Welcome to Hamster Land. On this hamster site, you will find all you need to know about hamsters; the different types of hamsters, their food, breeding and housing.
Syrian hamsters
The hamster’s home should be safe and secure and big enough for the hamster to play. The cage should be placed in a quiet place, away from draughts and away from direct sunlight.
DONT ever use ceder bedding.
Syrian hamsters are solitary animals and they should be housed alone. They are only tolerant of one another until they reach 6 - 10 weeks old and then they will begin to fight. Initially the fighting wont be bad, but as the hamsters mature the fighting will become more vicious and more frequent. Fighting could result in serious injury and even death of one or both hamsters, so they must be housed alone.Scientific Name: Mesocricetus auratus
Length: 12.5 - 17.5 cms (4.9 - 6.9 inches)
Life Span: 2 - 3 Years
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.
Thisis a photo of my hamster, Zifir. He is a Syrian Angora hamster. We got him from a breeder. I would strongly recommend hamsters as pets for children aged 10+.
How to care for dwarf hamsters
First of all I cannot stress this enough-NEVER USE CEDAR ! This type of bedding have caused injuries and even deaths to many hamsters. Cedar is dangerous to their resperatory systems. Then there are aspen shavings. I have used aspen and pine with no problems. For some reason I liked the feel of aspen better than pine. Some hamsters react to pine as they would to cedar, other hamsters have no problems with it. I stopped using aspen when I first tried out "Carefresh". Aspen has a kind of saw dust in it(so does pine) that is bad for the hamsters respiratory systems. I noticed it still clinging to the sides of the cage when I was dumping out old shavings. "Carefresh" has none of those kind of problems. It is made out of reclaimed wood pulp waste. It can't be made into paper & so would be thrown away (basically a very enviromently friendly product). However, it can get a bit pricey (16.99 at one place for 46 dry quarts, who knows what that means off the top of your head?, so it translates into a very large bag) but after all what wouldn't we do for our pets? At any rate bedding should be piled at the very least 2" high. I know dwarfs love to dig and burrow in the shavings.There are many different types of cages that you can buy. Cages made from companies like "SAM" and "Habitrail" are great, but perhaps more than is really needed. These cages are good, and are fun for you to watch your hamster explore. These cages are very hard to clean though. Plus the hamsters can chew on the little plastic odds and ends. This destroys the cage, makes a racket and worst of all endangers the animal. If the hamster ingests one of these jagged plastic bits, well, I imagine it's not a good thing! For my animals I use $10 plain plastic tanks which are light & take 5 minutes tops to clean. I also include accesories from the "Habitrail" and "SAM" line of products. I use their tubes and toys to connect different cages and give my hamsters something to do. Glass aquariums work well too. I would never reccomend wire cages (unless they have one of those 3" guards around the bottom of them that are on most of the new models); for two reasons: 1) Dwarf hamsters can quite easily escape through most ordinary bars of a wire cage(if you are set on a wire cage get one made for mice since the bars are closer together. 2)Any hamster will certainly make a mess by accidently kicking out bedding, food, etc. through the bars of a cage.
Where do I like to live?
Syrian hamsters need a lot of exercise. Therefore, you should buy as big a cage as possible, ideally with a plastic base and wire top. Wire sides will allow your hamster to climb around the bars of its cage which is a favourite pastime. If you own a cat, buy a cage with a plastic top to give your hamster added security. Always keep your cat away from your hamster. A multilevel cage will allow your hamster to climb and make the most of the space in its cage. Modular systems with tubes and different rooms are excellent fun for your hamster and you. And because they’re extendable, over time you can create a maze of tunnels and rooms for your pet to explore.
Cover the floor of the cage with woodshavings and provide paper bedding for nesting. Hay and straw should not be used in your hamster’s cage because the tough strands could hurt its cheek pouches. You should provide a house or bedroom where your hamster can snuggle up and feel safe when it’s asleep.
What do I eat?
Your pet will require a good quality hamster mix such as Hamster Crispy. This will help to prevent an upset stomach caused by changing your hamster’s food. If you do wish to change your hamster’s diet, introduce new food slowly over a period of about 10 days, phasing out the old food completely.
