The two students allegedly battered and used the lighter to torture the hamsters. One of the hamsters died, but the other recovered after being cared for at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.
Police say the video posting led to the investigation of the two students.
Yolo County jail officials said Melendez was being held on $20,000 bail, while Nguyen was still in the process of being booked late Wednesday. It was not known of the two students had hired attorneys.
