Taking care of my first hamster?

Question

I just got my first hamster a few hours ago.

Right now i put it in a medium-sized cage with the bedding the vet recommended, and some cotton for it's sleeping place.

It's a teddy bear hamster, so it's pretty big.

Could you answer the following questions please?:

-Cage or Tank: which is better for the hamster?

-What is their favourite treat?

-Does it need alot of attention?

-Does it like to be held or likes to be left alone?

-What are some good toys for it?

-What is the best bedding for it?

Thanks :]

Answer 1

tank

just any cheap bedding

sun flower seeds

average attention

held

chew block and wheel

Answer 2

1st off- don't use cotton, even if you bought it specially made for hamsters it is VERY dangerous

Cage is better. Mine is an a 24"Lx 13"W wire cage. I bought it from petsmart online.

Favorite treat: YOGIES fruit flavored. Found at PETSMART

Yes, if you want it to become tame it needs at the least a half hour to an hour of attention a day.

At first it will HATE to be held and might bite. Leave it alone for the first 2 days that you get it to let it explore its cage. Then start by just resting your hand in the cage. It will take time, but after a week or 2 they will love being held. (for more information on how to tame your hamster look it up on google and there should be LOTS on info!)

Toilet paper rolls, wheel, and other little hideaways are good for hamsters.

CAREFRESH is the best bedding. It is available in white, gray, purple, pink, blue, yellow, and green.

Answer 3

- Cage.

- It all depends on the hamster. Almonds are very good!

- They need a lot of attention.

- well its a 50/100

- chews, wheels, tubes, toiletpaper rolls

- carefresh paper pulp. The best and safest

Hope this helps and congrats!!!

Answer 4

i think aquariums are great for rodents. you can put plenty of fun toys (wooden things with holes and things to climb on and chew on are wonderful!) and there's less of a chance that they'll escape.

Answer 5

I think cage is fine, but then you should put a larger cage for him. You can give it seed, like sunfllower seeds, they like it...and dont feed it popcorn, mine died because of that. They sleep a lot so you can play with him but be gentle and dont wake him  up. They like that little spinny wheel thing and  little tubes for him to go through...WLKM

Answer 6

1-cage better ventalation and they can chew on the bars

2-Mine likes carrots best but they are all different

3-Not really becuase they sleep all day becuase they are nocternal

4-Same as three basically

5-Wooden chew blocks and small cardboard boxes with holes in it.

6-Well I'd say CareFresh

Answer 7

1) Cages are better they provide better ventilation, that tanks don't really provide, tanks also hold in the odor.

2) hamster love all kinds of goodies, try some fruit and veg, but not too much, Cherrios,crackers, sunflower seed (just once in awhile, they are fatty) etc.

3) they don't NEED alot of attention, but why get a hamster if you dont want to play with it >_<! they are usually verry sweet and will bond well with you.

4) they will get nervous when you go to take them out, they very rarely bite (depends on the hamster) they're most likely to bite, if you wake them up or scare them.

5) wood chews(buy at a pet shop), toilet paper rolls and carboard boxes(like kleenex, oatmeal boxes ) are fun!

6) carefresh is a great bedding for them, it hold in odors well, is virtually dust free and doesnt have the oils the other beddings(like pine or apsen) have in them.

Good luck! =)

Answer 8

Congratulations on getting your first hamster! They're very affectionate! A wire cage is definately better for the hamster, tanks are not as easy to clean and the glass reflections might scare your hamster my cage recommendation is this: http://www.petsmart.com/product/zoom/ind... My hamster's favorite treats are yogurt dips and Veggie Puffs, both are sold at a local petsmart/ petco. No, it does not need a lot of attention, although, you should check the cage for weak spots where the hamster might get out right before you go to bed! It likes to be held every once and a while, and olding maybe once everyother day could help you bond with it! Some good toys that my hamster likes are these: http://www.petsmart.com/product/zoom/ind...

http://www.petsmart.com/product/zoom/ind... (This one comes in different colors!)

http://www.petsmart.com/product/zoom/ind... (This also comes in different colors!)

Those are all the treats my hamster has and loves except for these sugar/salt cube things, but I couldn't find any pics of those. The best bedding for it is peremium Pine Bedding:

http://www.petlanddiscounts.com/detail.a...

Hope I helped and Good Luck!

-Pumpkin  8P

Answer 9

Well I can't really help but I know this site that might help you.

