How to care for a hamster?
Sister_Someone
Posts: 567 Member
My baby brother just returned from a trip and brought me a living hamster! He's so cute (the hamster, haha) and I've wanted any kind of a pet forever, but I honestly have no clue how to care for it.
Anyone have any tips I could use?
Anyone have any tips I could use?
0
Replies
-
Hamsters are really easy to care for.
Did your brother bring you a cage for it? If not, you need one. And food, and most cages come with a water "bottle" for them. You're going to need to buy these woodchip thingies for the cage, as well as some little chew toys for him/her. Also, the cage is going to have to be cleaned regularly as they get super smelly.
When you go to buy your supplies, ask someone that works at the pet shop. They're usually pretty useful.0 -
As cute as the plastic Habitrail hamster houses are..some over-zealous chewers can chew through the plastic in time. The last thing you want is to wake up and find the hamster is roaming your room somewhere. They are nocturnal so if you are a light sleeper you'll want them not to be in your bedroom. They like to run so a wheel is a good investment as is a plastic hamster ball they can run around the house in. Have fun!0
-
Make him lift heavy
0 -
did he name him lemmiwinks?0
-
-
*sqeeeeee*
are you buying a habitrail ?!
*jumps up and down excitedly*
are you getting a wheel for your hammy?
post pictures!
0 -
Make him lift heavy
only after doing cardio on the wheel first....:laugh:0 -
No you have to lift and then hit the wheel! Bulking 101Make him lift heavy
only after doing cardio on the wheel first....:laugh:0 -
Never ask Richard Gere.0
-
you gotta get the cage, the wheel, the toys. usually some wood blocks or something for them to chew on. As for bedding (the stuff you put on the bottom of the cage) becareful which you pick.. pine and ceder while they smell nice can cause respitory problems. I've had a lot of success with the recycled paper type bedding, but it tends to need changing slightly more often.. currently using corn cob bedding..it's odd but seems really absorbant
Food is generally pellets, you can buy mixxed bags of all kinds of good foods, but alot of rodents will just pick out the stuff they like and ignore the rest ( or if like my creatures throw it at you) so they tend to not get all the nutrients needed.
Hamsters generally like tubes to crawl through, a simpler paper towel roll will do. but they might chew it if left in the cage.
Change the cage about once a week unless it's smelly or wet.
Fresh food and water daily.
google what fresh fruits and treats you can give it. I'm more of a rat person, but recently got a baby chinchilla and they are so different from what i am used to.
Hmm not sure what else there is other then love and care... plus regular handling will make it used to you and less likely to bite or pee on you
0 -
Wow - It's a little disconcerting to know he bought you a pet without any prior knowledge of how to care for it... what if you decide you're not in to the responsibilities of caring for a hamster?0
-
Wow - It's a little disconcerting to know he bought you a pet without any prior knowledge of how to care for it... what if you decide you're not in to the responsibilities of caring for a hamster?
Feed it to your dog. My dog ate our hamster. After he ate all it's food, first.0 -
Wow - It's a little disconcerting to know he bought you a pet without any prior knowledge of how to care for it... what if you decide you're not in to the responsibilities of caring for a hamster?
I didn't buy it myself, I stated clearly enough that I just got it as a gift I wasn't expecting, literally an hour ago. If I didn't want to learn how to care about it, I wouldn't be asking and googling left and right.0 -
Everyone else, thanks for the quick replies and useful tips!0
-
Everyone else, thanks for the quick replies and useful tips!
You're welcome!0 -
I've raised about 20-30 rats have my chinchilla and my mother has 2 hamsters and 4 guinie(sp?) pigs. my kids have fish now too /shudder lol0
-
Wow - It's a little disconcerting to know he bought you a pet without any prior knowledge of how to care for it... what if you decide you're not in to the responsibilities of caring for a hamster?
I didn't buy it myself, I stated clearly enough that I just got it as a gift I wasn't expecting, literally an hour ago. If I didn't want to learn how to care about it, I wouldn't be asking and googling left and right.
That's my point exactly. You're now quickly googling and asking MFP trying to figure out how to care for it. What happens if you decide the responsibility is too much? I think it was irresponsible of him to buy you a gift like that.
Good luck to you, however. Owning a pet can be rewarding and enjoyable.0 -
-
Wow - It's a little disconcerting to know he bought you a pet without any prior knowledge of how to care for it... what if you decide you're not in to the responsibilities of caring for a hamster?
I didn't buy it myself, I stated clearly enough that I just got it as a gift I wasn't expecting, literally an hour ago. If I didn't want to learn how to care about it, I wouldn't be asking and googling left and right.
