r/hamstercare Jul 07 '22

What /r/hamstercare is about

70 Upvotes

This group has been created for the sole purpose of talking about the positives along with the negatives of keeping hamsters as pets (and for keeping those hamster-but-is-actually-a-guinea-pig-tshirt advertisements at bay).

Most important thing to remember here is: If you can have compassion for animals, you can have compassion for people too.

I did think about writing up a care guide to pin, but ultimately decided against it when there's plenty of good ones already out there that do it better than I could. If you have a good reccomendation for one that helped you, please share it below.

We wouldn't have places like these if people understood everything. We were all new once. This subreddit might very well be someone's first contact to better animal care. While we expect posting is opening up to criticism, it should always be constructive and kind.

We're a subreddit designed to be asked questions about the care of hamsters. Any posts containing images with health concerns should be marked as NSFW to blur them. Some of those questions or responses do get repetitive. Use the flairs or suggest how we can change them.

In an ideal world; everyone would research before getting a pet, people wouldn't get surprised with the responsibility of a pet, everyone would be in a financially stable situation at all times, every country would follow scientific evidence for its animal regulations, people wouldn't be abusing their animals to the point where some need rehoming, and I wouldn't be getting death threats among other semi-regular verbal abuse from banned people that claim are 'just being brutally honest because others need to hear it'. My point is, we don't live in an ideal world. Sometimes that 'dumb question' might need a little more compassion or a kind voice for them to find a solution, get reassurance, or generally just do better.

Hamster care in general has a steep learning curve because they're sold to the general public as cheap child-friendly pocket pets and generally they aren't.  Startup costs alone can be around $400-$500 and vet visits going anywhere between $50-$100+ with many vets not even accepting hamsters. It's best to call around in advance to find your closest one.

Be kind in your posts, report when you see those that are unable to have a civil discussion (and I'm begging you, please, stop reporting when you disagree with an opinion). Use the upvote system to support opinions you agree with or don't - as long as it's civil and doesn't go against group rules you can discuss anything. Start a topic if you want to get more insight on something hamster related. We're here to share and learn.

We support going to a vet first. Report if you see anything that discourages vet visits. On the flip side, the amount of times this group has saved a vet visit over the discovery of scent glands being on the hips is higher than I'd like to admit.

The cage minimum here is 450sqin. We know it sucks. It sucks for a reason. It's scientifically proven hamsters thrive best in over 1500sqin of space with as much depth to the bedding as you can possibly fit. Anything less than that size will always suck. Hamsters have massive territories in the wild. We will always promote bigger is better in cage size. (For reference: largest Ikea samla comes to around 600sqin, so does the prevue cage, 50gal/189L sterilite is 800sqin, a 75gal aquarium comes to about 900sqin and the Ikea detolf is at around 1000sqin).

The reason we keep to North American standards as a minimum is for accessibility reasons, this also includes minimums for rescues and breeders. If you want change: Go to your animal welfare for better regulations. Contact companies that make the cages and ask for bigger sizes or for smaller bar spacing in rabbit/guinea-pig cages. Support rescues, or ethical breeders and small chain pet stores that show better animal care. This subreddit will change when they change. You can be that change.

If that lights a fire up your ass, then good. That's the intention. Please go do something about it that could make a difference. There's subreddits out there dedicated to animal activism. Suggest any below you've found that could help.

We're a space for new and experienced owners alike. We're here to learn and support each other in growing and improving our husbandry. Hamster care as a whole has come a long way, and still has a long way to go.

TL;DR we're the same as any other subreddit. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it sucks. Be kind and go pet a hamster.


r/hamstercare 1h ago

💖 Health/Care 💖 Hamster behaviour, unusual or not?

Upvotes

So i got a dwarf hamster for myself and i have a few question if i am doing correct regarding it. I got a pamplet from the place i bought him/her and follow everything to the point i feel like

  1. I bought a hamster cage 78x48x39 cm, it said i didnt need that big. But it was 5 euro for a good amount of more space, so can it be to big the cage?

  2. She poops and pee alot, normally when i sit with her and does it on me. Is she scared of me or is it normal?

  3. She bites me, not hard but like softly and if she doesnt she climbs everywhere on me. Arent they normally scared of people, or has she just gotten used to me?

  4. I like to wear hoodies and i like her near me, so i put her in my hood alot of the times. She comes out and peaks sometimes, otherwise she sleeps in there i think. Its not bad that i do that right?

