the curiosity of a dozen cats, Pipsqueak loves to play, explore, run, and slide. Just give her some wiggle room and watch her do her stuff.

Mr Squiggles

Color: Light Brown

Official Description: Mr. Squiggles is the fussy and finicky hamster who's been there, done that, and lived to tell about it. Get out of his way! He's a hamster on a mission: Explore Galore, then explore some more! Love him, watch him go, just don't call him cute.

Num Nums

Color: Grey

Official Description: If there's something yummy in the area, this cutie will track it down! Num Nums' a super fuzzy friend you can depend on for laughs and love. Her highly trained sniffer can detect a carrot from a mile away, so stand back and watch her scoot to find some munchies!

Special Packs

Zhu Zhu Pets - Funhouse Set with Hamster

Description: The Funhouse Set with Hamster includes two rooms, a kitchen and a bedroom / bathroom, connected via a tunnel AND a pet hamster called Patches, who can only be bought as part of this set or the Starter Set (he is not available separately). Patches loves playing in the funhouse.

There are openings for connecting additional ZhuZhu Pets playsets and accessories (this is only the start of what you can do, use this with other sets to build a full on pet hamster habitat).

Zhu Zhu Pets - Three Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters

Description: Get three of the Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters: Mr. Squiggles (the light brown hamster who's been there, done that) AND Num Nums (the grey hamster who loves food and can detect a carrot from a mile away) AND Chunk (the white, laid-back surf hamster, famous for chillin' out, hanging back, and layin' low). It's good value as you get three pet hamsters at less than the cost of two individual ones. Very useful if you have more than one child or if you are building a large pet hamster habitat.

Hamster 2 Pack - Mr. Squiggles & Chunk

Description: Get BOTH Mr. Squiggles (the light brown hamster who's been there, done that) AND Chunk (the white, laid-back surf hamster, famous for chillin' out, hanging back, and layin' low). It's good value as you get two pet hamsters at less than the cost of two individual ones. Very useful if you have more than one child or if you are building a large pet hamster habitat.

Hamster 2 Pack - Num Nums & Pipsqueak

Description: Get BOTH Num Nums (the grey hamster who loves food and can detect a carrot from a mile away) AND Pipsqueak (the daredevil yellow hamster who isn't afraid of anything). It's good value as you get two pet hamsters at less than the cost of two individual ones. Very useful if you have more than one child or if you are building a large pet hamster habitat.

Other Accessories

Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Funhouse

Description: Colorful hamster funhouse with two rooms: a kitchen and a bedroom / bathroom. The rooms are connected via a tunnel. There are openings for connecting additional ZhuZhu Pets playsets and accessories (this is only the start of what you can do, use this with other sets to build a full on pet hamster habitat). The Funhouse connector track section features bumps that allow the pets hamsters to use their artificial intelligence to make unique sounds or funny movements. Doesn't include the pet hamster.

Zhu Zhu Pets Add On Hamster Wheel

Description: An exercise wheel for the pet hamsters to have a workout! Just like a real hamster wheel. They love to jump on the exercise wheel and start running. Includes the Exercise wheel and base and three tunnel sections (ie which connect together to form one long tunnel).

Can be connected to the ZhuZhu Pets Funhouse (sold separately) and many other fun accessories to build a full on pet hamster habitat. Doesn't include the pet hamster.

Zhu Zhu Pets Add On Garage & Car

Description: Includes Garage, sedan car and one tunnel track section. The Garage Door magically opens when the ZhuZhu Pets hamster comes down the track. The pet hamster then hops in the car and drives off down the road! They can drive through the habitat tunnels or they drive around on the floor.

Can be connected to the ZhuZhu Pets Funhouse (sold separately) and many other fun accessories to build a full on pet hamster habitat. Doesn't include the pet hamster.

Zhu Zhu Pets Add On Ramp and Slide

Description: Includes a spiral slide and three tunnel sections. The pet hamsters run up the spiral ramp and then go round and round down the giant, twisty turny corkscrew slide.

Can be connected to the ZhuZhu Pets Funhouse (sold separately) and many other fun accessories to build a full on pet hamster habitat. Doesn't include the pet hamster.

Zhu Zhu Pets Adventure Ball

Description: Includes 1 Adventure Ball and 1 Rattlin' Clatterin' mini ball. Place the GoGo hamster in the adventure ball for non-stop rock and roll action! Like a mouse wheel, only inside a clear ball - watch them roll around the floor. Doesn't include the pet hamster.

Zhu Zhu Pets Add On Skateboard & U-Turn

Description: Zhu Zhu pets thrash and grind around the hamster skate park U-turn, then scurry across the floor on the Zhu Zhu skateboard all by themselves!

