It’s best to avoid “starter cages” or “beginner cages”; these are much too small. Instead, purchase a cage suitable for the hamster’s entire lifespan at the start, as this will save you money and bring much stress-relief in the future. The 450 square inches of floor space does not include levels. Solely the ground floor must be 450 sq in. Levels do not count. Try to buy a cage bigger than this though, as hamsters need as much space as you can give them. No cage is ever too big.
Sawdust should be made from untreated wood. When buying it at a pet store, check that the packaging says “untreated. " Do not purchase sawdust from a wood mill or carpenter, as this wood is probably treated with chemicals that can be toxic to hamsters. Pine and cedar bedding is also dangerous for a hamster. Bedding should be deeper than 7 inches (17. 8 cm). This might seem like a lot, but hamsters dig huge tunnels in the wild, and just a few inches will not allow a hamster to do this. Some hamsters will also only dig if they have a certain height of bedding, so make sure to give your hamster plenty of space, even if it doesn’t seem like tunnels are being made. Cotton or string “fluffy” bedding types are extremely dangerous. These types of bedding kill thousands of pets even if the package says it’s safe. [citation needed] The risk is that strands of bedding fiber get caught around a leg, then tighten to cut off the hamster’s circulation. It will also more than likely break your hamster’s fragile bones as it tries to struggle free. The leg becomes gangrenous and the hamster is too sick to withstand surgery. In some cases the hamster has to be euthanized on humane grounds. [1] X Research source Small Animal Nutrition. Sandie Agar. publisher: Butterworth Heinemann. A great nesting material is toilet paper. [2] X Research source Best Bedding and Litter for your Hamster. The Celia Haddon Trust Don’t get anything with fragrances. You can shred/rip it to small pieces and place it around the cage or in the hamster house. Note that this is not a replacement for regular bedding. Avoid cedar, redwood, and pine bedding, as they contain resin dust that can irritate your hamster’s respiratory system. Aspen and Care Fresh are perfectly safe and comfortable options for hamsters. You should also avoid any bedding materials coloured with inks or dyes as they may be harmful to your hamster’s health if eaten.
Some people use hutches made for guinea pigs and rabbits for their hamsters, but these are good if you have a pregnant female that needs lots of space and won’t want to climb all over her cage.
It is also useful to have a reliable carry case at home, for those times when you need to transport the hamster safely to the vet.
When buying a wheel, visualise an adult sized Syrian hamster inside. Your pet needs to be able to run on the wheel with its back straight. A Syrian hamster’s wheel needs to be 10–12 inches (25. 4–30. 5 cm) in diameter. If the wheel is too small, the central spoke will cause the hamster to flex in the wrong direction (its back makes a “U”). If in doubt, buy the largest wheel that will fit in the cage, such as a rat-wheel. Also, make sure that your wheel isn’t made of wire or mesh material, because this can cause bumblefoot. [citation needed]
Hamsters are not aggressive by nature and do not usually attack unless provoked. However, they do have poor eyesight, so if your hand smells of food they may bite a finger assuming it’s something to eat. So wash your hands first. For this reason, it is a bad idea to hand feed hamsters, since they can confuse where the smell of the food is coming from and accidentally nibble your finger. One option is to place a treat in the cage, (on a spoon) and whilst the hamster is eating his treat, gently stroke him. Take it slowly, let the hamster become used to you. Keep in mind that not all hamsters enjoy human interaction.
The ideal time to wait before picking up your hamster and taking it out of the cage to play is two to three weeks. To hold your hamster, slide one hand under it and cup the other round the front of its body. Ensure you are gentle. You should never start by picking your hamster up! Try holding out treats for it. If the hamster is too shy to take it from your hands, just put the treat down and wait for the hamster to take it.
Make sure the nutritional values are: 17-22% protein, 4-6% fat, and 8-10% fiber. Some experts believe most hamster mixes are a little too low in protein to be perfectly balanced for the average Syrian hamster. [citation needed] It is a good idea to give your hamster the odd treat of hard boiled egg or cheese, cat food, or mealworms. Small bits of cooked chicken or scrambled egg are good sources of protein and may be given daily. If the hamster does not take any excess treats away to eat later within 24 hours time, remove any uneaten goodies. [3] X Research source Small Animal Nutrition. Sandie Agar. publisher: Butterworth Heinemann.
Also avoid giving foods with a high moisture content (cucumber or lettuce), since these are liable to have a laxative effect on the hamster’s digestive system. [5] X Research source Small Animal Nutrition. Sandie Agar. publisher: Butterworth Heinemann.
Wash the inside with a bottle brush. It may look clean, but the inside of the bottle will become coated with harmful bacteria. Use a hamster approved water bottle. Filtered water is best, but tap is fine - as long as you dechlorinate the water, either by using dechlorination liquid/tablets or by leaving the water out in the open over night.
Provide mineral/salt blocks.
Wash out bowls and water bottle (or bowl) at the same time as cleaning the cage. Dust and rinse all items of the cage. Dry everything and fill the cage with fresh wood shavings, bedding, food, and water. Put all the items back in the cage and clip the top back on. A clean cage makes your Syrian hamster happy and healthy. Try giving your hamster a “hamster toilet,” which is a plastic litter pan with a hood that fits snugly into the corner of the cage. Use the special hamster litter which you can purchase from pet stores, and clean the toilet every other day. Hamsters generally catch on quickly as to what the hamster toilet area is for, since instinct tells them to use one corner for toileting, and the confines of the toilet help them to feel secure.
Hamster balls are terrible for hamsters. While some might look like they are enjoying it, they are probably stressed and trying to find a way to get out of it by running around. If a hamster gets thirsty or hungry it would also not be able to tell you, which could be very bad for your small pet. Put the hamster in a pen, supervised, so it cannot escape. Cleaning the cage too often can cause stress; this does not mean do not clean your cage, rather, just clean it every other week and remember spot cleaning is your best friend.
Vets have got special clippers for hamster claws and know exactly how to do it. It is safer and better to leave this to the experts rather than trying it by yourself at home. Hamsters can’t run on their wheels very well if they have long claws, since that hurts for them!
