getting a hamster this weekend and need some advice

[speel]

hey well this weekend iam getting a hamster :lol: and i just have a few questions



1. what can give the hamster to chew on so their teeth dont over grow ( i read giving dog bisquits but what kind? )



2. what can i do to prevent wet tail?



3. when i first put the hamster in the cage how long should i let it get used to its surroundings before i tame it?



Thanks very much!

[simpo]

i'll give 1 and 3 a go if you don't mind ;)



1) plain dog biscuits - bonio if they're availabe where you are

you can also get mineral block things, they're quite hard so i imagine as well as supplying minerals it will help their teeth too



3) Try not to disturb it much in the first couple of days to settle and attempt to tame it gradually after that.

[SnuggleHam]

1. what can give the hamster to chew on so their teeth dont over grow ( i read giving dog bisquits but what kind? )



I believe its best to give plain dog biscuits, nothing with artificial food coloring and I believe its important to make sure that garlic inst included in the ingredients as its harmful (at lest I think)



2. what can i do to prevent wet tail?



Not much but hope that your hamster comes from a good quality line of healthy hams. Some are just more prone to it, thats why its better to look for a breeder, most hamsters in pet stores are just bred in masses, quality health inst really taken as seriously, and if its not from a mass breeder its from some other person whos hamster had babies and they didnt know what to do with them.



Just get your hams cage set up and ready, keep it in a room where there inst to much noise and put a light towel over its cage.



3. when i first put the hamster in the cage how long should i let it get used to its surroundings before i tame it?



Id let it be for at lest three days, if its out then talk to it and offer it treats, but Id give it a few days to really settle in before you start handling it.

[babyboos]

1. what can give the hamster to chew on so their teeth don't over grow ( I read giving dog biscuits but what kind? )





Plain milk bones are good just avoid any with charcoal in them. Nylabone do great bones made from 100% potato starch - these are perfect - and you can pop them in the oven for 10 minutes to give a crumblier texture.





2. what can I do to prevent Wet Tail?





Obtan your hamster from a reputable hobby breeder at 6-8 weeks old feed it the same food it had at home and no fresh fruit or vegetables for two weeks - harsh but necessary. Hazel Hamster food with added probiotic is good - but if the hamster was not raised on this you will need to swap to it gradually over a week reducing the existing mix slowly and topping up the quantity of Hazel. You may want to consider a probiotic supplement if you can get hold of it too. Do not stress the new hamster out - leave it for as much as two weeks if it seems very timid around you - a good hobby breeder though should supply a well socialised hamster who is happy to play with you from day one. Touch all the hamsters you get to choose from and pick the tamest one not the prettiest necessarily.





3. when I first put the hamster in the cage how long should I let it get used to its surroundings before I tame it?





kind of answered this above... it depends on the hamster but go at it's pace in the beginning - you will be rewarded with a happier, healthier, tamer hamster in the longrun.

[speel]

;) thanks for all your replys i just have one small problem there really is no hamster breeder here in the nyc area well at least that i know of so i think my only choice would be to get the hamster at a pet store unless you guys know a site that lists hamster breeders if not its ok thanks for all your help

[afishcalledwanda]

Welcome fellow New Yorker! I grew up in the city myself before moving to NJ.



Where are you in NY? I have a link to a site with breeders, just scroll down and there are 3 from NY. Merry570 is up in Syracuse and the others I don't know. You can also see about NJ as it is close enough to you.

Just get out your map and do some 'homework'.



http://groups.msn.com/Hamstersgalore/breeders.msnw

[babyboos]

My Hobby Hamstery (http://www.myhobbyhamstery.com/)



I would highly recommend you get one of Mary's babies - she is a really fantastic hobby breeder and I would guarantee you would have no problems with one of her furballs.

[speel]

queens new york :) .. Lol yea but most actually all the breeders i found are upstate

[babyboos]

She can sometimes deliver but there is another good breeder in Albany - anywhere nearer you?

[afishcalledwanda]

Babyboos, all the upstate breeders appear to be a 5 hour drive from speel. NY is a very large state geographically.

Mary does have good quality and if you talk to her, she sometimes is 'on the road' to a show or other and maybe can meet up with you.



Maybe a post on Pet Web Site will have some local breeders for you.

[speel]

ok thanks for all your help

[Emma]

If you're unable to get a hamster from a reputable breeder have you considered a rescue hamster? Try getting in touch with your local animal rescue/shelter, spca/humane society etc - they might not rescue hamsters themselves but might pass them on to someone. Or try local guinea-pig or rabbit rescues, they might have some hamsters or know someone.

[SnuggleHam]

it can be hard trying to find quality hams, Im going to have to drive three hours to meet someone from nothern NY to pick up some Roborovski's, lucky for me he was willing to drive and meet me half way.



Good luck in your search Speel :)

[speel]

yea i think im going to get it a petstore well for a few reasons .. there are no hamster breeders in my area ( i searched google for about a hour or so ) and one of my friend recieved his hamster in one of the local petstores and he had it over a year with no health problems so i think im going to take my chances :) and when i do get one il post my pics

[speel]

i baught one at the local petstore hes a real cute black syrian

[SnuggleHam]

Congrats, post some pictures! tell us more about him, whats his name, how old is he?

[speel]

he is a real cute all black syrian hamster he is about 8 weeks old or so and i haven't thaught of a real good name yet i think i will let my girlfriend name him lol and il have pics soon

[Coco1]

congrats on the new hammie!

I agree with the others though and for the best interest and health of your new furball let him be for 5 days to a week even, to just get used to his new surroundings. A change of habitat can be very stressfull on a young hamster and its critical that the first week he doesn't get stressed out more than absolutely necessary. Unfortunately wet tail can be an unfortunate side effect of stress. Let him sleep, come out when HE wants to come out, (which could be very late at night for a while), just provide food at the same time each evening and chat to him softly when he does come out! You'll have plenty of time to interact more with him and handle him later and it will go so much better if he learns not to fear you to begin with. You may be lucky and have a very tame hammie right from the get go but don't be too hasty to find out.

Now - get out that camera and send some photos - we're all dying to see him! (When he wakes up of course!) :D