Things a new hamster owner should know?

[mitsykitty]

I have had hamsters for as long as I can remember but I have friends and family that want to get hamsters and come to me for advice on what they need, what food they should get, what cage they should get, how long they should be out for, whats this noise mean?, whats this mean?

Can anyone give me tips and things on what I can tell them? When they ask me I draw a blank because I wasn't thinking about that stuff. I know the wheel should be at lest 8 inches in diameter for a Syrian hamster.

They should be out for at lest an hour, most hamster cages are not big enough a cage the size of a 10 gallon tank in length and width would be much better for them, hamsters should have lots of toys to keep active and stop bar chewing.

Thanks for the tips and information in advance. Also this will be a good way for me to brush up on some useful information.

[Tutu]

Cage floor space 70x40 cm min. Wheel size 11" for syrian hamsters. Food mix Harry hamsters. Vet fund and good reliable vet address in case your hamster has any health issues.

[poppiet]

Not a physical requirement but remember that every hamster is an individual with its own personality. Some will be more outgoing and some will be shyer.

Just because someone else's hamster was taking treats in a few days and happily being handled and your hamster wants nothing do with you for a month, doesn't mean that it will never be friendly.

I got a Russian dwarf in June last year and I barely saw him for a few months. Then, one day he came out of his nest when I was tidying the cage and now, he comes to the bars demanding food and attention.

Be patient and go at the hamster's pace and most of them come round in the end.

[A_Couple_In_Love]

- Lots of toys and wooden chews to keep them busy.

- Ripped up plain toilet roll for bedding (it's a cheaper alternative to what's out there and they love shredding it up for there nests)

- Reliable vets (exotic veterinary if possible)

- Cages I like for dwarfs are the Zoozone 1 or 2, that's if they aren't a chewer

- Must leave them a few days to get used to there new surroundings, unless they are already tamed of course.

- Out of cage time I like to say a minimum of about 20-30 minutes, with the choice to have access to food and water.

- This isn't a must but hamsters love them, a sandbath. MUST be dust free, I recommend children's playsand (baked in the oven till dry) or Charlie chinchilla sand in the cartons. Then just a big enough bowl/jar for the size of the hamster, so a large one for a Syrian.

That's all I can add really