Substrate
Apsen wood shavings are the only appropriate wood shavings to use. Other varieties, like pine or cedar, can create respiratory issues. Paper based shavings are fine as well. I also typically shred my own tissues, paper towels and timothy hay or other kinds of hay, to give hamsters extra materials to make their sleeping nest. You should provide at least six inches of substrate to your enclosure, as hamsters love to tunnel and burrow. Hamsters also love sand baths! You will need to bake play sand prior to using it to make it safe for hamsters.
We've listed some substrate options above on this page.
Sand Baths/Litter Box
Providing a sand bath is wonderful enrichment for your hamster. For details, check out Hubba-Hubba Hamstery's Sand Bath & Litter Box page. We've included links to sand bath products above on this page.
Food
We recommend a high-quality rodent lab block* (like Mazuri rodent blocks). Higgins Sunburst seed mixes are great to mix in with rodent blocks. Hamsters love protein (dried mealworms, cooked plain chicken, cooked unseasoned egg) a few times a week. Hamsters also love veggies- carrots, cucumber, broccoli, high nutrient greens like kale and spinach are great. Hamsters by nature hoard their food and often create a secret stash in one corner of their cage. You do not need to necessarily feed them daily but try to keep an eye on their supply. Remove fresh food daily if uneaten.
Enrichment
Hamsters love to run, play, and explore. An appropriately sized wheel to avoid painful back curvature (10-12 inches in diameter for a Syrian hamster) is a necessity. The main features you should look for are a solid bottom, to protect tiny toes, and a sturdy design. Some wheels are noisier than others, so you may want to give it a “test run” before committing. We have a list of recommended wheels above on this page.
*NOTE* While the image above includes the "Silent Spinner", we no longer recommend that wheel, as it has a design flaw which can cause injury.
Cardboard tubes, plastic* or wood hideaways*, low set ladders*, and wood tunnels* are great. Some hamsters enjoy chewing on cardboard or wood chewies*. Whimzees* are a fun chewy sold in pet stores normally advertised for dogs. Check out YouTube-there are a plethora of fun DIY enrichment toys you can make for your rodent friends using wooden popsicles and recycled items. If you are unsure about the safety of a store-bought item or DIY project, don’t hesitate to reach out to us and we can advise you.
Learn More
The image above comes from the "Ham-Ham Love" Facebook group, an excellent resource for information on appropriate hamster care.
Taming Your Hamster
We make our best effort to breed for temperament and we handle our hamster pups regularly from the time their eyes begin to open at two weeks of age. Regardless, hamsters are prey animals, and they are naturally wary of strange sounds and smells. It may take some time for your new hamster to trust and appreciate your attention. Once they do trust you, they will often run up to your hand and try to climb up your arm.
Often hamsters will show cage aggression or nervousness, they are typically much more relaxed with you once they are out of the cage. Imagine if you were a tiny hamster and a strange hand was coming from up above to reach in and grab you! If you are trying to pick up your hamster from his cage, and he is running away from you, flipping over onto his back, baring or chattering teeth, let your hamster be for the moment. Come back later with a treat to offer or coax your hamster into a secure container and then pick him up using the container. It’s silly, but the bathtub is a great safe place to get to know your pet. Place a towel on the bathtub floor, bring some treats or toys, sit down in the bathtub and let your hamster run around and explore.
Be careful! Hamster pups are super squirmy and jumpy! They tend to mellow out as they age. They WILL jump from your hands so make sure you have a secure hold and find a place to sit while holding your hamster. Small children need adult supervision to make sure your hamster does not get injured or unduly stressed.
Our favorite veterinarian service is Stahl Exotic Animal Veterinary Services and we use them for regular vet care.
We also use Pender Vet Exotics, particularly for emergencies.
The Big No-No’s of Hamster Care
- No tiny habittrail or crittertrail cages, find a good quality cage with at least 600 square inches of unbroken floor space and good ventilation
- No caging your hamster with other hamsters or other pets. Syrian hamsters are solitary and will fight to the death if caged with other hamsters.
- No Cedar or Pine wood shavings, they cause respiratory issues
- No “fluffy” or cotton bedding, it can wrap around small body parts and it can accidentally be swallowed (it’s not easily digested)
- No mesh or spaced bottom running wheels, they can cause injuries to tiny feet
- No hay-based food like Oxbow brand, it doesn’t provide appropriate nutrition
- No silent spinner wheels - they have a design flaw which can cause injury
- No snack shack products - they are not safe for digestion