Hamster Talk!
 
 





Welcome to the world of Hamster Talk! Where everything is dedicated to all the hamsters of the world! Rather you currently have a furry friend, used to have one, are thinking of adopting one, or just like to know your facts, this is the place for you!
Pet Hamsters

​​Hamsters make for fun, adorable pets that are a great addition to your family. But just like any other pet they need the proper care to live a long happy life. Before you bring a ham ham into your home make sure you know what your getting into!
Ham-Ham-Must-Haves!​​

​​Below I will list what I will be referring to as Ham-Ham-Must-Haves. Ham-Ham-Must-Haves are simply things that you need to provide for your hamster so he or she can live a happy, healthy life.

1. Cage/Habitat: Your hamster will need a safe cage/habitat to live in. Make sure that it is an appropriate size. Many hamster cages on the market are a bit small, though you can make them bigger and more fun by attaching other cages to them via tubes and other methods. Make sure that the bars are chew-proof and are not too widely spaced apart to prevent escape. There are many types of hamster cages. Wired, wire-plastic, tanks with screen lids. As long as your hamster can not gnaw through it in any place it should be ok.

2. Food and Chew Sticks: Hamsters love to eat! There is a very wide variety of food that is acceptable as long as it is a mixture of seeds and pellets it should be ok. Chew sticks are also very important because hamsters have teeth that are constantly growing and they need to chew on things in order to prevent them from becoming overgrown. Chews come in a wide variety. There are natural ones and colorful ones that are sometimes flavored. Chews come in simple sticks or blocks and also houses and toys. These helpyour hamster stay healthy and active! Keep in mind that you should refresh your hamster's food every day.

​​3. Food Bowl and Water Bottle: Of course you will need something to put your ham ham's food in. A small hard plastic or ceramic bowl will do just fine. Many hamster bowls are made chew-proof and spill-proof. You will also need a water bottle! Every day your hamster will require clean drinking water. It is best to provide this in a water bottle. Putting water out in bowls in unsafe because your furry friend could tip it over or get wet, and hamsters don't do well when wet, as they can get chills. When placing the water bottle make sure that is is not too high or too low.

4. Bedding: There are many types of bedding to choose from. As far as wood based bedding goes, aspen is the only thing you should use as it is not harmful to your hamster. Carefresh is also a good choice. Many other products have dust that can cayuse your ham ham to have eye problems. Make sure you put enough bedding in the cage for your hamster to play in, dig through, and use as nesting materials.

5. Running Wheel: Don't let their size fool you....Hamsters love to exercise! They will need a running wheel. Wheels are essential to hamster health! They keep them from getting over weight and bored. Make sure that it has a solid surface instead of spokes, as hamsters can get their tails and feet caught in the gaps and hurt themselves. No one wants a hurt hammy!

6. House: Your furry friends needs a special place to sleep and hide in. It should be something they will feel safe in. Hamsters like to hide in small spaces so a ham ham hut is essential. If hamsters don't have someplace to hide in when they are scared, tired, or sick, they can become irritable or possibly fall into shock. There are many types of huts, and you can even make your own out of cardboard. Just make sure they are free of glues, tapes, or any other harmful things because hamsters will chew anything they can get their cute little mouths on!
What Do They Eat?

​​Rather there storing it in their cheeks, hoarding it, or munching on it, hamsters love food! Want to feed your hamster something besides regular hammy food and store bought hammy treats? Me too! Here is a list of everything you can feed your hamster! (In alphabetical order, by category.)

Fruits: Hamsters love fruits, both fresh and dried. Fruits make great treats for your furry friend!
Apples
Bananas
Blackberries
Blueberries
Cantaloupes
Cherries
Cranberries
Grapes
Mango
Melon
Peaches
Plums
Raspberries
Strawberries

Vegetables: It is a good idea (though not completely necessary) to feed your ham some fresh veggies once a day, though once in a while as a treat is fine too.
Asparagus
Bean Sprouts
Bok Choy
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Chard
Chickweed
Chicory
Clovers
Corn
Cucumbers
Dandelions
Grass
Green Beans
Kale
Parsnips
Peas
Red Peppers
Romaine Lettuces
Spinach
S
quash
Sweet Bell Peppers
Sweet Potato
Turnips
Watercress
Water Chestnuts
Zucchini

Grains: Grains can be fed daily, or as a treat.
Bran
Buckwheat
Flax
Oats
Wheat Germ

Seeds: Most store bought hamster foods have seeds mixed into them, but it doesn't hurt to add some of these or make your own mix.
Bird Seeds
Flax Seeds
Pumpkin Seeds
Sesame Seeds
Squash Seeds
Sunflower Seeds

