Normal people - Food bowl,water bottle,toilet
People who research - Bedding,Hideaways,Chews,Wheel,Food Bowl,Water bottle,Toy
Hamsters need lots of cage accessories,so don't miss out in any,but what purpose does all this have? I will go through all of them
Bedding <<Click to learn more about bedding
When in pet stores,you either see hamsters on pellet things or thick paper crumbles,but do you know what is it actually for? Decoration? Maybe? The main purpose is to soak up their "business" However,paper-based bedding can be used for decoration as some have colours in them,which is not harmful. Do take note not to get scented bedding as hamster's nose is super sensitive and is what they use a lot,the scent might be too much for them.
Hideaways
Not all hamsters want to play with their owners the time they get back home. Hamsters starts out skittish,when it is getting use to the cage,do provide a hideaway. Hamsters are like us,when we are scared,we hide. Give time for the hamster to get use,I don't advice you to remove the hideaway. The hideaway is also used as a house.
Chews
Monday, 2 June 2014
Sunday, 1 June 2014
About hamster bedding + Comparison
There are different types of bedding,so which one is best? Well,there is no "Best" bedding,it's all in your opinion,I will be going through some of the bedding that are safe for hamsters. First of all,stay away from pine or cedar wood shavings,as well as fluffy bedding like cotton. The only wood shaving you should be using is Aspen. Also stay away from scented bedding as hamster's nose is super sensitive and is what they use a lot,the scent might be too much for them. The main purpose of hamster bedding is to soak up hamster's pee,so get
one that is absorbent,or if you want to make your hamster
comfortable,one that encourage burrowing and is soft. Cotton and fluffy bedding can clog up your hamster's intestines,as well as choke them or get stuck around them
Pellet Bedding
This is the first bedding I use when I first got my hamster. I don't recommend this bedding at all as it does not encourage burrowing,it is uncomfortable to
sleep on,and it doesn't control odor well. The brand I use is not
Breeder Celect,it is just an example. The pellet bedding I use absorbs
and turns into sand when water comes in contact. I only recommend this
if you are using it for the bottom layer for the cage and the top has
some paper-base bedding. It is cheap though,but I won't get this again.
Rating 4/10
Aspen bedding
I don't use this bedding but this is the only wood shavings that is safe for
hamsters. It can control odor and is not as expensive as paper-based bedding
Rating NIL
Paper-based bedding
Paper-based bedding are soft,comfortable,encourage burrowing,and can even be used for decoration if you get colored ones. The brands I recommend is Healthy pet,Carefresh and Kaytee Clean & Cozy (Must Try) Paper-based bedding can encourage burrowing,and can make hamsters comfortable. Watch out for dust,which is common in Carefresh (I never used Healthy pet,but Pet Lovers Centre does)
Carefresh Ultra
This bedding can control odor fairly well,absorbs well,and when I first
use it,my hamster stuff it all into his nest,probably because it is his first
time and he found it comfortable. During cage cleaning,I found out that this bedding is super dusty,so dusty that when I put the bedding on his tropical fiddle stick,there was dust all over.I ended up switching to Kaytee Clean & Cozy,but I keep the remaining Carefresh ultra to mix with the Kaytee Clean & cozy. I put it under the water bottle to absorb the water. If you want something absorbent and you don't mind the dust,this is what I reccomend. Do look out for allergies in
your hamster.
Rating: 7/10 (If only it wasn't dusty and the bedding is not that thick and rough)
Kaytee Clean & Cozy White (MUST TRY)
Alright this bedding is awesome,definitely a must try. Why is it so good?