That's my point exactly. You're now quickly googling and asking MFP trying to figure out how to care for it. What happens if you decide the responsibility is too much? I think it was irresponsible of him to buy you a gift like that.
Good luck to you, however. Owning a pet can be rewarding and enjoyable.
Ok...it is a HAMSTER!!! Unless this lovely lady has the sense and skills of a 3 year old, I think she can handle the responsibility..oh and way to drag down her thoughtful brother as well...how about we try to be nice and helpful?! I have a hamster and all she needs is some food, water, chew toys and some fluffy bedding. Most hamsters are pretty low maintence. And their little chubby cheeks are so darn cute 0 -
Welcome to my club.... My husband found a little mouse in our garage about a month ago... It was nearly dead. I thought he would just chuck it over the fence.... Noooo. He put it in a little aquarium we had... Was giving it nuts, carrots, water.... The mouse was nursed back to good health... Then we got a $25 habitrail house for it.... Shes doing good now... Why do I say she? My husband said that it didn't have balls... Haaah. So we named her "Minnie" So now, we have another non-human kid in the house. We have 3 kids in the house. No 5.... Two pomeranians, 1 mouse, 1 koi fish, & 1 icky sucker fish.... Have fun with you new kid. The only advise I have is..... Oil the wheel in the cage. It sucks to hear the squeeking of the hamster wheel. Oh I did have a hamster before. His name was Pee-Wee-Hammy. After PeeWee Herman. :happy:
Heres a cute pic for ya!0 -
Is the Hamster still alive? If it dies dont try and flush it like a fish cause they can get stuck0
-
Use google. Seriously. There are plenty of hamster care guides out there.0
-
Awww pee wee hammy - ridiculously cute pic!0
-
On top of the suggestions you've already gotten fruits and veggies are great ideas...my hamster used to LOVE strawberries! Make sure you slowly introduce yourself to the hamster (don't go chasing after it trying to pick it up...try to bribe the hamster with food to get it to climb into your hand) but make sure you give it daily attention. Hamsters can get MEAN (I used to work in a pet store and I had more bites from hamsters than any other animal in that store). Good luck!0
-
Welcome to my club.... My husband found a little mouse in our garage about a month ago... It was nearly dead. I thought he would just chuck it over the fence.... Noooo. He put it in a little aquarium we had... Was giving it nuts, carrots, water.... The mouse was nursed back to good health... Then we got a $25 habitrail house for it.... Shes doing good now... Why do I say she? My husband said that it didn't have balls... Haaah. So we named her "Minnie" So now, we have another non-human kid in the house. We have 3 kids in the house. No 5.... Two pomeranians, 1 mouse, 1 koi fish, & 1 icky sucker fish.... Have fun with you new kid. The only advise I have is..... Oil the wheel in the cage. It sucks to hear the squeeking of the hamster wheel. Oh I did have a hamster before. His name was Pee-Wee-Hammy. After PeeWee Herman. :happy:
Heres a cute pic for ya!
Thats a mouse! that doesnt look like a mouse lol..i love it its so cute0 -
dont play "hide the hampster", also som pelit food, shreded eggcrate, watering dish, and a cage is a good place to start0
-
Welcome to my club.... My husband found a little mouse in our garage about a month ago... It was nearly dead. I thought he would just chuck it over the fence.... Noooo. He put it in a little aquarium we had... Was giving it nuts, carrots, water.... The mouse was nursed back to good health... Then we got a $25 habitrail house for it.... Shes doing good now... Why do I say she? My husband said that it didn't have balls... Haaah. So we named her "Minnie" So now, we have another non-human kid in the house. We have 3 kids in the house. No 5.... Two pomeranians, 1 mouse, 1 koi fish, & 1 icky sucker fish.... Have fun with you new kid. The only advise I have is..... Oil the wheel in the cage. It sucks to hear the squeeking of the hamster wheel. Oh I did have a hamster before. His name was Pee-Wee-Hammy. After PeeWee Herman. :happy:
Heres a cute pic for ya!
i read that wrong lol
Thats a mouse! that doesnt look like a mouse lol..i love it its so cute0 -
One thing I would tell you: Hamster balls are NOT safe! They are not fun for the hamster either. They can cause panic and respiratory issues. If you're going to let your hamster have out of cage time (which is a good thing) let him free-range it, with close supervision. Also, paper bedding is better than wood chip bedding.0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 394K Introduce Yourself
- 43.9K Getting Started
- 260.3K Health and Weight Loss
- 176K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.6K Fitness and Exercise
- 432 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153.1K Motivation and Support
- 8.1K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.4K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.9K MyFitnessPal Information
- 15 News and Announcements
- 1.2K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.7K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions