Why hamsters are good pets

This tube style for example is popular, and leaves you room for creativity. You can combine them as much as you like, and create a whole playground for your hamster. They can be used both inside the cage and outside. You can check the listing on Amazon, and read the reviews as well. If not, they can be created securely, with a few online tutorials. DYI hamster tubes and tunnels Many hamster toys can be made at home, very simple, from cardboard rolls. Connecting them would also be a chore, and there is no airflow as well.

But, inside the cage, our Teddy always has a couple of tubes he uses to get from one end to the other. Sometimes those tubes end right in front of the water bottle. Giving your hamster a tube to play in is as simple as just placing the tube inside his cage.

You can leave it at that, or you can use a few shorter tubes like the toilet paper ones to create a tube system on the floor of his cage. Just fold the end of the tubes a bit, so they fit into the holes, and make an entire system. Hamsters love cardboard, and will chew their way through it.

So the tunnel system will be bitten here and there, and parts of it will be missing. If you want to know more about us hamsters you can check out the related articles below. Not only with an infection, but with any other eye problems as well. Read on to find out how to help your hamster when and if he develops eye problems. My Teddy Syrian male had a sticky eye a couple of times, but he survived just fine.

Or it could be from many other reasons. The point is that your hamster has an infection and needs your help. For the most part, an infection can be noticed if the eye is red, puffy, hot to the touch. The best thing to do is to bring your hamster to the vet as soon as possible, so he can prescribe a round of antibiotics. The treatment can last up to 2 weeks in some cases, and your hammy might be required to stay at the vet for a couple of days.

For future reference, the veterinarian you should look for is an exotics vet. This is the kind of vet that can help with your hamster, guinea pig, snake, and parakeet as well. The infection can be contagious, and hard to deal with if all hamsters have it. Saline solution is basically just distilled, salted water. If you use tap water, be sure to boil it very, very well and them let it cool to room temperature.

Heat the water either distilled, or sterilized tap water , and dissolve the salt and baking soda Let cool to room temperature Store in the clean glass jar or cup Get a clean cotton pad or cotton bud, and dip it in the liquid.

It needs to be wet, but not soaked so you get the hamster wet. Use a clean pad or bud for each wipe! You must keep the saline solution clean. The solution is good for 24 hours, tops. If anything gets into it, or it looks odd or cloudy or dirty, throw it out and make a new one. Hamsters are different than humans, and not only require different doses but they also process medicine differently than us.

Not only that, but it can get very frustrating for the hamster. He might try to paw at his eye and cause further damage. In this case the solution is a lot like with the infection. Make a batch of saline solution, and keep it at room temp. The difference is that the crust will have to soften. Again, scruffing the hamster will help keep him still while you wipe his eye. I used one of those sterilized baby wipes you can get at the pharmacy. Not baby wipes from the supermarket!

It can be less dangerous than the infection we talked about earlier. It can come about as an irritation because of dust in the bedding, a scratch, a small injury, an overgrown tooth. Anything, really, since conjunctivitis is just the inflammation of the tissue surrounding the eye. In extreme cases the entire half of the face could be swollen. Most of the time the discharge is clear in conjunctivitis.

This is another case where you should separate the sick hamster from the other hamsters. The upside, if you will, is that hamsters barely use their eyes anyway. They use their sense of smell, and their sharp hearing to navigate and live a happy life. However a cataract, as far as I know, is not treatable.

It could be both eyes, it could be just one, and it could be a larger spot, or just cloudy, blurred eyes. In most cases, cataracts forms as the hamster ages. The eyeballs have tissue surrounding them, and especially behind them. This can become inflamed, and push out the eye a bit. It can be painful for the hamster, but is treatable.

Your veterinarian will be able to give the hamster a treatment for this problem, but until then there is not much you can do for your friend. In some cases it could be a tumor growing behind the eye, since hamsters can develop tumors as well. Not all bulging eye cases mean a tumor, do no worry. It could just be a severe case of conjunctivitis. You can track the progress of the eye with photos every few hours, to show to your vet once you get to him. Even by smell and touch, he can still know where everything is.

