The Importance of Water to Hamsters

In the wild, hamsters get all the water they needed through their food. As pets, hamsters' environments are completely different, and you must pay close attention to what they consume, especially water.

  1. Necessity

    • Like food, water is a necessity for all living creatures, including hamsters. Even though hamsters do not consume much, you should always make clean water available.

    Equipment

    • The best way to provide water to a hamster is through a water bottle with a sipper tube that is mounted to the side of its cage. Bottles with metal tubes are preferable because they cannot be chewed.

    Precautions

    • Because bowls of water can easily spill, you should never put them in a hamster's cage. It is important that hamsters' fur stays dry because wet fur can lead to pneumonia and other ailments.

    Health

    • Check periodically to make sure that the water bottle is working properly and that the hamster can access all the water it needs. Signs of dehydration include sunken eyes and weight loss.

    Routine Cleanliness

    • Hamsters thrive in a clean, dry cage. Change the hamster's water daily, and thoroughly wash the water bottle with soap at least once a week when you clean the animal's cage.