Hamster questions...?

Question

Can I put cotton balls in my hamster's cage or is that not safe? Or what can I put is his cage for bedding and or mix with her normal bedding?

What types of human food can I feed my hamster? Like fruit, veggies, etc.

What is the easiest way of cleaning my hamster's tubes attached to her cage?

And if you can put anything that you think would a hamster like and or care tips...

And also, can I just stretch out the cotton balls or is there some kind of cotton I can buy that is safer the cotton balls?

Another thing, my sister wants a hamster, can they live in the same cage if they are both girls, (For reference they will probably be the same kind [Black short haired hamsters is, I think what they are called) or will they fight or also will they fight if one is younger then the other?

Answer 1

NO. just give him plain toilet paper like scott tissue for his bed. just rip off a few sheets and let him shred it himself & put it where he wants it. give him more when he uses it all. his flooring should be aspen or carefresh. NO pine or cedar. NO SAWDUST. dont use newspaper as the dyes can be harmful. leave the bed area when u clean unless it's dirty. if it is, still leave the clean parts. they get stressed when their whole home is changed.

raw veggies and fruits. no citrus or lettuce. apples, carrots, broccoli, zuchini, cauliflower, pears, banana, are all fine. just make sure theyre in small portions like half your thumb size once or twice a day. the packaged hamster food available are fine but look for the highest % of protein u can get (16% is good) and take out some of the sunflower seeds if yours seems to eat too many. sometimes the guinea pig ones are better.

i just take them off and soak them in vinegar & baking soda mixed with hot water. then rinse well. no bleach!

dislikes: being awakened, drafts, small cages, sick people - they can catch your cold, loud noises, being dropped-can die -sit when holding, no baths!

like: large cages-can attach 2 together, hamster ball -use tape on lid, wheel-not made of wire, clean cage-watch that pee corner!

most of what lynn said is incorrect, please compare mine to hers and do what i suggest when it's different.

they could care less about being held but do so to keep them tame. and do talk to them as u walk by.

good luck, email me with any future probs!

Answer 2

Yes you can put cotton in your hamster's cage. They use it as bedding. Just drop 2-4 in the cage they will know what to do with it.

Fruits and veggies your hamster can eat are; grapes, apples, carrots, potato, lettuce, celery. Make sure you have some chew sticks for your hamster.

The best way to clean the tubes is to take the entire thing apart and clean them with bleach - be sure to rinse the bleach away. Before putting it back together make sure tubes are completely dry.

Clean the cage once a week. When changing water check for mold or mildew. If you see any you need to soak this in bleach as well. Not alot just enough to disinfect. Be sure that this is completely rinsed of bleach.

Make sure your hamster has an exercise wheel and plenty of tubing to run through.

If you don't have it get a hamster ball too. Then you have a place to put your pet while you are cleaning out their cage. Hold your hamster as much as possible so that they get used to human contact BUT be sure that your hands are clean and don't smell of food because they will bite you if they smell food on you.

Answer 3

The bedding I use (and have used for a few years) is a half and half mix of aspen shavings (which don't cause the respiratory problems that cedar and pine can) and carefresh. It absorbs odor well and is comfy for the hamsters.

It is best to keep feedings of fruit and veggies to a minimum as too much of them can lead to wet tail, but carrots and celery can be nice treats as well as giving an additional way for the litte guy (or girl) to wear down its teeth. Mostly you'll want to stick with a good hamster food mix. I'm fond of Kaytee because it has some dried fruits and such in it as well as the usual staples.

I use a bottle brush for the tubes on the cage or, if I have the time and space, put them in the dishwasher. Hand-cleaning tends to be more thorough, but the dishwasher will do in a pinch (or when I'm feeling super lazy). You may want to think about getting a book on hamster care. There is one commonly sold in pet stores (can't recall the name offhand) that gives not only basic care tips but also has suggestions about toys and such.

