What Are the Essential Items Needed for Raising a Hamster? From Cage to Exercise Wheel, Every Detail Matters

Friends who are preparing to raise a hamster can refer to this directly.

I. Hamster Cage

Hamsters are usually kept in cages, which are their entire living space. In the cage, hamsters need to eat, drink, excrete, play, and rest. Therefore, the cage should not only be able to accommodate all the hamster’s accessories but also provide enough space for activity. Thus, it is recommended to choose a larger hamster cage, preferably over sixty centimeters.

Wire Cage

A wire cage is a relatively inexpensive option with good ventilation. However, its disadvantage is that hamsters may chew on the wires of the cage, causing continuous noise. In addition, hamsters are nocturnal animals, and the noise from the cage may affect your and your family’s sleep. Therefore, when using a wire cage, it is suggested to place the cage farther away from the bedroom. Moreover, hamsters like to climb, and if they accidentally fall, their feet may get stuck in the gaps of the wires, which can even lead to injury or fractures. Therefore, be mentally prepared when using a wire cage.

Acrylic Cage

The ventilation of an acrylic cage is not as good as that of a wire cage, but it is relatively safe for hamsters. The interior is smooth and not easily chewed by hamsters, and there is no problem of feces and urine getting stuck in the crevices, making it easier to clean and aesthetically pleasing. The disadvantage is the higher price. If you can afford it, it is recommended to choose this type of acrylic cage to meet your needs at once.

Wooden Box

It is currently not recommended to use wooden boxes. Because hamster urine easily seeps into the wood, making it very difficult to clean. In addition, wooden boxes are heavy and not easy to move, and they are also easily chewed by hamsters, with relatively higher prices. The only advantage is that the appearance is more aesthetically pleasing.

Mini Castle and Mini Garden Cage

Do not buy these mini castles and mini garden cages. The space is too small and not enough, and they are not sturdy enough. Hamsters are strong and can easily escape; these cages are completely for deceiving children.

II. Water Bottle

Hamsters need to drink water. You can choose to use a ball water bottle or a vacuum water bottle, with water sources such as purified water or cool boiled water, placed in the cage. They will drink water on their own, and you just need to clean the water bottle regularly and change the water.

III. Hamster Food

Hamsters are omnivores, mainly feeding on grains, supplemented with a moderate amount of vegetables, fruits, and meat. When purchasing hamster food, it is recommended to check the ingredient list to ensure that it contains these components, and the more types of ingredients, the better. In addition, pay attention to the crude protein content. For example, the crude protein requirement for Syrian hamsters is greater than or equal to 17%, while that for dwarf hamsters is greater than or equal to 15%. As long as these standards are met, you can choose this hamster food.

IV. Bedding and Litter Box

Hamster feces are dry, not smelly or dirty, and do not require much attention. Hamsters themselves do not have a body odor, but their urine is somewhat pungent. Fortunately, most hamsters are very clean, and as long as you prepare a litter box and bedding for them, they will urinate in a designated place. It is recommended to use Nakedite sand as bedding, similar to cat litter, which can effectively absorb and encapsulate urine, instantly forming a solid urine clump. This type of bedding will not dirty the surrounding sand and hamsters, keeping them clean and hygienic. The owner only needs to regularly clean the urine clumps and debris in the litter box and replenish new sand.

V. Chinchilla Sand and Sand Bath

Hamsters will bathe themselves with their saliva and are quite clean. Chinchilla sand and a sand bath are not necessary; even without these facilities, hamsters will not become dirty and messy. However, hamsters usually like to play with sand. If you prepare chinchilla sand and a sand bath for them, they will dig and roll in it, which is a good stress-relieving activity for hamsters. Moreover, sand entering their fur can stimulate their grooming, making them cleaner and adding fun.

VI. Bedding

The main function of bedding is to absorb water, eliminate odors, help hamsters build nests, and can also be used for decoration. The most common bedding is poplar shavings, which is a necessary material for raising hamsters. When the temperature is below 20 degrees Celsius, you can add some paper cotton and de-fatted cotton balls to help them keep warm; and when the temperature is above 30 degrees Celsius, you can use corn cob bedding, poplar wood pellets, or apple wood pellets to cool them down. If you want to be aesthetically pleasing, you can choose colored paper rolls, colored paper cotton, colored paper pellets, timothy hay, dried moss, and dried flowers and herbs for decoration.

VII. Exercise Wheel

Hamsters are energetic and fond of running. They can run ten kilometers in one night, so it is necessary to prepare an exercise wheel for them; otherwise, hamsters may lack exercise, leading to the “cage paralysis” phenomenon. When purchasing an exercise wheel, it is best to choose one with silent bearings so that they will not be too noisy when running at night. The size of the exercise wheel also has requirements: dwarf hamsters need an exercise wheel with a diameter of at least seventeen centimeters, while Syrian hamsters need one with a diameter of at least twenty-two centimeters. The larger the hamster’s body size, the larger the exercise wheel should be, and do not buy too small an exercise wheel.

VIII. Hideout

Hamsters are burrowing animals, and in the wild, they usually live in burrows. Therefore, you should prepare a hideout for them to rest in. The choice of a hideout should focus on concealment, so that they will feel safer when sleeping inside.

IX. Food Dish

The container used to hold hamster food is generally made of ceramic material because it is moderately heavy and not easily overturned by hamsters. In addition, ceramic material is not afraid of being chewed, does not get dirty easily, and is convenient to clean.

With these preparations, you can start your journey of raising hamsters.