Hamsters also store nesting material in their cheeks, like dried leaves, twigs, and grass. That’s 61 x 30.5 cm, and about 30.5 cm tall. Compared with other wheel designs, flying saucers don’t have the whole bent-over spine problem and I think that’s an important factor to consider. Cleaning A Hamster Cage – How Often, And How To Do It Right. As soon as I found this out, I stopped getting mineral chews for my Teddy. 11 inches/ 28 cm It’s up to you which you think would be best for your hammy. You’ll find out everything from what kind of cage he needs, to how much food he needs, and how to figure out which breed you’ve got. Using a plastic cage will also make it easier for the hamster to be in a higher place, out of the cat’s sight. You will need to check up on the hamster to ensure that it is being well taken care of. Mice are only a slight bit smarter in this area. I hope you found what you were looking for in this article. You will not need to see the vet often. And I learned how to do it without disturbing him too much, so he’s not shocked to find a completely different cage when I let him back in. So more hamsters in a cage equal more frequent cleaning. But does he put everything in his cheeks ? They stay healthy for along time, but once they get sick they need immediate attention. Hamsters, particularly Syrian hamsters… Aspen bedding is one of the safest types you can get for a hamster. Hamsters are prey animals, so they’re used to running away and hiding. If you want to know how a hamster would fare if he were to live in the same cage as a rat or mouse, then you should read this article here. Hamsters sleep with their eyes closed, and they might crack one open if they hear something or feel the cage move. Us hamsters are fairly easy to take care of, but we do need regular cleaning and we need your help with that. Again, this is an item you only buy once, like the wheel and cage and hideout. This also depends on the cooperation of the other members of the household, to also keep your door closed when they go into it, or shoo the cat if she tries to open it. It’s basically a pair of really big cheeks, that can get and stay stuffed for however long the hamster needs them to. It’s okay if it’s mealworms, it can even if a bit of boiled plain chicken. Females live together easier. You might ask if there’s a thing like taking too many vitamins or minerals. Protein (like meat or egg) is eaten immediately, grains not so much. In addition to routine check-ups, be prepared to take your hamster to the vet as many times necessary to make sure you keep it healthy. So hamsters have to make do with dry grains, a few seeds, a stray veggie here and there. They can die young, around 4 weeks of age, if they develop wet-tail and aren’t give treatment fast, or they can develop diabetes when they’re older, aside form a host of other problems. A bored rat is never good news. Hamsters have very sensitive eyes, even if their eyesight is almost non-existent. Unfortunately they can’t be all kept together, you need to pick just one kind of pet. Hammies don’t like to share and generally should not be housed together. If you want to know more about traveling with your hamster, and how to make sure he is comfortable during travel, you should check this out. In short, hamsters have to travel far and wide in order to find enough food. A hamster that doesn’t fear the cat will go straight for the cat and try to smell her. Seven inch plastic flying saucer wheel He’s almost two years old as I’m writing this, so he had time to complain if he wanted to. You might be luckier, I don’t know. So let’s see what those steps are. I’d seen one or two before, I knew they were small and fluffy, and needed a cage, and didn’t live more than a couple of years. Those are much much denser and stronger than toilet rolls, and they give the hamster more to chew on. Have a place to put the hamster’s cage so the cage sides are covered3. Dancing Noodle, you obviously dont know how to care for your pets! When it comes to dairy, hamsters can eat some kinds, but not too much. so that round up to around 5 dollars a month on average, i also advise you not to wash your hamster with water, it gets your hamster sick. If you don’t yet have a cat and hamster, but were considering getting either one, talk it over with the house. Wherever his nest is, not matter how much nesting it’s already got – it always needs more. However, try to keep track of how much you refill a hamster's … So they will go overboard with the nesting material. When you’re done with the cleaning process, pat the cage dry and make sure there are no wet spots. Travel upsets hamsters, so the shorter the distance, the better. Hamsters are solitary animals. This also means that it will break apart when it reaches your hammy’s stomach, so he will have no trouble passing it out. Knowing when to bring your hamster to the vet is one thing, but knowing who to bring him to is another. In a lone, quiet room, not so much. Hamsters rely on smell and memory to navigate their cage, and are not keen on changes. Sometimes the objects inside the cage will need some extra cleaning. He sleeps in a big, knotted pile of paper towels, toiler paper squares, chewed up cardboard, and some bits of wood shaving from the bedding. So keep that in mind as well. The reason people tend to be scared of them is because they can be very noisy, and if your hammy’s a small one (like a Dwarf) he might get a foot stuck in those bars. Make sure the hamster’s cage is secure That means that some will come out during the night, and some will only come out at dusk and dawn. Can hamsters eat dog food ? And the flying saucer seems the best for for Dwarf hamsters, but could also be alright for Syrians in a pinch. At your visit, the vet can trim your hamsters nails, examine them for any illnesses, check … The article continues after the image.). As of 2016 the bare minimum size cage for a hamster to live in permanently is 450sq inches (75 x 40cm or equivalent) EU countries have much higher expectations than this so be sure to double check on hamster … Or why dog treats are okay for hamsters, but dog food isn’t. An adult Syrian hamster will need a minimum of 7 inches/18 cm to be able to run freely. This means that will even pull/push it off of the table or shelf if they can get a good grip on it. A private breeder will not cost more than the pet shop, and getting a baby hamster from a friend will be basically free. Table of Contents So do hamsters need mineral chews ?High mineral content foods for hamstersThe right nutrition for your hamsterMineral chews to stop your hamster from chewing the cageA few chew toy ideas for your hamsterA word from Teddy It’s large, one of the largest available for small rodents. Paper beddings are a bit more expensive than wood shavings. Usually after that he’ll start grooming himself, and start his day. About the hamster’s personality Diseases can still come into your home and reach your hamster – like the common cold for example. Of course you can take a hamster to the vet! (If you like this article so far, you can pin it to your Pinterest board by clicking the image below. That’s you own decision, and you need to think about it carefully. Just crouching and listening for soft rustling sounds is a big part of cat life. But, it should be a fairly private place where there’s not much traffic, and your hamster can sleep undisturbed. He’ll definitely come out then, and start pouching everything. It could be that you’ve got the world’s lightest Robo and he might not break the wheel at all. They bond a little more with their owners than hamsters, but that doesn’t say much. They will stick their paws into the cage as far as they can, and even draw the cage closer to them. So I’d only recommend a hamster to a person who either stays up very late, or works night shifts and can catch the hamster awake more often. That’s 61 x 30.5 cm, and about 30.5 cm tall. The other reason hamsters evolved to have a cheek pouch is that the terrain hamsters live on is not very rich. When I first got my Teddy I had no real info on hamsters. Those are all honest mistakes, and can be easily corrected. As long as they are unscented, they’re fine. Those usually have dry food that keeps for long, and is more suitable for a hamster’s usual diet and what he’d normally find in the wild. When we got him, we spend an entire evening looking at him, at how cute he is, and how much energy he has. If you’ve never had a hammy before, it can look like he’s eating the TP. So if your hamster’s cage is 30 inches high, and you’ve got 2 inches of bedding, calculate with 28 inches since that’s only as much as it will allow. If you don’t have a vet on call, or are not sure what kind of vet you need, look for an ”exotics” vet. You can check the listing on Amazon for this wheel, and read the reviews as well.