You can supplement your hamster’s diet with very small quantities of fresh fruit and vegetables such as apple and carrot. Do not feed your pet too much fresh food as this can cause an upset stomach. Vitamin supplements and mineral stones can be added to your pet’s diet to keep it in optimum health.
It’s nice to give your hamster a treat occasionally - small animal popcorn or fruit sticks are popular choices. Some hamsters also enjoy a millet spray – it’s as much fun to rip apart as it is to eat the seeds!
A ceramic food bowl is ideal for your hamster as it’s sturdy, hard to tip over, easy to clean and gnaw-proof. Remove any uneaten food then clean and refill the food bowl everyday. Youshould also provide fresh water daily.
Playtime
Providing toys and stimulating natural behaviour by hiding treats around the cage will keep your hamster amused.
Houses and tubes allow hamsters to have hideaway holes for food just as they would in the wild. As well as helping to keep your pet’s teeth short, wooden gnawing toys are fun too so make sure there’s always a gnaw toy in your hamster’s cage.
As they’re nocturnal, hamsters are very active at night and need lots of toys to play with while you’re asleep. Tubes and tunnels will keep your pet entertained and a wheel will allow it to burn off energy. A hamster ball is ideal as it means that your pet can exercise outside its cage and you don’t have to worry about it escaping. These are just a few suggestions of how to keep your hamster happy. For more fun ideas check out the toy section in your local Pets at Home store.
How to handle me
When you first take your hamster home, give it a day or two to get used to its new surroundings without being disturbed. You should then start talking quietly to your pet so that it can get used to your voice. The next step is to introduce your hand into its cage and perhaps offer a treat. Your pet may climb onto your hand but if not, gently scoop it up. It’s important that you handle your hamster regularly to develop its confidence and maintain the relationship. Never wake your hamster up abruptly and pick it up – this could frighten your pet and it may react by biting you. Handle your pet over a table or close to the floor in case it falls out of yourhands. Young children should be closely supervised when handling a hamster. Most hamsters are very docile and with very little taming they’ll come to you and eat from your hand.
Keeping me clean
Clean your hamster’s cage out thoroughly at least once a week using a pet-safe disinfectant. If your hamster uses one area of its cage as a toilet this may need cleaning more often. But don’t worry, there are hamster sized litter trays available that make cleaning a lot easier.
Keeping me fit and healthy
A healthy diet and hygienic conditions will help to keep your hamster in good health but there are a number of potential problems that you should be aware of.
As with all rodents, hamsters’ teeth grow constantly so it’s important to provide wooden toys, mineral stones or treats for gnawing on.
Your hamster can catch a cold just like you so keep its cage out of draughts. In cold weather give your pet more bedding and consider moving its cage into a slightly warmer room. If your hamster gets too cold it may become inactive as if it’s hibernating. If this happens warm your pet up by holding it in your hands.
All hamsters are susceptible to severe diarrhoea known as ‘wet tail’. This condition can be caused by illness, inappropriate foods or stress brought on by moving house or rough handling. If your pet shows signs of being unwell contact your vet immediately.
Top tips for healthy pets
Dental
Gnawing toys are an essential part of your pet’s dental routine and should always be available as they help to prevent overgrown teeth.
Vitamins and supplements
Vitamins can be added to your pet’s food or water. Probiotic supplements can help to maintain healthy digestion and relieve stress. Getting used to its new surroundings can be stressful for your hamster so consider buying probiotic supplements when you take your pet home.
Grooming
Regular grooming helps to strengthen the bond between you and your pet and can highlight health problems too. Groom your hamster once a week or daily if it has long hair to keep its skin and coat healthy.
Cleaning and hygiene
Clean out your pet’s home at least once a week using a pet-safe disinfectant.
Shopping list for your Syrian hamster
- Hamster cage
- Hamster house or bedroom
- Woodshavings
- Hamster bedding
- Pets at Home hamster food
- Food bowl
- Water bottle
- Mineral stone
- Vitamin supplement
- Bottle brush
- Exercise wheel
- Hamster playball
- Tubes and wooden toys
- Gnawing sticks or chews
- Hamster treats
- Cage disinfectant
- Book on hamsters