Answer 4

No never put cotton balls in a hamsters cage cause the hamster might want to taste it , and it can choke or get sick, and I have guinea pig and I thought I wanted to put something soft in her cage so I got a little fabric and and get a little bit of cotton (not allot or the hamster probably can't go on it. Jut enough where it looks a little flat but a little fluffed you know.)And you put the pillow where it sleeps and it should nice warm and soft. Any kinds of fruits and veggies just as long as you don't feed potatoes or cherries to it and you should be fine, but make sure you chop up the fruit and veggies into little pieces. Oh yeah you can feed them any kind of nuts too k.

Answer 5

I wouldn't suggest cotton balls. They might get stuck in its mouth. I use toilet paper for my hamster. I tear it up ito small strips and put it in her cage with her aspen bedding. She seems to like it and every time i clean her cage the first thing she does is gather up all the toilet paper and make a nest. You can also use carefresh if what you are looking for is a softer bedding.
I would think hamster would be able to eat most kinds of veggies, and very small portions of fruit. Remember how small hamsters are and don't feed it too much of any one thing.
As for the tubes, put them in the dishwasher, you can do this to the entire cage if its small enough.

Answer 6

firstly..cotton balls won't hurt your hamster. they use the cotton for bedding, cotton is a natural fiber that can be found in the wild..and is USED by wild hamsters! they are smart enough to know NOT to eat their bedding. and use a paper type bedding material instead of cedar or pine (which causes upper respiratory problems in rodents). Most pet stores sell hamster food that is primarily made up of seeds;avoid these mixtures!! Hamsters love seeds. Even when it is a pellet-seed mix formulated for hamsters, they will pick out the seeds and leave the nutritious pellets.
The reason you need to avoid these is that seeds are low in calcium, a nutrient hamsters need to prevent osteoporosis. They also are high in fat and can shorten your hamster's lifespan. Instead, feed your pet pellets or a laboratory block, even if the package doesn't state that it is for hamsters. Just like people and other pets, hamsters love treats. You can love your pet to death with too many treats, don't over do it. some treats are:
fresh fruit, vegetables, chicken, eggs, tofu, celery leaves, fresh green beans, peas, peanuts, raisins and carrots.
make sure he/she has FRESH water. and that you give him/her plenty of things to chew. since hamsters teeth NEVER stop growing they need hard things to break them down.
use a baby bottle cleaner to reach into those hamster tubes.

Answer 7

1:Don't use cotton balls use news paper
2:Carrots, melons,celery, and corn
3:Put an emptey cup at the bottom of the tubes. Then pour the water at the top of the tubes.( the water should run along the tubes and emptey out into the cup)
4: Hamsters really love hamster balls, they like yougurt treats, you have to clean their cage A LOT !!!!

Answer 8

feed all the fruit and veg u like but not much other human food, also nuts r nice. best way is to remove ur hamster from the cage and get a long wire (like the ones to clean drains) they're great for doing the tubes, dnt know about cotten balls, id say they might choke. i think sawdust is best. and get a running ball, every hamster should have one

Answer 9

If you have a paper shredder or access to someone who does, use shredded paper for bedding. It's cheap and accessible. Feed alfalfa cubes or hay, fresh vegetables, fruits and nuts. This is all of how I cared for my rats. Not 100% positive, but 98% sure raising a hamster would be very similar. Keep them busy, too, with toys like you would give a large bird like a parrot. They need lots of human interaction , exercise, and healthy food.

Answer 10

yes, i have had several hamster before(used to breed them as a hobby!), and i have always added cotton balls to their cages. a lot of people say it isn't safe because the cotton can get stuck in their cheek pouches, but i have never had that problem.
i prefer natural pine bedding over cedar, because it is softer for the hamster.
you can feed a hamster all sorts of human food: carrots, lettuces, apples, dried fruit, etc. just make sure it is clean and comes from a reputable source. i used to take a trip to the produce section of my local grocery and stock up on various greens for my hamsters. they loved it! :-)
i never have cleaned a tubed cage...i always had glass fish tanks, i think they are easier to mantain. but that is just IMO.
all in all, a hamster is one of the best pets a person could have. with lot's of love and care, your hamster will be happy for his/her lifetime. good luck! :-D