Hamsters?????
 

Okay, The kids came home from school today with 2 hamsters. I know nothing about hamsters. Can anyone give me any information on caring for them. Also, how do you tell the sexes apart? Anyone know where I can find a good cheap cage for them too? Thanks!

Awwwwwwww when I was 6 or 7 I had a hamster named Lucky. He was the greatest. My very first pet. I loved him but we went on vacation and when I came back my parents told me that Lucky had run off to be with his girlfriend and get married.

Fast Forward 20 years..............

My best friend forgot to feed him while we were gone and he died :( My dad finally told me a few years ago. Very sad!

Ok I just wanted to share that with you, FEED YOUR HAMSTERS! haha

I would imagine you could get all you need for them at Petsmart or a place like that. Good Luck~

Oh how I remember those days!!! They will drive your Yorkie's crazy. You can get a cage at any petsmart. They will need some cedar chips and some food that youcan even get at the grocery store.

My daughter had one when she was little. I prayed for the thing to die. It would always break out of the cage and find my daughter. It used to pack its bags (store food in its cheeks) and go to her room at night (we kept it on our enclosed porch).

My daughter used to wear over alls and take it with her everywhere in her top pocket. They are not supposed to live long. Of course hers lived for 5 years. She would also walk it with a leash she made out of yarn.

Again, my heart goes out to you!

OMG Do you think my parents forgot to tell my best friend to feed him? I'm kidding. That is so cute, the leash made out of yarn :)

I've owned a few hamsters..it started with a male and female and before I knew it I had 4 babies lol so just be sure you have 2 boys or 2 girls. The live for about 2-3 years..very easy to care for..just food water and bedding. If you get one of the cages with the removealbe tray thats the best. I'd stay away from the glass tanks cause they're really annoying to clean...oh and like any animal they can bite if they get frightened which it is really easy to scare them so be careful when they children are handleing them...if you got any questions just pm me i'll be glad to help.:animal-pa

reworded it hope its easier to undeerstand

I sure hope they are the same sex but I can't tell. They look the same to me. I've been looking for a picture on the internet showing the differences but haven't found one yet. :eek:

I sent you a PM witha few links..lemme know if you need more I can look some more up for you.

Thanks for the links! I looked and it looks like we have a boy and a girl hamster.:eek:

Does the female look chubby?

Yep, I thought it was just fat. I guess I will be preparing for babies.....:eek: I really need to get somewhere and get a cage for them. I put them in a box inside a bird cage for the night. The nearest petsmart is 2hrs from me.

oh no..lol what an experience thats going to be...did she make a nest? Maybe when the babies are old enough your kids could give them to their friends.

If you have a boy and a girl Get two cages:) I have two Rats Well My daughter does any way they are both girls but they have sep cages. They are ok out and about but if in a cage they fight/ play. so we just let them out to play once a day or so. If you need info you can also PM me. :)

thats a good idea..you could put them in seperate cages.

She keeps hiding under the litter. (All I had was corncob bedding. I use for my birds.) Is that okay to use? I have to go shopping tomorrow and I guess I will be getting 2 cages. I fed the hamsters some of my birdseed that I feed my birds for the night. I will get hamster food tomorrow. (Unless you think I should go to walmart tonight.) What do you think?

You could feed them a piece people food for tonight heres a list I found for you..
http://www.petwebsite.com/fruit.htm

OKay the cc bedding is Ok but they do like pine shavings you can put a paper towel or tp in there and they shred that up for a bed. You may want to go to Wally world tonight if they are in the same cage right now :) or you will have babies in a few weeks....... good luck.

Does Walmart sell hamster cages?

I had a hamster until I got Trixie. They're fun little creatures.

You can get pretty cheap cages at PetCo. And they have special hamster food. I supplemented the food with snacks like uncooked rice (my hamster LOVED this), uncooked oatmeal, baby carrots, apple etc.

Walmart sells everything and they have the cedar shaving, water tubes and everything..put a tube sock in there too...my kids had hamsters and they would get in the socks to hide, oh yeah if you don't know this they will bury thereselves in the shaving to sleep

I haven't seen hamster cages at my walmart..I know Petco has a nice selection..like someone else mentioned they have decent prices also.

I have to wait until tomorrow to go to petsmart or petco. It's 2hrs from me and I'm pretty sure they are closed now anyway. I will go first thing in the morning to petsmart and get a couple of cages. Thanks!

