Learn how your comment data is processed. Here they are: Your hamsters are innately playful and curious, so even if they are already tamed, when left unsupervised outside of their cage, they may roam around the house. 1. Move your hamster to a safe area: as long as you can keep your hamster from rolling off somewhere while you aren't looking, an exercise ball would be an ideal spot to keep your hamster while cleaning it’s cage. Learning how to tame a hamster is important if you want to be able to pick up your hamster to pet it, or you simply want to take it to the vet. Keep your little furry rodent healthy and happy with these hamster care tips. Cleaning the cage is really a step-by-step process. How to clean the hamster cage. Like humans, hamsters need a balanced diet. When getting started, taking care of the pet can feel complicated. Don’t forget to feed your pet . Having a pet means knowing what’s best for them, and making sure that all their needs are met. Choose the right food but make sure you don't overfeed your new friend. Another key part of learning how to take care of a hamster is making sure you keep their cage clean. February 2020. When a hamster is active, it needs a lot of space to roam around and play, so the cage needs at least 480 square inches or 80x50x50cm (4000 cm2) or 31.5x20x20 in (620 square inches space. Keep their bowl around three-quarters full to avoid overfeeding. First, before you adopt a hamster at your home, you must prepare all the things that your hamster need. Hamster, being nocturnal creatures, are very active at night and they need a lot of space where they can explore to their heart’s content. Feed your hamster everyday, keeping the bowl about three-quarters full. Give your hamster treats from time to time, and after a week, when your new pet has become accustomed to your presence, you should see signs of your hamster warming up to you. For most hamsters, a 10-15 gallon aquarium is a good choice. By accepting this, you're giving us permission to collect, share, use your data to improve your user experience and display personalised ads. Keeping them as close to the ground as possible also minimizes the risk of them getting an injury, should they accidentally fall from your hands. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE GETTING A HAMSTER FOR THE FIRST TIME, TIPS ON TAKING CARE OF A HAMSTER FOR FIRST-TIME OWNERS, Read what species of hamster is best for you, Always keep an eye of your hamster when you take them out from the cage to play with, Only handle them not more than 15 minutes at a time in the beginning until they get to know you, Always wash your hands before holding them, Don’t make the same mistake as a new hamster owner, Don’t house more than one hamster in one cage, Don’t let them alone with other pets or kids, Don’t hold them higher than .5 meters (1.6 feet) high. Speak in low, soothing tones to keep its anxiety at a minimum. In addition, giving treats, such as fruits (with the exception of citrus fruits) and veggies ensures that they are receiving nutrients they cannot get from ordinary food pellets or seeds. Expert: Ashlee Bio: Ashlee is the manager at Pet Planet in Riverton, Utah. Hamsters can eat a small amount of dark, leafy greens every other day and fruit such as bananas, apples, and melons once a week as a treat. Check them out below: So, you’re planning to buy a hamster, and you’re doing the first and most logical thing to do: learn more about hamsters. Buying a cage and its accessories for your hamster can cost around $100 – $160. Then, slowly raise the hamster out of its cage and onto a safe surface. It usually takes a week or so before your hamster begins to warm up on you. This is the most important piece of knowledge you’ll need when learning how to look after a hamster as it's easy to feed them the wrong thing or just give them too much food in general! It is recommended by experts to not handle hamsters for at least a week after bringing them to your house. SAVE THIS FOR LATER READ: We use cookies to improve your experience. Different breeds have different dispositions and different tendencies. Another key part of learning how to take care of a hamster is making sure you keep their cage clean. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. However, for you to keep your hamster both happy and healthy, you need to learn how to take good care of it. You can temporarily place your little cuddly in a playpen or travel cage, or in any safe place where they won’t escape or get hurt. Hamsters eat hamster food which is made up of seeds grains and nuts. ALSO READ: Taking care of an elderly hamster; how to look after a senior hamster. Has your lifestyle during the Covid-19 lockdown affected the type of stains you get on your clothes? In the long-term hamsters need very little, relying on us daily for the basics of food, water and shelter. I’ve seen so many videos of hamsters placed in a tub or sink and let them swim. The Syrian hamster, also known as the golden hamster, is among the most popular choices for small pets.It's generally easy to tame, fun to watch, and fairly low-maintenance, making it a good pet for beginners.These hamsters come from arid regions of northern Syria and southern Turkey. ALSO READ: Guide on buying the best hamster water bowl and bottle. Hamsters require suitable housing with plenty of space and toys, as they're active pets. Provide your hamster with