Hamster Care

Hamsters, like any pet, require commitment and willingness to take care of them for their entire life. Although hamsters are easier and require less attention than other pets such as a dog, they still need to be taken care of on a regular basis. If you're willing to spend the time and effort to take care of them, hamsters make great pets. Cute and furry, they are great for people of all ages and great for those who are busy during the day. They tend no to be as smelly as some other rodents and are relatively cheap to take care of. 

Important Facts

There are certain things that you should keep in mind when purchasing your hamster and taking care of your hamster. While they are relatively low maintenance, they require attention often if not daily. Here are some important facts to keep in mind when caring for your hamster. 

• Hamsters are nocternal and tend to be more active in late afternoon and night.
• Neglect is not only cruel, but will lead to a sick hamster and expensive veterinary trips.
• Don't buy a hamster too young. Make sure it is at least three weeks old.
• There life span is about 2 to 3 years.
• They require cage and some equipment to keep active.
• Apart from the cage and equipment, they take up little space in your house or apartment.
• When buying from a petshop, there's risk since you don't know the hamsters medical history or health.
• Be sure to make sure the hamster is healthy before taking it home.
• If you buy from a breeder, the risk for a sick hamster is much lower.
• Unlike other common rodents such as rabbits, hamsters tend to thrive better without companions.
• They have incisor teeth that are continuously growing.
• They are in constant need of a toy to gnaw on.
• They tend to be a bit nippy.
• They don't get along with other pets and dogs or cats may try to eat them so be careful.
• Don't use insecticides near or around your hamster.
• Buy for the breed of hamster you are purchasing. Certain products may be too big for a dwarf hamster, but too small for a syrian hamster.
• To read up on the different breeds check out Hamster Hideout
• For complete history of hamster check out Wikipedia

Hamster Necessities

Cages 

When buying a cage,  keep these things in mind: You will need to buy one before you bring your hamster home. Get one with plenty of room to allow the hamster to move around easily. The average size is about 50 cm by 35 cm. Be sure that its safe and easy to clean. Types: Wire cages  with a plastic base are the best. They are the most durable and can withstand chewing and gnawing. Easiest to clean. Aquarium cages  with a mesh or slotted top Although they allow for better views of your hamster, they have bad ventilation and retain heat. Pretty easy to clean, but can be pretty heavy. Plastic Cage  with many compartments and tubing. While these allow for tons of activity, they are much more difficult to clean. Best if you have Dwarf Hamsters,  larger breeds such asSyrian Hamsters are more likely to get stuck. Every cage needs bedding  Aspen wood shavings  are needed to line the bottom of the cage. They use this material in order to nest in their cage. You can help them nest with a cardboard box  or a store-bought nest.  Pet deodorizing spray  can help keep the cage from smelling too badly. small cardboard box

Food and Toys 

Food  They don't eat as much as you may think. Many pet owners tend to over feed them rather than underfeed them. They aren't very picky, but lean towards a vegetarian diet. (fruits, nuts, rice, green vegetables) If you are unsure of what to feed them, you could go with generic small animal food mixes  You will need afood dish  and water bottle  for the cage. Always provide them with enough water, especially if you can't change the water daily.	Toys  Gnawing Toys  such as wooden blocks  are great for hamsters Since their incisor teeth are constantly growing, they are always in need of something to gnaw on. Fruit-flavored chew toys  are tasty and entice hamsters to chew on them rather than on toys or your fingers. Paper towel rolls or other cardboard objects are great since they are cheap and great for gnawing.	Exercise Equipment  Hamsters need to stay active in order to remain healthy, so some exercise toys are essential to any cage. Wheels  are great for exercise and are pretty necessary in order to keep active inside a cage. If you want to let your hamster exercise safely outside of the cage an exercise ball  is fun, but keep your hamster away from stairs

 Extras

Grooming  While grooming products for your hamster aren't completely necessary, they can help keep it healthy. They are pretty good about grooming themselves, but some extra help from you will do more good than harm. Try hamster-safe shampoo,  or bath salts,  but be really careful of their eyes.	Accessories  While hamsters may seem too small for a harness,  they do exist. If you want to take your little guy outside they are good way of keeping track of him. Play pens,  although more suitable for guinea pigs, also allow hamsters some freedom outside of their cage	Cage Extras  Tubing,  ladders  and hideouts  allow for extra movement They do, however, make cages more difficult to clean. The more complicated the cage gets the harder it is to take apart and clean. You can be creative when setting them up. They can make a cage closer to a hamsters natural habitat of tunnels underground