How to Care for a Hamster

Habitat

Enclosures needs to be appropriately sized for the breed of hamster you bring home. Syrian hamsters will get much larger than dwarf hamsters so will need more space respectfully.

When it comes to enclosure sizes, the bigger the better! Either wire, plastic, or glass enclosures can be suitable for your new pet.

• Ensure proper ventilation. Don't place the cage near a hot window.

• Find a quiet place that will keep stress low. Other pets, like dogs or cats, should never interact with your hamster.

• Cover the floor of your cage with at least 1.5” of suitable paper bedding, as hamsters love to burrow.

• Make sure your hamster can’t escape. The bar spacing of your hamster's cage should be no more than 1/4”. (Even smaller for a baby hamster.)

Understand your hamster’s territorial instincts. Almost all hamsters need to be housed alone as adults due to their territorial nature. If looking for a pet you can keep more than one of in a habitat, consider gerbils instead.

Diet

Feed every day.

• Use fortified food pellets to prevent selective feeding and get them the nutrients they require. (Amount of food each day should fill both cheeks, usually between 1/4oz and 1/2oz.)

• Avoid most ‘human’ foods. This includes things such as pasta, raw meat/fish, sugar, and desserts. Hamsters can develop diabetes! Even foods that you might not think are ‘sugary’ can be too sugary for your hamster.

The foods listed as ‘ok’ below are only recommended as treats, not as part of a hamster’s regular diet.

• OK: Carrots, cucumber, apples, bananas, peppers, lettuce, celery, kale, collard and dandelion greens, hard-boiled egg

• NOT OK: Onions, almonds, beans, potatoes, fruits with seeds, avocados, chives, eggplants, scallions, spices, leeks, garlic, iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, and citrus fruits

You’ll need a chew-proof feeding bowl—or spread their food around the cage, hiding it in toys and tunnels. Make your hamster search for it to keep them active.

Hamsters are hoarders—they keep private stashes. Removing these stashes can cause them stress, so if food goes bad, remove it and replace it with fresh food where you found it.

Have clean water available at all times. Hamsters don't drink much water, but when they get thirsty they need it immediately. Don’t use a dish as it can get dirty easily. Instead, use a chew-proof dispenser and keep the water fresh, changing everyday.

Chewing sticks come in many different sizes, colors, and flavors. Hamster’s teeth grow constantly, and these will help to slowly grind them down. Keep trying new ones until you find one your hamster enjoys.

Lifestyle

Remember that most hamsters are nocturnal (active at night) or crepuscular (active at dusk).

You’ll need to make sure that your little hamster is getting enough exercise. The right size cage will have plenty of floor space to run around.

On top of that there are two very popular options:

Hamster Wheel– Hamsters can run surprisingly long distances—up to 5 miles a night! Wheels made from one solid piece of plastic (rather than rungs) are safer for the hamster, as there are no gaps for their legs to fall through. Size is important too—the larger a wheel is, the more it’ll keep the hamster from arching its back. If you ever see your hamster arching their back while running—immediately find a bigger wheel.

Hamster Ball– You should be able to tell if your hamster is enjoying its ball—they’ll take off running. If they sit very still, or they look agitated or scared, put them back into their cage. Even if they are enjoying themselves, you shouldn’t leave your hamster in the ball for longer than 20 minutes once a day. Only put the ball on a carpeted floor or rug—a wooden or tile floor will be too fast and could cause injury. It’s good to give your hamster additional toys, but don’t cover their cage floor.

It’s more important that they have space to run around, and a place to hide out and relax. While hamsters do groom themselves, it’s up to you to keep your hamster’s cage clean on a daily and weekly basis.

Daily: Change food and water, shake bedding or shavings, and remove any dropping

Weekly: Full cage clean. Spray and wipe cage bars (with pet safe cleaner), and leave a small amount of the old bedding in place so that the hamster recognizes its scent.

Your little buddy also needs some face time! Plan on at least half an hour each day of undivided attention. It’s also important to know when to give them space. The more you get to know your hamster, the easier it will be to tell what mood they’re in.