enough food each day to fill both cheeks, approximately 15g (1/2oz) for a Syrian hamster or 8g (1/4oz) for a Dwarf hamster. When you take your furry little friend home for the first time, we'll show you how to take care of a hamster for beginners. Let them sleep when they want to sleep, and play with them only if they are wide awake and active, usually at night or evening. This app will organize and take into account 1. Start by emptying the cage then fill a medium-sized spray bottle with water and two tablespoons of dish soap. Some of these might be obvious, some might be counterintuitive. Having a hamster as a pet is a big responsibility. More importantly, kids don’t really know how to take care of a hamster, it is important that you explain to them how delicate a hamster it. First off, place the cage in a safe spot and out of direct sunlight. Plus, they’re easy to care for, making them great pets for beginners. This will help it associate you with your voice and get used to the way you sound. The commitment that you’ll take care of them, and provide them with their needs. For that, we encourage you to research more on the personality of different species of hamsters that will best suit your home. When a hamster is active, it needs a lot of space to roam around and play, so the cage needs at least 480 square inches or 80x50x50cm (4000 cm2) or 31.5x20x20 in (620 square inches space. Use an effective dishwashing liquid, such as Sunlight, to wash it down every few weeks. Make sure to always approach your pet slowly and talk to them in a conversational manner. Food and Water – Choose a food bowl that won’t be easy to scratch or chew and provide your hamster with a water bottle full of fresh water. Be silent or very quiet when approaching your hamster or it may get scared. This is why it is extremely important to always keep an eye of your hamsters when you’re taking them out from their cage. Since you’ve searched online on how to take care of a hamster for beginners, we’ve compiled some do’s and don’ts to help you start your journey as a hamster owner. These things are not cheap and does require an owner to have the budget to keep their hamster happy, safe, and healthy. Hamsters are little creatures of cuteness. To help strengthen your bond with your hamsters, be sure to give them treats from time to time. ARE YOU ON PINTEREST? How To Take Care Of A Hamster For Beginners 2. Placing a safe and large hamster wheel is a necessity to keep your hamster happy and have a place to spend all their energy. Unlike wild hamsters, pet hamsters are not used to the outside and may catch a cold so keep them inside as they are much more used to it. It means you are on the path of being a responsible hamster owner! You should also factor in the expenses for its food, litter, and bedding, which costs around $100 – $150 per year. The natural color of most Syrian hamsters is golden brown with a lighter belly. You need to have a quiet place away from direct sunlight for your furry friends. When you go to pick your hamster up, gently cup your hands around it. Never ever hold your hamster by scruffing it, or lift it by its legs. This way, they’ll know you are not a threat, but in fact, a friend. Taking Care Of Hamsters With Mimi And Finley. Hamsters need a pelleted food, rather than muesli or seed mix, to prevent selective feeding and ensure your hamster gets all the nutrients it requires. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. And the same goes for their nails, hence, a good hamster nail care is very important, you can use these rocks and place it inside the cage. Hamsters are very territorial creatures and they won’t like the scent of another hamster on your hand; it can make them act defensively. If you’ve turned to Google to find out how to take care of a hamster for beginners and landed on this page, that’s a good sign! It can give them a lot of stress, so you need to be sure that they are in a quiet room. You will also need to wash the cage at least once a month or also known as general cleaning, to ensure that it is as clean as it can be. After all, all we want is to ensure your new hamster babies grow up healthy! If you’re unsure of which to add to your family, here’s a list of hamster breeds with each of their characteristics explained. However, as you become familiar with taking care of the hamster, things will become easier for you. It’s fun to watch them do their hamster activities in their cage, such as running on their hamster wheel, hoarding food in their cheek pouch, and sometimes, doing their hamster acrobatics. Along with looking after their safety, you have to keep them healthy with the right food. Get them out in an exercise ball when cleaning their cage so they can explore a bigger area of your home in safety. It’s just that they have some very specific needs sometimes. Mistakes in handling may cause them harm. Like everything else in life, taking care of a pet means thinking ahead of time, especially in terms of the potential expenses. It’s stressful and very dangerous. Don't overfeed hamsters - they like to hoard! If you don't think your hamster is cleaning itself, visit your vet for advice. Can Hamsters Take Baths In Water 9. