I want to buy a hamster for my son. I don't know much about it. What besides a cage will I need to purchase?

Question

and what do they eat?

Answer 1

Hi, I have a couple of checklists at the bottom of this that may help you. I find that the larger types of hamsters tend to be more laid back and friendly. But really, it depends on each individual's own personality. A hamster will do best when you only get one.

***The hamster will be wild when you first get it.
***You will have to tame it down when you first get it.

It might not know that your hands are not edible, and it may taste (nip) them to find out. (Some new / young hamsters are just confused on the subject.)

You need to pull it out and work with it to tame her down.

**Make sure that you have washed your hands before you work with it. This is because if your hands smell like food, the hamster may think that they are edible.

Hamsters are known for waking up in a bad mood. Try to rub it on the back until it fully wakes up, and then offer it a toilet paper tube. Hamsters will nearly always go into it and then you can let it out on the other side and into your palm, which is a lot less scary for the hamsters. (I've done this, and it works!)

Just be careful not to drop it out of the tube without being able to hold it. Let the hamster come out of the tube (and into your hand) over its cage, so if it falls, it will land a short distance into its bedding and not a long distance on the hard floor. Make sure you have a good hold of your hamster before you walk to where you plan to tame it.

You can then sit on the floor and hold it in your lap, and play with it and offer it hamster treats.

Don't give it the treat if the hamster bites you, just wait a minute or so, and then offer the treat again.

Pay attention to its body language. It takes a little time to learn about your pet's characteristics.

Also hamsters like to snuggle. You can hang out watching TV and let her snuggle in a shirt pocket. It will enjoy that and it's another way to get it used to you.

Just make sure your larger pets are put away before you do this. If your hamster gets loose, it shouldn't be too hard to catch her, just make sure you're in a place where she can't get outside.

Remember also, that the hamster you buy will probably be a young hamster and will grow larger than it is when you get it, so make sure that everything you buy will fit it when it grows up.

This is a link showing a hamster using a wheel that is way too small for it. http://exoticpets.about.com/od/hamsters/youtube/hamwheelsmall.htm
You do Not want this to happen to your pet. Their back needs to be straight when they run in the wheel, or else the wheel is too small for it.

And Never give a hamster sugary treats because the store-bought hamsters can be diabetic.

New Hamster checklist
http://exoticpets.about.com/od/hamsters/bb/hamsupplies.htm

Click on the links in Blue for more hamster information
http://exoticpets.about.com/od/hamsters/Hamsters.htm

Hamster links along the left-hand side of the screen
http://exoticpets.about.com/od/hamsters/Hamsters.htm

More hamster links along the left-hand side of the screen
http://www.hamsterland.com/default.asp?cat=nam&con=0

And of course, Hamster names in the blue alphabet links towards the top
http://www.hamsterland.com/default.asp?cat=nam&con=0

Good luck on finding the right hamster for you and your son.

Answer 2

Do your research!!!!

Any pet requires constant care, but make sure a hamster is right for you. There are different types of hamsters. You'll need a cage that is big enough for the hamster. If it is a dwarf you'll need a cage without bars since these little guys can squeeze through. A good seed mix, chow blocks for their teeth (they constantly grow) an exercise ball, a wheel if the cage doesn't come with one, bedding (you'll need to change about once a week - Carefresh is excellent), treats, chew toys, water bottle, things to hide in and I think that's about it. Sounds like a lot I know. They are great pets and they steal your heart, but they don't live long. They have personality and are fun. Initial setup can be expensive.

Make sure to put the cage in a place that it can not be knocked over!!!! My cat knocked mine over when I first got it and paralyzed one of my dwarfs! They are awake at night, so a bedroom may not be the best place.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

You will need a cage, a wheel if the cage does not already have one, litter (corn cob is best-never use cedar), and food. There are several brands of prepared hamster food, and most of it is very inexpensive considering how little you will use for one hamster. They can also eat fruit, nuts, vegetables, and breads, but avoid leafy veggies like lettuce since they cause diarrhea. Dog biscuits will help with their chewing. You will also need a water bottle. Look up a site called Hamsters Galore and read the message board. You will get a TON of good information. Your son will love his hamster. I have kept them all my life and always enjoyed them.

Answer 4

Dwarf hamsters (robrovski, russian etc) are social and should be kept in pairs.
Syrian hamsters (including "teddies", "goldens" etc) are solitary species and will alomst certainly kill each other if you try to keep more than one in the same cage.

Get the biggest cage you can afford. Some of the linking tube type cages can be built to a nice size, but they can be difficult to clean. Do not buy a cage with a wire grid on the bottom as it is not good for their feet.

You will also need a water bottle, solid running wheel (the ones with open metal bars can trap their feet), nestbox (house) and some toys.

Check out http://www.hamsterific.com/ for more info.

Please bear in mind that children often grow bored of pets very quickly. Please make sure you are prepared to take on full responsibility of any animal yourself before you commit.

Answer 5

First you will need to research Hamsters as there are a few different kinds. I have found this site to be helpful and I recommend it to all that purchase my hamsters. Have your son look at the site as well it tells how to tame the hamster. Good luck I think Hamsters make wonderful pets.

Answer 6

you will need:

sawdust for the bottom of the cage
water bottle
food bowl
wheel
wooden chew sticks

you can just get hamster food at the pet store and basicly anywhere like wal-mart

Overall including the cage and the hamster and all the other supplys it will be about 60.00

Hope This Helped

Answer 7

You need to buy a few tunnels and things for it to play in and a few of those "bar" things for it to snack on. They make hampster food, but they also like apple pieces. Another thing to get it a ball that you put the hampster in for it to roll around in on the floor. They also need a wheel, which your cage will probably come with. Make sure to get a male. The females tend to be a bit mean and bite alot, especially if they are older and have had babies. You need to get the stuff to put at the bottom of the cage too, it's kinda like saw dust. Ask the sales person and they will show you everything you need. Oh, and a water bottle.

Answer 8

Pet stores will carry the appropriate food and bedding. I recommend using Care Fresh bedding instead of shavings.

An exercise ball.

Some kind of hidey-hole for the hamster to sleep in.

Water bottles, chew sticks, salt lick.

Might want to pick up a book on hamsters, or check one out of the library, so you know what you're getting into.

Answer 9

The Pet store will have everything you need,cage,bedding,exercises wheel,food(and they love all your vege scraps) but as the previous answer stated, they escape those plastic cages pretty easy.We ended up getting a glass fish tank and a screen top after too many escapes!I would suggest you only get one,and make sure it isn't a pregnant one,or you will end up with dozens! My friend got two for her two kids,and the pet store guy swore the were the same sex! They ended up with about six or seven babies.My two kids wanted one each but I thought I was smart after my friend's predicament and only got one. Not long after,she had eleven babies!

Answer 10

I even have not had this cage specially yet I did very own yet another type. individually i did not like it. it could have seems neat, whether it grew to become into stressful to bathe, because it did not disassemble nicely, and took awhile to place it back collectively. yet another difficulty I had with the plastic cage(and that i've got heard it from different human beings i comprehend who had one), they break. I broke a chew off of mine some week after having it. I went to hold collectively it after cleansing, and a chew broke off. I additionally think of the fee, in comparison with the dimensions is a extensive rip off. For some reason those plastic cages are high priced. in case you like the cage, it is going to likely be super. It seems sufficiently enormous, and it style of feels from the comments that different human beings save their hamster in basic terms super it it.