When Reddit user hellowombat got a pet hamster named Hamlet, there wasn’t a lot of information out there on how to properly care for him.

“I loved him and I was frustrated that it was so hard to provide for him the way that I felt he deserved,” the redditor wrote. “He wound up passing away due to an illness that was almost certainly the result of poor breeding practices, which really solidified for me the necessity of rescue over supporting pet stores.”

So hellowombat and a partner created a safe haven for aging, ill and injured hamsters—Ham-Ham House. No hamster is turned away at the rescue and sanctuary located in Pittsburgh, Pa., which now has 18 rodents with names such as Cilan, Toadstool, Bombur, and Chantelle. The hamsters spend their days nibbling on fresh veggies and tofu, running on exercise wheels and resting in handmade sleeping sacks. Those that are in good health and of a reasonable age are put up for adoption.

In Reddit’s Ask Me Anything community, hellowombat discussed hamster care, hamster abuse and why places like Ham-Ham House are so needed.

Here’s what we learned.

Every hamster has a unique personality.

For a sanctuary, it’s a pretty noisy place.

A good suggestion:

“My kids got bored” is a common reason hamsters end up at the rescue.

Hamster abuse is everywhere.

Hellowombat notes that 8-inches is the accepted minimum for exercise wheels, but some hamsters require larger ones. “If your hamster arches its back when running you need a larger wheel. They should be able to keep their back straight while exercising.”

Animal rescue workers have a high suicide rate.

The suicide rate is 5.3 in 1 million workers, according a study by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

It’s a really hard job.

Hamsters sometimes eat their offspring.

Hamsters have a life span of two to three years, so burials at the rescue happen frequently.

Possible future venture: a hamster cafe!

For the full discussion, check out the original Reddit AMA.