Another benefit of keeping your hamster away from any bright sunlight is that cataracts and blindness will come much later. That being said, make sure you do not keep your hamster in too cold a temperature. Even the Dwarf hammies that come from the cold parts of Russia, Siberia, Mongolia, and so on, will still need a certain temperature. Make sure you keep your hamster in a room that keep this temperature, otherwise he can develop either sticky eye, or a form of conjunctivitis from a cold.

In some extreme cases, the hamster can get a case of hypothermia, and needs your immediate attention to survive. Please keep your hamster warm, but not too warm. Hammies are very sensitive animals. Keep the bedding clean, and change it once per week.

You can find out more about the safe kinds of bedding you can get for your hamster here. And also how and when to clean his cage. Hamsters are very sensitive to dust, so bedding or toys that are dusty should be cleaned.

Even if you let your hamster just roam the house in his exercise ball, make sure the floor is clean. Make sure you sand them down if need be. What if your hammy becomes blind, or loses an eye? Hamsters can lose their sight with old age. The cataracts settle in, and they become completely blind. Or, maybe your hamster was born without eyes, or maybe he lost an eye in a terrible happening. Rest assured, hamsters can live their entire life without their eyesight. In a way, they already do — hamsters barely use their eyes, they use their noses and ears much more.

Any changes will make him stressed. Remove objects that need him to see. Like see-saws, or bridges, or climbing toys. Otherwise he might panic at being suddenly picked up, even if he was okay before. He might bit a bit, but no major changes should happen in his personality. That being said, a blind hamster will not be very handicapped.

A word from Teddy I hope you found what you were looking for here, and know how to help your hammy friend if he ever gets an eye problem. I know us hammies can look like cute, cuddly creatures, but we do have our troubles. We count on you to help us out. If you want to know more about us hamsters, you can check out the articles below for more info on how to properly care for us and keep us happy And this will help you know how large a cage he will need, and what to expect from your hamster friend.

Table of Contents So when is a hamster fully grown? When is a Syrian hamster fully grown? When is a Roborovski Dwarf fully grown? When is a Campbell Dwarf fully grown? When is a Chinese Dwarf fully grown? When to separate baby hamstersThe right cage for a fully grown hamsterA word from Teddy So when is a hamster fully grown?

Generally a hamster is fully grown around 3 months of age. This means that the hamster is both sexually mature, and also has reached, or is very close to, its full length. Of all hamster types, Syrian hamsters grow the largest, and you will notice severe size differences between the baby hamster you brought from the pet shop, and the adult hamster in your cage.

The Dwarf types do grow, but the difference between them as babes and as adults is not nearly as big. For reference, a baby Syrian around 4 weeks old — when he can be adopted — is about as large as an adult Siberian or Campbell. A Syrian hamster is fully grown when he is around 12 weeks of age 3 months. Both males and females are capable of breeding around 4 weeks, so they must be separated to prevent any more litters from producing. As for size, a Syrian hamster grows to its full size around the 3 month mark.

That is when the Syrians become adults, and can reach their full size. They can reach between inches in length, which is cm. A few traits of adult Syrian hamsters: Their markings become clear just before they reach maturity. That is where their testicles are, and you will see them often. The females will come into regular heat — about every 4 days. The average lifespan of a Syrian hamster is years, in captivity. They are close to old age when they reach their second birthday, and will start to become slower and have trouble eating and moving around as they reach that age.

A Roborovski hamster is a Russian Type, and he will be fully grown around the 3 month mark as well. The Robos can breed as early as weeks old, so again they must be separated very early in male and female groups.

They are the tiniest of the Dwarf types, and are very hard to handle. Their fur coloration becomes clear as they reach the 3 month mark. The average lifespan of a Roborovski hamster is about years in captivity, but rarely lives past 2 in the wild. A Campbell Dwarf is fully grown around the 3 month mark, as the other hamsters. They usually live around 2 years in captivity, but can live a few months past 2 years in the right conditions.

