i have one and what should i do to take cae of it
2007-01-26 11:20:35 · 10 answers · asked by mindy 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
You will not find the indepth answer that you need by just posting a question here. Several books have been written on just this topic so there is no way that a few paragraphs in an answer here will give you all the information you need.
Go to the library and check out hamster books. Go online to hamster websites. The Pet Website (http://www.petwebsite.com/hamsters.asp) and California Hamster Association (http://www.geocities.com/calhamassoc/) are two good websites that both have information on basic care.
Being a responsible hamster owner means taking the steps on your own to insure proper care of your animal.
-Janice
http://www.holmdenhillhaven.com
2007-01-29 02:39:01 · answer #1 · answered by radiocricket 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Food and Water
The hamster should be fed a basic hamster mix each evening as it wakes and can also be fed additional supplements. If the hamster wakes very late it can be encouraged to wake earlier by feeding earlier in the evening and tapping on the side of the cage to wake the hamster. After a few days the hamster will learn when it is feeding time.
Fresh water should always be available from a position the hamster can reach comfortably. Pet Shops also sell vitamin drops which can be added to water and are beneficial to the hamster. The hamster should never be without access to water.
Grooming
Hamsters do not need grooming, with the exception of Long Haired male Syrian Hamsters that may need the occasional brush to remove shavings from their coat and this is best done using a soft toothbrush.
Hamsters do not require bathing as they clean themselves and to bath a hamster removes the natural oils from the coat and there is a risk the hamster will catch a chill. Hamsters do appreciate having a dish of sand to roll in though and this helps to remove the greasiness from the coat - in the wild they live in deserts so this is natural for them.
Cage Cleaning
The cage should be cleaned weekly by removing the hamster from the cage and throwing away all old woodshavings and food. Any fresh food that may have been stored by the hamster should be removed after a couple of days to avoid it rotting. The hamster will appreciate it if some of its old bedding is placed in the clean cage along with some fresh bedding.
Health Checks
When cleaning the cage it is recommended that the hamster be checked over for any signs of illness. This is an ideal time to check that the droppings in the cage look normal: soft droppings could indicate diarrhoea, lack of droppings could indicate constipation.
2007-01-26 11:49:07 · answer #2 · answered by sknymnie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You should have thought of this LONG before this point. A hamster needs lots of exercise, so make sure you have a large area cage with lots of obstacles and a solid floor wheel. If your hamster is new, leave her alone for a while and gradualy introduce yourself. Feed her in small amounts every day, and keep her water full and fresh. A few yogurt treats from the pet store wouldn't hurt! Fresh fruit is another way to keep her on the go. Remember, they are most active at night! Be ready for her to be running all night on her wheel. Another good idea is a running ball, which lets them explore and exercise without the possibility of escape. Also, it is not a "teddy bear hamster" as they may call it in the store. The real name for it is a "Syrian Hamster". Syrian hamsters are SOLITARY whatever you do, DO NOT get another one to accompany it. It might seem like the right choice at the time, but they wil end up fighting to the death!
2007-01-26 16:09:14 · answer #3 · answered by Cat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi! I am glad you have an interest of hamsters like me! I also have a hamster, however, he is Syrian. But, according to ym research, they have the same maintenance.
1) Buy it a ONE-STORY cage!
2) Put soft bedding in it. Never use tree bark even from petstores as it can kill hamsters!
3) Feed it a small amount of hamster food every day.
4) Give it fresh water everyday.
5) Occassionally give it some fresh food, such as diced carrots, apples, and grapes. NEVER GIVE YOUR HAMSTER CELLERY, OR ANY CITRUS FRUITS!
6) Change your hamsters bedding once every two weeks.
7) NEVER BATH YOUR HAMSTER!
Thats about the basics :)
Good luck!
2007-01-26 11:29:05 · answer #4 · answered by Austin 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
clean cage good once a week, scoop out droppings in between. fresh food and water available always, play time outside the cage, exercise ball sold at petsmart let her get used to running on your bed. just play 2-3 times a day 20-30 minutes each.
2007-01-28 07:52:52 · answer #5 · answered by sandy e 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have gotten some really good advice from other posters. I would like to add that you need to give it attention too. Let it slowly get accustomed to you and eventually you will be able to play with it for longer periods of time. Small animals need lots of love!
2007-01-26 11:51:22 · answer #6 · answered by citrus punch 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here is a crazy one for you. Mine love our socks when I cant find a sock friend I give them to the hamsters they love to sleep in them like sleeping bags..
2007-01-26 12:48:47 · answer #7 · answered by cuttie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it needs a home. good food and nice toys. becarefull not to drop him and be sure not to let him get lost. keep your eyes on him all the time if he is out of the cage.
2007-01-26 11:25:30 · answer #8 · answered by KRIS 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
feed it change its chage and if u want to put a tiny litter box in its cage give it a water bottel not a bole
2007-01-26 11:25:45 · answer #9 · answered by gmstim 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Be more specific...as in taking care of it..how?
2007-01-26 11:35:43 · answer #10 · answered by Mel 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