Here it is.............http://www.hamsterific.com/hamsters.cfm

Answer 10

-Cage or Tank: which is better for the hamster?

Tank.  Plastic cages are easily broken, hard to clean (because they hold onto urine odor and you have to take them apart), and generally not big enough.

A tank will allow for you to give your hamster room to roam around in and change the housing units regularly.  This keeps them from getting bored too quickly and keeps them interested after each cage cleaning.

-What is their favourite treat?

It really depends on the hamster.  What's a human's favorite treat?  Some hamsters prefer nuts.  In which case, you can buy a large bag of unsalted, dry roasted peanuts in a store for a few dollars.  Make sure they're unsalted though!!  Too much salt is not good for them. ):  They like breaking the shells apart as well. x)

Some hamsters prefer dried fruit.  In which case, you can buy Parrot Trail Mix.  This has apricots, pineapple, raisins, etc.  You can switch it up and give them different treats to keep their taste buds guessing.  It also comes with some nuts and coconut strips in it.

He or she may prefer fresh foods.  Be careful though, as too much fresh veggies or fruit is not good for them.  Give them a small baby carrot, piece of celery, piece of a strawberry, etc every few days if that is the case.  You will know if you give your hamster fruits or veggies too often because it will have wet stool.

Perhaps he or she doesn't like any of the above?  Buy store bought hamster treats.  After all, what better place to start over?  There are different varieties which include raviolis, waffle crisps, and hamster bars.

-Does it need alot of attention?

Generally speaking, no.  I mean, they need enough that you pay attention to their mood and make sure they're not getting sick, they need their cages cleaned weekly, fresh food and water as well, but they don't need to be handled every day.  In the long run, it may be better to handle them daily though.  Handling them daily will tame them and they won't run away when you try to pick them up, but they won't die if you let them mind their own business.

-Does it like to be held or likes to be left alone?

As I said above, it's all about taming.  At first, he or she won't like to be held, but if you hold them every day, they'll warm up to you and you can hold them without a problem.

Though, even if you tame them, they won't be too happy if you pick them up while they're sleeping.  If you do it around the same time every day, they won't mind as much, but if you're constantly disturbing their sleep, they could get a little angry with you.

-What are some good toys for it?

Plastic things don't really make the best toys because they're louder when they chew on them and, if swallowed, could choke the hamster, but it's not really that big of a deal.  My hamsters had plastic tubes that they chewed on.  They never choked, but it was always a possibility.  In the end, it's just expensive.  It's better to use things from around your house.

Collect paper towel tubes and cut them in two or three equal pieces (if it's too long, it could get stuck in there or might not go through it).  Collect toilet paper tubes, empty tissue boxes (with the plastic removed from the top), cereal boxes, etc.  They enjoy hiding in things.  So he won't really chew it up, but he may to some degree.  Either way, after a week, get rid of it and give him a new one.  This keeps the box from getting too dirty and getting the hamster sick and, again, from allowing them to get too bored.

Other than that, a nice wheel will do.  I don't really recommend a plastic one though.  They tend to pee in those and make nests in those.  Then it's really hard to get the smell out.  Get a wire or mesh wheel.  For any other animal, these wouldn't be the best idea, but since teddy bear hamsters don't really run, it'll be fine.  If your hamster does make a nest in the wheel anyways, simply remove the wheel from his cage and put it back after he's made another nest elsewhere.

-What is the best bedding for it?

I would not recommend wood chips.  While some people have good brands, it's hard to find out if a brand is good or not.  Some are not safe woods, have chemicals in the wood that are not safely digested, etc.

I would stick to a nice soft bedding.  Like Care Fresh or Healthy Pet.  It's normally around $20 for a large bag, so it's not that bad.  That'll normally last a month or two, depending on how much you put in the cage, maybe even three.  It absorbs urine better, smells less, and lasts longer.  Though even with that, it still needs to be changed regularly to avoid health issues with your hamster living in a dirty cage.

