![]() Hamsters are great little creatures to have as pets. They love lots of attention and enjoy interacting with their owners. They are cute, fun and extremely active little rodents, especially at night when the sun goes down. There over 25 species of hamsters in the world, ranging from a large European breed to the tiniest of dwarf hamsters that are also popular pets to keep.
Here are some fun and interesting facts about these adorable and popular little pets you may not already know.
Hamsters have been kept as pets for a very long time. They were first found by man in Syria and the name “hamster” comes from a very old German word “hamstern” which translated means “hoard”. Although, hamsters were discovered for the first time in Syria, these lovely little rodents are in fact, native to many other countries in the world. Here are some more fascinating facts about hamsters
As previously mentioned, the most popular breed of hamster to keep as a pet is the Golden Hamster which is a native to desert regions of Syria in the Middle East. Here are a few fun and fascinating facts about Golden Hamsters:
Taking care of a pet hamster means creating the right sort of environment for them to live in. Because these clever little creatures like to interact with their owners, it's important to spend as much time as you can playing with them. Placing their cages where people tend to congregate in the home, is a great way of making sure a hamster never gets too lonely. The thing you need to remember if you're thinking about adopting a hamster, is they are great escape artists and can travel great distances if they get out of their cages - in a single night, a hamster may travel up to 10 kilometres on their exercise wheel! Hi there I hope you enjoyed the site and that know you know how to take care of your hamsters and please take a proper care of your hamsters and that to feed them at time & give them water at time.
![]() A Guide to Pet Dwarf Hamster Cages Purchasing a safe and appropriate habitat for your pet hamsters is one of the biggest decisions you will make for their well being. In this article, we will discuss basic cage safety, general habitat requirements, and show you some of the best options on the market for your pet hamster. ![]() General Cage Size RequirementsYou will need a cage that provides at least 1 cubic foot of space for 1 dwarf hamster, with an additional .5 cubic feet of space for each additional hamster in the same habitat. Depending on the social dynamics of groups of hamsters, you may find you need even more room to prevent squabbling. There are many benefits of having an appropriately sized hamster cage. An appropriately sized cage will not get dirty as quickly, which will create less of an ammonia build up and keep your hamsters healthier. Hamsters who live in social groups are more likely to get along with their cagemates if they have ample room to interact, and also get space to themselves if they do not want to play with other hamsters and need some private time. Hamsters are less prone to becoming cage aggressive and feeling like they have to defend their space if they have plenty of it. A large cage will also reduce the chances of your hamster developing a compulsive behavior from boredom and aggitation, such as bar chewing that can lead to broken teeth or circling/pacing behaviors. ![]() Basic Safety RequirementsThere is a huge variety of hamsters cages on the market, but not all cages are created equally. Hamster cages offer different amounts of useful space and many popular cages that look great on the shelf aren't very user friendly once you have them at home with your hamster inside. Here we have collected some basic requirements and safety guidelines to help you make an informed decision on your hamster's cage. Not all cages are as secure as they look, pay attention to bar spacing and escape points Dwarf hamsters can squeeze through very small spaces, and are prone to finding the one place in the cage where they can either chew a hole or pop open a cage latch to make their escape. Your cage should be rock solid so that you don't have to worry about your hamster getting out and getting lost in the house. You should look for a cage with 1/2 inch or smaller bar spacing for adult dwarf hamsters, and baby dwarf hamsters may need to be in a cage with glass or plastic walls as they may be able to slip even the smallest bar spacing. When you are looking at a cage with bars, you should check further beyond making sure that you have a 1/2 inch or less space between the bars and look for any areas where this measurement might be slightly larger. Corners where the cage folds, or areas where the bars may not be straight by doors or other connecting areas could provide the escape route your hamster will be looking for. If you have any doubts about your cage's security, place it in a large plastic bin (if it fits) or in a bathtub with the drain plugged for the first week. If there is an easy way out, your hamster will likely find it in a matter of days but you won't have to search the whole house for them. The base of the cage should be a solid surface, no wire grates for poop to fall through While it might seem like a good idea to have wire floors so that pet waste falls through and your pet doesn't live next to their poop, hamsters don't do well walking on wire surfaces. While they are light enough that it is rare for a hamster to get bumblefoot from walking on normal wire, hamsters rarely watch where they place their feet and will continually plunge their feet through open spaces. This means a hamster who is running or walking down a ramp may be able to stick their leg through the wire and fall, breaking a very small bone. If your cage has wire levels or ramps, we recommend covering them. You can use a plastic material like coroplast, laminate flooring purchased from the hardware store, cardboard or cardstock. The cage should be made of safe materials that can be cleaned easily If you invest in a good quality cage, your cage will last for the entire lifetime of your pet hamster and with good care can