Can be connected to the ZhuZhu Pets Funhouse (sold separately) and many other fun accessories to build a full on pet hamster habitat. Doesn't include the pet hamster.

Zhu Zhu Pets Add On Surfboard and Sleep Dome

Description: Includes a pet hamster surfboard and a sleep dome. Gives your pet hamster an extra place to sleep and a surfboard to 'shoot the curls'. Watch your hamster shoot around your floor.

Can be connected to the ZhuZhu Pets Funhouse (sold separately) and many other fun accessories to build a full on pet hamster habitat. Doesn't include the pet hamster.

Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster House Starter Set

Description: The Starter Set includes a room, a tunnel section that combined with the room makes a figure 8, a wobble ball AND a pet hamster called Patches, who can only be bought as part of this starter set or the Funhouse Set with Hamster (he is not available separately). Patches love pushing his wobble ball around and scooting around his figure 8 track.

Can be connected to the ZhuZhu Pets Funhouse (sold separately) and many other fun accessories to build a full on pet hamster habitat.

Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Carrier and Blanket - Purple

Color: Purple

Description: Just what the name says: a) a carrier so you can take your pet hamster with you when you're on the move and b) a cozy blanket to keep your hamster warm; both of which are purple. Doesn't include the pet hamster.

Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Carrier and Blanket - Blue

Color: Blue

Description: Just what the name says: a) a carrier so you can take your pet hamster with you when you're on the move and b) a cozy blanket to keep your hamster warm; both of which are blue. Doesn't include the pet hamster.

Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Carrier and Blanket - Green

Color: Green

Description: Just what the name says: a) a carrier so you can take your pet hamster with you when you're on the move and b) a cozy blanket to keep your hamster warm; both of which are green. Doesn't include the pet hamster.

Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Carrier and Blanket - Orange

Color: Orange

Description: Just what the name says: a) a carrier so you can take your pet hamster with you when you're on the move and b) a cozy blanket to keep your hamster warm; both of which are orange. Doesn't include the pet hamster.

Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Carrier and Blanket - Pink

Color: Pink

Description: Just what the name says: a) a carrier so you can take your pet hamster with you when you're on the move and b) a cozy blanket to keep your hamster warm; both of which are pink. Doesn't include the pet hamster. Originally labelled as Go Go Pets rather than Zhu Zhu Pets (the new name).

Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Blanket and Bed - Pink

Color: Pink

Description: Just what the name says: a) a bed for your pet hamster to sleep in - put them to bed before you go to bed - and b) a cozy blanket to keep your hamster warm; both of which are pink. Doesn't include the pet hamster.

Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Blanket and Bed - Green

Color: Green

Description: Just what the name says: a) a bed for your pet hamster to sleep in - put them to bed before you go to bed - and b) a cozy blanket to keep your hamster warm; both of which are green. Doesn't include the pet hamster.

Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Blanket and Bed - Orange

Color: Orange

Description: Just what the name says: a) a bed for your pet hamster to sleep in - put them to bed before you go to bed - and b) a cozy blanket to keep your hamster warm; both of which are orange. Doesn't include the pet hamster.

Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Blanket and Bed - Purple

Color: Purple

Description: Just what the name says: a) a bed for your pet hamster to sleep in - put them to bed before you go to bed - and b) a cozy blanket to keep your hamster warm; both of which are purple. Doesn't include the pet hamster.

Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Blanket and Bed - Blue

Color: Blue

Description: Just what the name says: a) a bed for your pet hamster to sleep in - put them to bed before you go to bed - and b) a cozy blanket to keep your hamster warm; both of which are blue. Doesn't include the pet hamster.

Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Carrier, Bed, & Two Blankets (Pink & Purple)

Colors: Pink and Purple

Description: Includes a bed for your pet hamster to sleep in, a carrier so you can take your pet hamster with you when you're on the move and two cozy blankets to keep your hamster warm. Doesn't include the pet hamster.

Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Carrier, Bed, & Two Blankets (Pink & Blue)

Colors: Pink and Blue

Description: Includes a bed for your pet hamster to sleep in, a carrier so you can take your pet hamster with you when you're on the move and two cozy blankets to keep your hamster warm. Doesn't include the pet hamster.

Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Carrier, Bed, & Two Blankets (Orange & Green)

Colors: Orange and Green

Description: Includes a bed for your pet hamster to sleep in, a carrier so you can take your pet hamster with you when you're on the move and two cozy blankets to keep your hamster warm. Doesn't include the pet hamster.

Older Products

These products are not necessarily from the Zhu Zhu Pets range - they are either from the Go Go Pets range, which was relaunched as Zhu Zhu Pets on 1 September 2009, or closely related products.

Hamster Wheel Runner - Toy Hamster Runs in the Wheel

Description: An exercise wheel for the pet hamsters to have a workout! Just like a real hamster wheel. They love to jump on the exercise wheel and start running. Includes the Exercise wheel and base and three tunnel sections (ie which connect together to form one long tunnel).

