Dwarf Hamster...Can you give me some tips?

Question

I am getting dwarf hamster tommrow. I know the basics but can you give me some pointers and do and dont dos?


ThAnKs

Answer 1

-Don't touch them when they are sleeping. They will bite you, and they mean business when they bite - they clamp on and don't let go.

-Dwarf hamsters are much faster and "squirmier" than their larger cousins (Syrian hamsters). They also have very poor depth perception, and they probably can't see the floor too well when you're holding them. Occasionally, they will walk right off you, not realizing that they will fall. Don't walk around holding your hamster, and be very careful letting it run around on your lap.

-Spot clean the cage daily by scooping out soiled bedding and topping off the water bottle or food dish. Empty out all the bedding at least weekly. You may wish to use a tiny litterbox for your hamster, but don't use typical cat litter in it, as it will dry out your hamsters feet and can cause respiratory problems. I use swheatscoop, a natural litter made of wheat. If you use a litterbox, change the litter daily.

-Don't feed your hamster fruit or carrots. Dwarves are very susceptible to diabetes and should not eat sugary foods. Very small pieces of cheese, scrambled egg (no salt), lettuce or other veggies are good treats to give sparingly. You can even give your hamster a tiny piece of chicken (with no seasoning on it), but don't do it too often.

-Let the hamster get used to its cage for a day before you try to touch it. After a day, feed it seeds and other treats from your hand. When it's comfortable with that, try petting it (very gently). When it's comfortable with petting, you can try to pick it up. If you need to, you can use a cup or a ladle with a seed in it. Eventually the hamster will learn that the cup or ladle is an elevator to get to you (and probably more seeds) and they will use it without you having to bribe them.

-Don't bathe the hamster, unless there is something toxic on its coat.

-Don't get anything toxic on your hamster's coat (see above).

-Wash your hands before and after playing with your hamster so that you will always smell the same. This will help your hamster get used to your presence faster.

-Dwarves have a lot of pent up energy. They like to run and run and run and run and run and run and run for hours at a time. We have a little "playpen" for my hamster, and we let her run around in it a few hours a night.

Have fun with your new little critter!

Answer 2

First off, the people here really know what they're talking about. http://groups.msn.com/hamstersgalore

There's many great links there to people who know what they're talking about. As well as forums to answer any of your questions.

I'll give you some tips that others might not have answered.

Dwarf hamsters can be very temperamental, and might be hard to handle at first. Keep in mind that the more you handle them and the nicer you are, the less likely the are to bite you. Never come at a dwarf fast or from above. What I do is use the back of my hand and approach them from the side, so that they can smell me and know I'm not a threat. Also, if they do bite, they probably won't break the skin, or it won't hurt as much, from the back of the hand. Just some advice, they can and will be nice and friendly if you are.

I personally use plastic tubs instead of cages. They can bite the cages, which is annoying, there's more room, they're easier to access, etc. Just make sure they have plenty of toys, wheel, things to chew on, things to run around through. A cheap and fun method is to use toilet paper rolls, as they can play around in them and chew on them. Or you can just buy the plastic tubes, or both.

Never use cedar, pine or similar types of bedding, as it will kill them. Use something like Carefresh.

Never feed them chocolate, as they're prone to diabetes. There's other foods as well, you can look on the link or read up on it.

I'd suggest not bathing them as they are pretty clean, and it can shock their system and kill them. If you must, make sure it's not really hot or cold out. Use room temperature water, let the water rise to them, and don't get their heads wet.

Get the water bottle that is rounded, you'll know when you see it, as they like to chew on things, and the round one prevents this.

You can teach your dwarf hamster to use a litter box of sorts. You can purchase or make one, just fill it with sand, and show them how to use it. This will keep their cage and them smelling better. Clean out the cage around a weekly or so basis.

Dwarf hamsters are communial by nature, but they do tend to be pretty territorial, so don't just throw another dwarf hamster in the cage if you get one.