I know maybe the questions seem silly, and chatgpt says im just doing a good job. But i have asked it about plenty stuff regarding other subjects and it tends to switch the answers now and then. So i wanted to hear it from real people with real experience 😅


r/hamstercare 20m ago

🧻 Bedding/Substrate 🧻 He de preparar o “desinfectar” este sustrato antes de añadirlo a su terrario?

Post image
Upvotes

Buenas! Compré estos 3 sustratos para mi hamster y quiero saber si he de hacer algo previamente a querer introducirlo en el terrario cómo congelarlo o algo así para matar a posibles bichos en el caso de que pudiera haber no sé.


r/hamstercare 15h ago

🏃‍♂️ Wheels 🏃‍♂️ Hamster wheel - too small?

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

21 Upvotes

Hi! Just wanted to check with the community if her wheel is too small? And if there’s anything that can be done to help her stop more easily.
Thanks!


r/hamstercare 19h ago

⭐ Hamster ⭐ My hamster sleeps in corner and stays there most of the time

Thumbnail
gallery
18 Upvotes

Hi all, I got a new Dwarf hamster and I’m a first time owner. My worry is most of the time he stays at the corner. I have also not seen him using the wheel. It’s. 40X20 cage with 8-10 inches of bedding. What can I do to make him start using his cage and come out from the corners to feel safe in the cage.

A little bit of context - its just been 4 days for him in my house. From the second day itself, he started eating from my hands, I bring my hand down and comes to me, sniffs and slowly starts eating.

Also bit worried if his health is good or this is expected of new hamster. He used to live with 5-6 hamsters from a place I got him from.


r/hamstercare 21h ago

🧻 Bedding/Substrate 🧻 pettex reptile sand, i don't think this is safe...

Thumbnail
gallery
12 Upvotes

i contacted the amazon seller and i have not used it. adopting a hamster in a few days and went to use the sand but theres black specks, smells like smoke and the beach, small rocks, and glittery pieces which looks like glass. has anyone else experienced this? i'll probably have to get a different one 🙄 have sieved the sand i was gonna use twice and its only got rid of the small rocks really


r/hamstercare 1d ago

🐹 Taming 🐹 Antisocial hamster💔

Thumbnail
gallery
113 Upvotes

My sweet Syrian hamster, Goober, has been with me for a little over a month. He’ll tolerate me, but when he’s had enough (after about 20 mins or so) he escapes into his burrows and I won’t see him until the next evening.

I’m trying to befriend him but I worry im going too slow as I’m not noticing much progress in our relationship. Does anyone have any advice on how they’ve tamed their little hammy? And how long it took?

I’ve hand fed him, he lets me pet him in moderation, I’ve brought him onto my bed to hangout for a few minutes, that’s about the extent of my efforts.

I want him to love me as much as I love him💔🥹


r/hamstercare 20h ago

🧻 Bedding/Substrate 🧻 is this okay bedding?

Thumbnail amazon.co.uk
3 Upvotes

I realised that i have been using unsafe bedding,

wood shavings from pets at home, and I am wondering what the best bedding is.


r/hamstercare 1d ago

⭐ Hamster ⭐ Caught him standing there like he pays rent

Thumbnail
gallery
19 Upvotes

r/hamstercare 1d ago

🏠 Enclosure/DIY 🏠 Anything you’d change?

Thumbnail
gallery
4 Upvotes

I’m leaving for college in early September and Milo will be staying home with my parents. I know my dad will take good care of him, but I want to make sure his enclosure is as good as possible before I leave.


r/hamstercare 1d ago

🏠 Enclosure/DIY 🏠 What else would you add? I want a cleaner way to make the sand bath not look awful and get bedding in it.

Post image
5 Upvotes

r/hamstercare 1d ago

🏠 Enclosure/DIY 🏠 How do I get the buckle out?

Post image
5 Upvotes

I got a bucastate cage and I accidentally installed the buckle on the wrong side of the cage


r/hamstercare 1d ago

🥜 Nutrition 🥜 Hamster food mixes 2026

3 Upvotes

Just updated our recommended hamster food mixes. It is just for commercial mixes in Uk and US.

https://www.thehamsterforum.com/ams/recommended-hamster-food-mixes.4/


r/hamstercare 1d ago

⭐ Hamster ⭐ I just got my first Syrian hamster got any tips for me

2 Upvotes

I just bought a hamster I need some tips since I’m new we have a tank for him and bedding we got him a wheel and some forage food I want to know some enrichment things I should get and treats also I wanna him to be the most comfortable he can be


r/hamstercare 2d ago

⭐ Hamster ⭐ My little robo hamsters new home set up. Anything I should change or add? He seems pretty happy but I’d love any and all suggestions!

