You see I’m having a hamster soon and I want to know how to take really really good care of them!
I just answered a similiar question. Im going to copy and paste my answer. It applies here too.
A wheel is necessary, as is chewing blocks/hard treats. My hamsters used to run on their wheels for hours. They’d go nuts without it.
They also love to burrow. If you can provide an area for them to dig in, that’d be great for them.
They’re solitairy. Dont feel like you need to get him/her a ‘buddy’. They’ll fight non stop.
Give it a few days to settle in before you try to handle it. It needs a few days to get used to its surroundings.
You should get atleast a partial wire cage. All plastic cages arent ventilated well enough at all. Wire cages also provide extra entertainment (climbing).
They’re escape artists and those habi-trail cages are the worst. If you have one of them because they’re cute, twistie tie the door shut at night, or you’ll be going on a hamster search in no time.
They’re nocturnal, if you plan on keeping it in your bedroom, I hope you have some other noise going, or you’ll be listening to a hamster on its wheel all night.
DONT give them a salt lick/wheel. They’re not good for them, contrary to belief.
Mix a bag of grainy cereal into its food mixture (something like cheerios or rice crispies, nothing *too* sugary). It adds a yummy treat for them, and makes the food last longer.
Give it fresh raw fruits/veggies often.
Seriously, if you got the habitrail/critter trail cage (thats half metal half plastic, brightly colored, lots of cute little add ons), I suggest you start saving your money for a new cage because after 3-4 times of cleaning that you’ll want to toss it out the window. They’re a huge pain in the butt to clean/ put back together, and my hamsters *always* got out of them.
If this is your first hamster, I’d go with a teddy bear one. They’re a bit bigger than normal hamsters and generally more laid back. They’re good ‘beginner hamsters‘. (dont get a dwarf. They’re cute and all but they’re tiny, super fast, and from what i hear, not all that friendly).
Males are said to be more laid back and females more hyper, but it doesnt always work that way. I dont think it really matters which you get, unless you’re easilly grossed out. Males have very noticable genitals, which arent for everyone. (When i was a kid I thought they were hamster butts).
Make sure the cage you have has a ‘bed’ area, or buy them something to sleep in. You’ll probably need to clean the area they sleep in more often than the rest of the cage. Hamsters stuff their cheeks full of food and usually like to deposit it in their sleeping area. (Mine always did, anyway). It can get a bit nasty if you dont clean it often.
I just answered a similiar question. Im going to copy and paste my answer. It applies here too.
A wheel is necessary, as is chewing blocks/hard treats. My hamsters used to run on their wheels for hours. They’d go nuts without it.
They also love to burrow. If you can provide an area for them to dig in, that’d be great for them.
They’re solitairy. Dont feel like you need to get him/her a ‘buddy’. They’ll fight non stop.
Give it a few days to settle in before you try to handle it. It needs a few days to get used to its surroundings.
You should get atleast a partial wire cage. All plastic cages arent ventilated well enough at all. Wire cages also provide extra entertainment (climbing).
They’re escape artists and those habi-trail cages are the worst. If you have one of them because they’re cute, twistie tie the door shut at night, or you’ll be going on a hamster search in no time.
They’re nocturnal, if you plan on keeping it in your bedroom, I hope you have some other noise going, or you’ll be listening to a hamster on its wheel all night.
DONT give them a salt lick/wheel. They’re not good for them, contrary to belief.
Mix a bag of grainy cereal into its food mixture (something like cheerios or rice crispies, nothing *too* sugary). It adds a yummy treat for them, and makes the food last longer.
Give it fresh raw fruits/veggies often.
Seriously, if you got the habitrail/critter trail cage (thats half metal half plastic, brightly colored, lots of cute little add ons), I suggest you start saving your money for a new cage because after 3-4 times of cleaning that you’ll want to toss it out the window. They’re a huge pain in the butt to clean/ put back together, and my hamsters *always* got out of them.
If this is your first hamster, I’d go with a teddy bear one. They’re a bit bigger than normal hamsters and generally more laid back. They’re good ‘beginner hamsters’. (dont get a dwarf. They’re cute and all but they’re tiny, super fast, and from what i hear, not all that friendly).
Males are said to be more laid back and females more hyper, but it doesnt always work that way. I dont think it really matters which you get, unless you’re easilly grossed out. Males have very noticable genitals, which arent for everyone. (When i was a kid I thought they were hamster butts).
Make sure the cage you have has a ‘bed’ area, or buy them something to sleep in. You’ll probably need to clean the area they sleep in more often than the rest of the cage. Hamsters stuff their cheeks full of food and usually like to deposit it in their sleeping area. (Mine always did, anyway). It can get a bit nasty if you dont clean it often.
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