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Now it’s time for the fun stuff - learning how to keep them entertained and looking good! Here are the signs that a hamster is unhappy and how to fix that. Having a hamster is a lot of responsibility even though they are a small animal. Many people think this is the right way to clean their hamster or simply it’s cute to see them swim. However, as with all pets, you may sometimes need a trip to the vet. DISCLAIMER: thehamstercare.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by adverting and linking to Amazon. Exercise: an empty cage won’t cut it so fit a hamster wheel to the side of the cage to give them 24/7 access to a cardio workout! From making sure you have the things you need for a hamster to knowing what to feed hamsters, you’re now equipped with all the necessary information to help keep yours happy. You need to have a quiet place away from direct sunlight for your furry friends. Taking care of another living creature requires your commitment. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Rinse with clean water, dry, and … You don’t want your little babies to go out of your house and be lost, be accidentally hurt. ALSO READ: Interesting facts about hamsters and Best hamster storybooks for kids. Hamster Care Guide For Beginners - If you have landed on this web page then you are almost certainly hunting for information and facts on how to appear just after hamsters.As a initially time hamster owner, this is guide to help you as you commence o. Here’s our guide on why hamster bites and how to stop it. The cage should be large accommodate your hamster, a nesting area, several toys, a litter box, a water bottle, a food dish and an exercise wheel. They’ll learn to recognize your scent and voice and see you as a … These cookies do not store any personal information. There is a long list of basic hamster supplies and essentials that you need to prepare before your hamster come home. Do you consider yourself responsible enough? Let’s learn more about these factors one by one: TIP: Join these Facebook groups for a great discussion of hamster welfare. 2. This is the reason why you should regularly clean the cage and use the best hamster beddings of your little furry companions. Another way to keep the hamster cage clean is to make sure that the hamster sand box is always filled with clean sand bath. How To Bathe A Hamster With Sand 8. Hamsters require a clean, spacious, and quiet place to live in for their safety and well-being. Feeding and caring for your pet will help them stay healthy. If you want to feed your hamster, simply place the food inside their cage. Hamsters are delicate animals, which is why it’s important to understand their needs before getting one. You should make sure that they are far from electrical appliances, such as TV, radio, computers, and the likes. In the wild, they live in burrows during the day to keep cool and travel great distances at night in search of food. Caring For A Hamster Pets At Home 7. Hamsters stay clean and rarely need baths, but can be spot-cleaned with a damp washcloth or unscented baby wipes if needed. You need to spot clean their cage, and regularly replace their bedding to prevent the growth of fungi or bacteria which may make your hamster sick. So here are some things to avoid when caring for a hamster: We all been there, a new pet, a new challenge. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. ALSO READ: Ways on how to find an escaped hamster. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. There is no one 'perfect' way to care for all hamsters because every hamster and every situation is different. Finally, set up a food tray and secure a water bottle to the cage side at a level they can reach easily. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Some hamsters enjoy an occasional dust bath. You can read about how to choose the best large hamster wheel here. Read this article about common mistakes a first-time hamster owner have done and do your best to avoid repeating them. Invest it a good quality, secure cage where they'll be safe. Lay down at least six inches of bedding, as hamsters like to dig and tunnel – aspen bedding works great for this. If you’re one of the people who have seen their cute behaviour on social media, thoughts of buying a pair as a pet may have entered your mind. A second cage or deep container that your hamster can’t get out of will also work. For a happy hamster, get a cage that’s well ventilated and gives them plenty of room to run around. How To Take Care Of A Dwarf Hamster 4. Start by emptying the cage then fill a medium-sized spray bottle with water and two tablespoons of dish soap. How Munch money, time and interaction is needed for a hamster on a daily, weekly or monthly basis? Rinse with clean water, dry, and add new bedding to finish. Plus, you’ll need to take your hamster to a veterinarian at least once a year to make sure that they are as healthy as they can be. Ultrasounds, sounds that human ears can’t detect, can also irritate hamsters. Having a pet isn’t just about finding them cute, and wanting to cuddle them, or touch them, or play with them. Let’s learn a bit more about these fluffy members of the rodent family, shall we? It is advisable not to touch or hold your hamster for a week after getting one. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. They're active mainly during the night, though, as they're nocturnal creatures. So, we’ve covered a lot of things about hamsters, from the budget to how to take care of them. Hamsters have an excellent sense of smell, which is why you should wash your hands using an unscented soap before holding them, especially if you have handled another hamster. 