Beginners...
If you find yourself on this page then congratulations! You are buying or thinking of buying a hamster. Before you go ahead and buy a hamster you need to assess whether a hamster is the right pet for you. Hamsters are nocturnal, which means they are most active in the evenings and at night. This means you need to spare an hour in the evenings when you can interact and play with them. Syrian Hamsters need a large cage (80cm x 50cm at LEAST) so you need to make sure you have enough space to accommodate them in a quiet area, away from draughts and direct sunlight. Hamsters are happiest at a comfortable room temperature of 18-23°C. If they are kept in cold conditions below 5°C then they will go into hibernation!
Hamsters are relatively inexpensive to keep, although you must be prepared to pay for a good quality cage, safe bedding and a good quality food before purchasing your hamster. A hamster or small animal carrier would be a good thing to get to carry your hamster home as you want them to be as comfortable and as less stressed as you can. Stress can cause a hamster to loose their fur and become bald and it can cause some diseases such as wet tail which causes severe diarrhoea and can be fatal if not treated properly. If you notice that your hamster has wet fur along their back and has runny faeces then seek vetinary attention straight away.
Of course, you will have to decide whether you want a male or a female hamster! Female Syrian Hamsters are larger than the males and can grow to a staggering 7 inches! Females are generally more active during the daytime than males and can be slightly more inquisitive, although this does depend on the hamster's individual personality. However, females tend to give off slightly more odour than males as they go into heat every four days. Males on the other hand are slightly smaller than females and can sometimes have long hair or tufts of hair on their back and bottoms! Because of their long hair you need to make sure it doesn't get caught in the exercise wheel as this could be painful and stressful for the hamster. You also need to brush their fur every few days to prevent matting and their bedding getting tangled in it. You can brush their fur using an old (clean!) toothbrush or you can find special hamster brushes in your local pet store. It is up to you whether you get a male or female as both make lovely pets!
Syrian Hamsters are not as prone to diabetes as Dwarf hamsters are but it is best to have a low sugar diet for your Syrian. A variety of healthy treats are available in your pet store such as yoghurt drops, nuts and seeds that will keep your hamster happy and healthy. However, there are some fresh foods that you can give your hamster in moderate proportions (2-3 times per week). Such foods include:
Hamsters are relatively inexpensive to keep, although you must be prepared to pay for a good quality cage, safe bedding and a good quality food before purchasing your hamster. A hamster or small animal carrier would be a good thing to get to carry your hamster home as you want them to be as comfortable and as less stressed as you can. Stress can cause a hamster to loose their fur and become bald and it can cause some diseases such as wet tail which causes severe diarrhoea and can be fatal if not treated properly. If you notice that your hamster has wet fur along their back and has runny faeces then seek vetinary attention straight away.
Of course, you will have to decide whether you want a male or a female hamster! Female Syrian Hamsters are larger than the males and can grow to a staggering 7 inches! Females are generally more active during the daytime than males and can be slightly more inquisitive, although this does depend on the hamster's individual personality. However, females tend to give off slightly more odour than males as they go into heat every four days. Males on the other hand are slightly smaller than females and can sometimes have long hair or tufts of hair on their back and bottoms! Because of their long hair you need to make sure it doesn't get caught in the exercise wheel as this could be painful and stressful for the hamster. You also need to brush their fur every few days to prevent matting and their bedding getting tangled in it. You can brush their fur using an old (clean!) toothbrush or you can find special hamster brushes in your local pet store. It is up to you whether you get a male or female as both make lovely pets!
Syrian Hamsters are not as prone to diabetes as Dwarf hamsters are but it is best to have a low sugar diet for your Syrian. A variety of healthy treats are available in your pet store such as yoghurt drops, nuts and seeds that will keep your hamster happy and healthy. However, there are some fresh foods that you can give your hamster in moderate proportions (2-3 times per week). Such foods include:
- Apple (do not give them the seeds)
- Banana
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Broccoli
Small amounts of cabbage - Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Chestnuts
- Cucumber
- Kale
- Peas
- Watercress
- Cooked chicken
Whole grain bread - Boiled or scrambled egg
- Dog biscuits- no onion, garlic or spices
- Cheese- mild (in moderation)
- Dry wholemeal toast
- Flax Seeds (VERY good for your hamster's coat!)
