I just got a pet hamster today. I just wanted to know if anyone has any tips on how to care for it or make it happy. she seems a little scared tonight, but I guess that's expected.
2006-07-20 14:43:17 · 15 answers · asked by imdangerouslyinlovewitchu 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Keep it away from the microwave HA HA
2006-07-20 14:47:43 · answer #1 · answered by soontobpapa 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some really good responses here - I've had 2 - Harry & Barry & they were absolutely wonderful creatures - and very spoilt.
They need time to get used to you & all the new smells of your home etc try to resist the temptation (if you have any) to smother them with cuddles & things, like I wanted to! I wouldn't like to say its 48hrs or a week - just spend time watching him/her & try to get a feel of when they're ready to be handled.
Loved the tip on getting a wheel with ball bearings - I have one loud racket of a wheel for my 2 Degus (from the chinchilla family) - I might look into that one myself! The tips on food are great too. I wouldn't give them sugary things very often e.g. say 1 or 2 treats a week. I also tried to let them out of the cage and run up and down the window sill. they also liked nuzzling next to me on the chair or sofa - I had tissues and a fleecy blanket they loved biting into. You just have to watch for the poos & little wees - I always had tissues on hand & always supervised them well when out of the cage - doors closed etc etc.
Sadly I have allergies so have to resist caring for hamsters any more. Hope this helps in some way.
Oh, as far as I'm aware you do have to be careful about mixing hamsters - I heard they can fight as well. I had my two one after the other (when 1 died). I think there are breeds that can mix.
2006-07-20 22:54:19 · answer #2 · answered by misty 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have pet rats & basically you do the same except for the type of food.
Be sure to clean the cage every day & once a week put the little guy somewhere safe like a cardboard box & thoroughly scrub his cage with a mild dish soap & rinse & dry.
Always make sure he has fresh water. Treats are fine but not a lot. When he's sleeping during the day leave him alone, hamsters bite. Rats believe it or not do not bite. I have domestic fancy rats that were breed strictly for pets, they are very nice. Too bad a loaf of snake people buy them for food.
2006-07-20 21:49:47 · answer #3 · answered by day by day 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a hamster in a 20 gal. aquarium, with a screen top that fit snug on the top, so he doesn't climb out. (we have had the hamster for two years, and as long as you clean the aquarium you need not worry about the urine smell, we have a special litter in the corners, that also absorbs the smell) He has a water bottle and a wheel to run in, he does a lot of that at night. (if the wheel starts to squeak just spray a little of the Pam spray on it, not to much).
Always make sure there is nothing in the corners of the aquarium because they use the corners, and their beds, and hiding food, and bathroom.
He has chew toys, and then he comes out of his cage twice a day and runs in a ball we got for him. He likes to run it that, but watch it around steps.
We clean the cage once a week, with pine bedding/litter.
Usually if you leave your hamster alone for the first 48 hrs. to get used to their new homes, they are more tolerable for you to pick them up. Never pick them up after you are done eating, their eyesight is poor and they go on their sense of smell, if you smell like food they will bite. Make sure to wash your hands before picking them up.
here is website that may help you. http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/hamsters/a/hamstercare.htm
2006-07-20 22:16:31 · answer #4 · answered by sapphire007 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pretty simple....clean the cage as often as needed (sometimes the cage gets dirty in a few days, sometimes a week).
Make sure they have those wooden blocks or something hard to chew on since their teeth keep on growing, they need something to cut it down.
As for playing with your hamster, it might be scared when you first get her. Usually the ones from pet stores are not used to being handled by people. Just put your hand in the cage slowly and leave your palm open. Eventually it will come to you, it might take a while though....but it will learn to trust you. After that, just make sure to play with it as often as possible so it is used to human hands.
2006-07-20 21:50:50 · answer #5 · answered by poprocks24 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a russian dwarf hamster. Her name is Gir (From invader Zim :P)
Buy a hamster cage for them (I have a Critter Trails Z). Buy one that has tubes and play areas for them. Mine has a built in travel ball that can be detached and attacked, where she can spin in it for fun.
Buy her a silent wheel. Mine is white and green, and it runs on ball berrings. It doesn't squeak. Metal wheels with spokes (Not a solid floor) can cause injury because their little feet can slip between the bars.
BUY HER CHEW TOYS. Wooden blocks, fruit wood, wooden edible houses. They need a CONSTANT source of wood to chew on, because their teeth rapidly grow.
I bought these little cardboard boxes with seed treats inside them. It encourages them to chew through the tiny holes to get to the treat. For doing a good job, they get an award.
KEEP THEM COOL. I cannot stress this enough! Humans can strip down to skin to keep cool. Hamsters carry a fur coat 24/7. They can't take it off. So keep them very cool.
Slice grapes and freeze them. This offers a sweet, cool treat for them. Also, buy yogurt chips (Mine like strawberry and vanilla). Freeze them as well. It will give them more density and will help keep them cool during the summer.
Remember, hamsters are nocturnal creatures.
Hamsters need to be handled, a lot (Except when you first get her. Introduce yourself to her very slowly. Remember, she may bite or nip, but it might be because she is afraid). The more you handle her, the better she'll be. She'll soon be cuddling up on your shoulder or curling up in your hand.
:) Good luck!
2006-07-20 21:51:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a cage either wire or plastic. Use aspen or a paper based litter. Get a sipper bottle and change the water every other day and feed her a good quality food-my gerbils get Mazuri gerbil and hamster food-lots of chew toys- for more information go to petsmart.com or petco.com-they have care sheets on hamsters on site-oh and you can have only one because they will fight. And don't use an aquarium for housing because they trap ammonia gas from their urine and have poor ventilation and too much ammonia can be fatal to hamsters.
2006-07-20 21:55:07 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, you can get treats for them at pet stores, and to keep her healthy get an exercise wheel, or ball. if you want to tame her to not be so timid, handle her a little every day, and if the cage doesn't have tubes, put toilet paper tubes in the cage for her. also give her something to chew on. if you want even more info check online.
2006-07-20 21:50:06 · answer #8 · answered by blah 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YEAH, they are cute but they are pets that need care
a coated wire cage with food dish and water bottle(they can eventually chew their way out of a plastic cage)
some shavings for litter
hamster food
plastic exercise ball
book on how to care for them
2006-07-20 21:49:25 · answer #9 · answered by Library Eyes 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
definitely don't get a siamese hamster. i had one and he used to bite me all the time. after he died, i found out that those are the kinds that bite most. i got really bored of him after a while, but thats just me. i would go with no. hope this was helpful
2006-07-20 21:51:23 · answer #10 · answered by irock67 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well get her a big cage with the little tunnel also u can take her out during the day and play with her/him if u like also u can buy him/her a friend or playmate u know 2 let him/her feel even more loved.
2006-07-20 21:48:13 · answer #11 · answered by Chantel 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