First of all,it is so cozy. My hamster likes this more than the Carefresh, and I can definitely tell why. Also,the price,for the amount of bedding you get for the price,its way cheaper than Carefresh. Carefresh is 10L and this is 500 Cu In (8L),how is this cheaper than Carefresh? No no
no,you are actually comparing the expanded Carefresh to the compressed volume of Kaytee,which you can tell the difference by comparing the bag size. This expands like Crazy. I have the Toyogo 9809 which is 65 x 40 cm in floorspace,and all I used is 1/5 of the bag? You can tell how much I used in the picture. Do note that I didn't even use over 1/5. 1/3 of the empty side is actually the packaging that seals the bag,though not resealable. The dust level,compared to Carefresh is like 1/10? Maybe less. This is not completely dust-free,in fact,no bedding is. Except when you compare this to Carefresh,the difference is HUGE. This bedding is not absorbant actually,but if you lay a thick layer and mix it together,than actually it still works out. It may not absorb well,but with the amount of bedding they give you,all you need to do is just lay a lot at the spot to cover the water up. It also holds it's shape fairly well,able to take on the shape of my hamster's igloo as you can see up here ^^ . My hamster likes this bedding and would bring it anywhere that he wants to sleep (Mostly the toilet
Rating: 9/10 (Does no absorb well)
Kaytee Clean & Cozy Birthday cake
I used this bedding and it basically have everything the Kaytee Clean & Cozy White have,except it's less dusty (I am not saying that the White is dusty,this is just less dusty),or maybe the color covers the dust. Do note that if soak in water for too long,the color will drop,but the color won't drop immediately so don't worry.
Pellet Bedding
This is the first bedding I use when I first got my hamster. I don't recommend this bedding at all as it does not encourage burrowing,it is uncomfortable to
sleep on,and it doesn't control odor well. The brand I use is not
Breeder Celect,it is just an example. The pellet bedding I use absorbs
and turns into sand when water comes in contact. I only recommend this
if you are using it for the bottom layer for the cage and the top hassome paper-base bedding. It is cheap though,but I won't get this again.
Rating 4/10
Aspen bedding
I don't use this bedding but this is the only wood shavings that is safe for
hamsters. It can control odor and is not as expensive as paper-based bedding
Rating NIL
Paper-based bedding
Paper-based bedding are soft,comfortable,encourage burrowing,and can even be used for decoration if you get colored ones. The brands I recommend is Healthy pet,Carefresh and Kaytee Clean & Cozy (Must Try) Paper-based bedding can encourage burrowing,and can make hamsters comfortable. Watch out for dust,which is common in Carefresh (I never used Healthy pet,but Pet Lovers Centre does)
Carefresh Ultra
This bedding can control odor fairly well,absorbs well,and when I first
use it,my hamster stuff it all into his nest,probably because it is his first
time and he found it comfortable. During cage cleaning,I found out that this bedding is super dusty,so dusty that when I put the bedding on his tropical fiddle stick,there was dust all over.I ended up switching to Kaytee Clean & Cozy,but I keep the remaining Carefresh ultra to mix with the Kaytee Clean & cozy. I put it under the water bottle to absorb the water. If you want something absorbent and you don't mind the dust,this is what I reccomend. Do look out for allergies inyour hamster.
Rating: 7/10 (If only it wasn't dusty and the bedding is not that thick and rough)
Kaytee Clean & Cozy White (MUST TRY)
Alright this bedding is awesome,definitely a must try. Why is it so good?
First of all,it is so cozy. My hamster likes this more than the Carefresh, and I can definitely tell why. Also,the price,for the amount of bedding you get for the price,its way cheaper than Carefresh. Carefresh is 10L and this is 500 Cu In (8L),how is this cheaper than Carefresh? No no no,you are actually comparing the expanded Carefresh to the compressed volume of Kaytee,which you can tell the difference by comparing the bag size. This expands like Crazy. I have the Toyogo 9809 which is 65 x 40 cm in floorspace,and all I used is 1/5 of the bag? You can tell how much I used in the picture. Do note that I didn't even use over 1/5. 1/3 of the empty side is actually the packaging that seals the bag,though not resealable. The dust level,compared to Carefresh is like 1/10? Maybe less. This is not completely dust-free,in fact,no bedding is. Except when you compare this to Carefresh,the difference is HUGE. This bedding is not absorbant actually,but if you lay a thick layer and mix it together,than actually it still works out. It may not absorb well,but with the amount of bedding they give you,all you need to do is just lay a lot at the spot to cover the water up. It also holds it's shape fairly well,able to take on the shape of my hamster's igloo as you can see up here ^^ . My hamster likes this bedding and would bring it anywhere that he wants to sleep (Mostly the toilet Rating: 9/10 (Does no absorb well)
Kaytee Clean & Cozy Birthday cake
I used this bedding and it basically have everything the Kaytee Clean & Cozy White have,except it's less dusty (I am not saying that the White is dusty,this is just less dusty),or maybe the color covers the dust. Do note that if soak in water for too long,the color will drop,but the color won't drop immediately so don't worry.
