How take care of a hamster?
Rodents are friendly, cute, hygienic, and easy to care for. So, if you’re thinking of bringing this pet into your home, find out how to properly take care of a hamster.
For those who prefer non-traditional pets, a hamster can be a good option. This rodent can bring more joy and fun to your home. However, to ensure its well-being, it is essential to know how to take care of a hamster.
How to take care of a hamster?
Taking care of a hamster is relatively easy, especially when compared to dogs, which need daily walks and more frequent vet visits. However, it is still crucial to know the correct way to treat these pets, provide the ideal environment for them, and understand their dietary needs.
Many people want to let hamsters roam freely around the house, but this is not the best option for rodents. This is because they might want to hide behind appliances and chew on wires, which can lead to electrocution.
Therefore, if you want to bring a hamster home, you need to provide a safe and cozy space for it. Additionally, keep the rodent away from windows, as hamsters do not handle sunlight and drafts well.
How to prepare the cage?
If you want to bring a hamster into your home, you need to invest in a living space for it. Currently, the best option for a hamster’s home is a cage, which should be large enough to accommodate the pet comfortably. Ideally, it should be at least 20 cm wide.
Additionally, you need to prepare the inside of the cage for the pet. You can do this by lining the floor with wood shavings. Other essential items include a food bowl and a water bottle.
It is also crucial to provide hamster toys as these animals need to entertain themselves and expend energy. Items that usually please these pets are exercise wheels and tunnels.
How to clean the cage?
To ensure the pet’s health and well-being, it is essential to clean the hamster cage once a week. When doing this, transfer the pet to a safe place with some toys, like a plastic box.
Cleaning the cage is straightforward. Remove the toys and wood shavings, then wash the entire structure with water and mild detergent. Afterward, let the cage dry completely.
During cage cleaning, take the opportunity to sanitize the hamster’s toys. When preparing the area again for the rodent, use new wood shavings.
How to clean the food bowl and water bottle?
These items need to be cleaned more frequently than the cage. Ideally, you should do this daily or every other day. Also, when the rodent finishes eating, remove any leftover food from the bowl to prevent germ buildup.
The process of cleaning the food bowl and water bottle is similar to cleaning the cage. Wash them with water and mild detergent, then let them dry completely before putting them back in place.
What about the diet?
Hamster diet is usually straightforward. This pet is omnivorous, meaning it can eat plants, meat, and algae. Many people believe that a seed mix is the best food for this rodent, but that is not true.
A hamster that only eats seeds cannot obtain all the necessary nutrients. Additionally, some of these ingredients, such as sunflower seeds, are high in fat and can cause health problems when consumed excessively.
There are specific hamster pellets available that provide all the vitamins and minerals these animals need. You can also offer some vegetables, such as carrots, but be sure to cut the food into small pieces.
How to care for a baby hamster?
In Brazil, the sale of baby hamsters is not allowed. These animals can only be sold after reaching sexual maturity, which occurs when they are two months old.
However, if you have a pair of rodents at home and they have offspring, you need to know how to care for a baby hamster. The first step is to separate the father from the baby.
Male hamsters tend to attack their offspring, so do not leave them in the same space. During the first 15 days of life, the female nurses the babies, so you don’t have to worry about feeding the newborn during this phase.
After these 15 days, it is necessary to consult a veterinarian to learn how to care for a baby hamster. In most cases, you can offer adult hamster pellets to young rodents.
What about hamster health?
Hamsters are very resistant and rarely get sick when given proper care. This emphasizes the importance of knowing how to take care of a hamster correctly.
However, when they do get sick, the illness tends to develop very rapidly. Therefore, it is crucial to pay attention to the signs hamsters typically show when they are unwell:
diarrhea;
hair loss;
dull coat;
sneezing;
lack of appetite.
