Taking Care Of Hamsters With Mimi And Finley
Watch this video where Mimi and Finley explain all the basics of hamster care- how often you should feed and water them, how often to clean their cage… and of course how to play with them with awesome toys like hamster teeter totters!
What do you feed hamsters?
Hamsters eat hamster food which is made up of seeds grains and nuts. They can also eat small bits of certain fruits and vegetables. You should make sure that your hamster always has food as they like to store and collect it sometimes to save for later. Sometimes hamsters hold food in their cheeks.
On average a hamster should eat about 1-2 tablespoons of food a day.
Hamsters should also always have fresh water. When you clean their cage make sure you don’t forget to clean their food bowl and water bottle as well!
Where Do Hamsters Live?
Hamsters live in a cage. Certain hamsters that are litter mates and live together from birth may be able to share a cage. Most hamsters usually need their own cage as they may fight. The minimum amount of floor space required for hamsters is 360 sq inches – the bigger the better. The cage floor should be solid, not wire or mesh.
The cage should have a bed of substrate on the bottom.fill It’s important to get a good one as it will absorb your hamster’s urine and be what they dig into. Hamsters like to dig and burrow.There are a number of options including the traditional wood shavings or sawdust. You can also add some shredded tissue paper as the best nesting material.
There should be a water bottle and a food bowl plus some tubes and a wheel to run in, toys to play with and a house to hide in.
How Often Do You Clean Up After Them?
Hamsters are also very clean animals, and when you have one as a pet it is up to you to provide and maintain a clean home for them. A hamster’s cage should probably be cleaned once a week. You do this by:
- Taking the hamster out of its cage and putting it in a small ‘travel’ box or cage. Make sure that this box is secure so they can’t escape and has holes so they can breathe!
- Remove the top of the cage.
- Replace all of the bedding.
- If your hamster’s cage has tubes and tunnels take these out and give them a wipe down with some water to get any waste out.
- After wiping down make sure to thoroughly dry any tunnels or compartments before putting the hamster back in the cage.
- Give fresh water and food if necessary!
How Much Exercise Do They Need?
A hamster should probably be played with or handled a bit every day to make sure that they stay social. They like to run so they do well with a wheel in their cage and balls to run around in. However, because hamsters have such poor eyesight (you can read about that here!) having a cage with multiple levels might not be the best as a hamster may not see that they are about to walk off a ledge and could fall and hurt themselves. So watch your hamster carefully when you first get a new cage to make sure they are getting enjoyment out of any tunnels or tubes and not in distress or feeling trapped!
Do Hamsters Bite?
Any animal with a mouth and teeth can bite and hamsters are no exception. As Mimi explains, when they are young they can be a bit nippy but playing with them gently and bonding with them will teach them to trust you and they can be very affectionate.
Also, make sure to wash your hands before and after playing with your hamster as their strong sense of smell can confuse them if your hands smell like food!
