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All About My Hamster, Fluffy-Karin

3/23/2014

This is my own hamster, Fluffy. She is 1 and a half years old. A girl and a Russian Dwarf Hamster. I bought this little angel on February 1st 2013. She has lived perfectly and I never worry about her because i know she can take care of herself. I clean her cage every week. Life is always so much easier when I've got my little Fluffy around. She is my first ever pet and i love her very much

Another good thing about hamsters is that you can take so many funny pictures with them. This is my hamsters funny pictures:

A good cage for hamsters is one with a wheel or two floors. In the picture you can see my hamster eating food

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How to Take Care of Your Hamster-Karin

3/23/2014

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How to Care for your Brand New Pet HamsterSo you've decided to bring a new hamster home. Let me give you some very important information to keep in mind.

Tips For Keeping And Taking Care Of Your Hamster1. Any hamster you purchase should be between 4 - 6 weeks of age so that the hamster won't have any learned bad behaviors. Older hamsters that have been setting in the pet shop for months or a year or more may be so set in their daily routine and afraid of humans that they will bite to try to protect themselves from you. Those particular hamsters aren't mean they are just afraid and set in their daily routine. You will always have better luck with making a friend with a young hamster.

2. You need to choose a hamster cage and wheel that is the right size for your hamster. Syrian hamsters need large roomy cages and large wheels while dwarf hamsters need similar cages but smaller wheels. Don't buy or use the old wire type wheels that have metal spokes with openings between the wheels. With these type of hamster wheels the hamster can fall and get hurt. You need the solid wheels that have no holes and are silent when the hamster is running.

3. You need to choose good quality hamster food and you need to give your hamster only chlorine free bottled water. Tap water contains chlorine and other chemicals that may be harmful to your hamster. You need a good quality hamster food with out additives or preservatives. Take the time to read the labels.

4. Treats should only be 10 percent of your hamsters daily diet. Anymore than this and your hamster can develop weight problems. Hamsters for your information can develop diabetes and heart disease. The last thing you need and want is a overweight hamster. Be sure that you know what to feed your hamster and what not to feed your hamster.

5. Any vegetables or fruits that you give your hamster should be peeled and washed. Things like cucumbers and apples need to be peeled and you give the hamster very small pieces. Never allow a hamster to get apple seeds. They are toxic to your hamster. Also never give a hamster citrus fruit. You should also never give a hamster beans of any type. This includes dry or cooked beans.

6. Be sure that your hamster cage matches up with that particular hamster. If your hamster cage has wire with openings between the wires that are to large dwarf hamsters can just walk out through the wire. As can baby hamsters if your breeding and raising hamsters. So be sure to keep this in mind. Syrian Hamsters must be kept in cages by themselves or they will fight and kill each other.

7. Hamsters can be wonderful friends but you need to be able to spend thirty minutes a day with them or around them. If you don't have any time to spend with your hamster please don't get a hamster. You also should keep in mind that hamsters are nocturnal and you should not put your hamster cage in your bedroom or the noise the hamster makes will keep you up at night.

8. For the first week or so after you bring your new hamster home don't try to touch or handle it much. Instead spend time at the cage talking to it. At the same time it will be getting used to you. Your hamster must get to know you or you may have problems. Getting to know your hamster and letting your hamster get to know you is very important for the future of your and your hamsters future relationship. So you need to spend time getting to know your hamster. And it must get to know you.

9. Hamsters can and do make wonderful pets but you need to make sure if a smaller child under the age of 10 is in the house that the child is made part of the hamsters life. You need to make sure that the child and everyone who is going to hold the hamster knows that hamsters can be easily injured badly from falls of only a few feet. If a child is going to hold a hamster let them hold it on a bed or setting in the floor. You can prevent your hamster from receiving a serious life ending injury this way.

10. If your going to be keeping a hamster as a pet keep in mind that you should get your hamster at 4 - 6 weeks of age and that your hamster is going to live for 2 - 3 years so the hamster is going to be around for a while. The hamster is going to be a friend to you and your going to be a friend to it. Try to learn everything possible about hamsters. If you check just below you'll find a lot of great information about hamsters. All of these Hub Pages are by Thomas Byers aka Crazyhorsesghost who has been keeping hamsters for over forty years and is an authority on keeping, breeding, and raising hamsters.

11. You can train your hamster to do simple tricks but keep in mind a hamster is not a dog. You'll have to spend a lot more time with your hamster to get it to do tricks and you'll need to make use of treats while your training it to do tricks. In time you should be able to get your hamster to stand, set, and jump when you ask it to. Just give your hamster a lot of understanding and be persistent in your training. If the hamster gets tired stop the training until another day.