If there tail gets all wet all the time, they probably have wet tail, and they'll die, so take them to the vet.

You can tell the sex of the hamster by picking htem up and blowing on their, well, down there. They also have a gland in the middle of their stomachs, which excretes their scent. Just so you know, it's nothing creepy.

I'm sure there's more, but that's all I got right now.

Answer 3

I had a hamster that lived almost 4 years.
Keep its cage clean. Change the bedding at least once a week. You'll notice your hamster will keep itself and its living area clean, but they do like to hide food all over the place, so forget about keeping the food all in once place. Don't use bedding with aromas or pine oil; that's supposed to be bad for them.
They like enough bedding material to make a cozy area to sleep.
They need toys and stuff to keep busy. Try to find a hamster wheel that isn't too noisy. My hamster used to get on the wheel at night and run for HOURS, and it was really noisy. Nuts like almonds and brazil nuts will keep them busy too.
Don't get freaked out if your hamster stuffs an insane amount of nuts and food in its mouth; that's normal. It will find a hiding place for the food, and spit it all out.
Don't let it get lost, because they are tiny, and like to find hiding places. Mine got away for about an hour, and I found it when it ate through my modem cable.
Don't blow on them. Maybe this was just a freak thing, but I blew a puff of air on my hamster to see what he would do, and he turned around a peed on me!
I swear my hamster learned his name. When I called his name, he would wake up and stand up on his hind legs. See if you can train yours like that.

Answer 4

Don't give it alfalfa our twin hamsters died from that. Also, don't drop them. Habitrail sets (the tubes they climb through) are difficult for them to go through until they are much older.

Enjoy them, but be careful not to let them run loose as they are difficult to catch.

Answer 5

i'm just here to share my experience with my dwarf hamster..
i had a dwarf hamster many many many years back, it was fun having him. i brought him to shcool and tuition. he was very clean and i just hid him in my pocket :)
maybe you could bring your hamster around too when you get him.

Answer 6

wow i had a dwarf hamster theyre so cute..yea well some tips are you should buy it a big cage so it can run around in something like this http://www.petco.com/Shop/petco_Product_Nav_237_sku_642452_R_656_enemerch_1.aspx .... they also like those wheel things and o yea they love sunflower seeds but u also gotta feed it other things not just sunflowers dont give it the salty ones take care of it alot and talk to it mine liked it wen i did that o and buy it a little place to sleep like a small wooden house thing and buy those small wood chips or alfalfa so it can make a nest to sleep it in the house and if you can also buy it like 2 cages and the tubes that u connect so it can have a big place to run around i used to have that with 3 cages and my dwarf loved to run around in it it was like a little play ground and evry night she would sleep in a different cage also...if you want u can close the door in your room and let it run around loose in your room but u have to be careful if there are anything that she can escape or if you want to be safer buy it those balls that you put them in i did that with my hamster for about 2 hours so she can atleast feel free form being in a cage and wen its sunny put one cage outside in the shade so it can get some fresh air i had a little corral kinda thing outside for my hamster so that i can put her there to run around in the grass..make sure u also feed it alot of vegetables so it can be healthy for example you should give your hamster about 1 small piece of lettuce..1 small peice of chopped up carrot...some sunflower seeds for treats and its regular hamster food remeber to replace the water at leadt 3 times a week so the water doesnt get old or the hamster doesnt dehydrate o yea and dont ever give your hamster chocolate it clogs up something in there throat..and also if you can buy a small carrier cage to take it walks or short rides to places..just go to that website i sent you and you can find alot of cool things there..if there isnt a petco near you just find something similar at you local petstore...hopefully i helped you and dont forget to love your dwarf hamster alot

Answer 7

I just got my hamster 1 month ago and he's fine alone so mabay you should'nt feed it so much and let it exercise alot

Answer 8

here some sites

Answer 9

Yeah, don't let any cats near it.