Hamster Care

While we don't regularly have hamsters surrendered we still wanted to create a space on our site full of hamster care information for anyone interested in adopting or those just looking for more information on care! (If we have any hamsters for adoption they are usually listed on our adoption page, click the View Adoptable Pets button on the side menu to check.)

In 2019 we overhauled our hamster program after taking in a large litter of hamsters - We have 15+ years experience with rabbits but we're still learning with other small pets! After months of research and a lot more hands on experience (2 of our board members have hamsters!) we are more confident in our recommendations and what we've found works, and what doesn't.

Listed below are things that we learned:

• • Cage Size: We found that similar to rabbits and guinea pigs, pet store hamster cages are much too small for these very active and inquisitive little creatures. Plastic bins are a wonderful option since they provide a lot more space and the hams enjoy it more since it allows for more bedding and deeper burrows. The minimum recommended size is 600 square inches of floor space (length x width). This bin is one of our favorites, it is a 200qt that provides over 800 square inches of space, click here to view.
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• • Wheel Size Matters: We have learned that wheel sizes in pet stores are also too small for hamsters to truly use properly (8 inch minimum for dwarves, Syrian hamsters ideally need 12 inch+).
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• • Sand Baths: We found that most hamsters do enjoy having a large sand area. If you get lucky, your hamster will use the sand area as a litterbox (or at the very least a pee-spot) making habitat spot cleaning even easier. We like to use the $5 play sand for our hamsters areas (screen and "bake" before using) and you can easily find cheap plastic containers especially when school supplies are out. See this handout for more information on the types of sand you can find and why some are better than others: Choosing Sand For Your Hamster.
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• • Bedding: Hamsters habitats should allow for you to put 6-8 inches of bedding in their habitat. Our brand preference is Kaytee Clean and Soft. Shavings are not adequate for burrowing.
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• • Cork logs or "rounds": Reptile cork logs are a favorite with our hams! They can hide and chew on them and help make their environment more "natural." Chewy often has medium size ones for $7-$9.
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• • Whimzee's: These tasty treats are loved by most hamsters love to chew. You can get a 24 count of the small size that'll last your ham a while!
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• Toys/Hides: Hamsters like lots of things to hide and explore!! Toys made out of wood, hay or other natural materials are better than those made out of plastic.
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• • Food/Diet: For hamster diet, we recommend providing a variety of: Higgins Sunburst Hamster&Gerbil food (a tablespoon or two in their bowl a week), Mazuri Mouse/Rat Food (1-2 pieces a week), and Oxbow Healthy Handfuls hamster food (either a piece or two a day or a teaspoon mixed with their other food) along with a few dried mealworms once a day. There's a lot of debate in the hamster community as to what exactly is proper, but the general consensus is they need a variety of food in order to help provide needed nutrients. We recommend taking a look at Hamster Hideout for more resources and information.

Resources

• • Proper Hamster Habitats
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• • Improper Hamster Habitats
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• • Hamster Habitat Cost Comparison
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• • Bin Cage Options
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• • Making a Bin Cage
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• • Hamster Supplies Checklist
  
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• • What Bedding Is Best
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• • Hamster Wheel Options
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• • Hamster Wheels: Why They Need Large Wheels
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• • Choosing Sand For Your Hamster
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• • Cleaning Hamster Habitats (and how often)
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• •Hamster Chewing Aquarium Seals?
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