i am looking into everything i need to know before buying a hampster. since ive researched the only thing i havent came upon is caging basically. like which is better the wire cage or like the blue plastic cage that you can have multiple tubes going into. i would want my hampster to get its excercise it the plastic one bad or good.and why. also any other information youd like to give me is great. do you like owning a hampster as a pet? can you let them out onto your bed and play with them. they are nocturnal so there up at night but overall how much do you enjoy your hampster as a pet?
Either cage is okay. I like the wire\plastic combos.
The completely plastic cages(like fully enclosed, such as the habitrail cages) have to be cleaned twice as often as a wire cage. As would a aquarium style cage. Bacteria will build up twice as fast because it is not as open, plus the temperature may stay pretty warm in an enclosed cage. But really, they are just as suitable as other cages so long as they are kept clean and he gets exorcise.
The plastic cages, you have to worry about them chewing on, but so long as you are getting your furry friend chew sticks and wood to chew on(like you are supposed to) then he may be much happier chewing on those then then cage.
I have always had CritterTrail cages, they have tubes so that you can add more areas and they have wire for walls so that they are more open. The only problem with them is that your little friend may go to town on one of the tube mouths where the tube slots into the cage and manage to push it up and get out. A little drop of glue fixes this, but he may never decide to chew like that on the tube mouth to begin with if you keep him happy in chewable toys.
The problem with completely wire cages (like the mesh wire ones) is that no animal should be forced to walk on mesh all the time. It damages their feet and makes them sore.
Make sure that he has a wheel
something you may not know about is dust baths. all rodents enjoy them and it keeps parasites at bay. Google Hamster dust bath to get some hits. Use chinchilla sand bath.
I always enjoyed having hamsters. Mine tended to get the most attention later on in the day. It's not just night time, also afternoons are fine for them. I always let mine out on my bed and crawl around on my floor or in my lap. I've always had such sweet little hamsters. Supervision of course. They are so small, they need a lot of attention when they are loose so that they do not get hurt.
The only issue is maybe the noise that you might experience from the wheel and their running at night. I'm a heavy sleeper but my family couldn't stand sleeping in my room.
This wheel is good:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.js...
and this one spins silently ...well ...it does for awhile. My chinchilla managed to take her's apart and it was never the same after that.
http://www.petco.com/product/14888/Silen...
Do not use ceder or pine bedding. It's bad for them.
yes, those potty things are a pretty good idea, if you have a fastidious hamster that will use only one spot. Just be careful of the type of litter that it may use. Some little creates a lot of dust and it may irritate his eyes or lungs.
The completely plastic cages(like fully enclosed, such as the habitrail cages) have to be cleaned twice as often as a wire cage. As would a aquarium style cage. Bacteria will build up twice as fast because it is not as open, plus the temperature may stay pretty warm in an enclosed cage. But really, they are just as suitable as other cages so long as they are kept clean and he gets exorcise.
The plastic cages, you have to worry about them chewing on, but so long as you are getting your furry friend chew sticks and wood to chew on(like you are supposed to) then he may be much happier chewing on those then then cage.
I have always had CritterTrail cages, they have tubes so that you can add more areas and they have wire for walls so that they are more open. The only problem with them is that your little friend may go to town on one of the tube mouths where the tube slots into the cage and manage to push it up and get out. A little drop of glue fixes this, but he may never decide to chew like that on the tube mouth to begin with if you keep him happy in chewable toys.
The problem with completely wire cages (like the mesh wire ones) is that no animal should be forced to walk on mesh all the time. It damages their feet and makes them sore.
Make sure that he has a wheel
something you may not know about is dust baths. all rodents enjoy them and it keeps parasites at bay. Google Hamster dust bath to get some hits. Use chinchilla sand bath.
I always enjoyed having hamsters. Mine tended to get the most attention later on in the day. It's not just night time, also afternoons are fine for them. I always let mine out on my bed and crawl around on my floor or in my lap. I've always had such sweet little hamsters. Supervision of course. They are so small, they need a lot of attention when they are loose so that they do not get hurt.
The only issue is maybe the noise that you might experience from the wheel and their running at night. I'm a heavy sleeper but my family couldn't stand sleeping in my room.
This wheel is good:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.js...
and this one spins silently ...well ...it does for awhile. My chinchilla managed to take her's apart and it was never the same after that.
http://www.petco.com/product/14888/Silen...
