An important part of getting a pet hamster is making sure you have a cage and everything your new pet will need. A hamster needs a cage, bedding, food, a water bottle, and some chews or other toys and accessories. If you are planning on getting a hamster, you should consider buying and preparing the cage and other accessories beforehand to make sure your pets new home is ready.
Choosing an appropriately-sized hamster cage is important, because the hamster will need enough room to comfortably run around in. Hamster cages usually have a solid plastic bottom, with a wire frame that snaps on top of it. You can also use a glass terrarium with a mesh top. Cages with wire bottoms can hurt a hamsters feet and should be avoided. The cage should usually be about 25 inches by 20 inches, or larger. The larger the cage, the more room the hamster has to roam around in, which can make for a happier pet. New cages should be cleaned and dried well before preparing them for your new pet.
You will also need some hamster food and a water bottle. Pellets that are nutritionally-balanced for hamsters are available at pet stores and most grocery stores. You may also want to buy a small bowl to put the food in. This will also help you to keep track of how much food your hamster is eating. Refusing to eat can be a sign of illness or stress. Its a good idea to offer your hamster some fresh vegetables as treats sometimes, as well. Buy a water bottle and attach it a few inches from the bottom of the cage. Rinse it and add fresh water at least daily.
You may want to buy a running wheel to entertain your hamster and to provide more exercise. Busy hamsters are usually happier hamsters, so most hamster cages contain a wheel and some other toys. A solid wheel is safer than a wire one, because a hamsters feet or tail can get caught in the wires. Some hamster cages are sold with a wheel included. Slightly larger wheels, such as an 8 inch wheel, are usually better. Smaller wheels can strain a hamsters back.
You should also provide some sort of tube or hut for your hamster. Hamsters like to forage and burrow, so you can provide entertainment for them by hiding treats in tubes and in their bedding. You can buy small hamster huts or tubes at a pet store. You can put bedding or shredded paper in a hamster hut for your pet to sleep on and dig in.
In addition to their regular food, hamsters should be provided with chews. Chews and chewing sticks made especially for hamsters can be found at the pet store. Their teeth are always growing, so you need to provide them with something to chew on at all times.
A hamster cage should be large enough for all your hamster accessories, and should provide plenty of space for your hamster to run around. Its also important to clean a hamster cage often to remove waste and to change the bedding. Fresh water, food pellets, and chews should also be available to your hamster. Many types of toys and treats for hamsters can be found at pet stores to add to your hamster cage.
Choosing an appropriately-sized hamster cage is important, because the hamster will need enough room to comfortably run around in. Hamster cages usually have a solid plastic bottom, with a wire frame that snaps on top of it. You can also use a glass terrarium with a mesh top. Cages with wire bottoms can hurt a hamsters feet and should be avoided. The cage should usually be about 25 inches by 20 inches, or larger. The larger the cage, the more room the hamster has to roam around in, which can make for a happier pet. New cages should be cleaned and dried well before preparing them for your new pet.
You will also need some hamster food and a water bottle. Pellets that are nutritionally-balanced for hamsters are available at pet stores and most grocery stores. You may also want to buy a small bowl to put the food in. This will also help you to keep track of how much food your hamster is eating. Refusing to eat can be a sign of illness or stress. Its a good idea to offer your hamster some fresh vegetables as treats sometimes, as well. Buy a water bottle and attach it a few inches from the bottom of the cage. Rinse it and add fresh water at least daily.
You may want to buy a running wheel to entertain your hamster and to provide more exercise. Busy hamsters are usually happier hamsters, so most hamster cages contain a wheel and some other toys. A solid wheel is safer than a wire one, because a hamsters feet or tail can get caught in the wires. Some hamster cages are sold with a wheel included. Slightly larger wheels, such as an 8 inch wheel, are usually better. Smaller wheels can strain a hamsters back.
You should also provide some sort of tube or hut for your hamster. Hamsters like to forage and burrow, so you can provide entertainment for them by hiding treats in tubes and in their bedding. You can buy small hamster huts or tubes at a pet store. You can put bedding or shredded paper in a hamster hut for your pet to sleep on and dig in.
In addition to their regular food, hamsters should be provided with chews. Chews and chewing sticks made especially for hamsters can be found at the pet store. Their teeth are always growing, so you need to provide them with something to chew on at all times.
A hamster cage should be large enough for all your hamster accessories, and should provide plenty of space for your hamster to run around. Its also important to clean a hamster cage often to remove waste and to change the bedding. Fresh water, food pellets, and chews should also be available to your hamster. Many types of toys and treats for hamsters can be found at pet stores to add to your hamster cage.
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