18 Most Important Things to Know About Hamsters Before You Get One as a Pet

Did you decide to get a hamster? That sounds great, hamsters are lovely and cute creatures, easy to take care of. They do not require too much space and most of the people enjoy playing with them.

Although you might think that there is nothing special to know about having hamsters as pets since they are easy to handle, you should read the following text and learn more about these furry balls.

Things you Should Know Before Getting a Pet Hamster

Lack of knowledge or information about hamsters can jeopardize their health or spoil the fun that you will certainly have with your pet hamster. To more you know about them, to more fun and the pleasant moment you will have with your pet.

How to Get a Pet Hamster ?

If you have decided to get a hamster you have a few options. The first one is to buy a hamster in a pet store. Another is to contact some reputable breeders from your area and get one furry ball. You also have a chance to save one of the hamsters from the shelter, in other words, to adopt one. Many people will say that adoption is the most generous way to get the pet as you are helping the abandoned animal to find its new home. The choice is all yours.

Finding a Good Vet Can be Challenging

Hamsters are considered exotic animals and vets who can treat them properly are hard to find. If you live in a rural area where hamsters are not so common as pets, finding a good vet can be quite difficult. You should think about this before you get your first hamster.

Your pet will certainly need medical attention in one moment and it is highly recommended to know where to take your little friend to get the adequate treatment, otherwise, he/she will continue suffering until you find a vet who can check him/her.

Some people delay visit to the vet because of the cost, bear in mind that vets who can treat hamsters can be rather expensive.

Hamster’s Lifespan is Short

Hamster’s average lifespan is about two to two and a half years. This furry ball is a really short term pet.

No matter how much effort you put to provide the best possible care for your tiny friend you cannot change the fact they are short-lived animals. Simply they reach full maturity earlier than other animals.

For example, most of the hamster species are ready to breed at the age of 4 weeks and they are considered as fully grown at the age of 3 months. As there are different hamster species, some of them live longer and others live shorter.

For example, dwarf hamsters live up to 2 years. Not only species but also genetics, exercise, quality care, environment, diet are the factors that can influence your pet’s lifespan.

Consider the Age of the HamsterYou Want to Buy / Adopt

Taking into consideration the hamster’s short life expectancy, it is very important to know the exact age of the hamster you buy/adopt.

If you buy an older hamster, he/she will come to your home with certain habits and it is easier to domesticate a younger hamster than the older one.

Also if you take a young hamster you will definitely have more time to enjoy in its company then if you take the older animal.

Start With One Hamster

If you are a first-time hamster owner do start with one furry ball. Hamsters are solitary animals by their nature and rarely enjoy the company of other hamsters.

If you do prefer to have more then one, be careful not to place them in the same cage as in that case they can hurt or even kill each other.

Avoid Placing Two Hamsters in the Same Cage

If you want to have two hamsters or you already have one and would like to have another one, make sure you have two separate cages. It is not recommended to place two hamsters in one cage.

There are certain hamster species that tolerate being in a group at the same place (especially if they are brought up together), such as Dwarf hamsters but there are others such as Syrian hamsters that prefer to stay alone.

If You do Place Two Hamsters in the Same Cage Make Sure That They are Same Gender

Even if it is not recommended to place two hamsters in the same cage, you still want to do that. Ok but make sure you put to two males or two females together.

Do not mix genders as you can end up with a bunch of hamster babies which you might do not want. Be careful if you buy hamsters in pet shops, as in most cases you will be misinformed about their sex.

This is not because people who work in pet shops do not know anything about hamsters but the hamster’s gender is not so easy to identify. The best possible way is to consult a vet.

Learn Your Hamster’s Breed

Hamsters are rodents. Although there are 19 different species categorized in 7 genera, 5 of them are most common.

Golden or Syrian hamsters are also known as Teddy bear hamsters are the most common pet hamsters.

They like to stay alone, so never ever place him/her with another hamster in the same cage ( especially after 10 weeks old, as otherwise, they can injure or even kill each other).

Despite the fact they do not enjoy the company of other hamsters they like to socialize with humans and are pretty easy to handle.

Other well- known species is Dwarf or Syberian hamster. These hamsters can live together with another hamster but only if they were raised together.

If you try to introduce a new hamster to an adult Dwarf most likely he/she will reject the new company.

Besides these two species there are Dwarf Campbell Russian, Dwarf Winter White Russian, and Roborovski Dwarf hamsters.

The fifth most common species is Chinese hamster also known as Striped hamster. If you would like to know more about hamsters species and their characteristics read our article ‘Most popular hamster breeds’

Hamsters are Not Suitable Pets for Small Children

Although you might think that furry ball will be the perfect pet for your three-year-old kid, think again. Hamster’s look can trick you. They really look like some nice, soft toys but at the same time, they are very gentle, fragile.

Small kids are not capable to be gentle with them, simply because their fine motor skills are still not developed completely. Small kids can jeopardize hamsters, not on purpose of course, by squeezing them.

