How to Care for a Hamster 

With the right amount of care and love, hamsters can be a wonderful pet, and your best friend. 

Make sure you purchase a habitat for the hamster that is adequate in space and suitable for the hamster's needs. If you purchase a wire cage, keep in mind that most cages sold for hamsters are too small and does not allow you to put in all of its necessities along with toys and still have ample space for the hamster to explore. Cages sold for rats are suited for the Syrian hamster. Syrian hamsters love climbing and the tunnels that are offered in regular cages sold for hamsters are generally too small. Dwarf hamsters are best housed in a glass aquarium, as most wire cages designed for hamsters are not escape-proof due to the large spaces between the bars (don't buy a cage with more than 1cm of spaces between the bars).

You must house Syrian hamsters alone, as they are territorial starting at about the age of 5-8 weeks and will fight, often to the death or at least until one is seriously injured. Many Dwarf hamsters can be housed together, but remember that deathly fights can occur any time. Hamsters that accept themselves don't "play" with each other, they live in different places in the cage. If the hamsters sleep together, don't think that they became friends, it's just by instinct.

The hamster needs room for water, food, toys, and an exercise wheel suitable for the specific type of hamster that you want to purchase. On the ground, there should be a layer of at least 3 inches of bedding. Use CareFresh, CritterCare, or shredded paper bedding. Wood shavings are just not good for hamsters, as they cause many health issues and contain harmful oils.

The wheels that come with the cage are generally too small and isn't good for the hamster's back. Buy one that is minimum 20cm for a dwarf hamster and 28cm for a Syrian.

Make sure the cage escape-free! You'd be amazed at how clever hamsters are at escaping, they're like mini houdinis!. Make sure all holes are sealed (even if located at the top of the cage as hamsters are quite good at climbing), and make sure that no loose or removable parts can be removed by your hammy.Make sure that if you have a wire cage be sure they can't fit they will get stuck or could escape

Be sure that you have lots of toys for the hamster to enjoy. Toys such as toilet paper rolls, empty tissue boxes, tubes, tunnels, nest boxes, PVC piping, old slippers, hamster chew toys, and exercise balls and wheels are fun for your pet! Most hamster owners simply give the hamster a wheel and a ball to enjoy. As a result, the hamster will start to have unhealthy habits such as pacing and/or chewing the bars of a wire cage (if housed in a wire cage, that is). Hamsters need far more than wheels and balls to occupy them. Make sure you use the toys listed above for your pet. Have enough toys so that you can rotate them and keep your hamster interested in toys that have been reintroduced after a few days of being absent.