Hamsters are one of the top picks for pet’s among kids, and for an excellent reason. Hamsters are small, charming and best of all they can be easily taken care of by any well informed child. Properly caring for your pet hamster will help a hamster live a longer healthier life. With the correct amount of care a hamster can live for up to 5 years.
Buying a hamster can be a fun time for both you and your child. Before buying a hamster there are a couple of questions that should be answered:
- Do we have the sufficient resources to care for a hamster?
- Can proper housing be provided for the hamster?
Sufficient means to care for a hamster – A hamster is not a pet that one can leave in the cage and forget. Hamsters thrive when given plenty of attention. Holding a hamster will develop a bond between the pet owner and the hamster; this also helps in the taming process. Simply put, potential hamster owners should make sure they have enough time to properly care for their new pet.
Can proper housing be provided for the hamster – Hamster are commonly housed in aquarium style cages. If using this style of housing, one should refrain from locating the cage next to any direct sunlight as this will cause a greenhouse effect.
- Bedding – Bedding is particularly crucial part of housing your pet hamster. Hamsters are burrowers and love constructing tunnels throughout the cage. 2 inches of bedding should be used, preferably pine as it is cheap and nontoxic. Tubing, such as, toilet paper rolls and paper towel rolls are also great because they provide already made tunnels.
- Shelter – Hamsters are nocturnal and should be given a couple of places to “hide” during the day. If money is tight, an upside down box with bedding inside will do the trick. More commonly used are hamster houses, small shelters in which the hamsters can crawl around in, these can be found at your local pet store.
- Exercise – In every hamster cage there should be access to something that provides exercise, such as a hamster wheel. Hamster wheels are the most common form of exercise for your pet hamster. When picking a hamster wheel make sure it is stable and also quite. Hamsters usually excerpt their extra energy during late night runs, and the last issue one wants is a squeaky wheel.
- Food and Water – This is the basic of all needs. In every housing enclosure, there should be some form of water and food. Manufactures make excellent water dispensers for your hamster; simply make sure it has fresh water at all times. A hamster should have sufficient food at all times. Remember, hamsters are foragers and probably have an accumulation of food hidden somewhere.
Being fully informed when taking care of a hamster can go a long way in extending its life. Like stated earlier a well taken care of hamster can live for up to 5 years. Feeding, holding and exercising your pet hamster will go a long ways in properly caring for your new pet.