- Basic Hamster Care -
This page provides viewers with only the basic hamster care information. Please do further research & asking questions to increase your knowledge. As a pet owner, you are responsible for everything. It is wrong on your behalf & unfair for your hamster if it is not receiving the proper care.
► Cages
Hamsters – regardless of their size – require a minimum of 360 square inches of floor space in their habbitat. They are good escape artists, so be sure their cage is suitable for containment. Tanks, bin cages, & wooden DIY's work best. You are to clean it out every other week or so. Leave some odor behind as hamsters feel comfortable knowing their scent is still in their home. Inside, provide about an inch of bedding, plenty of toys & chews, an exercise wheel, food, water, & a hideaway.
► Bedding
Hamsters should have about an inch of bedding in their habbitat so they may burrow underneath it. Avoid pine, cedar, & anything scented as they are harmful towards small animals. Dyes can be bad too. Vegetable dye is the safest. Not all hamsters react to the same bedding. Some may be allergic to a certain one or not like it. Try different kinds to see what your hamster does best with. Nesting material is optional. However, if you decide to use some, avoid anything made from cotton or any type of fiber. The strings can get tangled around your hamster & if they swallow it, it won't digest.
► Food
Your hamster should have a varied selection of different foods to increase interest & so your hamster receives full nutrition. This would include a mix, pellets, & occasional fruits & vegetables. Your hamsters daily diet should total up to 17 - 22% of protein, 4 - 6% of fat, & 8 - 10% of fiber. However, hamsters should not be fed every day. They store their food in their cheek pouches for later. About every other day their food bowl should be refilled. Depending on their size, they may eat anywhere from 10 - 20 grams of food (1 - 2 Tbsp). Try to avoid products that contain additives like colorants & preservatives. Do not feed food that is citric, acidic, or toxic to hamsters such as onions, tomatoes, & oranges.
► Toys
Hamsters are rodents, meaning their front teeth (incisors) never stop growing. To ware them down, they must chew. Provide plenty wooden products for them to gnaw on. Avoid plastic, it's unsafe for many reasons. Not all wood is safe either, though. Apple, pear, grape, pecan, & other woods make good chew toys. A lot of hamsters will refuse to chew, so to encourage them, spread a little peanut butter or some other safe food on the wood to attract attention. Try different shapes, sizes, or even different woods to figure out what your hamster prefers. You should also provide a hideaway or something for them to crawl over/through or sleep in. Hamsters like activities to do in their cage.
► Sand Baths
In the wild, hamsters keep themselves clean by licking their fur & rolling in the sand. Provide a sand bath for your hamster to roll in at least once a week. Soap & water will stress your hamster out & it isn't healthy for their fur or skin. It may also make them sick. Use chinchilla or kids play sand. If it's labeled "dust/powder" or it's from the beach, it isn't safe. Dust is known to cause resparatory issues & beach sand may contain sharp objects. If using play sand, safely sanitize it to rid of any possible germs or insects. Pour the sand in a bowl that is about 6 inches in diameter & at least an inch in height. The more room your hamster has to roll around, the better. Not a lot of sand is needed. Change it out every day to once a week.
► Exercise Wheels
Hamsters must have an exercise wheel in their cage so they have plenty of activity & to remain flexible. Stay away from wheels with mesh or bared floors. These will eventually lead to blistering on their paws known as "bumble foot". Their feet are sensitive, so they need to walk on a solid surface. You also need to make sure the wheel is large enough. If your hamsters back is forming an arch when runnning, it is too small & will cause extreme back pain & minor to major problems. Here are the general guidelines for the minimum size standards for each specie of hamster.
❥ Roborovskis: 6 inches
❥ Winter Whites: 8 inches
❥ Campbells Russian: 8 inches
❥ Chinese: 8 inches
❥ Syrians: 11 inches
► Playtime
At least once a week, your hamster should have some out of cage playtime. Run-about-balls should not be first choice. Some hamsters will not use them & get stressed out. If your hamster enjoys it, give short breaks every 5 minutes or so. You should always set up a playpen or use a bathtub to allow your furry friend to roam freely though. As long as the area is enclosed & hamster proofed, it should be safe. Never let your hamster out of site, always supervise. Place some toys, especially hideaways, in the run about space. Food & water must always be available during their playtime. Spend some time with your hamster. If you interact, you might find playtime to be fun for you too.
► Handling
When you bring your new hamster home, it is best to wait a few days before handling. Never disturb them while they are asleep. To pick up a hamster, gently, but quickly scoop them with both hands. Do not squeeze! To tame your hamster, follow these steps. Wash your hands before & after.
1.) Lure them to on to your hand with treats & talk softly to them. If you repeatedly say their name, your hamster may eventually come when called.
2.) Once they are use to you & happily climb on your hand, lift them up so you are holding them normally.
3.) When in a small carier, gently stroke different parts of their body with a small brush. This gets them use to being petted & touched. When you are confortable enough with the progress, use your own hand to stroke.
4.) Cupping your hand over their back, flip your hamster over slowly. They will most likely squirm, so if they do, slowly flip them back over. Only try this a few times a day as hamsters will easily stress by this practice. Reward them with a treat afterwards. Flipping your hamster upside down is useful for preforming at home health checks & for vet visits as well.
While you are in progess with theses steps, it is a good idea to sit in an enclosed area with your hamster everyday. Allow them to crawl on you & sniff you out. Of corse, provide a hideaway, food, & water.
