Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Choosing a Specific Hamster Type, Appearance, and Gender
• Method 2 of 3: Buying a hamster
• Method 3 of 3: Preparing for your hamster
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

Hamsters were started as pets in the late 40s of the last century. Originally from Syria, hamsters have become popular for their easy care, odorlessness and resistance to disease. They are small, cute and lovable. In addition, the hamster can be an ideal pet for children and people living in small apartments. If you decide to get yourself a hamster, there are a number of important factors to consider when choosing this furry friend.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Choosing a Specific Hamster Type, Appearance, and Gender

1. 1 Find out which type of hamster is best for you. Like many other pets, the nature and lifestyle of a hamster depends on the type of animal. There are many different types of hamsters, so learning about them is important to help you choose the best pet for your home.
   • The Syrian hamster (or the Asian short-tailed hamster) is the most popular pet. It is easy to care for and is well suited for children. This hamster should be kept separate from other hamsters. It should also be noted that this is a completely nocturnal animal.
   • Campbell's Russian dwarf hamsters, unlike Syrian hamsters, are social animals and feel good when kept in groups. They are not bad pets, but they are not very easy to train to hand. They are also more active during the daytime.
   • Dwarf Dzungarian hamsters in temperament and lifestyle are in many ways similar to their relatives - Campbell's hamsters. They are somewhat smaller, agile enough and can bite when nervous. You should not have a Dzungarian hamster as a pet for a young child. However, these animals have a rather cute and expressive character, which makes them good pets for older children and adults.
   • Roborovsky hamsters, due to their small size (2.5–6.5 cm) and active nature, are not the best way to pick them up. They lead a social life, have a good character and are active at night.
   • Chinese (Daurian or Barabinian) hamsters are somewhat shy, but they can also be taught to hand. They are loners and can be aggressive when kept together. They are nocturnal.
2. 2 Choose a hamster based on the physical characteristics you like. Hamsters come in a wide variety of sizes, colors and coat lengths. The behavior of males and females may differ.
   • Hamsters range in size from 2.5 cm to 17.5 cm (depending on the species). Smaller (dwarf) hamster species are not best suited for small children. Larger species (such as Syrian hamsters) are better suited for taming and companionship.
   • Hamsters come in a variety of colors. Syrian hamsters are more often golden, but brown bearish colors are also found. Dzungarian hamsters can be beautiful gray or white. Most hamsters are brownish, but there are also completely white, black, gray, spotted and even striped (with a stripe on the back).
   • Depending on the specific species and breed, hamsters are either short-haired or long-haired. Syrian hamsters usually have a long, silky coat.
3. 3 Keep in mind that a hamster's gender influences its behavior. Females are more aggressive than males. And if you are planning to have multiple hamsters, experts recommend choosing animals of the same sex.
4. 4 Ask yourself how you will interact with your hamster. If you want to pick it up and play with it, try to choose a type of hamster that will work well, such as a Syrian hamster. If you want to observe the behavior of hamsters from the side, then smaller and more active dwarf species of hamsters are better for you.

Method 2 of 3: Buying a hamster

1. 1 Choose a good pet store or a responsible breeder. It is better to turn your attention to small (rather than large chain) pet stores with fewer animals for sale. They usually have more time to care for the hamsters, which gives them hope that the hamsters featured there are healthy and ready to sell.
2. 2 Take a look at the conditions in which the hamsters are kept. Make sure the cages are clean with bedding, food, and fresh water. Also, hamsters should be able to get physical activity.
   • If there are many hamsters in the same cage, they are probably very young. Watch how they communicate with each other. Hamsters that wake up should be active and inquisitive. They should not be aggressive towards other hamsters.
   • Hamsters should look well-fed and well-groomed. Their eyes should be bright and their fur should be shiny.
3. 3 Chat with the pet store employees. Another way to appreciate a pet store is to talk to its employees. Ask them about hamsters, find out the age and type of animals. Employees should be aware of all this and ready to help.
   • Ask for reviews from other buyers. If you're not sure if a particular pet store is right for you, ask if they have customers who could recommend their store. You may be able to ask these customers how their hamsters felt after purchasing from this store. Also try to find reviews of the pet store on the internet.
4. 4 Ask permission to pick up your hamster before making a purchase. If you are thinking of a hamster that you can pick up and communicate with, ask to let you hold him before making the final choice. Before buying, you need to pay attention to the presence of positive traits in the hamster.
   • It must be tame. He should not feel stressed and worried about being picked up. He should not bite and pull out.
   • He should be interested, not anxious. He should be interested in, not intimidated by the environment.If the hamster looks around and sniffs around in search of food, then this is a sign that he is calm.
5. 5 Choose a healthy young hamster. Since hamsters live only 2-3 years, it is important to take a completely healthy and happy pet to your home. Before making a purchase, make sure your hamster has all of the following:
   • clean eyes, nose and mouth;
   • dry nose without discharge;
   • shiny coat;
   • confident gait;
   • good mood;
   • no overgrown teeth;
   • no bald spots;
   • there are no tumors and mats of hair on the body.
6. 6 Bring your hamster home. The pet store or breeder will probably provide you with a small box so you can take your hamster home. In it, the hamster can feel trapped and start to worry, so it can start to rush about in it, try to undermine or gnaw its way.
   • It's very important to get your new friend home as quickly as possible so that you don't over-stress him or let him escape!