On the other hand, pet hamster can feel frightened by your kid’s rough behavior and can bite your little one.

I found that US Human society does not recommend small kids under the age of 8 years to handle the hamster without full supervision

Hamster’s Sleeping Habits -Nocturnal Animals

Hamsters are nocturnal animals. I am sure many people are encouraged to get hamster as a pet as these tiny and cute creatures require minimum care.

That is the truth but it is important to know that they sleep most of the day and that they are pretty active during the night. This can be a great issue especially if you plan to place a cage in your bedroom.

Bear in mind that your pet will start its ‘day’ around 7 pm. He /she will be awake for the whole night, most probably running on their hamster wheel. Imagine that you run the whole night and cross 35 miles ( you hamster will cross around 5 miles), I am sure you would sleep the whole day too!

The question is why are they wake during the night? Well, it has something to do with their instincts. They are active during the night as this is the time for meal hunting.

Finding food in the wild has never been easy so they need to run a lot. As pet hamster is living in the cage now and has its own food bowl, he/she does not have any need to hunt but instincts are still there.

Evening is the best time to play with your hamster

That is why every hamster owner will provide a good quality wheel so the hamster can cross the mileage he/she would in the wild chasing the dinner.

Avoid waking up your pet during the day, no matter how anxious you are to play with him. It is simply not a good idea. Hamsters become really cranky if you interrupt their sleep, they can even bite you. You rather wait evening time to have some fun with your furry friend.

Hamsters are Escape Artists

To understand better the hamsters and why do they disappear occasionally, you have to learn more about their instincts and behavior. They will not run away because you are not giving them the best care. Bad cage or poor diet will also not be the reason for them to vanish.

I explained earlier why they are awake during the night and why do they need to run a lot( in most of the cases on their wheel)

On the other hand hamsters are sometimes interested in exploring the outside world ( outside of the cage) so they can easily get lost.

Similar to ferrets ( which are called liquid animals due to their ability to squeeze through very small space) hamsters also can go through very tiny space, cracks, wholes…

They also like to hide. You need to be super careful when you let your hamster out of the cage.

Hamsters are Timid Animals

Timid, easily frightened animals that are prone to developing the stress-related disease. As you can see very sensitive creatures. This has something to do with their nature.

Hamsters are prey animals. Their eyesight is not the best and they developed more their other senses. When we resume everything we have said so far it is clear that hamsters are constantly on the alert.

They do not like to be in your hands too much.

When you bring home your furry friend, you should let him/her get used to a new space. Do not play with him/her, not cuddle him/her.

Just be a good guardian who will provide food and water but leave your pet alone( without interaction with you) for a couple of days.

After let’s say 7 days you can start interacting with your hamster but baby steps. Never make sudden moves, loud noise, do not punish your pet, do not yell at him/her, do not chase your furry ball.

When you approach your pet let him/her smell your hand first ( but do not do that if you have touched some food or cuddled the dog or any other animal ).

First weeks requires patience and a lot of love but I am sure at the end of that taming process you will be satisfied and finally will have the opportunity to enjoy and have fun with your new, tiny friend.

Hamster’s Teeth are Growing Constantly

Hamsters have hypsodontal teeth which means that their teeth grow continuously during the whole life.

These types of teeth are usually longer comparing to ‘normal’ teeth of a dog, for example. This is the reason why hamsters like to chew on things ( food, toys… )as that way they are naturally trimming their teeth and making them stay at some normal length.

Sometimes it can happen that teeth grow too much so the hamster cannot close its mouth properly. In that case, you must visit the vet.

Hamsters Eat Everything

Hamsters are omnivores which means they eat both meat and vegetables, fruits, plants, grain… But be careful, this does not mean that your pet can eat literally everything.

For example, cooked meat, small portions of cucumber, cabbage, carrots are just fine. Dried and fresh fruits also.

Grains, seeds, some packed food hamsters such as pellets or kibbles are also a great option but avoid lemon( or any other citrus ) or onion, these your pet does not need nor like.

Make sure your pet takes in 15-17% of protein through its diet. Also do not exaggerate with fresh food ( fruit and vegetables ). The share of fresh food should not exceed 20% of the whole diet.

Make some rules right from the beginning. Do not leave any food to your pet anywhere else but in his/her food bowl.

For example, if you leave some food piece on his/her bedding, he/she can ingest something which is not food and that could cause health problems.

Be careful when it comes to the amount of the food you are giving your pet. Hamsters can be obese if you overfeed them and obesity will affect significantly their health and make their life even shorter.

One more thing – hamsters do not like leftovers .

Ideal Air Temperature for Hamsters

Hamsters are not fond of hot and humid weather. But hamsters are not created for cold climate as well.

Remember that most of the hamster species originate from hot but dry areas such as deserts. They were burrowing into the sand to avoid heat.

The best temperature range for hamsters are 65-75F, this range is their safe zone. Every temperature outside of this range can cause a health problem.

Hamsters are Easy to Handle

Hamsters do not require too much attention.