12. I think hamster balls are another great way for a hamster to exercise and enhance its life. You do need to have room for your hamster to move around in your house in its hamster ball. Leave the hamster in the hamster ball for 30 minutes to a hour. In time you will see your hamster eager to get in its ball and move around the house. Be sure to restrict your hamster from being able to roll its hamster ball down the stairs. You hamster could get seriously injured or killed this way.

13. Wash your hands to the elbows anytime you touch your hamster. If you have a cold or flu avoid contact with your hamster. Yes they can catch a cold or flu from you. So be sure to keep that in mind.

14. I suggest people with a pet of any type keep a journal. Make carefully detailed notes so you can refer back to the notes in the future.

Don't you think the hamsters in this photo are so cute.Source: Click here for How To Train A Hamster.
Some Important Links You Should Check Out

How to Get Your Hamster to Try New Foods
The question is , How To Get Your Hamster To Try New Foods. Well here we have all kinds of ideals for getting your hamster to try new foods. But at the same time you need to know what foods you should never give to your hamster and how you can use fo
How to Figure Out Your Hamster's Favorite Food
Here you can learn how to figure out your hamsters favorite food. If its about feeding a hamster you'll find all the information you will ever need about feeding a hamster here. Plus you'll learn what not to feed your hamster and you'll find lots of
All You Ever Wanted To Know About Hamsters
Here you can learn all you ever wanted to know about hamsters. We will tell you exactly how you should care for your hamsters including how to feed them, make friends with them and make sure that they stay healthy. If you want to learn anything about

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How To Care For Your Brand New Pet HamsterFirst of all you need to decide what hamster is right for your family and your house. If you want a large fluffy hamster like a Teddy Bear or Black Bear Hamster know that they are Syrian Hamsters and they will need to be kept in a cage by themselves. If your going to have dwarf hamsters you can keep several together but if you keep hamsters together your going to have baby hamsters so you need to be prepared for that. Click that link and you can learn all about baby hamsters and what to do with them.

When You Bring Your Hamster Home Have Everything Ready For Your HamsterMake sure that when you bring your hamster home that everything is ready for your hamster. this means you should have its cage bought and set up and you need to have its cage ready. You should use shredded newspaper for your hamster cage. Shredded newspaper is the best bedding for your hamster. You can buy a simple paper shredder and shred newspapers for your hamsters bedding. It can be easily changed and you'll need to change it often as your hamsters cage needs to be thoroughly cleaned at least once a week. This is very important for the health of your hamster.

Bottled Water Is Best For Your HamsterYou'll find that bottled water or large containers of bottled water is the best water to give to your hamster. Don't give your hamster tap water because it contains chlorine and other chemicals that can be harmful to your hamster. Its okay to use tap water to wash off fruits and vegetables your going to be giving to your hamster. Always peel cucumbers and apples and never give apple seeds to a hamster because apple seeds can be toxic to a hamster. I always go easy on peanut butter to because it can get stuck in their cheek pouches and it can produce a overweight hamster if your not real careful.

Syrian Hamsters Need Lots Of Fresh AirWire cages are best for Syrian Hamsters because they need a lot of fresh air. However don't put your hamster in a drafty place because hamster can and do catch colds easily. They can catch a cold from you quite easily so always wash your hands before and after you handle your hamster.

Do Not Use Wood Shavings For Your HamstersYou should not use wood shavings for your hamster and you should never use pine or cedar shavings for your hamster. Both contain oils that are harmful to your hamster. I have used shredded newspaper for hamsters for the last forty plus years and it has always been a perfect bedding for my hamsters.

Never Stop Learning About HamstersIf your going to be keeping a hamster in your home you should try to learn everything you can about hamsters. You want to learn about your particular species of hamster and you need to learn everything you possibly can about hamsters. The best way to do this is through continued research and keeping a journal where you write down careful notes that you can refer back to later.

Make A Hiding Box For Your HamsterYou can take a very small cardboard box and cut a door into it for the hamster to go in. You want the hole just big enough for the hamster to get in. Don't worry because the hamster is most likely going to be chewing all the time on its nest box and fixing it the way it wants it. You'll see your new hamster busily working on its new house and trying to arrange it exactly how it the hamster wants it. And once a week you'll need to clean the hamsters cage thoroughly both to keep the cage clean and to keep your hamster healthy. Be sure that you have a secure escape proof place to keep your hamster while you clean its cage.