Chinese hamsters, while not truly Dwarf types, are still much smaller than the Syrian type. A Chinese hamster will become fully grown when he is about months old. The hamster can breed before he reaches that point, though. As for size, the Chinese is larger than most Dwarf types, but smaller than the Syrian. The long tail, and the more slender, long-ish figure of the hamster can make it look a lot like mouse to many people.

Given their natural coloring — a sort of brown with a dark stripe down their back — this can be forgiven.

A Siberian, or Winter White, is a type of hamster that does belong to the Dwarf type. They are fully grown at about 3 months of age, and can breed about weeks of age. Their fur can change, depending on temperature and season.

A Winter white is called such because in the wild, its color changes to mostly white. So generally, the best time to separate the hamsters into all male and all female groups is when their mother finishes weaning them.

You can find much more info now how to properly separate the baby hamsters into gender-specific groups here, as well as how to handle them. Do take care when the mother has just given birth, since she is easy to startle. A startled, or scared, or stressed out mother can abandon or even eat her babies. The right cage for a fully grown hamster Your hamster might see so very small when you first get him.

Baby hamsters need adult-sized cages. This is partly because they grow very quickly, and once they do grow they will feel cramped in a cage that is too small for them. These 5 hamster cages are great picks, depending on what kind of hamster you have. A cage that is too small for your hamster can lead him to a lot of stress, and feeling irritable most of the time. This can lead to a lot of unwanted behaviors, like chewing the bar cages, and even fighting with their cage mates.

The minimum cage size for an adult Syrian hamster is 24 x 12 inches, and about 12 inches tall. Always get your hamster a bigger cage, even if they look so small they need a large amount of floor space. Best to read this article on what to know before getting a cage for your hamster, and how to properly care for it. For the Dwarf types I recommend a glass tank, since they can easily escape through the bars of a wire cage. A word from Teddy I hope you found what you were looking for here, and can figure out when your hammy is fully grown.

For example when I was a baby I was orange all over, with a bit of faded white on my belly. When I got older I started showing my darker grey markings, and my owners thought I was dirty at first! So if you want to know more about your hammy, you can read the articles below. Are Hamsters Nocturnal? Is it sick? Is it afraid? Is there anything you can do? I know I was a bit worried when I first got my Teddy — he is my first ever hamster.

I did not know until him what hamsters do during the day, or at night. But after talking to some hamster owner friends of mine, and watching my own hamster, I got my answers. Table of Contents So are hamsters nocturnal or not? A word from Teddy So are hamsters nocturnal or not? Pet hamsters are nocturnal. Hamsters sleep during the day and wake up at night, so they can avoid predators.

This means that most of the time you will only see your hamster before you go to bed. Keep in mind that hamsters are solitary creatures and prefer to be left alone. In short, hamsters end up being or seeming to be nocturnal because most folks only see hamsters who are pets, not wild ones.

So, since pet hamsters tend to only come out at night, they end up being nocturnal. Wild hamsters have a more flexible schedule, and are actually crepuscular creatures.

That means they come out at sunrise and sunset, when the light is easier on their sensitive eyes, and the temperature much more bearable. How being crepuscular helps wild hamsters survive Hamsters are prey, and they evolved to come out mostly at dawn and dusk because their main predators will hunt them during the day or the night.

Nor do they tolerate very low temperatures. And that is usually found during sunset and at sunrise. So being crepuscular is mostly an evolutionary advantage. Some hamsters are nocturnal, or even diurnal This can happen, because hamsters have their own personalities. But your hammy could be a night hamster, and only come out late at night. For example my Teddy comes out around PM, and I see him up even in the middle of the night if I walk past his cage.

He seems to get some rest once I wake up, which is around 5 AM. Then comes out again around 7 AM for about half an hour, and then retires for the rest of the day.

There are hamsters out there who are only awake during daytime. This is very rare but it can happen. Since in your home there is no natural difference in temperature or light for your hamster to use as a guideline, his waking hours might shift over time.