Saturday, 31 May 2014
Getting your first pet hamster
Getting a hamster isn't as easy you think. I bet you think you should just walk into the pet shop,buy any hamster,cage and accessories that appeal to you,and then go home and play with your new hamster. Well? Wrong. First of all,do your research or else you will just waste money along the way buying new cages and accessories,so don't make the same mistake as I did.
Getting your hamster
First of all,like I said do your research. Don't just get any hamster that appeal to you,get one that is suited for you. For me I have a Syrian hamster. And moreover,please do not buy your hamsters. There are many hamsters in Singapore that need homes,adopt,don't buy. When you buy a hamster from a shop,the shop owner will use the money earned to get more hamsters. Why buy hamsters when you can adopt,those hamsters actually need a home! If you are adopting a Syrian,I reccomend you go to The Syrian Rescue Project.There you can find Syrians that need adoption. If you are getting other species,look around hamster groups and adopt. Do remember to setup your cage before bringing your hamster home. "Adopt a pet,Save a Live" Remember that not only can you adopt dogs,but hamsters too.
Getting your cage
Don't get something that appeals to you,get something that is actually good for your hamster. If you want,just DIY a cage and you can decorate or redesign however way you want. So what cage is good your hamster? I recommend a cage at least 2 sq ft. You might think Dwarfs are smaller than Syrians,so you give them a smaller cage. Well that's wrong,they are more active and needs just as much space,also you can put in more accessories for them. You can DIY a Toyogo cage with wire mesh or you can have it open top. Or you can get a 2 ft Guppy Tank from a Aquarium shop and leave it open top,make sure you hamster can't escape. For wire cage,the gap should not be more than 1 cm for dwarfs and 1.5 cm for Syrians
Getting hamster food
Same applies to food,you just pick out any cheap food or one that has great packaging. Make sure the food you are buying has a variety and nutrients.Also,take note on what hamster you are buying food for as some of them have different nutrients. Select a food that has 18-22 % protein,8-10% fiber,and 3-6 % fat.
Getting hamster accessories
Hamster's teeth never stop growing,so remember to provide them many different chews,or else they might end up chewing their cage. Also provide them toys to keep them from getting bored. Things you must put into your hamster cage includes Bedding,Hideaways,Chews,Wheel,Food Bowl,Water bottle,Potty/Toilet + Toilet sand (optional) Check out my explanation on what each of them is for.
After setting up your cage
Once your are done will all that,it's time to put your hamster in. I bet that you want to immediately start playing with your hamster,well don't do that first. I know you are eager to do it,but let it settle down in his cage for at least a day or two. Once that is done,you may start trying to tame your hamster. You can let him have some free time outside the cage by setting up a play pen or letting him roll on the hamster ball.
Getting your hamster
First of all,like I said do your research. Don't just get any hamster that appeal to you,get one that is suited for you. For me I have a Syrian hamster. And moreover,please do not buy your hamsters. There are many hamsters in Singapore that need homes,adopt,don't buy. When you buy a hamster from a shop,the shop owner will use the money earned to get more hamsters. Why buy hamsters when you can adopt,those hamsters actually need a home! If you are adopting a Syrian,I reccomend you go to The Syrian Rescue Project.There you can find Syrians that need adoption. If you are getting other species,look around hamster groups and adopt. Do remember to setup your cage before bringing your hamster home. "Adopt a pet,Save a Live" Remember that not only can you adopt dogs,but hamsters too.
