ok imma get a teddybear hampster soo0o00o i need ur help
can u tell me how big the cage should b(or how big they get)
and toys 2 get
ect.
Answers:
ONLY GET A 10 GALLON GLASS TANK WITH A WIRE SCREEN TOP. ANYTHING ELSE THEY WILL GET OUT OF. DO NOT GET ANY PLASTIC CRITTER TRAIL CAGES. ALL YOU NEED IN IT IS A RUNNING WHEEL, A HOUSE OR BOX, A WATER BOTTLE THAT HANGS OF THE SIDE, A FOOD DISH, AND ANYTHING YOU WANT TO USE FOR CHEWING. ONLY USE UNSCENTED BEDDING, NEVER USE CEDAR.
i know nothing
Me either
well if you get the hamster from a petco then ask them they are experts.. i would just say that a decent sized one a chew stock or two food water bottles (no leak) a wheel built in and treats and wood chip bedding so they can make beds.
you need to git them a wired cage .
Cage:
Size - at least 1ft x 1ft per hamster.
Type - There's bin cages and cages from manufacturers (Habitrail, rotastak).
For bin cages (click 1st link to an example):
-They're spacious (depending on size but mostly, yes) and cheaper. You get to customize/decorate it. You gotta do a bit of work on
the bin (depends. if you want). *Sometimes, depending on the hamster and bin*, your hamster may escape (but rarely happens).
Manufactured cages:
-ready made. costs more. can and cant be escape proof. not as big as bin cages that cost less.
Taming:
-Read my previous answers for method.
or go here : http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;.
Food and Water:
-It would be best to change their food daily. you can do that by giving them just enough food for one day, that way u dont waste.
usually a teaspoon or two.
-Change their water everyday. make sure u clean the water bottle with hot water every once in a while to prevent anything from
growing inside. scrub it if you can. I use a toothbrush.
Bedding:
-pine and cedar bedding releases phenols (i think its a alcoholic gas, im not sure) which is harmful. i use pine which so far i have no
problems with. aspen is recommended by most sites. however there are some that say aspen aint that good either. i think megazorb
or carefresh may be better. DONT USE ANY SCENTED or COTTON FLUFF sort of bedding. The thread/cotton, if consumed by
hammy, can kill hammy - ties up their intestines. Scented ones may irritate them, since hamsters are very sensitive animals.
Play time:
-Their nocturnal. They can run for miles in the wild, so its only logical that they be allowed to run around at night, instead of being
cooped up in their cage. A wheel would be a definite must have. You can get a hamster ball for hammy to run in. let hammy run in
ball for 15-30min but remember to let them back out for a drink and rest. and dont exceed 30mins. also, if you;re gonna let hammy
out, make sure he/she is supervised and that whoever you're living with knows that the hamsters are out of the cage. hamsters have
died a terrible death because of this. some ppl have play pens for their hamsters.
Basic hamster info:
-Syrians (aka teddybear hamsters) are SOLITARY animals. means, no partners and friends. They start fighting at around 8 weeks.
either earlier or a wee bit later. depends. so u get only one hamster first, since you're a first time hamster owner.
- dont put them together with any other hamsters (dwarf or syrian)
- other household pets (dogs cats) can transmit diseases/fleas to your hamster. so can you (cold/flu). make sure you're well cleaned
before touching your hamster. a cold/flu is a big/serious thing for hamsters. if you keep two hamsters, and one is sick, make sure you
do everything u can to make sure the other hamster isnt infected. ie. change clothes, wear a shirt over the other, wash hands properly
etc
- syrians live an average of 2 years.
- when their ears are up and not folded, it usually means their alert. if they're not, keep a close eye. if they hunch while walking, they
may feel discomfort. check for the problem or to the vets you go.
- syrians are prone to cancer.
Wheel:
- has to be a solid wheel. as in no holes. the wheels with rungs arent safe because hamsters can break body parts when running in that
wheel.
- wheel has to be big enough for hamster. hamster cannot bend back while in the wheel. if they bend their backs = wheel too small.
get a bigger one. so getting a bigger wheel for your young hamster would be wise.
Food:
- list of safe and unsafe foods/fruits/plants for hamsters.
http://www.petwebsite.com/feeding.htm.
- sunflower seed is quite fattening.
- not too much greens (cucumbers have a high volume of water. too much=not good) or they'll get diarrhorea
Prerequisites:
- identify a vet that treats hamsters near your area for emergencies. in the US, hamsters are considered as exotic pets.
- make sure you have enough money for vet bills or hamster food and stuff.
- much love for hammy. and make sure you're not getting hamsters because they're cute and cuddly but you dont have the sense of
responsibility. thats important.
Illnesses:
- wet tail. biggest problem in hamsters. probably the worst kind.
wet tail is when your hamster has diarrhorea and the stool is all watery and smelly(?). the bacterias in their gut causes this. they will
keep pooping and their body loses fluids and energy. without energy, they cant get to the water bottle. without food and water, they
die a pain and slowly death.
wet tail's usually caused by stress and a high intake of fluids. So its important that baby hamsters be put in a quiet environment and
be left alone for a few days before you tame them.
- fleas/mites *http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;.
Cleanliness:
- they're clean animals. they clean themselves like cats.
- dont bathe them in water. you risk drowning them and them dying of pneumonia.
- u can use children's play sand and heat it up in the oven for a while to kill germs. then your hamster can use the sand.
- or use chincilla SAND. not dust. if u use dust, hammy will breathe it in and it's not good for their respitory system.
go here for more info: http://www.petwebsite.com/hamsters.asp. or forum: http://hamster.etla.org
Pft! Petco? Experts? Are you nuts!? They are totally clueless!
I know to much and if I have to type it all I will explode lol. I learned 99% of what I know on the website below:
Oh one last note.
NEVER EVER EVER KEEP SYRIANS (teddy bears) TOGETHER THEY WILL KILL EACH OTHER.
thank you.
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