Buying a hamster: how to get started?

Do you want to buy a hamster? Regardless of which type you have in mind, be it a regular or a dwarf hamster ... it's a wonderful idea! We will give you advice on things like how to care for it and what sort of accommodation to provide so that you can make a well-informed purchase.

Change its water bottle daily.

What should you take into account?

Most hamsters are twilight and nocturnal animals. They don’t come out much during the day. With time and patience you can tame your hamster. Beware: if they are scared, they can bite very hard. Unless it gets really cold (less than 10 ° C), hamsters don't hibernate. Depending on the breed, such as a dwarf hamster, these creatures live to be two to four years old.

Alone or together?

How many hamsters can you safely keep in a cage? That all depends on the breed. The golden hamster is a territorial loner, just like the Chinese or Russian dwarf hamster. Keep them apart from each other, otherwise there will be a fight, sometimes to the death! The only breeds of hamster you can put together are the Campbell and the Roborovski dwarf hamster. Keep a spare cage ready though, just in case things go wrong.

What type of housing is best for your hamster?

A large cage with narrow bars and several floors is ideal. Also, provide a thick layer of bedding (sawdust or shredded paper) for your hamster to dig into. And place ladders, treadmills and tunnels that this busy animal can explore to its heart's content. Finally, provide a house as a safe place to sleep. Place the cage in area where there are people, but avoid noisy places. The garage is too cold and lonely, and exhaust fumes pose a health risk. Too warm an area is also not good: direct sunlight can lead to heat stroke. Avoid drafts.

How to take care of your hamster?

Change its bedding weekly and regularly brush the cage with soapy water. Believe it or not, you can train your hamster to relieve itself in a sort of mini toilet bowl. (Yes, we agree that this tops the cuteness chart!). But it also makes cleaning that much easier.

Provide the right nutrition

Hamsters have a very varied diet. It’s best to choose a grain mixture (with mealworms for extra protein) or extruded pellets. With the latter, you can be sure that a dwarf hamster, for example, will get all the nutrients it needs. Feel free to offer it a piece of fresh fruit or vegetables two to three times a week. Your hamster will also appreciate a piece of egg or a dried insect. Change its water bottle daily.

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