Protein: It is ok to serve small amounts of protein daily (Though it is not
necessary), or randomly as a treat.
Beef (Cooked)
Chicken (Cooked)
Cottage Cheese
Crickets
Eggs (Cooked with NO shell)
Meal Worms
Tofu
Turkey (Cooked)
Yogurt (Plain)

Hays: Hays can be given as a treat, or used as bedding materials.
Alfalfa Hay
Timothy Hay

H
uman Foods: Human foods should be fed as treats and only in small amounts.
Bread
Cheerios
Crackers (Plain, Unsalted)
Oatmeal (Plain, Uncooked)
Peanut Butter
Peanuts
Skin Milk
Walnuts

NEVER EVER NEVER feed them:
Almonds
Canned Fruits
C
anned Vegetables
Chocolate
Cinnamon
Citrus Fruits
Coffee
Garlic
Onions
Raw Beans
Rotten Fruits
Rotten Vegetables
Salt
Spicy Things
Sugary/Sweet Things
Toffee

Remember! The above listed foods are NOT a replacement for regular hamster food! Your hamster needs a proper diet to be healthy and the best way to offer a proper diet is fresh hamster food daily, chewing materials, and any of the above listed. All hamsters are different and they all have different tastes. If you offer your pet something that it turns it's nose up to, don't become discouraged! Try again in a day or so with something a little different! :))

CAUTION!!!!
Hamsters are notorious hoarders! If you provide your hammy with something that will eventually spoil (such as fresh fruits and veggies) make sure to check their habitat after a day or so to make sure they haven't hidden it and let it go bad. If hamsters eat spoiled foods they can become very ill. But as long as you check up on them, everything should be ok!

Bedding

​​Bedding is a very important part of your small animal's habitat. Your furry friend needs bedding to nest in, burrow through, play in, and use the rest room in. There are many types of small animal bedding on the market, and with so many choices it can be very hard to decide which one your going to use. This post will be about what choices of bedding are right for your small animal and which should never be used.

Aspen Wood Shavings: Aspen is all natural and free of toxins. It is odorless and contains no dust. Aspen is soft on feet and good for nesting. It is biodegradable and can be used as compost.

Carefresh Paper Bedding: Carefresh bedding comes in many varieties and colors. It is made if paper pulp and is very soft. It makes for excellent nesting materials and is very soft on their feet. It's odor control isn't exactly off the charts, but it makes up for that in absorbency. It can be flushed when dirty.

Shredded paper: You can make your own bedding by shredding clean paper. It must be free of toxic inks and dyes and should be free of sharp edges. It is extremely cheap, but does nothing for odor control.

Pellet Bedding: Pellets can absorb moisture without falling apart. They are easy t
o clean and dust free, however they can be a bit rough on the feet and other nesting materials are required.

Sand: Sand can be used as long as it's clean and doesn't smell. It stimulates natural burrowing instincts, however other nesting materials must be provided. Sand is very heavy, and this makes it hard to clean.

Ground Walnut Shells: While ground walnut shells are intended for reptiles, some hamster breeders and caretakers are starting to use it for their small furry friends as well. It is lig
ht weight, dust free, and stimulates natural digging. Other nesting materials must be provided. It won't scratch glass and plastic cages, and it can be composed with everyday yard waste and used in gardens.

Toilet Paper: I know, it sounds odd, but toilet paper makes for excellent nesting materials.You can shred a bit of it and stuff it in their house. I do not recommend using only toilet paper in a cage though.

Litter: Many small animals can be potty trained! Potty training your ham can reduce
cage clean up by at least 30%, though you do still need to regularly clean it. You can purchase small animal outhouses from pet stores and fill them with litter. Litters that are safe to use are only ones that specify they are small animal friendly. Cat litters can be cheaper but are often scented and can be harmful if swallowed. If you do not want to use a litter, you can use sand or walnut shells instead.

NEVER EVER NEVER use these beddings:

Pine, ceder, saw dust
and any wood chips other than aspen. Aspen is the only acceptable wood based bedding because many other wood types have too much saw dust which can cause to vision problems and respiratory problems. Some wood types can even splinter and be rough on your hammy's feet.

Scented bedding and litter is a definite no-no! The perfumes may be toxic.

Corn Cob, while not completely unacceptable, is not recommended. Recent studies have shown that Corn Cob has toxins in it that can lead to respiratory problems. Corn Cob is also very dangerous because if it is swallowed, it can get stuck in the throat and the small animal can choke to death. It also quickly grows mold and rots when wet.


Cloth materials are dangerous and should not be used because hams may chew and swallow the threads which can lead to digestive problems. Loose threads can also
get wrapped around legs and tails and can cause injuries.

There are also many types of bedding that are mixed, such as aspen and paper mix, and paper and pellet mix. You can also buy and make your own mixes if you like. Just remember to change your pet's bedding often, and keep in mind that the bigger your pet is and/or the more you have in a cage, the more frequently you need to clean their habitat.

