I Got a Hamster… Now What??

Your roommate left town and left their hamster behind. Your younger sibling stopped caring for their hamster and you want to step in to help the little guy out. You saw a cutie at a pet store and bought him before you had the time to get set up.

OR, maybe you’re in the market for a hamster and are still looking (if so, I recommend checking out my Adoption page for links to hamster rescues and ethical hamster breeders!)

No matter what, you need to know what’s next! What do you need? Here are some tips to help you get started.

Find Out What Kind of Hamster You Have

Many people find themselves with hamsters but don’t know what kind they have! It’s important to know your hamster’s species and gender so that you can buy them appropriately sized items, understand their care needs and look out for medical conditions commonly seen in that type and gender of hamster.

What if I Have More Than One Hamster?

Syrian and Chinese Hamsters:

Once you have determined your hamster species, this will help you determine what to do next. If you have a Syrian or Chinese hamsters, these hamsters are strictly solitary and should not be attempted to live with one another. Fighting can be discrete and fast- you might not notice what’s going on (particularly because it will happen mostly while you are sleeping). Separate your Syrian or Chinese hamsters immediately to alleviate stress and harm to your hamsters.

Separate Different Sex Hamsters:

If, as you started evaluating your hamsters, you realize one is male and one is female, this is a great time to separate them! Hamsters are sexually mature at 4 weeks old and can reproduce at very quick rates! Separate your hamsters immediately and put your female hamster on pregnancy watch. if you had a male and female hamster living together (even only for a few hours… it doesn’t take long!) I suggest checking out this incredible post from Strong Brew Hamsters all about accidental pregnancies & litters.

I strongly advise moving your pregnant or possibly pregnant hamster to a quiet place in your house and not disturbing her. Stressed out hamsters will cull (eat) their young, which can be a very heartbreaking and disturbing thing to witness.

Please do not purposely breed your hamsters. Hamsters who come from pet stores often have genetic issues that may be compounded when they breed. You will likely end up with hamsters with heartbreaking and expensive to care for health conditions.

Paired Dwarves:

In the US it is advised that no hamsters live together, due to the risk of fighting, injury & death (see this Instagram post for more info!).

This is a touchy subject and not one to take lightly- if a pair of hamsters are not well bonded they can quickly injure or kill one another.

It is NOT recommended that beginner hamster owners keep paired hamsters as it could put innocent hamsters into harm’s way.

All that being said, I think it is worth acknowledging that we don’t know a lot about hamsters. Dwarf hamsters have not been kept pets for very long (less than 100 years), Roborovski dwarves even less long (first sold as pets in the late 1990s). We are constantly learning new things about how to properly keep hamsters happy & healthy in captivity. What was considered “good care” in the 1990s is now considered by many as abusive to hamsters!

I like to reference Hamster Associations as they work hard to provide thoughtful research & advice on hamster care. California Hamster Association recently released an article about how it has been observed that many dwarf hamsters can benefit from being kept in pairs.

The Ontario Hamster Club of Canada has This informational graphic explaining how to properly bond a pair of hamsters.

From personal experience- the first dwarf hamsters I took in came to me from a rescue as a pair (Laverne & Shirley). I tried to keep them together but ultimately decided to separate them due to the behavior I saw. After separation they both seemed happier and more relaxed.

Again, the focus should always be on the hamster’s best interest/happiness & health. Since you are reading this page I’ll assume this is your first time with hamsters! If so, I highly recommend separating them so you can ensure they will live safe & happy lives (and this way you will not incur any expensive vet bills if they injure each other)!

Prepare for a trip to the Vet

Find a vet in your area that takes hamsters. Search for Exotic Vet or Small Animal Vet and check their website or call to see if they take hamsters and are currently taking new patients. You might not need them now, but when you need them, you’ll need them urgently. Sometimes vets do not accept new patients, so it’s best to find one who is and start that relationship now.

If you live in California, the California Hamster Association has a list of exotic vets who see hamsters here. They also have a link at the bottom of the page where you can search for exotic vets in your area (if you find a vet who sees birds, they often also will see hamsters, but it’s good to inquire and make sure).

