A question for hamster knowledgeable people - (Few Questions)

Question

1- Is it Pine or Cedar Shavings that are bad for hamsters?

2- What is a good name for a Golden Teddy Bear Hamster?

3. Can hamsters eat regular sub ingredients such as olives pickles lettuce cucumber cheese?

4. How long do hamsters live- Isn't it til' 5-6 years? Or less!!??

5. Are hamsters nocternal?

Thanks to everyone who takes there time to help meout with some hamster questions!!!

Answer 1

Both Pine and Cedar are harmful. Any name that you like :). I sugjest giving them a little apple or banana or some nuts or sun-flower seeds. Hamster live like 4-6 I'm guessing? They are nocturnal but its easy to adjust to their lifestyle.

Answer 2

1 - Cedar is very, very, VERY bad. Pine is not so bad, but there is a little bit of controversy about how safe it really is (it contains some of the same phenols as Cedar). There are lots of other safe options, like aspen shavings, or paper-based Carefresh that's available in most pet stores.

2 - Um..? That really depends on the gender of the hamster.

3 - Lettuce and cucumbers, yes! They love them both. Olives, I'm not sure but wouldn't suggest it. Pickles, definitely not because of the high salt and vinegar content. As for the cheese, we used to give our hamster cheese about once a month, which he loved. You shouldn't give it too often though.

4 - All my hamsters lived 2-3 years, which is now the norm. Most vets now say only 18-24 months. My very first hamster lived to be 4, but it seems that as time goes on, they're living shorter and shorter lives. My friends noticed the same thing, so we decided it's in the breeding.

5 - Yes, hamsters are nocturnal. They sleep all day, and their wheels can get a little annoying at night! However, with patience and persistence, many hamsters get used to being handled during the day, and even begin to sleep at night. You can't ever change their natural instincts, but you can certainly improve them.

Answer 3

- Both

- Think of something unique

- Nuts are the best treat

- 5-6

- Yep (get a silent wheel)

Answer 4

Yes, It can be harmful for small animals to use shavings. Wood shavings give off toxic fumes and are really bad. The brand "Carefresh" sold in pet stores is the best. It doesn't get smelly fast and it's better for them. It's made of recycled cardboard. It's more eco-friendly too, like not made from living tress. There is a debate on the web about the truth behind the dangers of pine shavings. Whatever side you take, this is true:

1) Carefresh bedding smells better and the hamsters like it. Wood shavings may be harmful and they can cut, splinter or damage the hamster's eves or stab them. Wood shavings SUCK! They stink like pee after a day or 2 and they aren't as warm or soft. I tried other stuff, Carefresh is the one the hamsters, rats and mice seem to prefer too. I would not use anything else.  

2) As far as a name, it depends on what you like and the personality of the animal. What do you like? What kind of hamster is he/she? Is it a slow lazy hamster? A quick agile one? A friendly one? This all matters when choosing a name. I had 2 hyper girl hamsters and they were "Thelma and Louise" LOL! I had a not so smart, blonde colored girl hamster who hated the other hamsters (had to seperate her and give her a private 'princess' cage of her own) so I called her "Paris" haha! Get creative. I named most of mine after cartoons or celebrities. I even had a "Brad and Angelina" because I had a dark girl hamster and a light boy one. I really pick names unique to the animal, if you post a pic I could give you better advice. I would not just say "Call her Goldie" What if your hamster doesn't LOOK like a Goldie? They all have a different personality! If I saw the animal I could give you 20 names!    

3) Hamsters get diarrhea easily and this can cause "wet tail" an intestinal bactiria that kills them. I would AVOID things like milk, cheese, cucumbers and olives. APPLES are probably bad too and I think berries can be bad also. Stick to the pet food and fresh nuts, grains or seeds. Breads and crackers are ok but I would be careful with fruits or veggies. I gave mine carrots sometimes and that was fine, they love to chew them. Also NEVER feed them honey, this killed my friend's hamster. Hamsters are not like rats, they get an upset stomach and are more fragile. Rats are tough and eat anything. Hamsters have a more specific diet. My longest lived one ate mostly Lab Blocks and seed mixtures and almost no veggies besides carrots and NEVER fruit. My sis fed hers junk food like potato chips, gummi bears and they didn't live long, less than 6 months.  

