Hamster Help??

Question

I went to my friend's house and she'd gotten a new hamster. His name was Rascal. I sat there and played with Rascal the whole time and realized how much I liked hamsters. I told my Mom and she said she'd get me a hamster. I didn't get it yet, but I need some help. I have so many questions! Do I bathe it? Is it safe to comb or brush my new hamster's hair? What are the pros and cons of having a hamster? One other thing, what should I name her? Here are some names I was thinking about:

Rose
Paris
Rayna

Give me some suggestiong if possible. Please try to answer all of the questions that I asked with as much detail as possible. I really appreciate it! THANKS SO MUCH!

Answer 1

gosh. there is so much to cover about hamster care.
one good way to research yourself, is to Google 'hamster care'.

well. some main things to think about before getting a hamster,
is what species you want. how many will you get.
its good to get more than 1, so they can keep each other company
if you get more than 1, will you get all boys or all girls? (one of each gender will mean they will make a lot of babies soon).

you should not need to bathe them, they can clean themselves really well.
they also have soft, thin fur. so combing them, might be too rough for their tiny fur. you should leave grooming to them.

make sure you have an appropriate cage for them. like a glass tank, or a cage with a bottom (NOT a wire bottom).

also. make sure you can offer fresh water everyday, premium hamster pellets, and fresh fruits and veggies!
clean out their cage once a week.

make sure you know how to handle a hamster. don't squeeze them too hard, when picking them up.
hold them in your hands, not with your fingers, and be gentle.
hamsters are very easily scared. and they run alot, and fast!
so be careful, don't let them jump out of your hands when you're holding them!
they may go tumbling down to the ground, and may break some fragile bones.

exercise is good. you can look into getting hamster wheels and balls.

im sure i have a lot of info i have not covered.
just look at hamster care books, and research a lot online, before you bring a hamster home!

i like the name rose btw.

Answer 2

First of all I think your choice to get one is great. They are wonderful little pets. I would try to get a golden they are the friendliest. Second my hamster is also called Rascal how funny is that. Answers to your question.
no you do not bath it your hamster will do it herself
you may brush her they love it, but you will need a fresh toothbrush to do so, its the safest if you want to brush them but you do not have too.
There aren't any cons about them but you will have to know that they are up all night and sleep during the day,
You should only use a bedding called care fresh as this will not cause any lung problems and get a one story wire cage with the opening on the top. Hamsters love to try to get out sometimes and this makes it the safest as he will have a hard time climbing in the middle where the opening is. Only give him bottled water its also the safest. As far as names

Tid Bit
Star
Ruby
Shadow
Half Pint
Zippy
Georgina
Zoomer
precious
Also when you buy everything you need make sure to pick up a hamster book any will do as they have a lot of info on them you could even buy it before you get one and read it and then go pick one out.

Answer 3

Same thing happened to me years ago! My friend got two new dwarf hamsters, and I had to have one of my own (I had had standard hamsters before). My sister ended up getting one too. I do prefer mice though. I think they make better pets.

You don’t need to bathe it, and it fact should avoid getting it wet. Hamsters are somewhat fragile and being cold and wet could easily kill it. It is probably “safe” to brush it, but you don’t need to. Hamsters keep themselves clean and probably wouldn’t appreciate you messing up their carefully done tongue “bath.” Plus, most hamsters wouldn’t sit still long enough for you to do it anyway.

As for pros and cons…hamsters are fun to watch (they do many interesting and cute things) and enjoyable to hold. They are inexpensive to keep, as they only need food and cedar chips. Everything else is purchased just once, when you first buy the hamster. This initial cost is not cheap ($40-$80, depending on the size and quality of what you choose).