Hamsters wake up for a few minutes in daytime as well You can sometimes see your hamster during the day for a few minutes. Maybe he got up for a sip of water, or maybe he did not leave the house but you hear him munching on some food in his house. Or, maybe he woke up because you moved his cage. Hamsters are very sensitive and will wake up easily, even if they do no leave their home.

Something as simple as picking up and moving his cage can wake him up. This is the case with my Teddy. After work I usually need a nap, but Teddy sometimes chooses that moment to have a snack, which will wake me up. So I always move his cage to the other room, and I always see him come out a bit, all sleepy, to see what happened.

And sometimes, weird noises come from that home. It can be completely random, and not seem to have an obvious reason. Other times your hammy might be chewing on a piece of cardboard, or eating something from his stash hamsters keep a food stash in their homes. So you might hear chattering and tiny biting sounds from his home. The best parts are when he suddenly stops.

Not when he freezes to hear something or check what that sound means. This can last for a few minutes. The weirdest moment like this was one where Teddy was sitting upright, holding a cage wire with one paw.

More like resting his paw on it. And he was just looking at me. He did not change his position when I came close and moved around his cage, he just turned his head towards me and kept staring. After a couple of minutes he went to drink some water and that was it. Or, you can look for a hamster exercise ball and watch him be funny in that. How to gently wake up your hamster If, for whatever reason, you need your hamster awake right now, you can try this.

Get a treat or kind of food he likes a lot, a small piece. And gently tap on the side of his cage and talk to him, coaxing him out. Hamsters are like humans when they wake up. Groggy, and a bit confused.

So for a few minutes your hamster will be extra-tame when you handle him. But I do not recommend abusing this method, since waking up your hamster too many times when he sleeps will get him frustrated. Caring for a nocturnal or crepuscular hamster Your hamster being awake in the latter part of the day, or at night, has some considerations. Syrian hamsters remember interactions for up to a week, while the smaller breeds like the Chinese or Siberian need daily interaction.

I usually leave Teddy 2 teaspoons of grains and pellets, enough for an adult Syrian hamster. Make sure the room you keep your hamster in is not drafty or exposed to harsh light. Actually, it might be best if you check out my article on the right temperature for your hamster, and how to make him as comfortable as possible. Does your hamster need the light on at night?

Would he need a night light? Or the actual light in the room on? Their vision is very poor. Hamsters use their sense of smell and hearing to navigate their environment. So leaving a light on is not necessary. In some cases, in might be a bad idea since their eyes are very sensitive and very bright, harsh light can hurt them.

He was fine every morning, so a night light will not make much difference. We hamsters have a different schedule than humans, so it might be a bit weird at first. Then they realize what they just asked and move along. If you want to know more about us hamsters, you can check out the articles below. Behavior Meanings in Dwarf Hamsters.

You can even hear them running on their wheel during the night, as they need a lot of exercises, as well. This is completely normal. Hamsters belong to this group of animals, as well. They actually put food in their cheeks to carry it back to their den in order to hide it. The reason they do this is their natural instinct. In the wilderness, they would have to hide their food to keep it safe from other hamsters and other animals.

Hamster mamas actually stuff their babies into their cheeks to carry them to the den. And if they feel that the babies are in danger, they will even put their babies in their cheeks to protect them. Unlike dogs who can bite, cats who can scratch not to mention large cats who can rip other animals apart , and snakes who can kill with their venom — hamsters are completely defenseless. Evolution has placed them at the bottom of the food chain, and their only defense system is to run and hide.

Your hamster is most likely going to take a month or two to adjust to the tone and color of your voice, your scent, and your presence. Observing you with its ears erect — this is actually funny, but hamsters will watch you just as much as you watch them. Well, it slows down once they get old.

Yawning and stretching — all animals yawn, and all animals stretch, not just humans. This is actually a great sign for you, as it means that it feels comfortable around you. Snakes like to hide when they eat and remain dormant for weeks after digesting, most animals that live in pits like to move back to that pit to enjoy their meal. Biting the cage — you may sometimes notice that a hamster is biting its cage.