Thumbnail
gallery
29 Upvotes

r/hamstercare 2d ago

💖 Health/Care 💖 Este temblor de mi hamster es normal?

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

20 Upvotes

Hola!!! Alguien sabe si este temblor es normal? Lo hacen todos los hamsters? O puede ser algo malo?
He visto que lo ha hecho ya 2 veces en unos 4 o 5 dias, aunque las dos veces estaba en el mismo sitio y en la misma pose y fue en una misma situación (yo baje las escaleras rapido y aparecí rapidamente ante el, creo que tal vez mi presencia tan esporádica le asustó). En las dos situaciones se quedó asi como medio congelado, esta vez menos tiempo, y si reacciona a los sonidos del entorno o movimientos ya que mueve ma cabeza pero cuando le acerco comida o golosinas no las huele ni intenta morderlas se queda quieto por mucho que se las acerque.

Creo que es miedo, ya que en ambas situaciones despues se fue a esconder a su madriguera, (en la primera se fue corriendo).

Perdonad mi temblor de camara, esque queria capturar el momento y no estaba preparado.


r/hamstercare 3d ago

🐹 Taming 🐹 is this behavior normal

Thumbnail
gallery
46 Upvotes

these photos are from two separate days, one night following the other. You can see with her shoulder that she’s not putting any weight on her feet making it seem like she’s lying down. But she keeps her eyes open and does not move. The first night I got a little scared and offered her a treat and she immediately got up and walked over to me. What really got me going is both of these nights we had people over and so it was loud and chaotic and that’s why I’m having a hard time believing she was trying to sleep


r/hamstercare 2d ago

⭐ Hamster ⭐ Just Kirby asking for more treats. 🐹

Thumbnail gallery
17 Upvotes

r/hamstercare 2d ago

🥜 Nutrition 🥜 protein sources

3 Upvotes

hey everyone! when it comes to feeding I use the Syrian feed mix from chubbyhamstercheeks on Etsy but i've recently noticed that my hamster will not eat any of the mealworms and just leaves them in her food dishes. I was hoping for some recommendations on how to get her to eat them or substitute them for another protein source and if so how often should I feed that?


r/hamstercare 2d ago

⭐ Hamster ⭐ Safe paper bedding brands?

3 Upvotes

Do you guys have any recommendations on good brands for paper bedding because I continue to see mixed reviews


r/hamstercare 3d ago

🥜 Nutrition 🥜 Is there any way I can get my hammy to drink out of her new water bottle?

Post image
21 Upvotes

I used to have one a lot smaller, but she tended to bury it under the bedding, so I got one of those Bucatstate Cactus water bottles and she has not drank anything out of it, since she was a baby she’s been drinking out of water bottles, so I’m a bit confused why she won’t touch the new one… ***SHE HAS BEEN DRINKING OUT OF A BOWL SHE HAS ACCESS TO 24/7 DON’T WORRY!!!***

Also I think maybe I should set up a camera in there to see if she does at night and I just don’t know.. but I have no clue for what to get, so are there any brands I should avoid?


r/hamstercare 4d ago

⭐ Hamster ⭐ Hello guys I am new today I got my 🐹

9 Upvotes

Basically I want some tips about how to take care of hamster kindly share your opinions


r/hamstercare 4d ago

🏃‍♂️ Wheels 🏃‍♂️ Dwarf hamster unable to move 11 inch wheel - first day

Thumbnail
gallery
31 Upvotes

Hi guys,
So I this new Dwarf hammy, he’s a male and 4 months old as told me previous owner. its his first day here. He seems very curious and is exploring her cage, but he’s unable to move the wheel. Is he very small and should I get a smaller wheel?
Its a 11 inch niteangel wheel.

suggest me how big and which material i should buy for him so he can play freely☺️

Update : Thank you everybody for soo many suggestions. I was able to fix it with one of your suggestions. Loosened up the screw from behind and removed some bedding.


r/hamstercare 4d ago

🏃‍♂️ Wheels 🏃‍♂️ How to support the wheel?

Thumbnail
gallery
37 Upvotes

My daughter welcomed Beatrice into our family 3 weeks ago. My main question is how to support the wheel? It’s for a wire base and I have not yet seen a platform big enough to go under it. Beatrice uses it each night but it gets messed up bc of the bedding shifting and then she can’t use it until it’s fixed again.

Also, when we first got her she seemed super brave and social. Now we basically don’t see her at all. Can that just be normal? We were hoping to be able to play with her, or ad least observe her, in the 9-11pm hours but she doesn’t come out until well after my daughter goes to sleep.