Your Chinese Hamster and You
Introducing Chinese Hamsters
Like all animals, Chinese hamsters are living creatures that need to be treated with respect. As they are a big responsibility, a potential owner will need to consider the following:
Male Chinese hamsters are very sociable, and it is a good idea to keep them in single sex pairs.
Female Chinese hamsters will fight with one another, and are best kept alone, or with a male.
Feeding requirements
All animals need a balanced diet, and Chinese hamsters are no exception. A hamster's staple food should be a hamster muesli, which is available from all good pet stores. For a healthy lifestyle, a hamster needs:
A hamster muesli
Hamsters need fresh water to drink, and this must be supplied in a suitable bottle.
It is also a good idea to buy your hamster a mineral stone
Hamsters enjoy fresh food, such as brocoli, carrot, apple and pear. However, Chinese hamsters are only tiny, so only small amounts should be offered.
Sunflower seeds, millet and flax will usually go down well with hamsters. It is a good idea to leave the seeds in their cases, as the hamsters will enjoy ripping them to bits!
Chinese hamsters will also enjoy hamster chew sticks, which are available from all good pet stores.
Remember: It is fun to treat your hamster but always do so sparingly.
Housing needs
When choosing a home for your hamster, there are several requirements that need to be taken into account.
Chinese hamsters are very small, and will fit through the bars of a regular hamster cage. Therefore, your best bet is to buy a plastic aquarium.
Chinese hamsters are nocturnal, so need a big cage so that they can do lots of things such as climbing.
Remember: Buy as big a cage as you can afford.
Common illnesses
Hamsters are susceptible to wet tail, which is severe diarrhoea. This can be avoided by not feeding hamsters too much fresh food. However, it can sometimes be caused by stress, such as moving home. Wet tail is a serious condition, and if you suspect your hamster has it, you should consult a vet immediately.
Overgrown teeth can be a problem with hamsters as their teeth are constantly growing. This can easily be prevented by adding wooden toys to the hamster's cage.
Remember: Hamsters can also catch human colds, but a vet is very rarely needed in this case.
Handling
People love holding small animals. However, it is a good idea to let your hamster get used to you, before attempting to handle it. Hamsters may bite if they feel threatened, so it is best to let them come to you in their own time.
Remember: Every hamster is different, so let it get used to you first.
Toys
Chinese hamsters are very playful creatures, and like lots of things to do. They also need to gnaw things, so their teeth do not grow too long, so wooden toys are a good idea. Also, as they like to climb, it is a good idea to have hanging toys.
Remember: Hamsters are active at night, and need toys to prevent them from being bored.
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