Dr. Sydney (SoCal based exotic vet) now offers online visits for those of you who cannot get to an exotic vet. You can schedule an apt by clicking here: https://doctorsydneydvm.com/

If you have rescued a hamster it might be a good idea to bring it to a vet to get a wellness exam since you don’t know what their previous care was like. A wellness exam may cost anywhere between $50 and $100. I paid $80 last time I brought my hamster in for a wellness visit. A wellness exam might save you money in the end. For example, if your rescued hamster was not given chew toys in their past life and has overgrown teeth, they may develop an infection that will be panful for them and expensive & stressful for you.

If you are tight on money, start saving now. Some hamsters need nail trims (usually dwarf hamsters) at $20-$30 per visit, and some more urgent medical trips may cost $100 to $300. If you can save $30/month you’ll have $360 by the end of the year! This should be enough to cover most emergency expenses for a hamster, although I would recommend having $500 in a hamster emergency fund if you are worried about budgeting and having enough money.

If you can’t afford to take care of your hamster’s medical bills then please contact a rescue or shelter near you to surrender the hamster so it can live a happy & healthy life with someone who can. Watching a hamster in pain will be heartbreaking for you and not the right decision for the hamster. You can always get a hamster further down the road when you are more financially able to provide the care they need.

Purchase a Hamster Carrier

If your hamster needs to go to the vet, you will need a way to get them there! You can use a small hamster carrier for this purpose. I personally own both of the carriers linked to below in size “small”. Including a video from Munchie’s Place for Homeless Pets to tell you about other travel carrier options.

Many local pet stores do have quite a few small, travel cage or carrier options that work quite well for hamsters. If you are needing to take your hamster to the vet right away, it will be easy for you to acquire an appropriate carrier quickly!

*as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying Purchases

Find a Quiet, Safe, Temperature Controlled Spot For Your Hamster to Inhabit:

I don’t personally recommend getting a hamster if you have other pets like dogs or cats. As much as you love your dog and cat, they are not vegetarians and your hamster is a tasty, exciting treat to them. Please do not subject your hamster to this kind of harm. It is very common for hamsters to get injured or die because of dogs and cats in the home.

Hamsters also are stressed by the smell and presence of a predator like a dog or cat. If your hamster is stressed they will be less likely to be confident and willing to interact with you. They will also be more likely to have health problems.

If you have dogs or cats, please ensure they do not enter the room where your hamster is and that your hamster’s cage is secure enough that a clever cat cannot get in it. Create a safe space for your hamster, free of loud TVs or other noise. Hamsters have very high frequency hearing and are sensitive to sounds that electronics or plumbing give off that we might not even be aware of.

Hamsters should have exposure to natural light so they can set their natural body clock to it. They will sleep during the day and come out when the sun goes down. Your hamster should not be in a window or direct sunlight (too much heat is deadly for a hamster) but natural light in the room where they are is a good thing. You do not need to cover them with a sheet or towel during the day.

Hamsters are very sensitive to temperature- ensure that their area stays within 65 to 75 degrees F (typical room temperature). If you have a power outage and lose heat or AC, relocate your hamster so they can stay safe. You may want to start building an Emergency Hamster Travel Kit for weather emergencies, wildfires (hello, West Coast, US!) or power outages.

If a hamster is too cold, they can go into what’s called “torpor”. Hamsters in torpor appear as if they might not be alive, but if you look very closely, you will see them breathing slowly and their bodies will still have some warmth. This is dangerous for your hamster and you should take action to quickly.

If they get too hot they can quickly die of heat stroke. I’m including a few videos below from some of my fav YouTubers for more on this subject.

I have purchased bluetooth temperature monitors for my hamster’s bins. While these only work if I’m within bluetooth range (I can’t be out of the house) it does alert me if their bin has become overheated or in a drafty spot. The same brand now has a wifi version that would work when you leave the house and could alert you if your heat or AC are not properly working.

Get Some Hamster Food!

