Diet

Good quality food and fresh, clean water must be readily available at all times. Pet hamsters are best fed commercial rodent diets containing at least 13% crude protein. Animal Care Unlimited carries and recommends Oxbow Rodent Twin-Pack for the health of your hamster. This food is available as in heart and circle-shaped pellets. This commercial diet can be supplemented with small amounts of dry, sugar-free breakfast cereals, whole wheat bread, uncooked pasta, cooked chicken, tuna fish, cheese, fresh fruits and vegetables.

Pet stores usually sell prepared hamster diets available in boxes or bags. These diets contain large quantities of seeds and items rich in oils. These oil-rich items promote obesity. These types of foods can be offered as a supplement to the Oxbow Rodent pellets.

Housing

Proper housing is a major factor in maintaining healthy hamsters. Hamsters can be housed within enclosures made of wire, stainless steel, durable plastic or glass. Wood and similar materials should not be used to construct enclosures because they are difficult to clean and cannot withstand the destructive gnawing of rodents.

A hamster free to roam the house is a real liability because it will chew and gnaw on electrical and telephone cords, and household furnishings.

Hamsters seem to do best when housed in enclosures with solid floors, relatively deep bedding, and abundant nesting materials. The enclosure should be easy to clean, well-lighted, and adequately ventilated. Shredded paper, pine shavings, and processed corn cob are preferred bedding materials. Cotton or shredded tissue paper (Kleenex) is suitable nesting material.

Hamsters are primarily nocturnal (night active). During their active period, hamsters usually eat and exercise. Hamsters seem to enjoy exercise wheels and other activities. The plastic enclosures equipped with horizontal and vertical tubes or tunnels are recommended for this reason.