WORK IN PROGRESS
Hamster Care
Enclosures and Set Up
When picking out an enclosure for your hamster, most pet store cages are not suitable. Dwarf hamsters need at least 650 sq inches of horizontal floorspace, and Syrian hamsters need 775 sq inches. The majority of hamster cages sold in pet stores are smaller than 450 sq inches and some are as small as 150 sq. inches. Pet store cages are unsafe and are often much more expensive than its larger and safer alternatives. Bin cages are a cheap, easy way to house your hamster and there are many easy tutorials online as well. To get the square inches of floorspace, multiply length times width.
Bucatstate 3.0
Niteangel Bigger World
40 gallon breeder tank
Bucatstate 2.0 (larger version only)
All enclosures need a lid with proper ventilation. Your hamster also needs to be able to experience the day/night cycle, so light must get in.
For a chew-prone hamster, glass, tiled, or metal enclosures are best.
Clutter and enrichment is very important to making sure your furry friend is comfortable in their home.
Bedding
Hamsters need deep layers of soft paper or aspen bedding. A mix is better, as it supports burrowing. They burrow a lot, so the deeper the bedding the better. At least 9-12 inches in one area of the cage is recommended. You can mix soft hay into this for more structural support, too.
Sand Baths
A sand bath is recommend to help hamsters keep clean and provide a form of enrichment. Rather than bathe with water like we do, they roll around in the sand to clean oils from their fur. They also often use the sand bath as a bathroom, which makes cleaning much easier. Be sure to stay away from ‘Dust’ and only go for safe sand to prevent respiratory infections. Also ensure you put the sand bath on a platform or on the base of the enclosure to prevent your hamster from getting crushed when burrowing underneath it.
Wheels
Wheels are essential for hamsters. Hamsters have been known to run 5-6 miles, sometimes more, per night so it is essential for them to have a properly sized wheel. When running on a wheel, the hamster’s back should be straight, a curved back can cause pain and injury. Also be sure to get a wheel that is upright with a solid bottom. Stay away from wire wheels that can cause bumblefoot and injure limbs. Dwarf and Robo hamsters need a minimum of 8 inch wheel and Chinese and Syrians need a minimum 11 inch wheel.
Diet
Hamsters are omnivores, meaning they eat a variety of different foods including fruits, vegetables, meats, insects, grains, etc. It is very important that they are fed a proper diet that meets all their nutritional needs. The most popular food combination in the US is Higgins Sunburst seed mix for hamsters and gerbils mixed with Mazuri rat and mouse lab blocks.
Enrichment
Hamsters LOVE to chew and have teeth that are constantly growing and need to be worn down so it’s essential that there are toys and chews to help with this. Safe wooden blocks, apple wood sticks, toilet paper rolls, and orchard grass hay work great. It is also recommended to have a few wooden, ceramic or cardboard houses for them to hide and sleep in.
Another great way to provide enrichment is to provide differing substrates. For instance, get a sand bath and fill it with Eco-Earth. This gives your hamster something to dig around in. This, along with your sand-filled sand bath, will need to be on a platform to prevent your hamster from getting crushed when burrowing under it.
Unsafe Hamster Products
Many people are unaware but there are many dangerous toys, treats and other products marketed towards hamsters that pet stores still put on the shelves. People continue to buy their products so they don’t see a need to take it off the shelves. It is very important that we monitor everything we are giving our little friends so they don’t become sick or injured.
Bonding With Your Hamster
Every hamster is different! Some love and crave attention, while some are perfectly content with keeping to themselves. The first few days after taking them home, direct contact should kept to a minimum so they can get adjusted to the new environment. You can start talking to them, get them used to your voice, and start with the tissue trick.
This trick involves sticking some tissue paper in your clothes for a while to get your scent on it, and then putting it in the enclosure for your hamster to get used to your scent. After your hamster is comfortable with your presence, you can start placing your hand, palm up with some special treats to entice them to get on your hand. This might take awhile but eventually, your hands won’t seem so scary. You can then get to the point of holding them. Before your hamster is comfortable being picked up, you can use a mug to move them around.
