Hi everyone
I have never owned a hamster before and am currently considering one! My previous pet experience is 2 dogs, and many many mice.
I think I am leaning towards a winter white dwarf hamster, and hopefully you guys can offer some advice, insight and opinions on a few topics I've been wondering about...
#1: If you own a winter white, how do you rate them as pets? How do they compare to other hamsters?
#2: I am considering a tank that is 75cm x 45cm. Would this be adequate space for a WW dwarf?
#3: Do WWs do well alone, or are they better off with a companion? Honestly, I would rather have just the one, and have plenty of time on my hands to offer him/her company.
#4: What bedding/litter do you usually use? For my mice I use Back 2 Nature litter (recycled paper pellets) and ripped loo roll for their nests. Would this be okay?
#5: What food do you recommend for WWs or dwarf hamsters in general?
#6:My mice love toys that they can climb, but I have seen videos of hamsters, and compared to mice, they seem clumsy, bad at climbing, and less agile (sorry hamsters, no offense). So what type of toys do they like?
#7: As dwarfs are prone to diabetes, should I avoid sugary foods? What about fruits? What treats would be good to give them?
#8: Is there any difference between males and females, in either personality or health issues?
These are all the questions I can think of for now. I am very early on in my research process, so please forgive my ignorance if the answer to some of these questions seems obvious to you. Thanks!