Getting a hamster soon, any advice please!

Isleofhamsters · 03-30-2019, 01:21 PM

Hey all! I have only be on this forum for a few days, but I have learned so much! I am planning on getting a Syrian hamster from a breeder soon!
So here is a list of everything I have learnt. If you know anything I don’t please tell me. My future hamsters will appreciate all your help.

Cage: The cage must be deep enough so that there is at least 6” of bedding for the hamster to borrow. The bars should be no more than 1cm apart so that the hamster can not escape. It cannot be too tall if it a wire cage, as the hamster could injure itself if it climbs and falls. I am going to get a Barney cage from zooplus.

Bedding: Nothing made of pine, cedar or labelled soft wood. The only appropriate substrate is paper based/ recycled cloth or aspen. You can also use soil but it cannot have any fertilisers or anything unnatural.

Wheel: Syrians need wheels that are 8 - 12” but you should start with a 11” wheel so that you don’t need to buy another one if the hamster grows. The wheel needs to big enough so that the hamster doesn’t arch it’s back when running as this can lead to health problems.

Houses: Hamsters are prey animals so need somewhere to hide if they get scared or want to sleep. You should never lift their house of them as this can make them aggressive which may lead to them biting.

Diet: I am going to feed my hamster ever few days. My hamster is going to have a few teaspoons of harry hamster seed mix, and protein supplements in shape of mealworms / egg / porridge. He/she will get plenty fresh vegetables and occasional fruit.

Specifications: Syrians are solitary animals and should never be kept with another hamster of its on kind and certainly not with a hamster of a different species. Syrians are the bigger than all the other species, so are easier to handle.

Wet tail (AKA PI): Wet tail is caused by stress and a sudden dietary change. Wet tail is fatal and only occurs in Syrian hamsters.

Thank you all in advance for your help!
Hope to hear from you soon

mangoandmimi · 03-30-2019, 01:30 PM

Seems alright. The main change I would look into is the diet - Harry hamster is one of the better foods in the UK but it doesn't have a good variety and isn't natural for them. Unfortunately food standards in this country are low and there are much better options from Germany with more variety and that don't rely on things like pellets to balance them. Mixerama, Getzoo and maybe rodipet are probably the best places to get Syrian foods, it will cost more than harry hamster due to the postage costs but you can buy more in one go. Definitely worth it when you see them thriving on a more natural diet so it's something to think about.

Isleofhamsters · 03-30-2019, 01:49 PM

Ok thank you! I will look into it! It is possible to feed hamster just on seeds, fruit, mealworms, egg, porridge and vegtables? No commercial food mixes?
If possible, I would like to give my hamster a diet as natural as possible!

mangoandmimi · 03-30-2019, 02:03 PM

They still need to get the right balance of nutrients etc so they do need a main mix, and keep treats at a small enough amount so that there aren't any major imbalances. Creating a mix yourself would be a difficult & expensive task so unless you're up for that it's best to stick to ready made ones - the German ones I mentioned above are well thought out with a good balance and all natural.

Isleofhamsters · 03-30-2019, 02:11 PM

Oh ok! I just thought that it may be more natural for them as they wouldn’t have anything but natural in the wild. I can see your point though.
Thank you for your help once again!

Isleofhamsters · 03-30-2019, 02:17 PM

Is the bunny dream mix good? I found it online and wanted to ask

mangoandmimi · 03-30-2019, 02:34 PM

It’s alright but I think it would have too many little seeds in there which is better suited to a dwarf than Syrian really, you might find it doesn’t all get eaten.

Isleofhamsters · 03-30-2019, 02:47 PM

I can always supplement it. I’m sure I’ll find something, but I’ll ask here to double check

Bobby7747 · 03-30-2019, 06:55 PM

I really am considering the mixerama food but on their website there are many different kinds which should I get or does that matter (obviously it has to say the type of hamster I am planning on getting-Syrian)?

mangoandmimi · 03-31-2019, 08:34 AM

Bobby if you are in the US I don't think mixerama will deliver there unfortunately, it can be difficult finding decent foods out there.