Sunday, January 1, 2012

So.. I'm getting a hamster. I'm getting these things?

I've spent weeks looking on the RSPCA and numerous other websites looking up how best to care for my hammy I'm going to get ONE Syrian Hammy.





Nothing I've seen has had guidelines for house sizes only saying the bigger the better so i've found this which is the biggest for my price range.








Cage:


Harrisons Strand Hamster Cage


L58 x H68 x W40cm.





The strand is a fold flat hamster cage, when put together it has four floors, play tubes, a house and wheel.





Bedding: (unsure about slightly but going by the RSPCA standards)


Dust free wood shavings (not sawdust) and shredded newspaper





Food bowl and water bottle:


Small ceramic Pet Feeding Bowl by Happy Pet


Deluxe Water Bottle by Classic Size - 150ml





Cleaning:


Johnson's Clean and Safe Disinfectant for Small Pet Trigger Spray 500ml





Cage extras:


Wheely Mineral Stone 2 Pack with Holder by Happy Pet


Wheel (comes with cage) will buy a larger one if it looks too small.


Multiple set of tubes come with the cage


3 or 4 different wooden chew blocks





Anything else i need?|||It's great that you did lots of research! You definitely sound like you know your stuff. So here is what I think:



Cage:

This is the cage? http://p.mdcd.net/product_images/full/d4鈥?/a>

Looks great! Lots of room, a wheel to exercise, and a place to sleep, and extremely good ventilation. The only things I would be worried about are the top floor of the cage and the wheel. It doesn't look like it has anything to prevent the hamster from falling, maybe add something on the side of that so your hamster won't fall. The wheel also doesn't look solid so you may want to get a solid wheel instead, as your hamster could get one of his or her little feet stuck in between the bars on the wheel, depending on how far apart the bars are spaced.



Bedding:

This sounds pretty good. You may not want to use shredded newspaper because of the ink that's in it. If you would like something absorbent, find a good paper based bedding in the pet store. Dust free wood shavings are a good choice. Just remember to avoid any pine or cedar wood shavings, as these are toxic to your hamster.



Food Bowl:

Sounds awesome. Ceramic are always a good choice since hamsters will not chew on them, and they can not be tipped over by a hamster.



Water Bottle:

Sounds good, but if you can buy a smaller one for a lower price I would recommend that instead. You don't need to have a larger bottle since you should change the water daily. Changing the water every day ensures that your hamster always has fresh, clean water. I have a mouse sized bottle for my hamster.



Cleaning:

Sounds good. Just remember to always read the instructions on the bottle.



Extras:

Sounds great. I'm sure your hamster will enjoy them!



You've picked lots of great things for your hamster that I'm sure he or she will enjoy!

Hope this helped! Good luck with your hamster :)|||Wow..you are really organised , well done with that , the only other thing you are going to need is a hammy ball to put him/her in :)



Good Luck|||Kudos to you for putting so much thought into your future Ham! ^_^





Looks like all you need is your Ham diet and some treats and you're more than good to go!|||The Hamster :L x


Thats about it :D Gd luckk|||one more thing:


a hammy ball,thats it.|||Great job researching! You're going to make a great hammy owner! :)





Cage: Looks awesome! Lots of space.


Bedding: Avoid cedar or pine based bedding. Aspen is your best wood chip, or consider Carefresh. Looks nice and is safe for your hamster.


Food bowl and water bottle: Great choices, though consider a second food dish for fresh veggies :)


Cleaning: Another safe and cheap alternative is 1 part white vinegar mixed with 2 parts water. Safe and gets rid of bacteria and smell.


Food: Look for a pellet not a seed mix. Seed mixes allow your hamster to choose only the parts he wants to eat, and he wont get all the nutrients this way. Choosing a plain pellet ensure your hamster gets the healthiest diet.


Definitely get another wheel. The one in the cage, from what i can see, has bars. You want a solid wheel so your hamster's feet can't get caught. The silent spinner, or comfort wheel are great alternatives.





Those are just my recommendations. Good luck! :D

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