Getting your cage
Don't get something that appeals to you,get something that is actually good for your hamster. If you want,just DIY a cage and you can decorate or redesign however way you want. So what cage is good your hamster? I recommend a cage at least 2 sq ft. You might think Dwarfs are smaller than Syrians,so you give them a smaller cage. Well that's wrong,they are more active and needs just as much space,also you can put in more accessories for them. You can DIY a Toyogo cage with wire mesh or you can have it open top. Or you can get a 2 ft Guppy Tank from a Aquarium shop and leave it open top,make sure you hamster can't escape. For wire cage,the gap should not be more than 1 cm for dwarfs and 1.5 cm for Syrians
Getting hamster food
Same applies to food,you just pick out any cheap food or one that has great packaging. Make sure the food you are buying has a variety and nutrients.Also,take note on what hamster you are buying food for as some of them have different nutrients. Select a food that has 18-22 % protein,8-10% fiber,and 3-6 % fat.
Getting hamster accessories
Hamster's teeth never stop growing,so remember to provide them many different chews,or else they might end up chewing their cage. Also provide them toys to keep them from getting bored. Things you must put into your hamster cage includes Bedding,Hideaways,Chews,Wheel,Food Bowl,Water bottle,Potty/Toilet + Toilet sand (optional) Check out my explanation on what each of them is for.
After setting up your cage
Once your are done will all that,it's time to put your hamster in. I bet that you want to immediately start playing with your hamster,well don't do that first. I know you are eager to do it,but let it settle down in his cage for at least a day or two. Once that is done,you may start trying to tame your hamster. You can let him have some free time outside the cage by setting up a play pen or letting him roll on the hamster ball.
Monday, 26 May 2014
Reccomended hamster chews
1) Whimzees Dog Chew TreatLots of hamsters are picky chewers and won't chew on the chews you give them,have you ever used Dog treats for them? I am not saying all dog treats are 100% safe,but this one is one you can definitely give to your hamsters. The dental dog chew treats by Whimzees is something my hamsters really enjoy. I have tried the Whimzees alligator and the toothbrush. The alligator is harder than the toothbrush,I can't break it using all my strength. I definitely recommend this to picky hamsters,and be sure to take it out of the cage if you feel the hamster is eating this over their food
On the right,you can see that my hamster carries the Whimzees toothbrush around,most of the time to the corner. When I first got the alligator,my hamster finished it within 2 weeks. These can be purchased at Polypet at Clementi if you live in the west or PetMart in S'goon Nth if you live in the East.
Rating 9/10 (Could be slightly cheaper)
2) Ecotrition Snak Shak Log
Another hamster chew I recommend is the Ecotrition
Snak Shak log. This chew isn't just a chew,its a 3 in 1. A chew,treat and a tunnel.It is made of pine wood
shavings,alfafa and honey. People will say pine wood
shavings are bad,but they are only so if you use them
as bedding,so no harm in this product. It may be a treat
but it isn't all that unhealthy in my opinion.It has alfalfa,
something that most hamsters hate. My hamster will
always leave the alfalfa pellets for last,but alfalfa has fiber,
which is important for hamsters.So I think that this Treat & chew isn't all that bad,and my hamster likes this. It is also thick and hard so it is good for trimming of teeth. I bought mine from Little Flower Pet Shop in S'goon Nth.
Rating 8/10 (If it happens to get dirty,you can never clean it off)
3) Gerber Baby food (Liquid)
How is this a chew? You're probably wondering. Well it's not......
However,hamster's might not
like the chews you buy for them,this is a solution. You can rub this on their chews to make them chew on it. Rub it very well so that it's not liquid,if it is not rubbed well enough,the hamster will just lick it off,so rub it really well that it's fully on the chew without liquid. Baby food is safe for the hamster,but pay attention the the ingredients. Don't get one that has citrus like orange or lemon. The Gerber brand baby food is safe other than the citrus one. You can also try the Gerber Graduates puffs. This baby food can also be used as a occasional treat,my hamster likes to lick it :)P
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