No problemo..good luck:D

My lilly is 2 years old and a dwarf Russian White. She has the cutest clear ball that I stick her in and she runs around in it all over the house. My yorkie, poodle........and cat love to chase her! I let her out at times, (with supervision) and they are amused by her........lol

What fun for you!! (LOL) My sons had hamsters, too, when they were small. Or should I say "I" had hamsters....I cleaned the cages and fed them. Hamster pee alot...(even more than yorkies :D )..you will be cleaning out that cage once a week or they stink. Hamsters are also nocturnal. We would hear ours playing in his wheel all night long. They need exercise or they get lame in their legs. They are also escape artists. If you do have babies ( and you probably will ;) ) pet stores will take them if you can't find homes for them. Have fun!!! After saying all that, these pets are good for children and they can be fun...but they are work.

Thanks! I wish the kids wouldn't have brought these things home now.:( I really hope they aren't old enough to make babies yet. They will be seperated tomorrow as soon as I get 2 cages! My husband isn't going to like this either. (He's not much of an animal lover. He only likes yorkies. He doesn't even like my cocker spaniels. lol)

Kitty I just thought of something, its been many many years since my kids had them but we finally went with a small aquarium because I forgot how they use to get out of the plastic (chew):D but don't add water:D

What to do to care for your pregnant hamster and her babies?

Pregnancy, delivery and childcare is a solo act for the female hamster. The father has completed his part once they've achieved pregnancy. It isn't necessary to put the father and mother together again, and it COULD be dangerous.

Female hamsters are very territorial, and she'll attack any male in her space.

More Details on Caring for Hamster During Pregnancy

In the last newsletter, you've learned that when you determine your hamster is pregnant, to place her in a glass aquarium. Remember to clean the aquarium on the 13th or 14th day of her pregnancy and give her fresh bedding and nesting material, like toilet paper.

It's important to do this now because you won't be able to change the bedding for a couple of weeks after she gives birth.

Where you locate the expectant mother is critical. She must be in a quiet place with little activity and no direct sunlight.

Experts say to keep her away from televisions, stereos or ringing telephones anything that might startle her.

This is important because mother hamsters will cannibalize their babies if they feel their nest is threatened.


Why Hamsters Eat Their Young

Hamsters eat their young for a number of reasons. The most common reason is that she feels threatened. Self-preservation will make her attack her young. (It's a WEIRD instinct to prevent suffering and poor survival likelihood for her children).

Mothers may also cannibalize their babies if there are a large number and they can't take care of them all. Sometimes it happens because she senses her babies aren't healthy.

Some mother hamsters are also just too young to cope with a litter, and some can never cope. You can increase your chances of the babies surviving by keeping the mother in a quiet, non-threatening environment.

(this happened to ours^)

Checking for Distress

On the 16th day of pregnancy, check your hamster for signs of distress, like lying on her side panting. Otherwise, allow her privacy to deliver her babies.
# of Pups

Most hamsters have litters of five to eight pups, but occasionally they'll have up to 10.

Continue to feed her and provide water during her labor and while nursing. Give her high-protein snacks, like a little bit of bread soaked in soy milk or a piece of boiled or scrambled egg.

A piece of apple or banana is also a good treat for the nursing hamster.

Don't change the bedding or litter for 16 days, when the babies have their eyes open and are bigger. They'll also be nearly weaned at that point.

Although some mothers will still cannibalize young at that age, it isn't as likely. Resist temptation to poke her nest or try to look at the babies.

Even after they are older, be sure to touch every single baby rather than just one or two. She may abandon the ones that smell different, so give them all your scent.

The best care you can give the mother and her offspring until they are weaned is to leave them alone!
Feeding the Babies

It is very difficult to hand-feed baby hamsters. You must feed every hour or two for three weeks, and even then many pups still won't survive. Most people can't keep this schedule, but if you want to try to save abandoned babies, or if the mother hamster dies, enlist some help.

Check with your vet to find out what you should feed them.

You should separate the hamsters at 12 weeks of age. By that time some of them will be gender mature. It can be difficult to tell what sex the babies are, but as they get older, it becomes more obvious.

Males tend to have very large test.cles, but you can be fooled if they hold them close to their body. An easy way to determine gender is that there are two openings in the female that are very close together. In the male these openings are farther apart.

Compare them to their mother to get an idea.

Cost
When you first get your pet, you’ll need to spend $35 for a cage. Food runs about $50 a year, plus $20 annually for toys and treats, and $220 each year for litter and bedding material.

