a new owner of hamsters

@chesssy (203)
Philippines
March 12, 2007 8:57am CST
i just got 2 hamsters today. please help me by giving me tips on how to take care of them because i am new to this. please refer me websites where i can purchase equipment for them.
1 person likes this
4 responses
• Philippines
13 Mar 07
try to change the wood shavings (you can buy some per pack at any pet shops) twice or thrice in a week so the smell will not stay within the cage and your hamster will smell also. pellets and seeds (again - per pack at any pet shops) are ideal but you can give them fresh greens every now and then. vegies like carrots and raddishes are also very nice to include in their diet. change the water every now and then.
1 person likes this
@chesssy (203)
• Philippines
14 Mar 07
thank you for the help. :) what do you think would be a better cage? there are lots to choose from but i want a sturdy one.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
17 Mar 07
Dont' ever provoke them! they will never trust you if you did... I've had my share of bite marks in my fingers hehe ;-) I've noticed female hamsters to be more agressive and males to be more shy and doesn't bite as often. *ouch.
@chesssy (203)
• Philippines
18 Mar 07
are they really squirmy when they're caught? i often lose them..
1 person likes this
@chesssy (203)
• Philippines
19 Mar 07
should i be alarmed if they have rabies?
1 person likes this
• Philippines
18 Mar 07
I had one of those before, they're not squirmy but somehow they love to bite my fingers.
• Philippines
22 Mar 07
Those little hamster balls looks like a lot of fun to use, may come in handy while you're cleaning the cages.
@chesssy (203)
• Philippines
22 Mar 07
i knowww!!! they're so so adorable! haha.
@chengbeb (285)
• Philippines
21 Mar 07
Hi chesssy!!! Congratulations for having 2 new babies!!! =P When I bought my hamsters I was adviced to touch their heads every now and then it's like patting them but in a much pleasant way...it's like caressing them...if you get my drift! Wood shavings is often changed every 2 days and it is also advisable to have 1 inch of the wood shavings inside the cage. Hamster lovers say that it's better to have aquariums as cages so as for them to feel that they're underground because of the encased type of feeling for them but you could also prefer wire cages for them so the smell won't stick...make sure that you have their exercise wheel it helps them be active. If you have both male and female...once the female gives birth you have to separate the babies and the mom from the dads because male hamsters eat their offsprings...if you wanna know some more don't hesitate to give me a beep...
@chesssy (203)
• Philippines
22 Mar 07
heya! thanks for the info. i try to touch them everyday, especially while they are sleeping. and these past few days when i was sick and home alone, i would talk to them!! haha! i still don't have their wheel but they like climbing the cage, especially the female. i saw them mate!!! hahaha! so when will their babies be born? how will i handle the offsprings?
@chengbeb (285)
• Philippines
22 Mar 07
well, unfortunately when my hamster gave birth I was in the hosp so I wasn't able to keep track of how long she was pregnant, is the cage they're kept in have solid flooring or the flooring is also wires? basically for newborn you really don't need to do anything at all coz for a week and a half they will cling to their mother and the mom takes care of them...you don't even need to feed them except for the mom...but do be careful coz the mother is overly protect and bites anyone who comes near them...don't touch their babies either because if you touch them the mother will eat their baby cause they can no longer distinguish the smell of their offspring...
@chesssy (203)
• Philippines
22 Mar 07
how deep should the wood shavings be? they keep on burrowing and its beginning to to do a lot of mess. their cage is still wires and would the bottom part is too. wow.. you got me worried about the offsprings! should i give them milk?