You do not have to play with them several hours per day, spending some 20 min with them is just fine.

You need to clean their cage once a week and replace the whole bedding once a month.

Hamster is an animal that does not require grooming, no need to bath, comb, trim, wash the teeth…

Cost of Having Hamster as a Pet

The hamster itself is not expensive. Syrian hamsters are a bit more expensive and the price is about 5-10$, Dwarfs are a little less expensive. If you buy the hamster from reputable breeder cost could be higher 15-25$ per hamster.

Cage

Essential equipment for your pet hamster and you are buying it only once. You can choose plastic, metal, or glass tank. The price may vary and depends on where you buy, the size of the cage, etc.

The average cost is about 150-200$. The minimum size you need is 24×12 inches abs 12 inches tall but in case you have Syrian hamster, you will need to get even larger. You can order online in that case you have to add some $ for handling and shipping.

On the other hand, you can just walk in a pet shop and buy the cage you like, avoiding those extra costs but overall I think online shopping is more cost-effective.

If you want to know more details on cage for your pet check our article

Bedding

It is not an expensive item. You can choose between Aspen wood chips or shavings or paper bedding.

In each case, the bedding pack you buy in a pet store lasts usually for 3 months, so if the cost of that pack ( cca 7 lbs) is about 12-15$, then the monthly payment for bedding is about 4-5$.

You should change the bedding once a week. You can also use unscented toilet paper or paper towels.

Nesting Habitat/Hideouts

Your hamster needs a safe place where he/she can hide and build the nest.

Hideout is something that you buy only once and the best option, in my opinion, is a wooden hideout as your hammy can hide but also can chew on the wood.

I have seen plastic hideouts but they are not so good, as if your pet is chewing on plastic and swallows some plastic parts that can cause a health problem.

Also, these places keep moisture so it can happen that your furry ball comes out of it wet. A proper wooden hideout that will last for a couple of years costs about 10-15$.

Toys

A great variety of toys, you can buy in a pet shop, order online, or be creative and get some free toys for your hammy. For example, empty (ink-free) cardboard boxes and tubes, tubes left from toilet paper or paper towels would be just a perfect toy for your little furry friend.

Wheel

Simply irreplaceable in the life of one hamster. They really adore this little thing, as hamsters need to run a lot.

An exercise wheel is an item that you should buy only once for one hamster but if you misjudge your hamster’s adult size, it might happen that you buy a too small wheel.

So it is really important for you to know how much your hammy will grow and to buy the exercise wheel accordingly. The average price is 30-40$ per wheel.

Exercise ball

Same as a wheel, a great thing for your hammy. Moreover, a very useful one, as you can put your pet there while cleaning the cage. One ball should be just enough for the whole hamster’s life.

hese toys are made of hard plastic so unless someone else destroys it ( kid or some large pet) should last for quite some time. The average price of an exercise ball is about 8$, do not forget to add handling and shipping fees if you order online.

Food

As you can see in the chart, I put 0$- 5$. If you feed your hammy with the food from your fridge, the same food you have bought yourself that we can consider that hamster’s food costs you nothing.

In case you mix your food with some specialized packed food ( pellet+ seeds) for hamsters which is strongly recommended then you will have a couple of $ to pay.

For example, some average price of packed food ( about 2 Lbs) is around 10-15$. This quantity can last up to 3 months.

Vet Visit

When I searched for prices and costs of having a hamster as a pet, only this item showed up as potentially high-priced. Most of the things for hammy you buy only once, except for food, bedding, and vet visit.

We have seen that food and bedding are not so expensive things but vet visits could affect your finance.

The good thing is the hamsters do not have any obligatory shots but your furry friend might need medical help in some moment.

I recommend you to put some money aside every week, making a vet emergency fund. Once you really need to visit the vet, the money will not be an issue.

Transport Cage

A useful thing in case you have to move your hamster from your home for any reason ( vet visit, moving to another house, traveling…) Transport cage can be found for 15-40$.

Here is the table of the items you have to buy when having a hamster with the prices and how often do you have to buy it.

Item	Cost	Periodicity
Hamster itself	5-25$	One time
Cage	150-200$	One time
Bedding	5-7$	Every month
Nesting habitat/Hideout	10-15$	One time
Toys	0-20$	One time
Wheel	30-40$	One time
Excercise ball	8-12$	One time
Food	0-5$	Every month
Vet visit	20-350$	Anually
Transport cage	15-40$	One time

Do You Live in Hawaii?

If you do, find yourself another pet, as pet hamsters are illegal in Hawaii. Since the climate in Hawaii is similar to hamster’s natural environment local authorities were concerned about what would happen if a pet hamster escapes for its owner. He could make its own colony in the wild and most probably damage the crops and other animals. That is why it is illegal to have a hamster as a pet in Hawaii.

Final Thoughts

I hope you find the article useful and that you have learned something new about hamsters and got a picture of how to take care of them.

I am sure you will enjoy your furry ball but it is always good to know as much as possible in order to enjoy even more and without any stress.