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Hamsters are frequently everybody’s first pet. They are small balls of fluff and don’t require an abundant amount of space to live. Hamsters are also distant relatives to mice and rats but have a unique and quirky personality of their own. The most common hamster kept as pets is the Syrian hamster. The Syrian hamster is also commonly known as the Golden hamster, due to his original golden coat. Today, however, the Golden hamster comes in many different colours and variations. If you are considering adding a hamster to your family, it’s super important that you give your hamster everything they need to live a long and happy life.
Although their enclosures don’t require a lot of space, you should be sure it still meets their daily living requirements and should be big enough for them to exercise, feed and nest.
August 17, 2018
When choosing the right bedding for your hamster, be sure that it’s clean, non-toxic, dust-free, absorbent and easy to change. The bedding should also be deep enough to allow them to burrow down for nesting. Hamsters are nocturnal animals. While they are up and about at night time, they love having a nest during the day. Therefore, with the right bedding, it helps them with comfortable nesting.
FPC Tip: Be sure not to use wood shavings as bedding. The sharp edges can injure your delicate hamster. Have a look on our site for safe and healthy bedding materials here.
Make sure that the hamster enclosure is secure. Hamsters are sneaky Houdini-like escape artists, and as soon as they’re out, the chances are that it won’t be that easy to get them back in. Also, be sure to keep their enclosure in a safe space that is hidden and out of reach of other possible pets, like curious cats. Take a look at our range of hamster enclosures here.
All hamsters need accessible water and a food feeder. The food container should also be heavy enough to avoid tipping as well as sides low enough, so your hungry hamster can easily access his or her food.
The majority of your hamster’s diet should consist out of commercial hamster pellets. However, every now and again you can treat your hamster with some fruits and veggies. Safe fruits and veg include small pieces of Carrot, Broccoli, Cucumber, Celery, Apples and Strawberries. It’s super important to keep snacks limited. Hamsters have a unique (and adorable) feature of outpouching cheeks on both sides. In the wild, hamsters used their cheeks to gather food and carry it back to their nest. Hamsters love to hoard – which means you should treat them in moderation. Overfeeding your fluff ball could easily lead to them becoming overweight and developing diabetes.
FPC Tip: Ceramic bowls are recommended as they are heavy enough and easy to maintain, clean and sanitise. Be sure to keep the food high enough, so they don’t accidentally dirty it with urine or faeces.
Have a look at our wide range of Hamster Food here.
It’s important that you provide your hamster with enough toys and accessories to mentally and physically stimulate your hamster. Adding a running wheel to their enclosure is a great way to encourage active play. When selecting an exercise wheel, however, be sure to get one with a solid running surface. This will protect their feet and bones when running. If you have a smaller hamster, something as simple as empty toilet rolls can be a great addition to their habitat.
Generally, hamsters are housed separately during breeding periods. This is because sexually mature females are super territorial and aggressive. They frequently fight with each other, which is why we recommend they be housed separately. When housed and handled correctly, however, hamsters are loving, curious and fun, loving pets. They love to explore and if you expose them to human handling early enough – they won’t mind being carried or handled one bit.
Blog sources:
https://www.msdvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/hamsters/providing-a-home-for-a-hamster
https://www.msdvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/hamsters/introduction-to-hamsters
https://www.petmd.com/exotic/nutrition/evr_ex_hm_what-can-hamsters-eat
https://familypetcentre.co.za/blogs/articles/a-groomed-dog-is-a-happy-dog
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