The ASPCA recommends that you get your hamster from a responsible breeder or, better yet, adopt one from a shelter or small-animal rescue group. Call your local shelter and search on sites such as Petfinder.com for hammies in need of loving homes.

Housing
When selecting a cage, keep in mind the golden rules of happy hamster housing. Syrian hamsters are solitary and MUST live alone. One Syrian hamster per cage—no exceptions! Dwarf hamsters are social, on the other hand, and like to live in pairs. Do not house male and female dwarf hamsters together, since rodents breed quickly—and often—with large litters.

Keep your Syrian hamster in a wire cage or a ten-gallon aquarium with a wire-mesh top. The fancier cages with tubes, tunnels and hideaways are good, too, but they generally cost more and are harder to clean. If you have space for a larger cage, it will be much appreciated. Dwarf hamsters can be kept in a cage made for mice.

The enclosure should be placed away from direct sunlight and drafts, and lined with an absorbent bedding such as timothy hay, aspen shavings, shredded paper or pelleted bedding. Do not use pine or cedar chips, as the fumes from these products can be harmful to your pets.

Hamsters are big on exercise, so please make sure yours has a wheel for running. Hamsters also like to hide and sleep inside enclosed spaces, so you’ll need a small box with an entrance hole or a small flower pot for this purpose. And they love crawling through tubes, which can be homemade (empty cardboard tubes from paper towels and toilet paper!) or purchased from a pet supply store. And finally, you may notice that your hammy is a major creature of comfort. Remember to regularly give him small pieces of paper towel or napkin to shred and make a nest with.

Diet
Your pet will do well on hamster mix, which contains seeds, grains, cracked corn and pellets, and is readily available at pet supply stores.

The ASPCA recommends that you supplement your pet’s diet with fresh foods every two or three days. Try fresh grains, sunflower seeds and nuts (not too many, please, as these are high in fat), alfalfa pellets, and fresh fruits and vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, carrots and apples. Be sure to clean up any leftover fresh food before it spoils. Never give your pet raw kidney beans, onions, raw potato, rhubarb, chocolate, candy or junk food.

Fresh, clean water should be available at all times. It is best to use an inverted bottle with a drinking tube, which should be changed daily.

Curious hammy habit #1: Yes, your hammy will stuff his face (literally!) and then empty out whatever’s in his pouch for some late-night snacking. That’s why it’s important to check the corners of the cage for any hidden stashes when cleaning.

General Care
Don’t forget your housekeeping duties! Remove droppings, uneaten food and soiled bedding every day. Every week, remove and replace all the bedding, and scrub the bottom of the cage with hot, soapy water.

A hamster’s teeth grow continuously, so your pet will need to chew—a lot—to keep his choppers in tip-top condition. Make sure he always has a piece of wood or twig that has not been treated with pesticides, other chemicals or paints. Pieces of dog biscuit will work well, too.

It’s important to get your little guy (or gal) used to you, and used to being handled. Start by feeding your hamster treats; once he’s comfortable accepting treats from your hand, you can gently and securely pick him up. Hold him for a short time at first, and then gradually increase your time with him.

Once you’ve hand-tamed your hamster, every day you should let him play outside of the cage, in a secure, enclosed area, while you supervise. Be sure to remove any electrical wires from the area, and anything else your curious pet could, but shouldn’t, gnaw on.

Veterinary Care
If you think your pet is sick, don’t delay—seek medical attention immediately. Common signs that something isn’t right with your hamster may include dull-looking eyes, matted fur, weight loss, shaking, runny nose and diarrhea. Also note that hamsters seem to be susceptible to respiratory problems, especially the common cold, which they can catch from their human pet parents.

I have also had hamsters. One of them I made a mistake of putting it on my cousin and she got scared, threw it and it's back legs like broke or something. It lived one week after that and died. The other one I had called Acrobat would climb out the cage EVERY night, and my mom would forget and think it was a mouse when it climbed on her bed and threw it. It would be fine though but it would do that every night so just remember to get a cage with no door or a door that it can't open because they are very smart at escaping and lifting up doors. Also you need that paper material for bedding, I don't know what it's called. They like to hide under that. And yes they do bite when they get scared so tell your kids never to wake them up with their fingers. And they like to reproduce :) alot, and sometimes eat their babies :(

hmmmmmm. On a parents honor, no matter their feelings were, I am sure, because you loved them so much, they would not have done that. (They may have been jumping for joy behind the closed door though).