- Oatmeal
Lentils - Unsalted peanuts
- Unsalted popcorn (with no butter or flavourings)
Taming...
Of course, when you get your hamster home you are going to want to interact and play with your new friend. I know it's hard but please don't. Your hamster needs at least 4 days to adjust to its new surroundings before you even consider touching them. Here is a guide for how you can tame your hamster. This isn't exactly how you need to do it, some people prefer different methods, but it all really depends on your hamster's personality and how relaxed they feel. (Please note, we are not experts, but after researching, we feel this is one of the best methods to use.)
1. Leave your hamster alone for at least 4 days, some people prefer to leave it a week before taming. Do feel free to talk to them so they get used to your voice!
2. On the third and fourth day try feeding your hamster treats. Do this by holding a treat between your finger tips and letting your hamster come to you. Do not chase them around the cage as this will stress them out and will probably make them more difficult to tame. Also rub your hands through their bedding occasionally to make your scent known to them. It won't be a complete shock when you take them out for taming.
3. On the fifth day, you can begin the taming process. If you have a hamster ball or carrier, try and encourage them into this. Place a towel or blanket inside a dry bathtub (or you can use a plastic bin or playpen) and place a few toys in your desired place. Let your hamster explore for a while. After this, place a treat in the palm of your hand and let them take it from you. Repeat this a few times until your hamster seems fairly comfortable with it.
4. On the sixth day, repeat the steps from day five. If you find that your hamster puts its paws or even sits on your palm then you can progress by scooping them up (open palms so they don't feel trapped) hold them a few inches above the floor and then let them climb off or put them down after a few seconds. Do this a few times and then stop as your hamster could be getting stressed.
5. For days seven and eight, repeat the steps you have done so far. Please note that some hamsters may take a while to even get this far so don't rush anything and be patient. If your hamster seems comfortable then you can progress to the next step.
6. For the ninth day, sit in the bathtub/playpen with your amster. As you open the ball/carrier place your palm in front of the exit so that your hamster will have to climb out onto your hand to get to the floor. They may take a while to do this but watch, when they finally do, that they will be crawling over your hand and arm. Let them explore you and get to know you! Continue to do this once a day until you are both confident with each other :)
1. Leave your hamster alone for at least 4 days, some people prefer to leave it a week before taming. Do feel free to talk to them so they get used to your voice!
2. On the third and fourth day try feeding your hamster treats. Do this by holding a treat between your finger tips and letting your hamster come to you. Do not chase them around the cage as this will stress them out and will probably make them more difficult to tame. Also rub your hands through their bedding occasionally to make your scent known to them. It won't be a complete shock when you take them out for taming.
3. On the fifth day, you can begin the taming process. If you have a hamster ball or carrier, try and encourage them into this. Place a towel or blanket inside a dry bathtub (or you can use a plastic bin or playpen) and place a few toys in your desired place. Let your hamster explore for a while. After this, place a treat in the palm of your hand and let them take it from you. Repeat this a few times until your hamster seems fairly comfortable with it.
4. On the sixth day, repeat the steps from day five. If you find that your hamster puts its paws or even sits on your palm then you can progress by scooping them up (open palms so they don't feel trapped) hold them a few inches above the floor and then let them climb off or put them down after a few seconds. Do this a few times and then stop as your hamster could be getting stressed.
5. For days seven and eight, repeat the steps you have done so far. Please note that some hamsters may take a while to even get this far so don't rush anything and be patient. If your hamster seems comfortable then you can progress to the next step.
6. For the ninth day, sit in the bathtub/playpen with your amster. As you open the ball/carrier place your palm in front of the exit so that your hamster will have to climb out onto your hand to get to the floor. They may take a while to do this but watch, when they finally do, that they will be crawling over your hand and arm. Let them explore you and get to know you! Continue to do this once a day until you are both confident with each other :)