Written by Gabby Unangst
If you’re thinking about adopting a pet, and a hamster came to mind, then you should keep in mind a couple of things. It is always important to be prepared when considering to adopt a pet. Here are a few things you’ll need before you get your hamster.
Ready Their Home
First and foremost, you’ll need a cage. You can make a DIY cage or you can buy a cage form your local pet store. The cage size matters. You want to give your hamster somewhere to roam. So if your hamster happens to be bigger, get it a bigger cage. Remember, hamsters love to explore. I would personally recommend a cage with lots of tunnels and layers.
It’s All in the Details
Another thing you’ll definitely need is the substrate which lines the bottom of the cage. It’s like the pebbles you put in a fish tank. It gives the hamsters somewhere to go to the bathroom and to dig groves and little caves to keep the warmth. There are many alternatives. You can always Google “safe substrate alternatives’ to find a whole list of substitutes.
Food and Exercise!
Your little hamster will get hungry; you will definitely need to get food for it. Now remember, just like dogs, hamster need a very healthy and balanced diet. Be sure that your hamster food has 19% protein.
This may not seem important, but getting a hamster wheel is very vital. Hamsters need exercise to stay fit and active. You can’t take your hamster on a walk. To achieve proper fitness, installing a wheel inside of the hamster cage is needed. You need to purchase the correct size to make sure that you do not damage your hamster’s spine. Also, avoid mesh wheel as they cause broken legs and feet.
Final Touches
Before you bring your hamster home, I would certainly buy a travel cage. This should be filled with one slice of cucumber and lots and lots of bedding. Something else to consider is toys. Many hamsters have different things that they like and don’t like. Be sure to try lots of different toys. Investing in a water bottle for hamsters is necessary. You need to also buy a bottle brush to clean out his bottle weekly. This will prevent algae back-up and decay. Cleaning the spout is also important. For an alternative, you can use a water bowl that needs to be cleaned daily.
The last important thing is proper bedding. WARNING: AVOID FLUFFY BEDDING. Hamsters often make their bed comfortable with their mouth. This can lead to swallowing the bedding. Fluffy bedding can’t be digested and therefore causes a blockage. This means that the hamster will soon die from the loss of oxygen. Use paper-based bedding which can be easily digested. You can also use toilet paper as an alternative. Bonus! You can invest in a hamster wheel so It can run around and socialize with the family.