This is textbook attention-seeking, so it means that you should take your hamster out and play with it. Related: Discover the winter white hamster. This makes them quite easy to litter train as you can simply put a tray or container in the corner your hamster normally uses as his bathroom. You might also be able to get away with going longer in-between cage cleans!

Related: Are Hamsters Smart? A weekly or fortnightly clean, daily feeding, and some play-time is all your hamster requires to be healthy and content.

Other than the initial starting costs, like purchasing a cage, accessories, and the hamster itself, this furry friend will not burn a hole in your pocket like other animals. Even the recurring costs, like food and bedding, are fairly low and should only cost you around ten dollars a month.

You can even reduce the cost of keeping your hamster by making your own toys and DIY bin cage. A DIY bin cage can be made by buying at least a twenty-gallon container these are dirt cheap and can be found at most hardware stores, or even a large supermarket!

Taking your hamster away from his cage can also be a lot of fun. You can fill a cardboard box with toys and obstacles, which gives your hamster exercise and enrichment.

You could also build your own maze for your hamster and hide treats behind certain walls. Other than the noise from running on a wheel this noise can be reduced by purchasing a silent wheel! This is unfortunate, but it also makes them low-commitment pets. Dogs can live over ten years, and cats can live well into their late teens, which means they take a lot of dedication and commitment to look after. Hamsters come in a lot of shapes, sizes, and colors.

Syrian hamsters have often been nicknamed the teddy bear hamster and are much bigger than Dwarf hamsters. They also come in a plethora of colors, such as cream, honey, black, sable, and grey. There are also different coat types and patterns to choose from! Additionally, dwarf hamsters, unlike Syrians who are strictly solitary, can live in pairs or small groups.

If you want to keep dwarf hamsters together, then you will need to make sure you have a large and spacious enclosure.

When owning a pair or small group of dwarf hamsters, you should make sure you have spare cages in case you need to separate them. A dog or cat could cause damage to the property, which is why most rented places and landlords prohibit them. They rely instead on other senses such as smell, sound, and taste. Sticking a finger into their cage can often result in a bite, as the hamster wants to know if this strange new thing is edible.

Hamster bites hurt and can cause bleeding. While it can help an older child to understand the need to be sensitive when handling and interacting with the hamster, some younger children can become fearful. Many people who choose hamsters as a pet fail to take into account the animal's nocturnal lifestyle.

These rodents will spend much of the day curled up asleep and can become aggressive and bite if they are disturbed. At nighttime, when their human owner is trying to sleep, they get active. It's amazing how loud a hamster running around inside its wheel, or scratching around in its cage, can sound in the middle of the night. If you are considering putting the cage in a child's bedroom, I would reconsider. Hamsters are prone to diseases and viruses, which can put some parents off from having them as pets for their children.

Although rare, small children are most at risk of catching these conditions:. Issues can be minimized through the animal being properly cared for, as well as through appropriate hygienic behavior being undertaken by the pet owner e. Hamsters generally only live for two to three years. This means that the owner will experience the sadness of the animal's death after a relatively short period of time.

This can be particularly difficult and emotional for children. While hamsters are relatively low-maintenance compared to many other pets, adults still need to provide plenty of support for children who own them. Hamsters are sensitive to mishandling and will bite if they aren't treated appropriately, so children need to be shown the correct way to interact. Children also need guidance on feeding, cleaning out the cage, and making sure that the hamster gets enough exercise and play.

It's my experience that hamsters are generally not a good pet for children below the age of eight. Also be prepared if you are the parent of a hamster owner, that the child may lose some enthusiasm for the hamster once the novelty of having the pet has worn off.

Cleaning the cage out regularly, for instance, is a chore. Being kept awake by a noisy hamster at night can also be annoying. Below are some examples of what to feed and what not to feed a hamster. I should add that all lists of examples are non-exhaustive. The foods on the "never" lists of examples are generally there because they may give your hamster diarrhea. Generally speaking, giving the hamster treats is one of the fun parts of having them as pets.

This content reflects the personal opinions of the author. I own a hamster and it has only bitten anyone once it bit me. They are more for older children but that does not mean that you shouldn't get one.