Answer 11

-cage, hamsters love to exercise and will enjoy climbing the cage's walls

- hamsters enjoy: pet store hamster treats, bread, cheese, fruit, and vegetables

-The more attention you give him the happier he will be

-for the first week you should leave him aloe so that he can get used to him surroundings, but then you should be fine to play with him

- hamster wheels, blocks of woods, hamster balls (the plastic sphere container that lets your hamster run around the house)

-wood chips

Answer 12

i think tank because it near impossible 4 the hammy 2 escape

and a hammster will like just about anyfood u give them but  DON'T GIVE THEM:    

    *  Almonds

    * 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

u can tell if a hammster wants some love if it looks like trying to get out of its cage ( like its trying to clim up the walls) it really changes from hamster to hamster  

again is really depends on ur hamster. but most loved 2 be held. just make sure that u leave ur hammy alone 4 the first few days so it can get comfortable with its new home

some good toys are really the home made ones like a toilet paper roll( u can cut it at the top if u think the hamster won't fit)  

now 4 the main bedding the best best one to use is carefreash brand. u should would really not use wood chips even tho keeps there nails filed. the wood doesn't help with smell.

Answer 13

a cage would be best for a hamster so it  has more air.

a hamsters favorite treat is any fruit or nuts

a hamster does not need alot of attention normally they are fine with there own company

hamsters do like to be let out of the cage it will bite you once but then it will get used to you.

hamsters don't like lots of toys you can get it a wheel and it will be occupied enough and maybe a tunnel or a toilet roll tube.

a hamster can have toilet roll (unscented)

or some normal hamster bedding you can get for a pound

Answer 14

I have had 3 hamsters all wonderful pets and lived for a really long time.

I had one teddy bear hamster, she was very wild when i got her. She was a skinny thing too, she never liked to eat all of her food because i guess she thought she wasnt going to get much even though she hid like loads and loads of food. She had sooo much food and she never ate most of it!!

Well anyway, we found out that hamsters like to roam a lotttt so we got 2 cages for each (we had two hamsters at the time) and we connected 2 cages for each hamster with tubes that you can buy. They love going on different levels and going through tubes. Make sure you get the right size tubes for your hamster because vanilla she was soooo huge and she ate like alllllll of the food that we gave her and she got soo fat that she got stuck in a big tube!! lol so make sure you keep an eye on youre hamsters so they dont get stuck. or fat!

Our hamsters loved the chicken flavored SMALL dog bones. They love chewing on them and it keeps their teeth from getting too long. The vet said it was ok for them to eat those.

Yeah hamsters need lots of attention!! Who would want to be stuck in a cage all the time ??

We got some hamster play fence things and you make a little area for them to play in on the carpet or kitchen floor. also putting them in the bath tub with a towel and some toys is fun to watch, and play with them in there and you dont ahve to worry about them running away, always make sure you are there to play with them and never walk away from them when they are in these play areas. They could find a way out if left alone. Also putting them in those plastic balls and let them roll around for an hour ( depends on your hamster some get tired easily and fall asleep in their ball!! some love it too much and they run around for a really long time, also if you have pillows that have that fringe stuff on the ground, make sure you put them up high out of their reach because my teddy bear hammy always went up to the pillows fringe (inside her ball!!) and let the fringe come thru the balls holes and took alot of it for her bed!! also make sure you tape the lid on the ball to the ball so it cant come off, because they accidentally hit the walls alot and the lids can come off!! our hamster oreo escaped from her ball many times and we had to find her, if this does happen like escapees from cages and other stuff like that (random things happen like tubes come off or the cage doors come open when they are on the, so on) just put out a bucket with a towel int eh bottom with some carrots and lettuce and make a ramp up to the bucket and they will crawl and fall in the bucket, dont worry they wont get hurt!! also just calling their name they will come if they are good hammies like ours were!! here is the ball thing im talking about - http://www.petco.com/product/101969/Supe...

Its always good to hold your hamster you can hold them with your hand like under hteir arm its if u know what i mean or u can put them on your hand and cuddle them, i was always afraid of them biting me lol so i always held them under their pits!! hehe

Also try not to disturb them during the day, they are nocturnal and sleep during the day, when we came home from school around 3:30pm we would condition our hammies to wake up around that time cause we loves playing with them!! soo its ok to do this, just dont keep them up too long. its always best to play with them a little in the afternoon then in the evening play with them alot so they can get some of their energy out!

All the hamster toys are great for them! ours personally liked the tubes to play around in!! and the little squares that u can put together and make little thigns for them to go inside and find food and stuff. like this- http://www.petco.com/product/5272/Super-...

also if the cage you get doesnt have a sleeping area you can get one of these, they like sleeping in it and climbing on it! - http://www.petco.com/product/9190/Super-...

bedding it can be wood chips for hamsters or this grey looking stuff, or anything made for hamsters is good!

I hope you have fun!!