be used for many more years if you continue to keep pet hamsters. Look for a cage that has sturdy plastic if you are choosing a cage with a plastic pan or parts, as you will be able to scrub or bleach the plastic without worrying about it cracking. Keep in mind cages with lots of plastic connectors or tubes are prone to chewing or breakage when disassembling the cage. It is more ideal to look for the metal cage components to be powder coated or PVC coated, which will protect the metal from rusting. Keep in mind that PVC coated cages are susceptible to the finish wearing or cracking, but they will last much longer than a galvanized metal cage with no treatment applied. Some people opt to house their hamsters in aquariums, which are largely impervious to wear if they are kept clean and not dropped. You may also choose to make your own home made hamster cage out of a plastic bin, which provides a high level of durability without the risk of dropping and breaking glass. You should have easy access to all parts of your hamster's cage When you are choosing a hamster cage, pay close attention to all of the access points such as doors and lids that open to see how they are organized. The cage doors should be suitably large for an adult to reach in and take out your hamster. You should not have to bend your wrist to make it around a corner or reach in an awkward way to any part of the cage. Make sure that the door closure method is secure, a good way to test this is by closing the cage door and giving several firm tugs on the bars in the center of the door. If the door pops open, your hamster may be able to pop open the door with enough effort. Ideally, the cage should be fairly easy to disassemble so that you can easily clean sections. Look for more horizontal space than vertical space, and minimize any areas your hamster can fall from Hamsters are very good at climbing up in their cage, but they are not good at climbing down and will generally hit the top of where they are going and fall back down to the ground floor. Pay attention to how the cage is laid out and try to minimize any vertical drops or hard places your hamster could land badly. Your hamster will appreciate more flat running space versus vertical climbing room in a cage, so it's best to look for a shorter cage with a broader footprint for your hamster. "Tube" cages and special considerations Hamster cages with tube connectors, such as Crittertrail, Habitrail or Critter Universe cages can provide a fun, expandable habitat for dwarf hamsters where the sky is the limit as far as how you configure your cage. With a variety of accessories made to snap into place, these cages are some of the most fun for someone interested in building and expanding your hamster cage. Just keep in mind that you will periodically need to break down your habitrail cage and give it a good scrubbing, and depending on the size of your cage and the model, this can be quite the time commitment. Plan to purchase a few back-up tubes or bubble caps in case of any breakage so that you have a quick way of making sure your hamster is secure if anything goes wrong. ![]() Watch out for spots your hamster can chew openWhen you are choosing your cage, look at any ridges or surfaces that are not absolutely smooth that your hamster will be in contact with. Any ridge or bump on the inside is a potential area your hamster will be able to chew and create an opening in. You'll want to consider how much that particular part of the cage would cost to replace if you started noticing your hamster chewing on it, and if it seems to be a very thin part of the cage, the liklihood that you will have to replace that part more than once if you have a hamster who is a persistant chewer.
You will reduce the chance of your hamster focusing in on one area to chew if they have a large habitat that provides enough room for them to entertain themselves. Bored hamsters become obsessive chewers. If you end up with a hamster who is wearing out their habitats, you may want to consider opting for a chew-proof habitat such as an all-metal enclosure or an aquarium. Features to Look for in Special SituationsDepending on your situation, you may want to look for a cage with specific features that will make it easier to house and care for your hamsters in the long run. Do you have a cage territorial hamster? Look for a wide open cage plan Many hamsters, and in particular campbell dwarf hamsters, are prone to cage territorial behavior. A cage territorial hamster may bite hands inside their environment, but may be friendly and easy to handle if they are removed from the cage by being allowed to walk into a scoop or other item instead of a hand coming in and intruding on their space. You will have a better time interacting with this type of hamster personality if you have plenty of room to move in, so cages with small doors or tubes may not be the most ideal situation. An aquarium or bin cage with an open top, or a wide open cage plan with a large door that helps you move freely will help keep your relationship with your hamster from getting rocky. Keep social hamsters from getting cranky with eachother by eliminating bottlenecks Even a happy social pair or group of dwarf hamsters can get grouchy with each other from time to time, but in the wrong type of cage a minor argument can turn into a serious fight. If there is an area where one hamster can corner another, this can turn into a "pressure point" that can cause arguments to escalate, so plan to have either a cage that is difficult for one hamster to corner another in, or lay things out so that there isn't any area one hamster can get trapped in. Aquarium or bin type cages will work well for providing an open floor plan without pressure points, and tube cages can be planned so that every area has at least two exits to keep it from becoming a trap. If you have a social group of hamsters that is starting to bicker more than usual, try switching them to a broader, more open cage if they are in a cage with narrow passageways. Sometimes a little bit more elbow room can solve a lot