Cons…they do not live long, only 2-4 years, and that’s if you’re lucky. Their cage needs cleaning often, and it’s somewhat time-consuming. A big con, is that not all hamsters are nice. Some don’t like being held, and some bite. They are also nocturnal, and while you can play with them in the day-time, they would rather be up at night. They often DO stay up all night, and they tend to make a lot of noise. The sound of the wheel going around and around as you try to sleep can drive you crazy (for this reason, you might want to keep it somewhere other than your bedroom).

Other than that, it’s a pretty straightforward pet. Feed it, give it water, occasional treats, gently handle it, and keep its home clean. They don’t have all the positive aspects of pets like dogs and cats, but they are far easier to care for.

One important thing is to give it a lot of time to become accustomed to its new environment before handling it at all. 3-4 days minimum, 2 weeks would be best, but I doubt you'll be able to wait that long!

I like Rose. That's a very pretty name.

Answer 4

Bathe your hamster once a week. Brush it as often as you want. Get a nice big cage for it. Hold it whenever you have time. Give it fresh water when it needs it. Give it food with a bit of variety. DON'T trust it to stay on the floor. It may run away. Buy a good book on hamsters and read up for more info.
PS. DON'T let your little brother hold it!

Answer 5

Well a dwarf hamster is my favorite. If you have any questions about anything about hamsters then you can e-mail or I.M. me. I breed dwarf hamsters.

You do not need to bathe it, but if it starts to smell then you can wet a towel and give it a small bath, as long as you be sure to dry it completly. You do not need to comb or brush the hair, and i would not advise to do so.

Pros:
1. they are fun and enjoyable
2. they can have certain fruits and vegtables as treats
3. they are loving and curious
4. they are easily cared for
5. there are too many pros to list! LOL

Cons:
1. they only live 2-3 yr. max 5 years.
2. they will stink if you don't change the bedding once a week.

Bedding:
1. Aspen, wood chips safe for you hamster that does not emit smell but absorbs odor, good for chewing.
2. Carefresh, safe for your hamster, softer than aspen, very obsorbant, good for nesting.
3. Shreddings, cheap. Cons: bedding should be changed twice a week.

Toys:
1. Wheels, be sure to get one of the "silent" wheel brand or it will squeak.
2. Paper towel rolls, good for chewing and going through.
3. Wood from pet stores that are safe for hamsters.

Safe Fruits and Vegtables:
1. Apples
2. Banana
3. Carrots
Check this site out for more: http://www.petwebsite.com/fruit.htm

Names:
1. Rose- Origin: English
Stats: 1181 have ROSE on their Favorite Name List
4029 rated this name
805 have this name
494 wish they had this name
487 gave this name to their child
Info: Rose Kennedy, mother of U.S. president John F. Kennedy.

2. Paris- Origin: Greek
Stats: 928 have PARIS on their Favorite Name List
3727 rated this name
202 have this name
492 wish they had this name
269 gave this name to their child
Info: Helen of Troy's lover in Greek mythology. Capital city of France. Paris Hilton, celebrity. Also Greek mythological name possibly meaning 'wallet'

3. Rayna- Origin: Spanish
Stats: 338 have REINA on their Favorite Name List
1807 rated this name
68 have this name
57 wish they had this name
29 gave this name to their child

Hope this helps you, feel free to e-mail if you need more info.

Answer 6

hamsters are very cute i agree with you, may i sugest a rat? they are sooooo much smarter and friendlier.
Ok with hamsters, you do not bath them. they catch cold very ez. they dont need grooming either. they are like cats they will keep them selves very clean and smell free. as long as the bedding in the cage is cleaned( once a week is good) they won't get dirty. the pros is they are cute very easy to care for and very inexpensive to feed.
cons : they tend not to be very sociable. most hamsters don't like to be held or carried around. just couse your friends does does not mean yours will. trust me i have had dozens and i mean dozens of hamsters over the years some like being held most don't they try to run.
if you really like the rodent family, i highly recoment a rat.. i know eww gross but reallly. pet rats are cute white fluffy CLEAN creatures. very clean and very friendly. you can take them any were with you in your purse pocket no joke. they learn games and are very affectionate. and their care is basically the same. good luck!

