What Do You Need to Take Care of a Hamster?

Hamsters are small mammals often kept as pets. Hamsters are appropriate pets for adults and children old enough to handle the hamster gently; hamsters are small, delicate animals. Hamsters are usually black, white, brown, or a mixture of those colors. Some hamsters have short fur, some have long. Hamsters are easy to care for, but they still have some basic needs.

  1. Food

    • Hamsters require a mixture of fruits, vegetables, and protein. Commercial hamster foods are a good place to start, but they do not fulfill all of a hamster's nutritional requirements. When fed alongside fresh fruits and vegetables, a store-bought mix is a good diet. All fruits are appropriate for hamsters; Hamsters enjoy most vegetables, but can get sick from having too much carrot. Fresh water is required at all times in a clean water bottle.

    Housing

    • Hamsters are not social creatures like pet mice and rats; hamsters are healthiest and happiest when housed alone. A hamster requires a ten gallon aquarium or larger to live in; aquariums require a tightly-fitted lid to prevent hamsters from escaping. Soft bedding products to line the bottom of the cage can be bought at pet stores; pine and cedar shavings are dangerous for hamsters. Cotton balls give hamsters something to create nests out of.

    Toys

    • Hamsters have teeth that never stop growing; so hamsters must chew to keep their teeth at a healthy length. Commercially bought hamster toys made of un-dyed wood allow hamsters to keep their teeth short. They can also chew and climb through cardboard tubes. Exercise wheels are a way for your hamster to exercise, but only solid plastic wheels are safe for their feet. A solid plastic hamster ball allows your pet to explore your home and get needed exercise.

    Cleaning

    • The bedding in a hamster aquarium becomes dirty quickly and requires replacing twice a week. Everything disposable in the hamster's habitat is then thrown away, and new, clean litter replaces the old bedding. In addition to this, the entire hamster cage and all of the hamster's toys require cleaning and sanitation once a week. Hamster owners must have an antibacterial cleaning solution, designated hamster cage sponge, and fresh litter available at all times.