Cleaning The Hamsters CagePut the hamster into a box with lid or in the family bathtub while you clean its cage, You can also put it into a hamster ball if you need to use the bathtub to clean its cage. Make sure the hamster can't roll its cage down stairs or it might get seriously injured. You want to wash your hamsters cage with soapy water so it will be as clean as possible. Bleach the gravity water bottle and then wash it under cold running water to get rid of the bleach smell.

You want to take everything out of the hamsters cage and wash the inside of the cage with warm soap and water. You can add a cup of bleach to the water but be sure to keep rinsing the cage until you get all the smell of bleach gone. Let the cage and every thing that goes in it dry completely before you put the cage back together with new shredded newspaper for the bedding and put everything else including the hamster back into the cage. Be sure to bleach its food dish and water bottle at least once a week to help keep them clean and the hamster healthy and happy.

As soon as you put the hamster back into the cage you'll see it go to work trying to put its cage back together the way it wants it.

Don't Bother A Sleeping HamsterYou should never bother a sleeping hamster because you may startle the hamster and a hamster that is startled may indeed bite you. Wait until the hamster is up and moving around before you clean its cage or do other things that the hamster needs done for it.

Get A Veterinarian For Your Hamster As Soon As You Get ItBe sure to locate a vet for your hamster as soon as you get it. Don't wait until you need a vet or you may not be able to locate one. Some vets won't or don't know how to treat small animals like hamsters. So always be prepared. If you think your hamster is sick or you see it with a wet or dirty tail take it to the vet. Keep a record of what you feed it so you can tell the vet exactly what your hamster has been eating and drinking. Some vets will not work with small animals so be sure to check ahead of time.

Thanks For Reading My Hub Page On How To Care For Your Brand New HamsterI appreciate you being here and reading my Hub Page on Hamsters and I hope you found the information helpful and interesting. If you have questions, comments, tips, or suggestions please post them below and I'll try to be quick to give you an answer to any question. Thanks again for reading. It and your comments are welcome. I hope if you want a hamster that one is in your future real soon.

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How To Find A Lost Hamster In Your House-Karin

3/23/2014

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Where to Look
The first thing to do is to look in some common hiding places. Do a thorough search as soon as possible after you lose your hamster, remembering your lost hamster is probably scared and will look for a secure hiding spot:

Start your search near the cage and go from there.
Check behind and under furniture, as well as down the sides and backs of sofas, under cushions, etc.
Check cabinets, drawers, shelves and bookcases. Don't forget to look inside, behind, and under items kept in these places.
Check the underside of furniture and beds for any holes through which a hamster could climb inside the furniture/bed.
Check inside any boxes you have around the house, including tissue boxes.
Look inside any backpacks, purses, other bags, and shoes.
Check the undersides and backs of appliances for holes into which your lost hamster could have climbed.
Check behind/under the water heater (or anywhere else where it might be warm and dark).
Look for holes or spaces under cupboards or that could lead into the walls. Make a note of these for later.

Tracking a Lost Hamster
Unfortunately, it may be next to impossible to find a lost hamster. You may not even know which room your hamster is hiding in. Here are some tips on tracking hamsters:

Remember that hamsters are nocturnal, so will probably only move about overnight.
Place a small pre-counted pile of sunflower seeds on the floor in each room. If any seeds disappear from a room, that gives you a better general idea where your lost hamster is hiding (unless you have any wild mice that are stealing your bait!).
Sprinkle a little flour or cornstarch on the floor around the piles of seeds. A trail of little white footprints may lead to a hamster's hiding place.
Similarly, sprinkle some flour across doorways and in front of any suspected hiding spots (like spaces under the cupboards or holes in the wall, as noted on your search). Check for footprints to see where your hamster is travelling at night.
In the evening, try placing tinfoil or crinkly cellophane on the floor (concentrate on possible hideouts, doorways, and around the cage or food), turn out all the lights and sit quietly. If your lost hamster comes out, you may be able to locate it by the noise made as it walks across the foil or cellophane.
An ingenious owner sent me this tip: tie long strands of yard to some peanuts (in the shell) - your hamster may gather them and take them to his or her hiding place, in which case the strands of yarn will lead you to the hiding spot!