Answer 7

No, never give a hamster a water bath. It may cause it to get pneumonia and die.

Any name you give the hamster needs to special to you.

You may want to consider a male Syrian long hair (Teddy Bear), they are the calmest I've ever owned and least likely to bite. We presently have 10 long hairs. They do need to be groomed daily to prevent matting. Also another reason for choosing a male is they don't spray on you like a female in heat will (my females, 8 of them, have gotten me several times). Females go into heat every 4-5 days and get a musky odor about them. Just keep yours (if you select a male) and Rascal apart, I'm sure either of your parents would really love an additional 5-20 babies to care for (litter,cages, food) since pet store many times won't take them and they can be hard to find other homes for. All syrians over 4 monoths must be housed in separate cage or they may fight to the death.

Listed below are the required 4 basic needs for your hamster and information on caring for your pet and choosing a pet that is right for you.

When selecting your hamster make sure the eyes are clear and free of discharge, the nose should be free of discharge also. The bottom must be dry and clean if one is not report this to the pet store employees (might be Wet Tail). Get one that is active but not skittish or jumpy. Syrians are generally not biters, so if one bites leave it behind, it will be much harder to tame.

Behavioral Needs:

Niches - provide hiding places and safety
Exercise Ball - allows exercise outside of the cage safely Wheel - allows exercise inside the cage Get a medium size solid plastic one for a Syrian (silent ones break easily)
Chew Stick or Block - allows chewing and keeps teeth trimmed (empty toilet paper, log roll (pet store), etc.
Treat Stick - alternate food location, must work to remove food
Collar and Lead - provides exercise and socialization (recommended, but not neccessary)


Maintenance Needs:

Brush - to reduce shedding, tangles and hairballs
Bedding - keeps cage and pet clean, reduces odors (Care Fresh)
Litter Deodorizer - neutralizes urine smells
Litter Pan or Hamster Potty - provides location to potty train
Book - background information and instructions for ongoing care
Vet- you may need one later on for illness or injuries, make sure they are experienced with small animals.

Environmental Needs:

1) Cage -
-wire top with plastic bottom is best for ventilation,
-a plastic cage like Critter Trail will take time to clean due to all the tubes,
-a tank is the worst choice with very little ventilation - make sure to provide a home big enough for the pet
2) Water Bottle & Holder - sanitary source of water (try Critter Canteen)
3) Ceramic or plastic Dish/Bowl - provides clean place for food, consider most small animals chew


Nutritional Needs:

1)Staple Diet - provides basic nutrition
2)Assorted Treats - nutritional variety, foraging (keep to no/low sugar ones to prevent diabetes)
3) Salt/Mineral Block - helps maintain hydration and provides minerals, keeps teeth trimmed
4) Vitamins - ensure balanced nutrition
5) Stress Aid - very important during environmental changes, will help prevent or treat diarrhea (Wet Tail)

I can be emailed for a complete list of foods that can be given in addition to the basic diet for your hamster. You may want to share it with Rascal's owner also. The list entails what is good for them and what is not good for them. I compiled the list after researching many sites and pulling the best information from them.

I hope this is helpful to you.

Here are some of the sites I use routinely for hamster care.

Answer 8

I think Rose is the cutest name. And also you might want to get a girl hamster because males are usally more aggressive.

Answer 9

ookay...u dont need to bathe hamsters unless its lyk sick or something you dont need to comb it either um hamsters are kinda loud on their wheel if u have it in ur room but they are really sweet and genearlly dont try to get away as much as gerbils. I think paris is an absolutly adorable name!! have fun with ur new pet!

Answer 10

I got a hamster last week 4 my birthday, name it Babe!
Do not bathe Babe
Feed her fruit and nuts and cheese and cereal(not sugary)
Dont give her anything humans wont eat