Hamster owners plz answer

Question

im thinking about getting a hamster but i just have a few questions

1. Are they easy to tame (i want them to get used to me and not bite me also im patient however)

2. what room temperature is best? ( usually my home is 70-87)

3. how do they eat? (are they like dogs that you fill their bowls only in mourning and night? or like a ferret all you have to do is make sure they have food in their bowl at all times?)

4. is taking a hamster to the vet a must?

5. what objects of any sort is hazardous/dangerous for a hamster? (i would like to give it toys and something to chew on)

6. what type of bedding do you recommend and do you need litter?

7. cage or tank big/small?

8. can you train a hamster where to poo and pee in the cage or is that impossible? (i read guinea pigs can do this)

9. how often do you clean cage? ( once or twice a week)

sorry for so many questions i only had 4 but more came as i was typing, it will be a great help if you answer all of them

Answer 1

okay. if you get a syrian hamster, young, you can tame it very easily by introducing your hand each night and when it gets used to it picking it up and letting it explore and doing this regularly, building trust. however russian types and chineese types are smaller so naturally more nippy, it can be done but its harder!

room temp seems fine, just dont put them near radiators or anything that gets real warm, or windows, which get warm or quite cold, or in any drafty areas.

You can feed like a ferret, just with hamster food :P change it, along with its water, everyday. you can occasionaly give hamster treats or small pieces of apple or toast.

Don't really need a vet, even for an initial health check, as long as they are responsive, bright eyed, dont have hair loss and the coat is shiny and there are no visible lumps or bumps or wet tails, its okay. Most other things are treatable, occasionally some might need their claws or teeth cliipped/grinded, which if you don't feel comfortable in doing a vet can do. but this is very rare!

Hazardos things are anything that can be swallowed that would cause damage, so spiky things, Fluffy things (can be ingested), glass ect, you probably knew that though! cardboard tubes, hamster toys from the store ect are fine

Sawdust for the bottom of the cage and either the paper bedding or the j cloth bedding is best. the fluffy stuff has been known to be swallowed and cause problems or tightly wrap around feet and not come off :S

it's up to you how big or small the cage is, obviously though be sensible! wire ones are better for syrians, especially if you want to give it toys as they will use them to escape from a glass tank! if you want smaller species, glass is best as wire ones they wil slip out through but they cant reach to escape glass ones!

If you leave a jam jar lid or other similar thing with a bit of cat litter in they will eventually pee in that, you can also buy litter trays or 'hamster potties' lol! some however will poo anywhere, usually in the bedding or even throw it out of the cage!

cleaning the cage once a week is fine! id recommend getting hamster safe disinfectant for it :D

hope that answers all your questions, good luck with your new pet!

Answer 2

1)they don't really need to be tame... just leave them in their cage for a day and let them adjust

2)your tempature will be fine but keep them away from the windows...

3)they are more like a ferret but if you have a pig hamster like I did then feed him like a dog...

4)no

5)well I don't know hazeredous toys but give him a little would house if you want something for him to chew on (it is really for a giniee pig but hamsters like them too).. and a running wheel

6)aspen bedding and make sure it is NOT scented

7)tank and I would say medium if you want one hamster but if you want more than one hamster then get a large tank

8)I really don't think you can do that with a hamster

9)once a week at least

I used to have hamsters all the time

Answer 3

They're only about £6! Just buy one, whack it in the cage, if it lives; hey presto! If not, just buy another!

Answer 4

1) When you first get the hamster, leave it in its cage for the first few hours as its just been moved from its home to a place which is unfamiliar so it is bound to be scared. After a little while, you can sit by the cage as hamster have very good smell, maybe putting your hand near the cage - I wouldn't put your hand to close to the bars though as they can reach out slightly and bite you if they are scared. Maybe the second or third day, you can sit with your hand in the cage. The hamster will come and smell your hand. DON'T make any sudden movements as this will scare the hamster! After a few days, you can try picking up the hamster - maybe in its cage first so it gets use to being picked up. Hamsters can be very ease to tame and very lovable. This can take a little while to do with some hamsters so it is good that you are patient. Although, with some hamsters you can pick them up quicker.

2) About 70' F is a good temperature, but 87' F is a bit too high for a hamster. In summer, it is a good idea if you put a water bowl in because some hamsters will put in over them to cool themselves down.

3) You feed hamsters once a day with dried food AND once every other day with fresh food, such as cucumber, lettice, sweetcorn, apple. Here's a site for more information : http://sps.nus.edu.sg/~neesohye/food.htm...

4) It is sometimes better not to take a hamster to the vet as they have not worked out how much, such as anesthetic, to give the hamster. A lot of the time hamsters die when they go to the vets.

5) You can buy hamster chewy bars from a pet shop. Also you can get climbing frames and tubes. Hamsters need excercise, so putting a wheel in the cage will be a good idea. Also you could get a hamster ball and things for when you get the hamster out. Hamsters like to chew, so it is a good idea to get a hamster cage that has bars.

6) I recommend fluffy bedding for the winter, and cloth bedding for in the summer when it gets really hot. And no you don't need litter.

7) A cage that has bars, and is big enough for the hamster to run around in, when everything you want in the cage - make sure it has plenty of room.

8) I haven't heard of toilet training your hamster, but  suppose it can be possible as you can train them to do other things.

9) You clean the cage out at least once a week, but depending on your hamster you may have to clean the cage out more often!