Catching Your Hamster
Sometimes, hamsters are not that easy to catch, even if you locate them, so you might have to set a "trap" to catch your lost hamster:

Some hamsters will come back to the cage on their own. Leave the cage open on the floor (with a supply of fresh food), near its usual location (or closer to where the hamster is hiding if you suspect a distant hiding spot). You may have to stay up late to close the door on your hamster when he or she returns, though often they are happy to be home and settle in for a nap after eating.
Set up a "bucket trap" by getting a bucket (deep enough that a hamster couldn't get out of but not so deep that a hamster would get hurt falling in), and place a thick towel on the bottom. On top of the towel you place some really tasty treats such as a thin layer of peanut butter on a cracker, apple slices, and/or cheese (something the hamster will easily smell). Then, make some sort of ramp up the outside of the bucket using wood, a wire shelf, or books stacked to make a staircase. The idea is that the hamster will go up the ramp in search of the food and jump into the bucket to get it, but can't climb back out. I have never tried this personally but have heard it works; the trick is to make the treat so irresistible the hamster will be willing to jump in the bucket for it.
As a last resort, get a humane mouse trap, also called a live mouse trap (the kind that is a box that traps the mouse without killing it) and bait it with peanut butter. These do occasionally malfunction so could possibly injure your hamster, but that is fairly unlikely and they usually work well.

Remember to be patient and do not give up too quickly. Hamsters seem to manage on their own quite well for a few days, and I have heard from several owners who were sure their hamsters were gone for good then were surprised to have them turn up suddenly after a couple of days.

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Hamster's Needs-Karin

3/23/2014

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Hamsters were living in relative obscurity until just 70 years ago, when a zoologist discovered a family of these rodents in the Syrian desert. Today, hamsters' friendly nature and adaptability have placed them among America's most popular small pets. To learn how to fulfill the special needs of these cuddly creatures, follow the suggestions below.

1: Set Up HouseWhen putting together a hamster's living quarters, consider the animal's natural habitat. In the wild, hamsters live underground, emerging under cover of darkness to search for food. Domestic hamsters still prefer the "night shift," so it's best to house them in a quiet, dimly lit room away from drafts, direct sunlight, and noisy animals. An aquarium that holds at least 10 gallons is usually suitable for hamsters, as long as the top of the tank allows for proper ventilation. A fine-mesh screen will do the trick, but make certain it's fastened securely to keep curious hamsters from attempting an escape. (Avoid the colorful plastic rodent homes sold in pet supply stores, as they are difficult to clean and offer easy escape routes.)

Line the bottom of the tank with plain white paper, and add dry timothy hay or shredded white paper for burrowing and nest-building. Avoid using cedar shavings, which can cause respiratory problems.

2: Give Them Their PrivacyAlthough hamsters enjoy the company of humans, they are less friendly to their own kind. They are solitary creatures who must be kept in separate quarters; in their native habitats, they come together only to mate and will most likely fight if they are forced to share space. Even hamsters housed in quiet rooms still need hiding places within their tanks to feel secure in their surroundings. Empty tissue boxes and round oatmeal containers can perform double duty as both gnawing toys and hiding places. Notorious nibblers, hamsters may harm their internal systems if they ingest soft plastics, but some hamster owners provide PVC piping or hard plastic items that withstand chewing.

3: Stock the PantryHamsters have high metabolisms and should have constant access to food and water. To avoid spills and maintain a clean drinking supply, attach a water bottle with a metal sipping tube to the side of the aquarium. Some hamsters like to sit in their food dishes, so use a heavy ceramic dish to decrease the likelihood of food spillage. Respect the hamster's need for order by placing the dish a good distance from the bathroom and sleeping areas.

Hamsters enjoy a varied diet that includes commercial grain and seed mixtures tailor-made for the animal as well as certain kinds of fruits and vegetables. A good commercial hamster mix should have all the necessary nutrients. Round out the diet with dandelion greens, chickweed, alfalfa pellets, spinach, lettuce, carrots, apples, and other fruits. A daily menu plan should include rations of a half-ounce of grain mixture, a small handful of greens, and tasty treats such as a slice of apple and a floret of cauliflower. Stay away from raw beans, apple seeds, sprouting potato buds, parsley, and green parts of tomatoes—all foods that can be poisonous to hamsters.

4: Keep Them OccupiedIn their native territories, hamsters have to travel great distances to find food, a fact that explains domestic hamsters' need for lots of exercise. Exercise wheels can provide hamsters with a good bit of activity, but they should not be the only source of physical activity. Complement the hamster's home gym and entertainment center with chewables such as a dog biscuit or pesticide-free twigs from beech trees, maples, willows, hazelnut bushes, or fruit trees; these will also help keep the animal's incisors worn down. Cardboard boxes, toilet-paper rolls, and paper-towel rolls are also safe for hamsters to burrow in, chew on, and play with. Wooden ladders and branches fastened securely to the inside of the tank can help hamsters show off their climbing agility.

