Hamster Advice

Hamster Did you know?

There are 5 main types of hamster we have as pets:

Syrian hamsters are the most common and are often a golden colour although they can be other colours too.

Dwarf Campbells Russian hamsters

Dwarf winter white Russian hamsters

Dwarf Roborovski hamster

Chinese hamsters

Hamsters are mainly nocturnal which means they spend most of their time sleeping during the day and are awake at night.

Hamsters are better to be kept on their own as they often fight if kept together.

Most hamsters live for an average of 18 to 24 months.

Hamster Housing

Your hamster will need a safe cage that it can’t escape from itself.  Plastic ones are the best because your hamster can’t knaw its way out and they’re easy to keep clean.

You’ll need to put plenty of bedding which absorbs moisture in your hamster’s cage to keep him or her nice and comfy and clean.

Your hamster will also need a water bottle to drink from and a little bowl to put their food in along with any toys you choose for them to keep them busy.

Holding and stroking your hamster

When you first get your hamster he or she might be a bit scared of you because you’re so big compared to them!  So it’s important to give your new pet time to settle in and get used to you.

You can encourage your hamster to walk into your cupped hands and that’s the best way to pick it up to stroke it.  Try not to move your hands too quickly so you don’t frighten your hamster.  A frightened hamster will sometimes bite so it is important to be careful.

What should you feed your hamster?

You can buy special hamster food from the pet shop and that is the best thing for your hamster and they should always have fresh clean water in their water bottle.