Hamster Habitats

Owning a pet requires knowledge about the habitats, or surroundings, the animal prefers and thrives in. A hamster is a domesticated rodent, weighing about 3.5 ounces, and the males are usually smaller than the females. They have an average life expectancy of two years, if an owner properly maintains the correct habitat features.

  1. Original Habitat

    • The most common hamster species pet, the golden or Syrian hamster, originated in southeast Europe and Syria. These regions have flat desert landforms. Around 1930, two golden hamsters were moved from Syria to the United Kingdom, and subsequently domesticated and bred. Currently, wild hamsters still abound in countries such as North Africa, China, and the Middle East.

    Wild Hamsters

    • Wild hamsters prefer habitats with sloped hills and ample brush. The hamster creates tunnels by burrowing into the ground. The tunnels serve as a protective home, generating a cooler temperature and higher humidity compared to the outside. Hamsters also store extra foods such as grains within the tunnels. Hamsters are not social animals, preferring to remain solitary most of their lives.

    Domesticated Hamsters

    • Domesticated hamster pets prefer the same habitat as their wild cousins, including daylight during the day and darkness at night. Hamsters prefer a warm environment, between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The bedding must be thick to allow for burrowing. Recycled paper or non-cedar wood shavings are acceptable bedding choices. The hamster will decide on a specific area of the cage for bathroom use. Clean the bathroom area every few days to preventing an unpleasant smell. Hamsters will consume some feces as a source of vitamins, so do not immediately remove the feces from the cage. Hamsters enjoy a private nesting area, such as a plastic house filled with bedding. They may sleep within the nesting area during the day since they are nocturnal, or day sleepers. Place toys, such as exercise wheels, within the cage for exercise and stimulation.

    Cage Types

    • Three types of domesticated hamster cages exist, including plastic, glass, and wired. Any cage type should be 19 by 19 inches square, as well as 6 inches high for a proper hamster habitat size. Plastic cages have tubular tunnels and toys built into the cage assembly, but the cage is difficult to clean and does not provide the best ventilation for the hamster. Glass cages, resembling an aquarium tank, offer an easier cleaning choice, but also have ventilation limitations. The old-fashioned wire cage still offers the best ventilation for the hamster, as well as options for exercise. The wire openings allow the hamster to climb within the interior of the cage, providing valuable exercise that cannot be duplicated with simple cage toys.

    Companion Considerations

    • Hamsters are natural solitary animals. Adult same sex hamsters will fight if placed together within a habitat. Hamsters should only be placed together for breeding purposes. Once the male and female mate, they should be separated into different cages for the safety of both animals.