of problems in their daily life. Carpeted floors around the cage? Look for a deep cage pan Cage pans vary in depth from about 1" to 3" deep on cages with wire portions. If you are using a loose bedding substrate as opposed to a fabric bedding, your hamster will kick some of the bedding out of the cage. Having a deep cage pan will help keep more of your hamster's bedding inside the cage instead of on the floor around it. An aquarium or bin type cage will keep all of the bedding in the cage without room for it to get knocked out. Do you have senior hamster? Look for a flat cage instead of one with multiple levels If you are considering a cage with multiple levels, your aging hamster may find themselves at a point in their lives where a ramp to get to the higher areas is too much for them to undertake. You can either choose a cage with a flat floor plan from the start, or you can look to eliminate any steep ramps or tubes from existing cages to make them more senior friendly. ![]() Food For Your Hamsters!Here is list of foods that are safe for your hamster to eat & some that should be avoided & are bad. In addition to your hamster's regular dry hamster food mix (that should include seeds, dried fruits/veggies & niblets) you can feed some "fresh food" or "treats" that should not exceed 20% of total food intake. Also, when feeding your hamster a new treat like a piece of fruit or veggie, introduce them to this SLOWLY. If fed to much of a new item, it can upset their digestive system. ![]() Hamster enjoying some green pepper & broccoli, For veiwer enjoyment (Cortesy of Parry Gripp.) -FruitsApples (seedless), Banana, Blackberries, Blueberries, Cantaloupe, Cherries, Cranberries, Grape (seedless), Lychee, Mango, Melon, Peaches (no stone), Plums (no pits), Raspberries, Raspberry leaves (helps dairrhea), Strawberries, ![]() -VegetablesAsparagus, Bean sprouts, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Cabbage (limited amounts can cause dairrhea), Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chestnuts, Chickweed, Cloves, Corn, Cucumbers, Dandelion leaves, Green beans, Kale, Parsnips, Peas, Romaine lettuce, Spinach, ButterNut squash, Sweet potatoes, Green, & red, & yellow bell peppers, Raddchicio, Swiss chard, Turnip, Water chestnuts, Water cress, Zucchini ![]() - Meats & ProteinsCooked ground beef (Rinse in hot water to remove grease), Cooked chicken or turkey (Plain or served with steamed veggies), Low fat cottage cheese, Fish cod (no bones [plain]), Grasshoppers (Get at pet shop), Mealworms (pet shop), Crikets (pet shop), White Bread OR Bread soaked in milk (HAMSTERS GO CRAZY FOR THIS STUFF!), Eggs (boiled or scrambled), Plain tofu, Yogurt (fruit flavored or plain [not yogurt like "Cheesecake or shortcake yogurt" this has to much byproducts & may contain chemicals]), Dog biscuits (no garlic, onion & onion powder flavored), Monkey chow, Lab blocks, Peanut Butter (HAMSTERS LOVE THIS STUFF [ don't feed to much as it can rot in your hamster's pouches]) ![]() - Other FoodsBuckwheat,
Baby food (low sugar, NO onion & garlic flavor), Cheese (sometimes can cause dairrhea), Cooked rice (Plain), Cooked pasta (Plain), Dry toast (helps dairrhea), Flax seed, Low sugared cereals, Pumpkin seeds (unsalted), Nuts (NO ALMONDS!can be fatal!), Sesame seeds, Soy beans (unsalted), Squash seeds, Lentils, OatMeal (Dry or soaked or cooked in milk or water), Nutritional yeast, Bran, Wheat germ, Peanuts (unsalted), Alfalfa (unsalted), Popcorn (PLAIN) - Bad Food (Hamsters can't eat these foods listed below, they can be deadly to them. Avoid these foods for your hamster's health & well-being.)Almonds, Apple seeds, ANY canned foods including canned veggies (they can contain DANGEROUS chemicals!), Chocolate, Candy, Chips & junk food, Pork products, Potatoes, Kidney beans, Eggplant, Grape seeds, Avocado, Rhubarb, Tomatoes, Oranges & tangerines (NO CITRUS FRUIT), Watermelon, Cherry & peach stone, Peach leaves, Apricot stone, -Herbs (These are the only herbs they can eat. Any herbs not listed below means they can't eat them)Basil, Dill, Fennel, Sage, Thyme, Oregano, Parsley, Cilantro ![]() Hamsters need enough water everyday to survive. If you own a hamster, you need to check everyday to see if they have good and healthy mineral water. The water should be warm not too cold and not too hot. Be sure that when you are putting water for them, it is fresh and warm. You should also clean the water bottle to avoid it from being dirty and green. ![]() Hamster also need enough food for their everyday life. They usually have their own precious food in the pet sore but if you also want to give them a few treats at home you can include fruits, vegetables and any kind of nuts. Hamsters often stuff their food in their cheeks like a pouch for emergencies. When they are hungry they take it out of their mouth and eat it. They also don't have any saliva so that's a good factor about hamsters. ![]() ![]() Hamsters are popular small house pets because they are easy to care for and interact well with people. These tiny mammals are rodents belonging to the subfamily Cricetinae. There are more than 25 species of hamsters ranging from the large European breed measuring up to 13.4 in (34 cm) long to the tiny dwarf hamsters with bodies of 2 to 4 inches (5.5 to 10.5 cm) long. ![]() The word hamster comes from the Old German word “hamstern,” which means “hoard.” ![]() The first hamsters were discovered in Syria, but the mammals are native to many countries. Syrian hamsters are solitary, territorial creatures that need their own space. Hamsters can bite and even kill each other if they have to share a space. ![]() n the wild, habitat loss from agriculture and human development are threatening the population of hamsters. Hamsters have very poor eyesight and rely on scent to find their way. They have scent glands on their bodies they rub on rocks or other objects along a path. ![]() Because they are small and easy to breed, hamsters are often used in laboratory experiments. Although hamsters require little care when kept as pets, they will bite when startled or scared. |