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.

Reccomended hamster chews

1) Whimzees Dog Chew Treat

Lots 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