5: Practice Good HousekeepingHamsters can be cranky if disturbed during their daytime sleeping hours, so try cleaning, feeding, and handling in the late afternoon or evening. Be sure to clean out the hamster's bathroom space every day. Hamsters like to amass treasure chests of tidbits, so check for stockpiles of perishable food. Also clean the water bottle and sipper tube daily to prevent buildup of food, algae, and bacteria; check to be sure it is working properly as well.

Change all the bedding twice a week, disinfecting the tank and letting it dry before laying down fresh bedding and replacing the hamster's chewing, nesting, and climbing toys. If you must remove a hamster to clean her tank, you can hold a small box near her and she will probably run right in. When handling a hamster, always hold her over a surface such as a tabletop in case she manages to wriggle her way out of your hands.

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Species of Pet Hamsters-Karin

3/23/2014

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Species of Hamster

There are many different species of hamsters, but only five are commonly kept as pets. Detailed below are those popular species.

Syrian Hamster
Scientific Name: Mesocricetus auratus
Length: 12.5 - 17.5 cms (4.9 - 6.9 inches)
Life Span: 2 - 3 Years
The most well known species of hamster is the Syrian or Golden Hamster and they are the species that are most commonly kept as pets. There are several different colour variations and there are also long-haired varieties. They are known by several different names, depending on their colour, which include; golden hamster, fancy hamster, honey bears, panda bears, black bears, european black bears, polar bears, teddy bears and dalmatian.

Syrian Hamsters have an inquisitive nature and they make ideal "first" pets for children. They need a large cage with plenty of space to run around in and they are active during the evening and night. They are solitary and will not tolerate other hamsters, so they need to be housed on their own otherwise they will fight.

Campbell's Russian Dwarf Hamster
Scientific Name: Phodopus campbelli
Length: 10 - 12 cms (3.9 - 4.7 inches)
Life Span: 1.5 - 3 Years
Campbell's Russian Dwarf Hamsters were discovered by W C Campbell in 1902 in Tuva, Asia. They are native to the steppes and semi-arid areas of central Asia, the Altay Mountains and northeastern China.

They can be many different colours and have a variety of markings. They also have one of four coat types; normal, satin, wavy or rex. They are mainly active at dawn and dusk and they can move extremely quickly.

Unlike Syrian Hamsters, Campbell's Russian Dwarf Hamsters can live happily together if they are introduced at an early age. However, hamsters that have been housed together for some time can occasionally end up fighting to the point that they need separated, so owners should be aware of this.

Because of their small size, they can be quite difficult for small children to handle, but they do make good pets for older children or adults. Sometimes they are able squeeze through the bars of some hamster cages, so plastic or glass aquariums make more suitable homes.

Winter White Russian Dwarf Hamster
Scientific Name: Phodopus sungorus
Length: 8 - 10 cms (3.1 - 3.9 inches)
Life Span: 1.5 - 2 Years
Winter White Russian Dwarf Hamsters are similar to Campbell's Russian Dwarf Hamsters. They can be found in Siberia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia and they are also known as Siberian Hamsters.

They are usually brown/grey or blue/grey during the summer months and they can moult into a white winter coat, hence their name. They can live happily together with other hamsters if they are carefully introduced at an early age.

Because of their small size, they can be quite difficult for small children to handle, but they do make good pets for older children or adults. They can also squeeze through the bars of some hamster cages, so plastic or glass aquariums make more suitable homes.

Roborovski Hamster
Scientific Name: Phodopus roborovskii
Length: Up to 4.5 cms (1.8 inches)
Life Span: Up to 3.5 Years
Roborovski Hamsters originate around the Gobi Desert, throughout the desert steppe of Mongolia and in parts of Northern China. They are the smallest species of hamster that is commonly kept as a pet and they have the longest life span of any domestic hamster.

They are sandy/gold in colour with a white coloured underside and white markings above their eyes. They are extremely active and very fast which makes them difficult to handle, but they thrive in an enriched environment and their antics are very entertaining and fun to watch. They can be housed together if they are introduced at an early age, but they are also very territorial so owners need to be aware of this.

Because of their size, they can easily squeeze through the bars of a standard hamster cage, so housing needs to be carefully considered. A gap of 7mm is the minimum width that should be between the bars of a cage, but if you are a first time Roborovski owner seek advice from your pet store or breeder as to the suitability of housing.

As Roborovski Hamsters are so fast and difficult to handle they are not widely kept as a pet and they do not make good pets for children. They aren't common in pet shops but you can purchase them from specialist hamster breeders.

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