All about hamsters 🐹!

Thinking about getting a hamster, or already own one? This is the perfect guide to keeping your furry friend happy and healthy!

Hamster breeds -

Whilst there are around 26 hamster breeds, only five of those have been domesticated!

• Syrian Hamster-

Syrian hamsters are the most popular breed. They are solitary (which means they must live alone). Although they are known as the golden hamster, there are a lot of colour variations, they can be brown, white, grey, golden, or even a mixture! They also have different types of hair, there are long-haired, short-haired, satin (glossy fur), or rex (wavy/curly fur).

Life span- 2-3 years, but can live longer (the oldest hamster lived for 4.5 years).

Size- 6-7 inches.

• Winter White Hamster-

The winter white hamster, also known as the striped dwarf, are similar to the Campbells Russian hamsters. They do come in a variety of colours, but the majority are white/grey/black. Their fur becomes white in the winter, which is where they get their name. They can live in groups, but it is advised they live alone as they could become aggressive. They are also extremely fast runners!

Life span- 1.5-2 years.

Size- 3-4 inches.

• Campbell's Dwarf Hamster-

The Campbells Dwarf hamster is usually brown, albino or golden. They also have different types of fur, short-haired, satin or rex. However, they can unfortunately be prone to diabetes. They can live together, but make sure there are no squabbles in the group/ pair. They are also quite fast.

Life span- 1.5-2 years.

Size - 4 inches.

• Roborovski Hamster-

These are the smallest type of hamster. They usually are brown and white. They can be very fast and active. Roborovski hamsters are sociable animals and should be kept in pairs or groups.

Life span - 2.5-3 years.

Size - 2-3 inches.

• Chinese Hamster-

They are the largest of the dwarf hamsters. They normally have longer tails and are usually brown. Like Syrians, they are solitary so they must be kept alone. Unfortunately, like the Campbells Russian, they are also prone to diabetes.

Life span- 2.5-3 years.

Size- 3-4 inches.

Food -

Just like any living organism, a hamster needs food. Here are some that I recommend-

Harry hamster muesli-

I recommend this food as it has such a diverse mix, it also includes peanuts and pumpkin seeds, which my hamster loves! It is also very cheap at only £1.99 per 700g!

Pets at Home muesli-

Pets at Home own brand muesli with lo of nutrients at £2.49 per 1kg.

Pets at Home nuggets-

Nutritional nuggets at £2.79 per 750g.

Water-

Hamsters don't drink a great deal but should still have access to water at all times. You could give your hamster water either from a bottle or a bowl. I personally prefer to use a water bottle as it is more hygienic and prevents spillage, but water dishes resemble what they would drink from in the wild and can be hygienic if cleaned daily.

Home-

Despite hamsters being small pets, they need a surprisingly large amount of space. The minimum floor space required is 450 SQ inches. Although, I recommend as much space as you can. Some suitable cages are-

Here

Here

Most cages aren't big enough still as your hamster will grow, so you could buy two of these and connect them together using tubes, but an aquarium would be a much better option. Although, they can be fairly expensive.

Aquarium-

Here

Exercise -

Hamsters need regular exercise as they can run up to 5 miles in one day, so it’s important that you give them access to a wheel!

Although most hamster wheels are not big enough, which could potentially cause problems for a Syrian hamster, they need a wheel around 10 inches (and 8 inches for dwarfs). If they have to small of a wheel, it can hurt their back. You also don’t want to give your hamster a wired wheel as their feet can get caught.

They also could use a ball to exercise, although it does limit their sense of smell which is the main way they navigate themselve. You should take you hamster out at least once a day for exercise. You could even build them a hamster safe maze for them to play in or Pets at Home sell one with pumpkin seeds in. Or you could buy a pen to keep them secure when handling them.

Entertainment -

Hamsters need enrichment as they get bored easily. Things like toilet roll tubes and puzzle balls are great. They also need something to chew on as their teeth continue to grow throughout their lifetime. You can buy blocks of wood for them to chew on which wears their teeth down. Other enrichment ideas include-

• tubes

• seesaw

• swing

• bridge

• ladder

• burrow box

Behaviour -

If your hamster is chewing the bars, this is a sign of boredom or that the cage you have for them is too small.

If a hamster is cleaning it’s self that means that he/she feels safe and happy.

If your hamster squeaks, this means it is startled or scared.

Hamsters eating their poo is completely natural and they eat it for more nutrients.

Cleaning -

Hamsters need their cage cleaned once a week to prevent any germs. You should also spot clean your hamster's cage every day. I also recommend adding a sand bath to their cage as this gives them something to clean themselves in as they should never be washed with water with soap. only ever use water when cleaning out their cage as some can be toxic to them, but you can use a hamster safe sprays which kills germs.

We hope this has helped you on your decision, if so use the #MammalswithMaple!

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