Hamster.LifeTips.com
Category: Breeding Subcategory: Fertility Tip: female ready to check if a female hamster is ready for mating run two fingers along her back. she will freeze and her little tail will stick up when she is "on heat" hamsters come on heat every fourth day. male hamsters are always ready! Category: Cleaning Subcategory: Cages Tip: cage cleaning The hamster cage should be cleaned once a week. While cleaning the cage, the hamster may be allowed to explore the floor in his RollerBowl. Cleaning the cage can cause stress to the hamster, especially if he returns to it and does not recognize his own scent! So try to return much of his original nest as you can, after giving it a shake to dispose of any unwanted waste matter. Also return his secret store of food that he may have hidden in a corner, after removing any soft fruit or rottable food. Use a mild disinfectant and be certain that the cage is completely dry before returning the hamster to his home. Tip: Sawdust/wood shavings If you use sawdust for your cage, make sure it is not too fine or dusty, and that it is clean. I prefer Wood shavings to sawdust, as occasionally hamsters in sawdust can get a fit of sneezing. DO NOT USE CEDAR WOOD SHAVINGS. most hamsters are allergic to cedar wood. Category: Feeding Subcategory: Food Tip: Treats Lettuce (Green), cabbage, fruit etc. may be given as "treats" to your hamster, but not too much nor too often. Vegetables and fruit should NOT be given to a hamster suffering from diarroea.stick to the dry food! on no account give chocolate to your hamster, IT IS POISONOUS TO HAMSTERS!
Category: Handling Subcategory: Catching your hamster Tip: bucket trap an easy and effective hamster 'trap' is to place a bucket or waste-paper basket in the middle of the room and build some steps (You can use a pile of books) so that your hamster can climb up. Place some bedding and food in the bucket and leave the door closed overnight. During the night the hamster should come out from wherever it is hiding and climb up to the bucket, falling in to get at the food he will be unable to get out again. In the morning you should find one sleeping hamster in the bottom of the bucket! Subcategory: Handling hamsters Tip: dont hold him high! Young hamsters particularly have a habit of suddenly jumping from your hand, when holding a hamster be prepared for this and hold him above a sofa/settee or sit down while holding him. should he jump suddenly he will have a soft landing instead of injuring himself. Tip: Wash your hands! Before handling your hamster it is a good idea to wash your hands, Hamsters have poor eyesight but a very keen sense of smell, If your hamster can smell traces of food on your hands he might well take a bite! This little tip is easier to learn after the end of your finger has been bitten off! Category: Health Subcategory: Illnesses Tip: Avoid Drafts! Make sure your hamster is not living in a drafty area, This can be a cause of ill-health. The cage should be situated in a draft-free part of the room. Tip: eating droppings Do not be alarmed if you see your hamster eating its droppings. Hamsters do not digest
all nutrients from their food when first eaten, It is quite normal for a hamster to eat it's droppings. Tip: Fresh water each day. Rinse out the hamsters water bottle and refill it with fresh water every day. I use bottled water (Or sometimes boiled water) as my main supply here, near London, is not of the best quality. Do not allow sunlight to fall on the bottle each day as this will cause green algae to grow. Do not use a bowl for water as the hamster will tip it up and make his cage wet. Tip: Hamster Moles You may notice a mark, similar to a mole, on your hamster's side, and think it has something wrong. This is quite normal and is caused by a scent gland. often seen on both hips. Subcategory: Stress Tip: Avoid Stress! Stress is a major cause of illness in a hamster and can be caused in many different ways. Noise during the day may prevent the little fellow from getting his sleep, Removing his little secret store of food, disturbing it while it is in its nest, changing its cage, etc. Avoid stress and your hamster will be happier and healthier. Category: Play Subcategory: Wheels Tip: Hamster wheel Dont use stepped wheels! Excercise wheels should be the largest possible and SOLID. Hamsters can get their feet trapped in stepped wheels and end up with a broken leg. Long Haired Syriam hamsters can also get their fur trapped and pulled by the centre spiggot if the wheel is a small one. Tip: using stepped wheel If the wheel supplied with the cage is a "stepped" type, (Having bars instead of solid floor) It is possible to make it safer for the hamster by cutting a strip of cardboard and threading it in and out of the "steps" so that the wheel has a solid floor. this will prevent the hamster's feet from getting trapped.