Hamsters are your small furry friend that lightens up the room. They are rodents that belong to the subfamily Cricetidae. They are one of the most popular small pets that people prefer to keep. There are two types of hamsters namely: Syrian and Golden hamsters. These are very small and lovely and children love them. They are very friendly in nature and can be easily maintained. There are two types of hamsters.
Siberian-type hamsters are more polite and calm in nature whereas, on the other hand, Syrian hamsters can be solitary in nature and if you put two of these types together they can probably beat each other to death. Most commonly Hamsters can be really delicate and soft. While applying any means of force can literally kill the animal as they have small and tender hearts. Scaring the hamster can only lead the hamster to bite the person near it. So it is always recommended to be calm and content with the hamster.
Things to know before buying a hamster
Hamsters can be your best friend when taken proper care of. These are four-pawed, shiny eyes friends of yours that will just keep you accompanied and will make you feel happy. They do not require much attention, they get their dose of exercise while running around and spinning on the wheel, children love playing with them and they are literally the cutest. Caring for a hamster is not difficult but still requires proper attention.
- Hamsters are small and tiny but still can bite if they are frightened or threatened. You have to be very careful about them
- They are herbivores and feed on pulses, grasses, and greens. Give them small pieces of fresh vegetables and fruits.
- They are nocturnal, which means they will sleep the entire day and wake up when they go to bed at night. And you must always buy a hamster keeping this in mind.
Hamster’s diet
Hamsters are herbivores and feed on greens and pulses. Hamsters are tiny animals and do very well in a good amount of protein which is upto 20%. Also, you can work it up with your veterinarian so that you can know the exact calorie need for your hamster according to their shape and size, keeping the weight in mind is very important. Hamsters can work with pellets and block foods containing fiber and protein. There are also seed-based diets that can be followed for your hamster, although these seed-based diets do not necessarily provide proper nutrition and calories.
They also lead to obesity and weight gain along with vitamin D deficiency making your furry friend weak and fragile. Your hamster enjoys and loves seeds, carrots, apples, peas, cucumber, raisins, and greens. They can be supplemented with other fruit and vegetables but a sudden change in the diet can upset their stomach and lead to diarrhea. Sometimes this can be fatal and lead to the death of your hamster.
Also, know Can a hamster eat celery?
Housing for hamster
Your fur baby needs proper housing and care for them to grow and be healthy.
Size
Your friend needs a spacious cage and that has to be taken care of. It should be a 15-20 gallon cage with good floor space. The cage should be escape-proof as hamsters are very good at escaping the cages. Wire cages, plastic habitats as well as old aquariums can be used as long as they don’t escape the housing. Hamsters are escape masters and can escape their housing to run around. The house should be properly ventilated for them to breathe freely. Also, this will prevent the odor built up for the feces and urine. If you are keeping two hamsters, make sure you keep them in peace or in different cages so that they do not attack each other because hamsters are quite territorial.
Temperature of the cage
The cage temperature should be between 65-80 Fahrenheit. You should also keep notice of the relative humidity which should be around 50-70%. The temperature of the cage is very important because in low or high temperatures your hamster can go into a state of hibernation due to a state of temperature which isn’t suitable for them.
Bedding for the hamster
Proper bedding for your hamster should be hay or grass, newspaper or waste papers, and refresh. Keeping a layer of soft paper can be a good place for the hamster to sleep. There are many bedding materials available commercially, do not believe in them as they can cause intestinal blockage and can also cause skin irritation or strangulated limbs. The bedding in which they sleep should be changed 1-2 times per week. The bedding should be made with proper depth so that they can dig and burrow in them. Hamsters have a habit of sleeping in the dark and isolated, so that is very important for their habitat.
Medical support for hamsters
Veterinary support for hamsters is really important for them to be fit and fine completely. The annual check-up will include the hamster’s weight, they will check their interiors, and dental health, and will look at their husbandry. There are scent glands present at the hips of the hamster that may also look like a tumor or hair loss. It is nothing to be worried about because that is very common for the hamsters to have. Although these glands should be checked to see if there is an underlying disease or not that you may not be aware of.
There is various illnesses that the hamster can inhibit, this can include:
- Diarrhea
- Obesity
- Respiratory issues
- Wounds on the skin
- Heart-related disease
- Cancer
- Dental issues
- Dermatitis
- Ringworm
- Fatal diarrhea
Cleaning needs
The food bowl and the water sipper should be cleaned regularly. The cages should be cleaned regularly so that they don’t cause any skin infections. Exposure to a dirty and nasty environment can lead to infection of the skin, eyes, and even respiratory tracks. There have to be caged for their defecation and urination.
Conclusion
Hamsters are cute little animals that have to be taken proper care of. They should be always kept in a clean environment and medical support is a must in case of hamsters.
