Keeping a Hamster (Hamsters)

Member Name: dooshbag08

Product:	Hamsters
Date:	13/09/09 (156 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great pets

Disadvantages: none really for me

==Hamsters==

Preparing for your hamster

Hamster cages:

Hamster cages are the most expensive thing you will buy when it comes to a Hamster so if you are going to spend money, make sure you buy a reasonably good cage. Make sure the bars aren't widely separated as the hamster can squeeze through, believe me it happened with my very first hamster. The best cages to buy are plastic based with wired clip on sides and top as they are easier to clean. Some cages come with the wheel, tubes, water dispenser and food dish, mine did. But if the cage you purchase does not have those accessories, you might want to get them before the hamster so you have time to set up its home ready.

Accessories:
For your hamster you will need

Tubes
1x Wheel
1x Water drip bottle
1x Food dish
1x Hamster ball

They are just the basic necesseties you need to keep your hamster entertained and obviously alive.

The water drip bottle and food dish Should come with your cage if not they are cheap enough to purchase.
The tubes, wheel and hamster ball keep your hamster well exercised. If like me you are keeping the hamster in your bedroom you might want to oil the back of the wheel so it doesn't squeak and keep you awake at night. My hamster chooses to sleep in her tubes rather than her little house, the tubes are there for entertainment and also if your cages has 2 levels maybe three, then they are also there for them to reach the next platform. The tubes come in many colours, mine are blue pink green and yellow, they have tiny holes in so that the hamster can breathe whilst climbing or sleeping in the tubes and they make the cage look brighter.

Other accessories:
Wood Blocks
Small House

Wood blocks help keep your hamsters teeth tame, by tame I mean short, their teeth can grow quite long and it hurts when the sink them into you. So its best to give it so wood to gnaw on. My hamster like chewing the wood while im holding it for her, It also helps them release their nipping urges.
A small house is best to get for your hamster to sleep in, it doesn't have to be wood it can be plastic and just big enough for your hamster fit in. Fill it with soft cotton or even a little bit of sawdust, never use newspaper the hamster might chew it up and get poisoned by the ink and chemicals put on the page.
The Day Of Buying The Hamster:


The morning before you go out and get your hamster, set up the cage, fill the drip with nice fresh water and put some food in its dish lay the sawdust on the floor of its cage, again never use newspaper. And put some wood blocks around the cage.
Make it nice and homey because when you bring the hamster home it needs to straight in its cage to settle down.

Picking your hamster

Its best to get a hamster from a baby, so when you go to pick your hamster make sure it is with at least one other in its cage. You can put baby hamsters together for a short amount of time, then you have to separate them as they begin to fight, sometimes it ends in death so don't take any risks!

My Hamster

I never got to pick my hamster as I was in school when my mum bought her for me. I'm happy with Munch though shes really cute, She's black with a white ring around her middle and under her nose above her lip is a white square like a moustache. I happened to get a hamster that's always curious and loves attention. She sits on my shoulder when walking around the house and lies on my stomach when im lying reading a book or listening to music. Hamsters have poor eyesight and are colour-blind but have an acute sense of smell and sound. Munch loves listening to music with me. She eats out of my hand follows me around my room in her ball, or the living room.

And from all that you would think I have had her a good few months, but I have only had her two weeks, she settled in rather fast and well I must say.

She has fifteen minuets in her ball twice a day and I let her lie on my stomach for about half an hour once a day, sometimes longer because she falls asleep.

When a hamster is asleep, you mustn't wake them unless it is nesisarry as they don't like it much and tend to bite, so slowly awake them don't keep prdding them because you wouldn't like it, I find jus stroking them gently gets them to come round. Munch cost £7 she is a Syrian hamster and is worth every penny, shes like my tiny best friend and she gets on well with my dog tilly, but I have to keep her away from molly, molly tried to eat her =[


Remember!
Hamsters love cucumber carrot apple and lettuice, its important to keep them on a balanced diet.
Remember to clean their cage at least twice a week
Fresh food and water everyday
Give it plenty of exercise in the ball
Groom it to help keep it clean
HANDLE IT! That is most important, don't be too afraid otherwise you might never hold it, wear gloves if your too scared
And most of all give it attention, love it, make it part of the family

They are great little pets, nice company, you can talk to them, you may think no that's stupid but its not, trust me I talk to Munch everyday, its company.

Great to keep, great pets for teens, it makes them take on a role of responsibility. Once your hamster is setteled it will be no time before you can handle them with out them biting.

Also posted on Ciao under rockchick2k7©

Summary: small cute fluffy friends