Caring For Hamsters

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By peace | November 9, 2006

Hamsters were first known to be bred and kept as pets in England beginning around 1880. Unfortunately, they died out by 1910. Around 1930, more specimens were introduced back into England. These hamsters were found by a professor and his students while travelling in the Syrian desert. The descendants of these hamsters are what is known today as the Syrian Golden Hamster.

Food
Hamsters have high metabolisms and should have constant access to food and water. A hamster’s diet should consist of a variety of greens, fruits and seeds, some of which are available in packages formulated for hamsters or birds. Their teeth never stop growing, so it is imperative that these animals be provided with hard, digestible items such as dog biscuits and clean tree branches.

Avoid sour fruits and lettuce. Neutral additions of powdered vitamins and minerals may be strewn over the food in recommended amounts. Concerning the teeth of the hamster single measures should be taken, so that the animal gets a supply of chewy pieces, either usual, unprepared wood, or chewing biscuits or stones specially made and sold in stores for that purpose. The hamster must have a supply of fresh water.

Choose a water bottle designed for hamsters. Make sure that the animal learns to drink from the bottle, in case this doesn’t happen by its own initiative you must help it by carefully feeding it with the lip, so that it learns the connection. Without the supply of fresh water the hamster may suffer from constipation.

Be consistent in the diet and avoid fast changes. Stay away from raw beans, apple seeds, sprouting potato buds, parsley, and green parts of tomatoes—all foods that can be poisonous to hamsters. The hamster is not to be fed with sweets, especially chocolate. Calcium shortage may be prevented by making sure that the animal has access to a mineral stone.

Housing
In their native habitat, hamsters live underground and they 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. There is a wide variety of cages and housing used for hamsters. There are three main types of commercial hamster housing available: wire cages, plastic cages, and aquariums.

Cages should at least be 20 square inches of floor area per hamster, and a cage height of at least 6 inches. Since hamsters like to sleep during the day and are up all night you may want to keep the hamster cage in a living room rather than a bedroom so the night time noise is not bothersome. A wood or plastic house should be provided for the hamster to burrow in.

The cage should have solid floors and relatively deep bedding. Plenty of nesting material should always be provided. Toilet paper and paper towel tubes are great things to put into the cage for them to chew on and make their nest. Small cardboard boxes are also great. Common beddings used are toilet paper, shredded paper and wood chips. Hamsters should have their cage cleaned weekly.

Un-cleaned cages can get quite smelly. Bedding should be kept clean. Although 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. Hamsters 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 out of your hands.

Bedding
Most owners use wood shavings to line the cage, but avoid cedar shavings – aspen or other hardwood shaving are the preferred choice as even pine shavings may emit irritating aromatic oils. The bedding should be changed weekly, but most hamsters use an area of the cage for a toilet and this area can be cleaned more frequently to help keep the cage clean. Hamsters like to burrow, so provide a good depth of shavings for them to dig in. The placement of the cage in the home should also be carefully considered. Since hamsters are nocturnal, their setting should be fairly quiet during the day. However, they shouldn’t be so far out of the way that they do not have opportunities for social interaction in the evening when they are active. The cage should be away from direct sunlight or heat sources, and also free from drafts, and should be raised of the floor on a shelf or table.

Furnishings
A nesting box should be provided, which can be store bought or as simple as a cardboard box (which will have to be replaced regularly). Provide soft such as strips of facial tissue or soft paper towels The nest material should be cleaned out only every month or two as needed (more frequent changes may be too disruptive to the hamster). However, regular checks and removal of any stored food materials is recommended. Hamsters need the opportunity to chew, burrow, and get exercise.

Almost all hamsters will use a hamster wheel enthusiastically (a solid surface is easier on their feet). Also provide some tunnels or tubes (paper towel or toilet paper), fresh branches (willow, or fruit wood; pesticide free), small cardboard boxes, and blocks of wood etc. for climbing and gnawing. For water, a water bottle with a dispenser is preferred as it can’t tip and keeps the water clean. A shallow food bowl of ceramic or porcelain is the best choice as they are difficult to tip and easy to clean.

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