ok..i never microwaved my hamster...i might have tried to once...but i never actually did it! this thing lived from the summer before 1st grade all the way until the middle of my 8th grade year! he had to be the longest living hamster ever. in 7th grade i was ready for him to die..so i tried to get rid of him. and as unbelieveable as this sounds, it's true...i let him outside one time thinking he'd get lost...but no..he was on my porch three days later. i do feel kind if bad...but cleaning out a cage and feeding this little animal that doesn't do anything for 8 1/2 years got REALLY old. he was great for the first 3 years...but come on...8 1/2 years!!!! that's just plain wrong.....