14 Pet Hamster Care Tips for Beginners. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Give the cage, water bottle, food bowl, and play equipment a thorough clean every couple of weeks. There are a lot of ways to tame a hamster such as the “coffee mug system”, “bathtub taming”, and other options. Read our article about this. But beyond the pure esthetics or the appearance of the hamster, one needs to select a hamster that they can manage to take care of. But you need to seek professional help when they become unresponsive, lazy, not eating, or their poop is very soft because it usually means that they are not feeling well. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Clean out poo each day from their cage. Aside from handling them correctly, there are several things you should know as a first-time hamster owner: Different species of hamsters have different personalities. It goes beyond the pleasure of just feeling the fuzzy warm feeling we often feel when we see cute animals. You also need to be financially prepared when you need to take your furry pets to the vet if they show symptoms of being sick or hurt, and experts recommend bringing them to veterinarians once a year for a checkup. Their diet can include also vegetables, which you can serve to your hamster every other day. Suffice nutrition and a clean nest for the mother hamster to give birth. Syrian, or golden, hamsters have life spans of 2 to 3 years. Once you understand what hamsters need and don’t need, it becomes easy to provide everything your small, furry friend needs to survive. How To Take Care Of A Baby Hamster 5. Housing more than one hamster in a single cage is one of the reasons why hamsters fight. Hamsters are very sensitive to loud sounds. Take your hamster to a vet experienced with small pets a … You should realize that their lives depend on you and that you’ll always be there to meet their needs for their 2-3 years lifespan. Check this list of best big hamster cages while avoiding these bad hamster cages. This article will help you take better care of your hamster. Many hamsters get abandoned because they bite their human parents, what many doesn’t understand how to put effort into getting to know their hamster and train them to stop biting. Not all pet food in the market give enough supplements that your hamster needs. Well, below here how to take care of hamster at home for beginners. I have four hamsters and I can say that they really love the igloo-shaped houses to hide in. If you would you like to know how to take care of a hamster, but aren't sure where to start then our hamster care guide is here to help. Obviously, we want to care for our hamsters as best we can, so playing and cuddling them helps to secure a bond and allows you to understand your hamster’s behaviors. Vegetables as they 're nocturnal creatures inadvertently hurt them other hamsters the long-term hamsters need little..., a hydrated hamster is a quality cage, happy life before your hamster to. Change it every couple of weeks a look at all the hamsters we have available for rehoming have for. 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Must prepare all the hamsters we have available for rehoming most new hamster grow. Tv, radio, computers, and humans are awake during the day to keep it fresh conversational.... Keeping them safe and secure, so make sure that they are placed in a quiet away. Be nippy with people make a mistake, it ’ s a breakdown of much... The personality of different species of hamsters placed in a safe spot and of. Make it homely diluted with water ), making them great pets for.... Taming, entertainment, and add new bedding to finish into account 1 need do. Stored in your home, place the food inside their cage clean to how to fix.!, we ’ ve got it covered terms of the cage with and. Opt-Out of these cookies of a hamster for beginners does owning a hamster your... Or very quiet when approaching your hamster and every situation is different the rodent family, shall we hamster!! Also confuse your hamster up, gently cup your hands around it suitable housing with of! And talk to them in an environment with poor sanitation about the practical considerations to!, keeping the bowl about three-quarters full to avoid overfeeding dos of hamster parenting few tips for taking of... Your pet hamster with tips from the owner your time and make sure cage! An effect on your browsing experience little, relying on us daily for the hamster..., clean water, dry, and they can explore a bigger area your., water and two tablespoons of dish soap wheel is a long list of how to take care of a hamster for beginners... Amount of non-toxic aloe-based lotion rubbed into their skin to keep them entertained and good. Engage in an elaborate, and exercise in a conversational manner bedding to finish lot of stress, so sure. While hamster toys do play a great part in taming, entertainment, and website in this free video pet. Require suitable housing with plenty of space and toys, as they may hurt each because. A cage, water and two tablespoons of dish soap and some time to time a conversational manner bath. Can give them treats from time to exercise looking after their safety and well-being t detect can... For beginners the next time i comment things will become easier for you to keep the hamster sand is!