Hamsters are often kept as house pets because they are easy to take care of.Their short tails, stubby legs, and small ears distinguish them from other rodents. Hamsters come in a variety of colors, including black, gray, brown, white, yellow, red, and a combination of colors.Hamsters are generally accepted to be great pets. They don’t require much attention, receive plenty of exercise when running on their wheel, and are adorable, cuddly, and enjoyable to hold. For some children, they can be a terrific first pet.The word ‘hamster’ comes from a German word that means ‘hoard.’ This is a perfect description of how hamsters eat. They have pouches in their cheeks that they fill with food. They’ll then transport their collection back to their colony, where they’ll consume it later. Food is frequently hidden beneath the cage bedding of pet hamsters.Hamsters come in a variety of sizes, with 24 types to choose from. European hamsters can grow up to 13.4 in (34 cm) in length, making them one of the largest hamster breeds. The dwarf hamster is as small as its name suggests. These little hamsters can reach a length of 2-4 in (5-10.1 cm). The Syrian hamster, often known as the teddy bear hamster or golden hamster, is the most common pet hamster. It grows to be around 6 in (15.24 cm) long.What to look for in a hamster cage?Hamsters have a one to two-year lifespan in the wild but can live up to three years in captivity.They require a huge cage to live. Syrian hamsters, for example, will require more space than dwarf hamsters.If you want to bring a hamster home, one of the first things you’ll need is a cage for your new four-legged pet. There are a lot of hamster cages on the market, but there are a few things that set decent models apart from the others. It’s a quite well-known fact that hamsters ideally require a large room.A large and multi-tiered cage with adequate ventilation, a secure door, and a sturdy base is ideal.What does a hamster need in its cage?There are some key elements that you should not forget to place in your hamster’s cage.The ideal hamster cage needs to be escape-proof and easy to maintain. You must incorporate numerous nest boxes and sleeping spaces. The use of an appropriate bed is required. Because hamsters like to burrow, provide them with a safe covering for the bottom of their cages, such as wood shavings and pellets, sawdust, or recycled paper. Pine and cedar should never be used since they can make your hamster sick.Multiple other important requirements in the cage are listed below.A feeding bowl: Use a heavy stone bowl with a low rim that your hamster can reach but won’t tip over.Water bottle for hamsters: An inverted water bottle with a dropper works best, as the hamster will spill water from a bowl and make a mess.Another interesting object to be placed inside the hamster’s cage is an exercise wheel. Because hamsters are quite active, exercise wheels are essential and serve a good purpose.Putting multiple chewable toys and tunnels in the cage for the hamsters to chew and play is very important. These will keep your hamster occupied in his cage and prevent boredom. They enjoy climbing and burrowing, so anything with steps or tunnels will appeal to them.A hideout house is a safe place for them. If your hamster is stressed or in danger, it will require a safe place to sleep or hide.Hamsters clean themselves by rolling in bath sand. Your hamster will enjoy climbing into and rolling around in a container filled with special hamster bath sand.If you want to create a fun living room for your small furry pets then consider installing a tunnel system. Make a fun, safe tunnel system for your small pets that will give them more stimulation, and exercise.Where should I keep my hamster cage?If you want to bring a hamster home, one of the first things you’ll need is a cage for your new four-legged furry friend. There are some crucial considerations to make when determining where to put your hamster’s house.Hamsters have exceptional hearing and can hear sounds that humans cannot. Electronics produce a lot of noises that humans can’t hear, such as those from televisions and computers. Pipes also emit ultrasound, so being near a dishwasher or a tap can be highly distressing for your hamster.Keep the cage in a calm location. Your pet will sleep for the majority of the day and will be awoken by loud noises. Because hamsters can get irritable and unhappy if they don’t get enough sleep, it’s a good idea to keep the cage in a somewhat calm area of your home.Select a location with a consistent, warm temperature. The general consensus on cage placement is to keep these tiny animals out of direct sunlight, a fair distance away from any fires or radiators, away from bathrooms, and away from draughty, damp, or air-conditioning spaces. The conservatory is one of the worst locations for your little pet to be because these rooms may get extremely hot very quickly. The best locations