Hamsters are an excellent pet for teenagers and adults alike.They like to dig and burrow and are very active.When you have a hamster as a pet, it's up to you to provide and maintain a sanitary home for them.Provide your hamster with a good living environment so they don't get bored and stressed.The cage is the most important investment you will make for your hamster, so think about what he needs for a healthy and happy home before you make a purchase.
Step 1: There are hamster cages for research.
To make your hamster happy and content, you need to think about the size and shape of your cage.The minimum amount of floor space for hamsters is 450 sq inches.Most pet stores sell hamster cages that are too small and costly.A lot of videos and articles will show up if you look up "how to make a hamster bin cage".It is easy and cheap to make them.You should choose a cage that has a solid floor so that you can provide enough bedding material for digging and burrowing.A disease called Bumblefoot can be caused by wire or mesh floors.A lot of smaller cages are connected.Habitrail Ovo doesn't count inches.In the wild, hamsters need a continuous running space so they don't have a lot of small compartments.Syrian and Chinese hamsters are territorial and will fight if kept together in one cage.They could be hurt or killed.
Step 2: You should buy a big cage.
Although it is not the law, you should get a big cage for the three most popular minimums.The American minimum is small.The German minimum is the best.hamsters need the space to run around as they would in the wild so connecting multiple smaller cages is not possible.There are minimums for the American/Hamster Hideout forum.Minimum in the UK is 80x50 cm and minimum in Germany is 1 sq.The principle is the bigger the better.
Step 3: You could use a second-hand cage.
It's best to start with a new cage, but if you buy an old one, wash it with baby soap and rinse it.If you want to remove the smell of the previous occupant, you can use a mixture of white vinegar and water, but only occasionally.You can get a spray or wipes for your pet.
Step 4: The place to put the cage.
The overall wellbeing of your hamster will be affected by where you put the cage.If you want to avoid extremes of heat, keep it out of direct sunlight and don't put it next to a heat source.Don't put it near water.If you don't want to keep it in the house, you can provide more bedding in a garden shed or garage.Hamsters are very sensitive to sound.Don't put it in a room with lights going on and off at night and keep it away from things like computers, running water and vacuum cleaners.These can be distressing for hamsters.If you have a wire cage that you want to keep clean, you can cut down a cardboard box and place it in a place that is not too high on the floor.
Step 5: Buy a wheel.
Getting a wheel is a good place to start since hamsters need a lot of things to exercise in their cages.The Chinese hamsters need an 8 inch wheel.Syrian hamsters need a 12 inch wheel.It's important to get a wheel big enough for your hamster.Flying saucers can't replace a normal upright wheel as it encourages an unnatural way of running.Don't use barred or mesh wheels because your hamster can trap a limb or get bumblefoot.If you see your hamster running with an arched back, it's probably too small.The wheel is too small if they are.
Step 6: Purchase a bottle or a water bowl.
If you buy a bottle, make sure it doesn't leak too much.If you get a bowl, you can either place it on a small shelf or buy a bendy log bridge to put over it so that your hamster doesn't bury it.
Step 7: Decide if you want a food bowl or scatter-feed.
You can keep a track on how much they are eating by using a bowl.The hamster's natural skills are brought out by using scatter feeding.A mix of both is possible.If you have a pair of dwarfs, scatter feeding is advisable.There is a Chinese hamster.Not hamsters.It is advisable to get a food bowl if you want to check their eating habits because they are solitary like Syrians, even the males.If you get a bowl, make sure it's small so it doesn't take up a lot of cage space.
Step 8: Pick a house for your pet.
Many of the houses are too small for a Syrian hamster.If you bury the bridges under the substrate, they can be turned into lovely cave-style houses.hamsters need a place to hide and store their food
Step 9: You should buy some toys.
Hamsters need a lot of toys.They need to get chews as their teeth never stop growing.The toys that hamsters like are hide-and-seek style.hamsters love running through tubes and they're not a replacement for digging.It's important that they're big enough for Syrian hamsters.If they have long tubes, your hamster may have trouble breathing in them.
Step 10: You can choose a material.
You fill the bottom of your cage with the disposable material.It is important to get a good one as it will absorb your hamster's urine and be what they dig into.There are other options besides the traditional wood shavings, and some websites have reviews of different types.Pine or cedar can cause severe respiratory problems.Hamsters love to dig, so use more than 6 cm.Carefresh and aspen are nice beddings.
Step 11: You can choose some material.
Getting some separate bedding or material is important.Nested material is similar to the blankets.It's a good idea to avoid material that can separate into small strands.It can cause serious problems for your hamster.They could get a limb trapped.Some desperate hamsters have been reported to chew their own limbs off and die of blood loss, so their instincts would be to pull on the limb until it was broken.The best material to use in this case is shredded tissue or toilet paper.
Step 12: Change it regularly and make sure you have enough.
You can change the bedding at home if you have a nice stock of it.You will need to keep a close eye on the cage.It is recommended to spot clean urine every week, which will only take a few minutes.How large your cage is will affect the amount of times you clean it.1000 square feet.Smaller cages may need to be cleaned once a month, but larger cages can last a year or more without a cleanout.It's a good idea to have a regular cleaning schedule, as your hamster could be distressed if the cage is cleaned too often or too seldom.To prevent wet-tail, the cage needs to be cleaned daily.
Step 13: Adding new things stimulates them.
It is important to keep the cage clean and refreshed with toys and things to chew on and dig in.If you can, give them empty cereals or bars with the printed outside removed.Hamsters like to play in empty toilet-paper tubes and will chew them to shreds.Cut them so Syrian hamsters can fit.
Step 14: You should handle your hamsters daily.
Hamsters like attention.handling them regularly will help you get used to each other.You should be careful all the time.If you wheelbarrow them, don't hold them by the legs.It can hurt them or break their limbs.It's best to give them about a week to get comfortable with their new cage.Moving into a new cage is a big event for a hamster and they will be more interested in human attention once they are happy.
Step 15: A weekly home check-up is a must for your pet.
It is important to provide a good environment for your hamster, but you can also check on their health by listening to their breathing, and if there is wheezing.Check their paws, teeth, and skin to see if there are any signs of injury.Make sure their eyes are clear.It's possible to weigh them to see if they're gaining or losing weight.