some starters' hamster info I have gathered

[Scargirl]

I don't know much, but I am happy to share what I know. Hope this helps everyone - especially the beginners to hamster owning.

Nutrition

For hamsters, nutrition is essential. We have to give out little furry friends a good base mix, as well as healthy treats. There are safe and unsafe foods for hamsters. We, as responsible hamster owners, need to provide them with the best we can afford. I supply my Syrian with a constant supply of food as well as water.


DIY Hamster Pizza
YouTube

DIY Hamster Treats
DIY Hamster Treats - YouTube

DIY Hamster Apple Cookies
YouTube



Cages

If you want a happy hamster, you need a big cage. Big cage= Happy hamster.
You need a big cage so you can put plenty of toys, a bigger wheel (see exercise), hideouts, etc. If you want to get your hamster a bigger cage then you need to be willing to spend some money.

Alaska Cage
Pet Supplies, Pet Food, and Pet Products on Sale Now at zooplus.com

Alexander Small Pet Cage
Great deals on small pet cages at zooplus: Alexander Small Pet Cage

Barney Pet Cage
http://www.zooplus.com/shop/rodents/...9304?rrec=true


Toys
Hamsters love to climb, but it is up to us to make sure that what they climb and chew on is safe. Some strings can harm them if they chew them. If you buy or make toys with chain they can get their foot caught and, sometimes, hamsters have been found hanging from the chain by a broken leg or arm.

Seesaw
http://www.zooplus.com/shop/rodents/...er_toys/126870

Two story Cabin
http://www.zooplus.com/shop/rodents/...7905?rrec=true

Real Wood Den with Food Bowl
http://www.zooplus.com/shop/rodents/...1759?rrec=true

Chews

All hamsters need to keep their teeth trim. I'm sure no one wants to trim their hamster's teeth so provide them with plenty of chews. Whimzees are hard and keep teeth trim. Some dog and cat and other animals' stuff are a good supplement for hamsters.

Applewood chews and Crispy Puzzle
http://www.amazon.com/Kaytee-Combo-C...=Hamster=chews

Small Willow Chew Toy
http://www.amazon.com/Ware-Natural-W...=hamster+chews

Sand Potty

A sand potty in the corner of your hamster's favorite wee spot in the cage. It also reduces having to clean the cage when the hamster wees in it. The bath sand MUST be bath sand NOT dust, as it can cause breathing problems.

Hamster Bath Sand
http://www.amazon.com/Kaytee-1000791...ster+sand+bath

Hamster Sand Bath
http://www.amazon.com/Clear-Plastic-...ster+sand+bath

Exercise

Hamsters need exercise as they can run miles each night in the wild. Exercise balls and Wheels are forms of exercise.


Trixie Wheel
http://www.zooplus.com/shop/rodents/..._wheels/174302

Flying Saucer
http://www.zooplus.com/shop/rodents/..._wheels/205136

Exercise Ball
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00068K06A/...ing=UTF8&psc=1

Substrate

Hamsters need non-dusty substrate as dusty substrate can cause breathing problems. Pine/Cedar are dusty and are to be avoided. Paper bedding and aspen are two good substrates and are non-dusty.

Paper Bedding
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007R6G8JW/...ing=UTF8&psc=1

Aspen Bedding
http://www.amazon.com/Kaytee-Clean-A...=aspen+bedding.

Visits to the Vet
Of course, to stay healthy, hamsters need to see the vet. I would recommend monthly if you have the time. Take your hamster to the vet immediately if he/she starts showing sins of severe illness.

I don't know much, but feel free to ask me any questions!
Hope this helps the beginners in hamster owning!

[Wanna Hamster]

Cool! This will be really helpful for new hamster owners!

[Nancy's Hamsters]

It's nice but I disagree with taking your Hamster to the Vets monthly as any travel out of their normal environment can be very stressful and could create a reason to need a Vets care or worse. Taking a Hamster from it's normal habitat should only be done if necessary. Not on a monthly bases. You Should however be training your pet for a Vet visit by placing him/her into the carrying cage at home so the hamster is as comfortable in its travel cage as it is in its home cage. Vet visits should be for having a Hamster looked at for a professional Vets analisis if you suspect something is wrong with your Hamster. Therefore eliminating stressful trips which are not needed.

[flowerfairy]

The review for the hamster potty is one star. A jam jar or margarine tub with sand in work well.

[Scargirl]

Yes. Thank you guys for adding things that I have missed.
It's really appreciated

[mylittlefluffyhamster]

this is super helpful and thanks for all of the help given to me from random people who I have messaged and they had took the time to reply! thank you! xx

[Scargirl]

Originally Posted by flowerfairy

The review for the hamster potty is one star. A jam jar or margarine tub with sand in work well.

Yes. I couldn't find a sand bath (with an open top) that is small enough, but yet large enough for my little Scarlet so, I got a shallow plastic container and she is just fine with that.