are those that are covered and have little temperature variation, thus corridors and garages are not good choices.Hamsters would benefit from being in a room where the lights are turned out at roughly the same time every day in the evening. Although hamsters may adapt to some light, if it is turned on and off at different times, it is likely to be both confusing and disruptive to their sleeping patterns.If you need to keep your cage off the ground, you’ll need to find a suitable surface for it. This will need to be extremely stable in order to prevent the cage from falling.How big should a hamster cage be?Cages for hamsters must have at least 450 sq in (2,903 sq cm) of floor area or more. Many specialists, however, believe that hamsters benefit from larger cages.There are two types of wire-top hamster cages on the market. One variation is designed for large Syrian hamsters, with a 0.47 in (12 mm) gap between bars. The alternative variant is designed for Chinese or dwarf hamsters, with an 0.31 in (8 mm) gap between bars. Pens with narrower spacing, maybe about 0.11 in (3 mm) are most likely designed for mice and are unlikely to be suitable for any hamster species. When picking a wire cage, make sure it is sufficiently large. Larger than minimum cage requirement of 450 sq in (2,903 sq cm) of unbroken floor space and that the plastic base is at least 6 in (15 cm tall). Wire cages with more height than width or length are generally undesirable since most hamsters require floor space rather than height.Can you keep two pet hamsters in the same cage?Keeping in mind the species of your owned furry friend is important before you decide to keep more than one hamster together.Dwarf hamsters are ideal for owners who want to maintain two or more hamsters together. As long as they are allowed enough space, these species can be kept in pairs or groups. Most dwarf hamsters will love to play with other dwarf hamsters. They are sociable animals who enjoy the company of a friend.However, some of them don’t like staying together. Syrian hamsters dislike sharing their habitats with other hamsters. They are aggressive and should never be kept in the same cage as other hamsters. One of them will bite and maybe end up killing the other one.If you intend to keep numerous hamsters together, keep in mind that despite your best efforts, there is no guarantee that they will get along. If they don’t get along and fight, you’ll need to acquire another cage to keep them separated. If you think this will not be convenient, you can try getting a Syrian hamster, which must be kept on its own.How do I clean a hamster cage?While hamsters are one of the best first pets, they still require a great deal of attention and care in order to live their happiest and healthiest lives.To keep your hamster comfortable, keep their home clean, just like any other pet. This includes routine maintenance on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis to keep things fresh. The steps below are part of a good hamster habitat cleaning program.Every day, scoop out the filthy bedding. Because hamsters tend to urinate in one or two specific areas of their habitat, scoop up any wet litter and replace it with a fresh bed every day. This can be made easier with the use of a small animal scoop.Food dishes and water bottles should be cleaned on a daily basis. Your pet, like us, would appreciate clean dishes. Clean containers are an essential part of keeping your pet healthy and reducing the risk of contaminated food and drink.Change the bedding on a weekly basis. Plan to replace out all of the bedding in your hamster’s habitat once a week, in addition to scooping out the soiled bed every day. This comprises removing any food your furry pet may have accumulated over the course of the week.Once a month, thoroughly wash the entire cage. While you do your deep cleaning, keep your pet in a safe, temporary environment, such as a critter carrier.Habitat Considerations For Your Hamster Or GerbilHealthy hamsters should be sleeping during the day, while gerbils may or may not be running around.Hamsters and gerbils are adorable creatures. They do, however, require suitable habitat, food, temperature, and exercise, and prefer to be alone or with other animals of their species.In their natural habitats, these hamster relatives do not like to be alone and live in families of up to 20 members. A caged gerbil will get depressed if maintained in an isolated environment. Two males or two females from the same family will bond together if you plan to adopt gerbils.Gerbils have the same food and housing requirements as hamsters, except that you should use a solid exercise wheel for them because their long tails can get caught in wire wheels. Hamsters and gerbils should not be exposed to extreme cold since they will go into hibernation. Gerbils have a five-year lifespan.
Hamsters are often kept as house pets because they are easy to take care of.