4) They live no longer than 2 years generally. Sorry to be the one to tell you this but they NEVER live 6 years. If you want a pet that long, try a rat. I had a rat who lived 5 years. Hamsters, honestly, only 8-18 months tops. I took really good care of mine too and they still died off fast. I have had like 8 of them and none made it much over 2 years. The longest was like a two and a half years and she gave birth 3 times and out lived all her babies and mates.  

5) They ARE nocternal so when you sleep try to not have them in the room or they will run on their wheel all night and keep you up! They aren't very active animals otherwise though, during the day they sleep a lot.

I love all animals but hamsters and mice never worked out well for me. They don't live long enough and they aren't as smart as a rat. Rats may not be as cute but overall they make better pets IMHO. I still love hamsters though, they are really cute and I may get another one some day! I hope this advice helps!

Answer 5

1. Cedar. Pine is safe and can come in bags oil-free. It's also natural.

2. Squeek, Sunny, Light, Shine, Humphrey, Nutters, Jack, Joe, Weston, Albert

3. Yes, but make sure to research if some foods are bad. No oils. Go here for a list of good foods to feed him: http://www.zapgraphix.com/articles_0024....

4. Sorry, but the average for a Syrian is 2-4 years. Record is 6 1/2.

5. Yes and No. Scientists found that hamsters are accustomed to coming out at night due to the predators found awake by day. But they have noctornal eyes. So it is mainly a Yes.

Tips: Hamsters are cuddly, loveable, adorable creatures. They are loyal companions. Make sure to feed a high quality hamster diet with mainly seeds and spare fruit and veggies. Remove wet spots daily. Give him plenty of clean wood to chew, so his teeth remain trim and healthy. Change water every day. Put the habitat in a cool, no-draft area. No sunny places.

Apple skin is hard to chew, and can hurt in a throat. It is very bad. So it is True. Good luck! ^-^

Answer 6

1.) i've herd that they were but i used to use that for my Guinea pig and i don't think it did any harm for her.

2.) teddy? lol.

3.) i don't think cheese would be very good or maybe not olives but if they were in little chunks i think it would be fine. i feed my hampster lettuce

4.) my hamster for about 6 years maybe? it depends on how well you take care of them, if they exersise and how  healty.

they are.

6.) yes. they sleep all day and play all night.  

Answer 7

1. Pine or cedar shavings are the worst type of bedding to get! They cause respiratory problems! Get carefresh that's the best type of bedding to buy.

2. A good name for a Golden teddy bear hamster would be Goldie or go to this website for tons of names : http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/namelists...

3. Here is a complete list of what hamsters can and can't eat:

FRUITS:

Apple (seedless)

Banana

Blackberries

Blueberries

Cantaloupe.

Cherries

Cranberries

Grapes(seedless)

Lychee

Mango

Melon

Peaches (no stone)

Plums (no pits)

Raspberries

Raspberry Leaves (helpful for diarrhea)

Strawberries

VEGGIES:

Asparagus

Bean Sprouts

Bok Choy

Broccoli

Cabbage (Limited amounts)

Carrots

Cauliflower

Celery

Chard

Chestnuts

Chickweed

Chicory

Clover

Corn on the Cob

Cucumbers

Dandelion Leaves

Endive

Green Beans

Kale

Parsnips

Peas

Radicchio

Romaine Lettuce

Spinach

Squash

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet bell Peppers

Swiss Chard

Turnip

Water Chestnuts

Water Cress

Zucchini

MEATS AND PROTEINS:

Cooked Ground Beef (Rinse well in hot water to remove any grease)

Cooked Chicken or Turkey (Steamed or baked)

Low Fat Cottage Cheese

Fish Cod (Cooked removing bones and skin)

Grasshoppers (Pet Shop)

Mealworms (Pet Shop)

Crickets (Pet Shop)

Bread(whole grain no white bread) soaked in milk ( Low Fat, Skim, Soy)