Do not use ceder or pine bedding. It's bad for them.
yes, those potty things are a pretty good idea, if you have a fastidious hamster that will use only one spot. Just be careful of the type of litter that it may use. Some little creates a lot of dust and it may irritate his eyes or lungs.
I own a gerbil, but they are really similar, i just want to let u know, that hamsters and gerbils love chewing on everything. so specially when u have a plastic cage that's a huge problem, my gerbil started chewing off his own cage, so i just went and bought him an aquarium, they live pretty happily in those too.
and each hamster depends on how much it likes u, and how trained it is to let loose, some can run off and when they fall off your bed they can be hard to catch.
but yeah they're really nice to have as pets :)
and each hamster depends on how much it likes u, and how trained it is to let loose, some can run off and when they fall off your bed they can be hard to catch.
but yeah they're really nice to have as pets :)
Me =]
first of all I prefer just a regular aquarium, wire cages are messy and big plastic ones are really hard to clean. also the aquarium is harder to climb out of. Hamsters will sit on your lap if you train him, I would suggest putting him/her in a BIG bowl and put him on your lap, yes they are very good pets if trained. yes hamsters only live 1-3 years on average but some have lived up to 5 years. yes it would be a good idea to get a litter box, but you can make your own out of a small cardboard box and some hamster litter. Hope I helped.
my own hamster
I have had 6 hamsters, and i have loved them so much, they are wonderful pets, i highly recommend teddy bear hamsters, they are extremely mellow, they never bite, and they are adorable! as far as getting the right kind of cage, i have found that the hamsters per fer the plastic ones with tubes. Seriously consider teddy bear hamsters, i love them, and i have had lots of hamsters, good luck, and let me know what kind u get!
previous experiance
Hello!
Hamsters are wonderful pets!
I would go with the wire cage because it is more open and fells more roomy for the hamster. Get a wire wheel so it gets enough exercise.
If I put my hamster on my lap, he moves around a little but if he is tired he just sits there and lets you pet him.
Good luck with your new hamster! Hope I helped! :)
Hamsters are wonderful pets!
I would go with the wire cage because it is more open and fells more roomy for the hamster. Get a wire wheel so it gets enough exercise.
If I put my hamster on my lap, he moves around a little but if he is tired he just sits there and lets you pet him.
Good luck with your new hamster! Hope I helped! :)
hamster owner
Hamsters are good pets, but they have a tendency to die vary tragic deaths. (BE WARNED!) Other than their eventual demise:
1. hamsters are nocturnal
2. they are great escape artists, so make sure that any cage you get is secure - like without any holes or openings that are small enough for a hamster to get through - ETC.
3. they do NOT sit still, they will not sit well on your lap.
4. they usually bite some
5. where ever they are, they will poop
6. yes, they only live a few years
7. if you decide that a hamster is right for you, make sure to get one of those plastic balls that they can run around in throughout your house.
please don't be put off by the biting and pooping. they are really great pets...just beware before you get one
:)
1. hamsters are nocturnal
2. they are great escape artists, so make sure that any cage you get is secure - like without any holes or openings that are small enough for a hamster to get through - ETC.
3. they do NOT sit still, they will not sit well on your lap.
4. they usually bite some
5. where ever they are, they will poop
6. yes, they only live a few years
7. if you decide that a hamster is right for you, make sure to get one of those plastic balls that they can run around in throughout your house.
please don't be put off by the biting and pooping. they are really great pets...just beware before you get one
:)
Really both cages are pretty good. Hamsters can't get through plastic and sometimes you might want to watch out for bent wires when you buy the cage because people say they can squeeze threw them if they are tiny. I would recommend both plastic and wire because cages come in both. Oh and i love owning a hamster as a pet. It only takes about an easy 30min out of your day to play with them or clean their cage and they are so much fun. You can let your hamster run on your bed but just keep a close eye on it s it does not fall off because hamsters don't realize that they can fall so they just walk off of things. It's not true about the one year part. Most hamsters live 2-3 years but I've heard even more if you take really good care of them. This might not be for some hamsters but my hamster runs off my lap after a couple minutes of being on me but other hamster owners hamsters(lol) like to stay on their lap. So anyways good luck with Your new hamster! :) :D
P.S. Im not sure if the potty training thing works because i've never tried. Most hamsters urinate and poop in the same place they always do so it shouldn't be much of a problem if you don't buy it.
P.S. Im not sure if the potty training thing works because i've never tried. Most hamsters urinate and poop in the same place they always do so it shouldn't be much of a problem if you don't buy it.