Hamster Care
Fast Facts
LENGTH: Syrian hamsters: 6 inches, Dwarf hamsters: 2-3 inches
LIFESPAN: 1.5-2 years
FUN FACT: Hamsters love late-night snacking — they are often seen stuffing their faces and storing extra food in their cheek pouches to snack on later!
Food
- High-quality rodent chow (rat blocks) should always be available to your hamster. Supplement this with hamster mix — made up of pellets, grains, seeds and dried veggies.
- Fresh, clean water should be available 24/7. A water bottle with a drinking tube that attaches to the cage is the best way to go.
- Offer small, bite-sized bits of fresh veggies and fruits such as spinach, lettuce, carrots or apples daily. Avoid chocolate, candy, junk food, onions and uncooked beans.
- Your hamster may enjoy bits of sugarless cereals and whole wheat bread as a treat.
Housing & Environment
- Syrian hamsters, also known as golden or teddy bear hamsters, MUST be housed alone. Do not house male and female dwarf hamsters together, as hamsters breed quickly.
- In the wild, hamsters run up to five miles a night — so it's important for your hamster to have a large enclosure and space to exercise.
- Your hamster needs a cave-like enclosure for sleeping, such as a flowerpot or box.
- Set up the enclosure indoors, away from drafts, direct sunlight and pets such as dogs and cats.
- Line the enclosure with at least 6 inches of bedding. Don’t use cedar or pine chips, as the fumes can be harmful. Provide paper towels or tissue for nesting.
- House your Syrian hamster in a solid-bottom wire cage or aquarium with a wire mesh top. Try to get the biggest cage your budget allows — your pet will appreciate the extra space. Dwarf hamsters can be kept in a cage made for mice.
Behavior & Handling
- Hamsters are nocturnal by nature, so it’s normal for them to play and eat at night. They tend to nip if awakened during the day, so take care not to bother your pet while they’re sleeping.
- Once your hamster is accustomed to handling, try to give them a supervised period of time outside their enclosure every day. Keep them in one room or screened off, secure area. Hamsters don’t have good eyesight, so take care that they don’t fall or otherwise hurt themselves. And remove all electrical cords from the area, please!
Exercise & Toys
- Hamsters are big fans of exercise, so make sure yours has a wheel for running. Your pet will love tunneling through tubes, which can be homemade (empty cardboard tubes from paper towels and toilet paper).
- Give your hamster appropriate chew toys to help wear down their teeth, which grow continuously. We recommend unpainted, untreated wood or twigs, or hard dog biscuits.
- Hamsters are burrowing animals. They should have a minimum of 6 inches of bedding (8-12 is best) to burrow in.
Cleaning
- Remove soiled bedding, droppings and stale/uneaten food daily. Clean and refill the water bottle every day.
- Change out 50% of bedding every couple of weeks and scrub the cage with warm, soapy water as needed.
Signs of Illness
Bring your hamster to the veterinarian annually for check-ups. Don’t wait if you think your pet is sick — seek help immediately. Common signs that something isn’t right include dull-looking eyes, overgrown teeth, matted fur, weight loss, shaking, runny nose and diarrhea.
Hamster Supply Checklist
Download the Happy Hamster Guide!
- Solid-bottom wire cage or aquarium with mesh top
- Rat blocks and hamster mix
- Timothy hay, aspen shavings or pelleted bedding
- Small boxes or flowerpots
- Exercise wheel, appropriately sized — for Dwarf hamsters 8-10 inch diameter and for Syrian hamsters 10-12 inch diameter
- Cardboard tubes (paper towel and toilet paper rolls)
- Attachable water bottle with drinking tube
- Unpainted, untreated wood or twig, or other safe chew toys