Eggs ( boiled or scrambled)

Plain Tofu

Plain Low Fat Yogurt

Dog Biscuits (No Garlic, onion, or onion powder)

Monkey Chow

Lab Blocks

OTHER FOODS:

Buckwheat

Baby Food(low sugar and no onion or garlic)

Cheese (mild cheeses in moderation)

Cooked Plain Brown Rice

Cooked Pasta(Wheat or Spinach would be better)

Dry toast(Also helpful for diarrhea

Flax seed

Low or Sugarless Cereals

Pumpkin Seeds (unsalted

)

Nuts (No almonds)

Sesame Seeds

Soybeans(Roasted no salt)

Squash seeds

Lentils

Oatmeal(dry or soaked in skim, soy or low fat milk)

Nutritional Yeast

Bran and Wheat Germ (Refrigerated goes bad fast)

Peanuts (unsalted)

Alfalfa

Unsalted Popcorn (no butter)

FOODS TO AVOID:

Almonds (Contains Cyanic Acid)

Apple Seeds

Canned food

Chocolate

Candies

Chips and Junk food

Pork Products

Potatoes (Raw)

Raw Kidney Beans

Eggplant

Fool's Parsley

Grape Seeds

Avocado (Contains Cardiac Glycosides)

Raw Rhubarb

Tomato leaves

Oranges or Tangerines(no citrus fruits)

No watermelon (the water content is high causes diarrhea)

Cherry Stone

Peach Stone & Leaves

Apricot Stone

Lemon or Lime

Jams and jellies

Spices

Garlic

Onions

Leeks

Scallions

Chives

Pickles

4. Hamsters live 2-3 years

5. Yes, hamsters are nocturnal

Hope this helps! :)

Answer 8

1 both

2 honey. cinimin nutmeg

3 lettuce not much a pinch of cheese not much

4   2-3 but 5 HAVE been known

5 yes

I would get a gerbil.. why here is why,

1not nocternal

2don't bite

3stinks LESS

p.s same rules 4 gerbils exept 5

Answer 9

1. i think both aren't good for hamsters. just get regular wood shavings.

2.My friend named her hamster Teddy. lol. Its a cute name.

Girl names: Lulu, goldie, Poppy

Boy names: Snap, Tiger, Cheez

3.Things like lettuce, cucumbers and watermelon aren't good for hamsters. If u give these to them, they might get diarrhea.

4.they live up to 2-4 years. it depends how u take care of them.

5.yes, they are. its best to leave them alone during the day.

My hamsters eat apple skins. But fresh ones. it makes them really happy!

so do peaches and carrots.  

Answer 10

Cedar is bad always. Pine is only ok if it is kiln-dried PROPERLY and multi-screened. Aspen is always safe.

Cedar has cedrene oils that can't be removed. These can burn the hamster's organs when it inhales the oils all the time. Pine has hydrocarbons that can be removed, but the bedding can have molds because it wasn't dried right. Kaytee brand does not dry their bedding good enough before packaging.

I'm not in it for the points, I just want to help people care for their animals properly. Name the darn thing Ugly for all I care. A name doesn't have anything to do with whether it's cared for properly.

No, hamsters should not have any of those listed sub ingredients.

Often hamsters aren't properly cared for and they live 6 months-2 years. If you care for them properly they can live 5 years.

Hamsters are nocturnal, but they can adjust to other schedules in captivity. But don't expect you hamster to be calm and quiet at night unless its out and about all day.

Answer 11

1. It's pine, but ideally you should get something called "care fresh" bedding. It's the best for them, even though it costs a little bit more. Cedar should be alright though. It just doesn't absorb as well as "care fresh". Never get pine though. It hurts their respiratory systems.

2. It depends on what you like. Sorry, can't help there.

3. Lettuce. I'm not sure about cucumber. Definitely not olives pickles and cheese though.

4. It depends on allot of factors. Mainly hoe they're cared for. Five to six might be achievable, but three to four is more likely.

5. Most rodents are. Hamsters included. They are nocturnal, but if you play with them in the day, their habits will change.