Method 3 of 3: Preparing for your hamster

1. 1 Remember not to sacrifice your health. Make sure you are not allergic to hamsters or the bedding they use before deciding to have one. You can check your reaction at the nearest pet store, which sells hamsters and other rodents. Your hamster's cage can get a lot of dust from the bedding, so make sure you don't get in the way before making a purchase.
2. 2 Consider making time for your pet. Ask yourself if you have the time and energy to take care of your new friend. Hamsters are relatively undemanding, but they need to be given fresh food and water daily. You will also need to clean the crate regularly and monitor your pet's health and general well-being.
3. 3 Be responsible for feeding and watering your hamster. You will need to ensure that your pet gets the amount of food and water it needs every day. Do not underfeed your hamster. But with an excess of food, the hamster hides food by its cheeks and transfers it to storage in its house.
4. 4 Make sure you can afford to keep your hamster. Keeping a pet is not always cheap. Make sure you have the necessary funds to pay for visits to the vet, food, toys, bedding, and other essentials.
5. 5 Create suitable housing conditions for your hamster. Make sure you have everything you need before bringing your hamster home. You should have all of the following.
   • The hamster needs quite a lot of space, as he loves to dig in the litter, hide and explore the territory. Therefore, the cage must be large enough for this kind of activity.
   • Hamsters have a talent for escaping, so it is important to protect yourself from these situations. If you have a metal cage, the bars should be strong and close enough so that the hamster cannot break them or squeeze between them and escape. All types of cages must be equipped with securely locking doors.
   • The hamster also needs a feeder and drinker. You need to give your pet fresh food and water every day. Hamsters enjoy drinking water from the drinkers, which also saves space inside the cage.
   • You will also need items for your hamster to chew on. Rodent teeth are constantly growing, so they need to grind them down in a timely manner. Be sure to provide your hamster with safe materials to chew on (special toys and sticks available at the pet store).
   • In addition, cage bedding will be needed. Hamsters love to dig in, and they also have to go to the toilet somewhere. Use aspen sawdust or some other type of soft bedding to keep your hamster comfortable.Never use cedar or pine sawdust as bedding, as they are harmful to the hamster's respiratory system.

Tips

• If you are purchasing a running wheel, opt for a monolithic version without crossbars, as the hamster can get stuck in them.
• Play with your hamster regularly to show you love.
• When you go after your hamster, bring some kind of carrier with bedding and food to the store.
• See how much your hamster likes his cage. If you want to make him your friend, you must pay attention to his feelings.
• First, make a fist, let the hamster sniff it, and only then take the pet in your arms.
• Don't bathe your hamster. Bathing deprives the hamster's skin of important natural fats, which can lead to illness and subsequent death. Hamsters usually take care of their own cleanliness.
• Never make sudden movements, otherwise the hamster will get scared and run away or even scratch you.
• Try to get a hamster late in the evening or early in the morning, as hamsters are nocturnal animals and they are usually active during this time.
• When choosing a hamster, be sure to check its gender.
• Wait for the hamster to empty its bladder before handling it.
• If possible, purchase a hamster in the presence of an experienced hamster owner.
• Try to take the hamster into good hands with the ad.

Warnings

• If your hamster suddenly changes in behavior, try to show it to the veterinarian, as it could become ill.
• Dwarf hamsters sometimes like to bite, so it's best to start your rodent experience with Syrian hamsters if you don't want problems. But if you don't mind being bitten, you can buy a miniature hamster. Some hamsters may bite at first, and then stop behaving this way when they get used to their hands.
• Lack of attention can make your hamster angry with you. If you only have an hour of free time a day, you better not get yourself a hamster right now.
• Don't buy a regular dwarf hamster cage. Use a specially designed cage for them. All hamsters need their own special cages.

What do you need

• Cage (metal, plastic or glass aquarium)
• Litter and sawdust (not cedar, not pine, and not straw or hay)
• Hamster house
• Drinking bowl (not a bowl that the hamster can easily turn over)
• Hamster food
• Food bowl
• Tunnels and wooden toys
• Walking ball (miniature ball for a dwarf hamster)
• Mineral stone
• Vitamin supplement
• Running wheel
• Sticks you can gnaw
• Hamster treat
• Cell disinfectant
• Probiotic Supplement (Dwarf Hamsters Only)