Answer 5

http://www.freewebs.com/ryansrod... this site will give u the inf u need

Answer 6

1. sometimes when u pick it out make sure u ask which ones the nicest.                                                                                             2. that room temperature is fine    3.hamsters pack there food so u only have to feed them once a day 4.no 5.u have to give them hamster  toys. 6. I  get aspen and this pink hamster fluff they love it my hamster uses it to nest with but do not give your hamster cedar chips! it will give your hamster upper respiratory problems that's what killed my hamster 7. It depends on how big the hamster is. But the bigger the better.8. my hamster pees and poos in the same spot hamsters do not like change even after i clean my cage she still pees and poos in the same corner. 9. I clean my hamster's cage once a week but if you want to clean it twice a week that's fine                                        good luck  hamsters are really smart and can get out of there cage. Every hamster i ever had got out of its cage i have to tie the door up with a twisty tie.                                                            

Answer 7

1.hamster are all ready tamed usually! but pick up the hamster with a bowl or tube because they always try to bite when you stick your hand in the cage.

2.i think that is fine room temperature

3.they are like ferrets and always need food in there bowl

4.there is NO need to take a hamster to the vet even if they are sick because they only live for about 5 years and my friend took her hamster to the vet and just to see what was wrong with it it was $40

5.wires and plugs i guess any thing you wouldn't give a ferret

6.pine i think if the hamsters fur starts to fall out than change the bedding

7.well crafty critters is a good hamster cage com.

8.no not really they have little litter boxes for them but they don't really do all their stuff in there they just like to sleep in there! ha ha

9.if needed 2 times a week but mostly 1 time a week!

and more question e-mail me at [e-mail]! hope this helped because it took a LONG time to write! :)

Answer 8

okay with guinea pigs.

1. yes they are easy to tame and they wont bite you - mine never have

2. they dont like it too hot or cold just  average room temperature - in winter we put a blanket over their cage to provide a bit extra warmth and line their cage with shredded newspaper.

In summer keep them out of direct sunlight and heat as they can quickly get hot and die - shade  cloth is good to put over their cage to protect them from sunlight in summer

To keep them cool we get coke bottles and freeze water in them and wrap rags around them and put them in the cage - they love lying against them on a hot day

3. they eat just about everything - make sure they have clean water everyday

what they can eat:

    - cucumber

    - carrot

    - celery

    - corn

    -apple but never the seeds as these are toxic to them

    - melon (any sort)

    - cauliflower & broccolli

    - lettuce only on occassions as these has very little nurtrient for   them

   - tomatoes

and they love grass but not mown grass at all - toxic

Dont feed them anything from dairy or meats or anything like that or potatoes and dark green veges

Occasionally i feed my guinea pig a small amount of toast with vegemite as its a yummy way for them to get extra vitamins in their diet

guinea pigs eat alot and i suggest you feed them veges/ fruit morning and night and keep their food topped up with the lucerene throughout the day

4. You rarely have to take these critters to the vet - they are quite hardy but when they get sick or injured (which is rare) you have to

5. guinea pigs are very happy with making their own entertainment - i put them in a cage out on the lawn with pipes and boxes and they are happy running and playing.

You can pick up special chew toys for guinea pigs at pet stores

6. normally we just put down newspaper but you can put down soft hay for their bedding

7. Cage defiantely that is vermin proof - these also can be picked up from pet stores or your local hardware store may have plans and materials that you and a parent could make one

8. like it or not guinea pigs will do their business where they are sitting and ive never bothered to train them

9. try cleaning their cage at least every two to three days  and you can bath them one a month as well.

Good luck if you need more info then email me at [e-mail]

One last thing spend time with your guinea pig/s as they can get lonely and their super social

Answer 9

yep, they are easy to tame

any temperature is ok for them

they eat nuts by putting them in sacs in their mouth (cute!!)

well, I dont bring my hamster to the vet many times

well, better keep pins and needles away from them

well, you'll probably need some wood chips for their litter.

cage must be big so enough for them to play around

well, my hamster pees and poos around the inside of a cage

I clean it twice or thrice a week

Good luck with your new hamster!!

Answer 10

u shouldnt get a hamster if u dont no nought bout em but any way i hav a hamster and he luvs me i tamed im in  a week my room is 75 degrees c , they eat da sme as dogs but dont feeed em tice a daii or they be obese, i onlii take im if ders summin rong wiv im ,onlii electric cable and cotton wool are hazzardouse, hay or newspaper are good bed and u need sawdust as litter , rotastack cae is wat use as a cage if not a high toy box is ok for small breeds, yh u can train em but u need PATIENCE and a lot of it , in winter i clean da cage 1ce a week and in summer 3 times a week . please do more research as hamster care is a lot of responciblity and yahoo answeres aint gonna help wiv all of it  .  good luk wiv ur hamster and hope i helped . x-stephany-x

Answer 11

1. If you handle them every day, they will get use to your scent, this will probably takeat leastt 4 days.

2.The best temp. is betwenn 70and 80, out od drafts and direct sunlight.

3. You can just leave their food bowl full all the time, they do not nedd meal times.

4. you normally only take a hamster to the vet if something is wrong, like limping,odd behavoir, direaha, etc.

5.Cat.

6.I would recomend aspen, all the otherr wood shavings have harmful fumes. I have heard carefresh is good, but it is man made so i think it may have chemicals

7.The bigger the better, just make sure you hamster can't squeeze through the bars if you get a cage with bars. It is really a personal preference thing what type of cage you get.

8.you may be able to , my hamster normally pee's in one spot, but i didn't train him.

9.Once a week, If you changee the bedding too often, the can get very stressed. If one area is really smelling, you can try to was just that area out.

Hope this was helpful!!=D