When choosing beddings or experimenting with new ones, keep in mind that some small animals may have allergies or be allergic to a certain type or brand, so keep an eye on them for a while once they have been exposed to new bedding.

Hamster Adoption

Where Do I Find A Hamster? Well they don't grow on trees! Hamsters can be bought from numerous places, including pet stores, feed stores, breeders, and friends who's hamster has had a littler. When adopting a hamster from anywhere keep in mind that the more well known the store or breeder is, the better chance you have of getting a healthier hamster. Also look at the hamster's living conditions. You wouldn't want a hamster that was sick from being in a filthy habitat! Also, it is best to go in the evenings, as hamsters are more likely to be awake. Most
stores have a return policy on their animals, so if you end up with a sick one that dies of needs vet care, they will either give you a new one or cover the bills.
​*Keep in mind: any person under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult to purchase a live animal!

What Makes For A Healthy Ham? When choosing your new friend, there are some key signs you should be looking for.
-Is it at least 4-8 weeks old?
-Are they alert?
-Is their fur clean?
-Is their rump free of droppings
-Are their eyes, nose, mouth, and ears clear of mucus?
If you answered no to any of these questions, the hamster your looking at may be too young, sick and/or unhealthy. And remember, if one hamster in the cage appears sick, there could be something wrong with all of it's cage mates. Healthy hamsters are alerts and will run around the cage and squirm when held. Their fur should be nicely groomed and they should n
ot have any bald patches. Their eyes, and nose should be clear and not runny. Their mouth and ears should be clean as well. If it meets all of these standards then it should check out!

Male Or A Female? That, my friend, if up to you. Sex doesn't really matter when it comes right down to it. There are all kinds of rumors that males are more aggressive, and males smell worse, or females bite more, and females are easier to tame
, but the are all just that. Rumors. Hamsters all have different personalities just like people, so before deciding which sex you'd prefer you should observe each.

So Many Colors! Yes, yes, hamsters come in all colors, but as I stated with the sex of the hamster, colors and patterns mean nothing! True beauty in on the inside so take your time choosing your ham ham! Don't just choose the cutest one. Besides, for all you know that cute one your looking at could be really mean! So please choose wisely when adopting and don't go by looks.

What Species Is Best For Me and how many do I get? This is a question only you can answer! There are five species of hamster widely kept as pets. Keep in mind, the below listed and their behaviors are common to the species, but are not exact! For example, while Robos are usually hard to tame due to their fast nature and tiny size, there are some cases in which Robos tame very easily. Another example would be that it's often said that Winter Whites get along well with other Winter Whites of the same sex, but there are some cases where two Winter White get in a fight and have to be separated. So like I've been saying the whole post, observe the hamsters before you adopt one.
*Keep in mind: If you DO decide to buy a pair of hamsters make sure they are a species that is likely to get along with one another and keep than in same sex pairs. Pairs of the opposite sex will breed and you can quickly become overrun with hamster pups. Also, for every hamster in the habitat you mush have a wheel, house, and possibly food bowl and water bottle for both to live peacefully. You should be prepared for the event in which the hamsters do not get alon
g and keep a second cage on hand for separation purposes.
-Syrian: Great starter pets, due to their calm
temperament and large size. Syrians must be housed separately as same sex pairs will fight to the death.
-Djungarian (Winter White): Winter Whites are said to be t
he most naturally tame hamsters. They are very small, but also make great starters. They can often be housed in same sex pairs.
-Roborovski: Robos are the smallest species of hamster and are very fast. This makes them harder to handle, but they are great to watch. Some Robos can be housed together but are often territorial so do so with caution.
-Cambell's: Cambell's are fairly easy to tame and closely resemble Winter Whites. They can sometimes be kept with other Cambell's but there is still a chance of fighting.
-Dwarf
Chinese: Chinese Dwarfs can be quite nervous but grow into loving companions. It is ok to try and house same sex pairs, but there is still a chance of rivalry.
(For more information on each species, visit the page "Hamsters") So now you're thinking: "But what about Teddy Bear Hamsters and Fancy Hamsters and Black Bear Hamsters?" There is no such thing! Many pet stores give hamsters these silly names to make them more appealing. "Fancy Hamsters" and "Black Bear Hamsters" are nothing more than regular hamsters that have unique or odd markings so pet stores think they cal sell them for more money. Keep this in mind when choosing.

Once you've chosen your new friend they will most likely be placed in a small
cardboard box. You will need to take them straight home and place them in their new cage, which you should set up before you go to adopt your new ham. You should give them at least a day or so to adjust before interacting with them too much. I hope this helps you in your Hamster Hunt! Good luck!