Hamsters need approx 18-20% protein in their diet. In the US most hamster owners agree that the easiest way to get a high quality and well balanced diet is to mix one full bag of Mazuri Rat and Mouse Lab blocks with one full bag of Higgins Sunburst seed mix (links below).

I suggest freezing all food for 48 hours to ensure there are no bugs in it (I have experienced this… don’t let it happen to you!)

I also frequently feed my hamsters small pieces of carrot, lettuce, spinach, and un-seasoned scrambled egg (not hot!) as a treat. It is best to provide your hamster with a variety of foods so they are happy and healthy!

Seed treats (like pumpkin seeds, flax seeds and sunflower seeds) are helpful for the taming process and for enrichment like boredom breakers or play time. Millet is also a very popular hamster treat. Freeze Dried mealworms are a great, protein treat for your hamsters.

I would recommend staying away from sugary treats like yogurt drops. Fresh fruit like apple, pear or strawberry is okay a few times a week or so, but limit fruit to help keep your hamster from developing diabetes later in life.

Further Reading: Please see Hamster Clubhouse for more detail about nutrition and a list of safe vegetables or my Food and Water page for more about how to feed your hamster!.

Purchase Food & Water Dishes

I like to provide both water dishes and bottles for my hamsters in case one malfunctions or spills. The water dish should be placed on a clean, flat surface that’s easy to access (Like on top of a multi-chamber hide).

I use distilled water for my hamsters to ensure that their water is clean and healthy.

Food bowls are not necessary for dry food (I often scatter feed or place seeds around their enclosure to be found for enrichment). I do use food bowls for wet items like egg or vegetables.

For my tiny robos & dwarves I like using little chopsticks rests for the fresh snacks. They are easy for these smaller hams to access, even in their elderly years.

For more information about Food and Water please see my dedicated page here.

Get Rid of Any Unsafe Products Your Hamster May Have Come With

Unfortunately, many hamster products are actually quite unsafe for them!

If your hamster came with:

• a hamster ball: Hamsters can get their tiny toes stuck in the air slats and then they can be ripped off! Eek! see this page from HamsterWelfare.com for more info on why hamster balls are unsafe.

• Fluffy, cotton bedding: Hamsters can ingest this and it can cause a blockage in their gut, causing a painful and slow death. For more on this, please see HamsterWelfare’s informative post on it.

• Cedar or Pine Bedding: These types of woods let off a toxic aroma to small animals like hamsters, causing respiratory infections. This is why people like to put their sweaters in cedar chests! In the same way the cedar kills or deters moths, it also, sadly, kills hamsters (or at least makes them quite ill). To learn more about unsafe beddings, please see this page from the Hamster Welfare’s website.

• Small Hamster Tubes: hamster tubes (like the Kaytee classic, colorful hamster tubes, 1.75” in diameter) are okay for Roborovski hamsters (the smallest type of dwarf hamster), but some larger dwarf hamster and Syrian hamsters have been known to get stuck in these and sadly, perish. Kaytee now sells “giant” hamster tubes (link to Amazon) that are large enough for any species of hamster (4.75” diameter).

• Mesh or barred Wheel: Mesh or barred wheels can cause your hamster to slip, get their foot stuck (at a fast speed!) and then sadly, break their foot. Unfortunately, hamsters cannot always survive the surgery needed to mend a broken foot or leg, so this is actually a life or death issue for them! Please remove asap!

• A wheel that is too small: A wheel that is too small causes damage to your hamster’s spine as they have to curve upwards to run on it. It is better that they do not injure themselves on a wheel two sizes too small. For more on this, again referring to HamsterWelfare’s fab website.

Okay, What Next?

Now you’ll need to create your hamster’s main habitat! I’ve created a “hamster kit” exactly for this moment- to make it easy to find the things you need.

Further Reading

I love this post from DogsHamsters, she sums up perfectly a few key things to keep in mind when you first get a hamster.

I also recommend checking out my Resources Page for links to my fav YouTubers, Instagrammers & Hamster Forums /Groups!