This DOES include pet hamsters, but it is NOT part of the Zhu Zhu Pets collection. It cannot be connected to the ZhuZhu Pets Funhouse, the pet hamster is not the same as the Zhu Zhu ones, etc.

Introduction To The Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster

Okay, the latest craze at the moment is the Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster. They are a cute, cuddly little toy that every kid is going to want this Christmas.

They are also one of the most innovative toy that's been released for a long time. They're exciting enough to actually make me want to blog about them!

What's So Special About Zhu Zhu Pets?

Well they are 'intelligent' - they act in a very similar fashion to real hamsters. They are basically an electronic hamster: They react intelligently to their environment, they can go to sleep, they even love being hugged!

The Official Ad For Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters

Before I go further, here's the official ad for Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters:

That should have give you a taste of these special little hamster toys. Sold already? Then skip to our page outlining the full range of Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster products.

Who Are The Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters

There are four different Zhu Zhu Pet Hamsters, called Chunk, Pipsqueak, Mr. Squiggles and Num Nums. Each of these have a unique personality - here are their official descriptions:

• Chunk: Whoa, dude! This laid-back surf hamster is famous for chillin' out, hanging back, and layin' low. But when he gets a whiff of some slammin' surf, he's off and running! Don't spare the hugs for this rad rodent. He lives to feel the love. Buy Chunk on Amazon
• Pipsqueak: She may be sweet and small, but this petite powerhouse isn't afraid of anything. A daredevil with the curiosity of a dozen cats, Pipsqueak loves to play, explore, run, and slide. Just give her some wiggle room and watch her do her stuff. Buy Pipsqueek on Amazon
• Mr. Squiggles: Mr. Squiggles is the fussy and finicky hamster who's been there, done that, and lived to tell about it. Get out of his way! He's a hamster on a mission: Explore Galore, then explore some more! Love him, watch him go, just don't call him cute. Buy Mr Squiggles on Amazon
• Num Num: If there's something yummy in the area, this cutie will track it down! Num Nums' a super fuzzy friend you can depend on for laughs and love. Her highly trained sniffer can detect a carrot from a mile away, so stand back and watch her scoot to find some munchies! Buy Num Nums on Amazon

So they all have different personalities and behave very differently from each other. Cool!

Extended Playtime

But what's even better is that a single hamster will behave differently over time. There's none of that boredom with a toy that sinks in once the child has learnt all the possible actions of a toy - this toy will behave subtly differently every time a child pays with it, extending the amount of use the toy will actually receive. They really will give your child hours and hours of fun - perhaps even months and months of fun.

That's always a good thing for parents - who wants to buy a toy for their child only to find it's not used after the first couple of days! You won't have that problem with a Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster.

Information About The Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters

Here is some basics I should give you:

• Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters are for 3 to 10 year old children.
• They work on AAA batteries (two required for each hamster).
• There is a whole range of pricing, depending on exactly what you want to buy. I'll cover all of the options in the near future, including the pricing. When I'm a bit more organised, I may even come back to this post and update the pricing here, for anyone who stumbles across this post later - we'll see!

I better explain that Zhu Zhu Pets have different modes: Nurture and Explore. In Nurture mode they respond to hugs and petting with squeaking and chattering. In Explore mode, they'll run around, scampering about, bumping into things, turning around and generally, well, exploring!

Accessories For The Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters

There's a whole range of accessories that you can buy, which extend playtime even more. I'll be covering the accessories more on a later post, but they include:

• Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Funhouse
• Hamster Car and Garage
• Hamster Wheel and Tunnel
• Hamster Starter Set

And things such as skateboards, snowboards and an adventure ball which the pet hamsters run around in (like a mouse wheel, only a ball that runs around the floor as the Zhu Zhu Pets run around inside).

For a full list of Zhu Zhu Pets Accessories see our Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster products page.

Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster As A Virtual Pet

Of course, you don't need all the extras - just having a single hamster as a virtual pet will be a good experience for your child. I've heard Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters described as a virtual pet with all the benefits of a real pet, but without all the mess!

Now while I can see the benefit in not having to fork out for pet food, not to mention not having to actually feed them, clean up their poo, change their cage, take them to the vet, etc, I'd stop short of recommending these as a replacement for a real live pet. I think it would be better for kids to have the real thing.

That said, it's not always possible to have the real thing in the modern life we lead, and in such cases, this is the next best thing.

Final Thoughts

Of course they're great fun too - you're kids are going to love them and at the end of the day, that's the most important thing, isn't it?

Anyway, I love these cute little Zhu Zhu Pets and you will too, and I'll be back to write more about them sometime in the near future!