Hamster house set up
When you bring home your new friend, he will be in an unfamiliar environment. Allow space for the hamster to get acquainted with its new environment for a few days – cover the cage or aquarium with a light cloth. Take the cover off at night.
Hamsters love to chew and chew. Choose a cage with a hard bottom or a glass aquarium with a well-ventilated wire mesh lid. Sprinkle about 3cm of sawdust or paper filler on the bottom. Add some shavings from the hamster’s old habitat and your new friend will immediately feel at home. Make sure that your pet’s food is not in the same place where the pet sleeps.
Your little hamster needs a safe home where he can move around freely and feel comfortable. Place tunnels, mazes, and a wheel in the cage to make the habitat unique and interesting.
The lodge needs to be kept clean and comfortable, but you need to know the measure, don’t create unnecessary stress by cleaning too often. The golden mean:
● Clean the toilet area daily;
● Replace the litter completely when necessary (if soiled / wet) or once a week;
● Wash dry food bowl weekly and every other day from succulent food;
● Clean the drinker weekly;
● Clean the cage or aquarium every week or every other week with soap and water to keep it clean and remove unpleasant odors.
What do hamsters eat? Pellets
Pellets are pelleted food, a good choice for feeding your hamster. Food in pellet form keeps the critters from picking out the tastiest ingredients and will provide your pet with a balance of nutrients. Feed your hamster once a day, and the bowl should be about three-quarters full. The diet may also include vegetables, which can be given every other day. The menu is allowed to include: pumpkin, greens, zucchini, grated carrots, broccoli, cucumbers, apples, pears, and berries. Give hamsters as much fruit and vegetables as they can eat in about 4 hours. Don’t overfeed the critters – they love to hoard! As for water, offer it constantly, it is better to install a special drinker with a glass spout.
How much should the hamster eat?
Granular food: replenish it daily by 75%.
Vegetables: dark leafy greens, pumpkin, zucchini, broccoli every other day or 15%
● Fruits: apples, bananas, melons once a week or 5%
● Treats: raisins and alfalfa hay 2 times a week or 5%
● Water: give clean water daily!
● Twigs for grinding teeth
Hamster care.
Your hamster will have grooming needs as well. These include:
● Brushing: long-haired Syrian hamsters, often called teddy bear hamsters, should have their coats brushed weekly to remove chips, food and dirt that can get stuck in their coats. Use a special comb for small animals or a soft, thin toothbrush.
● Paws: Most hamsters don’t really need clippings, but if you notice that your pet is itching while grooming or if his claws have started to curl, consult your veterinarian on what to do.
Check his mouth: The health of your hamster’s teeth is very important because they never stop growing. Provide your pet with enough chew sticks and toys so they can rub off the ever-growing teeth and if a tooth ever grows too big or becomes broken or chipped, be sure to visit the vet.
● Skin care: natural oils help keep their coats in place, so naked pets often need to rub very small amounts of unscented coconut or baby oil into their skin to prevent dryness and keep their skin healthy. This care is essential for hairless Syrian hamsters.
● A great way to give your pet exercise and socialization is to play outside the cage every week. We suggest setting up a small fenced area with lots of toys and treats so the hamster can explore the play area, develop and socialize with his human family! Remember to always keep an eye on your pet when he or she is out of the cage. You can also use a special plastic ball for walks.
Treat your pet with care. Unlike other small animals, hamsters should be picked up with both hands and held in their folded palms. The same goes for putting them down, but be especially careful that the pet doesn’t accidentally slip out of your hands. Since hamsters are nocturnal, be careful about the time of day you try to communicate with them.
How do you keep your hamster healthy?
Take your hamster to a veterinarian experienced with small pets a few days after you bring your pet home, and then annually.
If your rodent exhibits any of these symptoms, see a rathologist for an examination:
- Wheezing
- Runny nose
- Irregular feeding or drinking
- Overly long front teeth
- Bald spots
- Sores on paws
- Sloppy stools
- Blood in the urine
- Itchy
Keeping hamsters at home
✔ Hamsters require minimal care – even a junior high school student can take care of this tiny pet!
✔ It needs a large cage. A glass jar or an aquarium is not suitable!
✔ Attach a convenient drinker to it. Use only boiled or mineral water, tap water can cause diarrhoea.
✔ Put two feeders: one for grains and one for fruit and vegetables.
✔ Install a hamster’s treadmill in the cage to keep the pet from getting fat. A park-attraction is also suitable. You can also put a mineral stone or a special wheel, so he can sharpen his teeth.
✔ Cover the bottom of the cage with hamster cage filler. It will prevent odor and allow your pet to rummage through it, making food hiding places.
✔ Make sure your pet has a toilet. It is made in a corner of the cage with a special tray. Wash the tray when it gets dirty.
✔ Carry out general cleaning of the cage once a week, replacing the bedding and cleaning the tray.
Hamster nutrition
✔ It is not necessary to feed your hamster cottage cheese, cereal and other foods you eat yourself. Only proper nutrition will make your pet healthy and cheerful, so I recommend buying hamster food at a pet store, such as Zhorka, Benelux or Little One.
✔ Feeding your hamster daily at the same time is recommended. A regimen will help avoid overeating.
✔ Foods that the hamster hides in the cage should be removed.
✔ Do not overfeed the rodent, as these animals are prone to obesity and may die from it later on.
✔ These rodents are very shy. You should not shout or make sudden movements near the pet. Don’t rake the cage unnecessarily to clean it – they don’t like trespassing. Do not expose your hamster to other pets.
✔ Wash and bathe such a pet, too – it’s perfectly capable of taking care of its own hygiene.
✔ Don’t punish the hamster for pranks – he won’t understand anything anyway.
✔ Don’t put any pungent smelling plants near the cage.
✔ Do not take the hamster outside or on the balcony. He may be exposed to the sun’s rays, which can lead to death.
✔ Ensure your pet is comfortable and at peace.
✔ Do not let him run high. Falling over could cause internal organ damage and be fatal.
✔ These pets live 2-3 years. With proper care, you can prolong the hamster’s life up to 4 years.
✔ Buy your pet at a pet store. There, all animals are inspected by a veterinarian.
✔ I don’t recommend keeping two males in one cage – they may fight until one of the competitors dies. By nature, hamsters are solitary and can live peacefully without a female.
✔ It is not necessary to buy hamsters for children under 6-7 years old. Otherwise, this cute pet is good for everyone and brings a lot of positive emotions.