Hamsters can make very rewarding pets. While they are extremely popular, and are the first pet that many people think of when they consider a pet rodent, please make sure you understand their requirements before deciding on a pet hamster. They can be friendly and loveable pets, but if you are not prepared to meet their needs there may be better choices for you.

There are two types of hamsters commonly available in pet stores. The most common is the Syrian or Golden hamster. This is what most people think of as a hamster. A more recent addition to the pet trade is the Dwarf hamster, often sold as a Chinese, Russian or Siberian Dwarf hamster. The names may be misleading, and there are a couple of very similar species that could be sold under these names. Fortunately, all Dwarf hamsters are similar in their care.

Golden hamsters are not always golden in color. There are many different colors available. Some varieties may also have longer hair than the wild type. Regardless of the color or coat, they can all be taken care of in the same manner. Dwarf hamsters are rarely available in anything other than a wild-type color.

Occasionally other species of hamsters may be available, but they may have different husbandry needs. If you are keeping hamsters other than Golden or Dwarf hamsters, please do additional research to determine their needs.

Housing and Environment

Please see the general small animal care sheet for information about housing options for hamsters. A standard 10 gallon aquarium, or other cage providing about 1.5 square feet of floor space, will be sufficient to house a single hamster, or a couple of Dwarf hamsters.

Both Golden and Dwarf hamsters have similar requirements. The primary difference has to do with their compatibility. Dwarf hamsters are social animals. Same sex pairs or small groups will get along fine, as long as they are introduced when young. Golden hamsters are solitary by nature, and do not appreciate cage mates. Either species will reproduce when kept in mixed sex pairs or groups; unless you are prepared to find homes for lots of little hamsters please avoid keeping mixed sex pairs. Finally, the two species should not be kept together.

Hamsters are more nocturnal than any other pet rodents. Do not place their cage in a busy, noisy location. If they don’t sleep all day they are likely to be cranky when you want to interact with them.

Substrate

There are no special requirements for hamster’s bedding. Please see the general small animal care sheet for details as to your various options for bedding.

Diet

Your hamster’s primary diet should be Zeigler MonsterDiet™ for hamsters and gerbils. This is designed to be a complete diet. It should be available to your hamster at all times.

Your hamster can be offered treats occasionally, but not very often. Because Zeigler MonsterDiets™ are designed to be a complete diet, there is a risk with overfeeding your pet with treats. It does not take much to fill up a hamster, and if your pet is eating so many treats that it eats less of it’s hamster diet, than it could develop nutritional deficiencies. This is not to say you should not feed treats; you will want to do this when starting to make friends with your new hamster. The important thing is to offer them in moderation.

You can give your hamster fresh fruits and vegetables, unsalted nuts, seeds or seed mixes, and other similar foods. Fruits and veggies can lead to runny stool; avoid watery fruits like citrus, and monitor your pet’s stool. Many seeds are very fatty, especially sunflower seeds. These are good to use one at a time when taming your hamster, but do not offer them too often.

Nursing females may need higher fat content than provided by their standard diet. If you have bred your hamster, or accidentally acquired a pregnant female, you may want to offer some high fat seeds, such as sunflower seeds, while the female is lactating. Be sure to discontinue this when her babies are weaned.

Maintenance

The general small animal care sheet provides details regarding feeding, watering and cleaning your hamster’s cage. Hamsters do not require any additional care beyond what is described in the general care sheet.

Handling

Hamsters can become quite tame and friendly, but many people are discouraged when their new pet does not immediately take to handling. You must be patient and persistent in developing a bond with a new pet hamster. There are some aspects of their natural history that you should be aware of to help ensure success in keeping a tame pet hamster.

Hamsters are probably the most strongly nocturnal of all common pet rodents. They are often completely inactive during the day unless disturbed. If they are disturbed, especially from a sound sleep, their first inclination is often to bite. It is best to handle your pet hamster in the evenings, not during the day. They are ideal for people who work during the day, but will have time to interact with their pet at night. If you cannot see having any time available to interact with you pet hamster except for during the day then a hamster may not be the best choice for your pet rodent. If hamsters are disturbed during the day, either directly or by having their cage in a noisy location, they are less likely to be amenable to handling as well.

Hamsters do not naturally trust as many other pet rodents. Hamsters that are not used to being handled may be nippy. This can be overcome, but do not expect your pet to be friendly right away. The way to make friends with your pet hamster is to bribe it. Hamsters will get to know you quickly if you offer them treats. They will quickly start to take treats from your fingers. In a short period of time they will overcome their natural fear and warm up to you.

Once your hamster is used to you and is feeding from your hand, then you should be able to take it out of it’s cage and handle it. Pick up your hamster by scooping them up from below with a cupped hand. Be careful to gently restrain your pet with your other hand, as they may jump. Hold your hamster over a table or near a floor in case it does jump.

Once your hamster is used to being held, you will not have to continue bribing it. Hamsters that have become tame enjoy coming out of their cage, and seem to appreciate the chance to interact with their owners.