Caring for Hamsters

Food and Water
The hamster should be fed a basic hamster mix each evening as it wakes and can also be fed additional supplements. If the hamster wakes very late it can be encouraged to wake earlier by feeding earlier in the evening and tapping on the side of the cage to wake the hamster. After a few days the hamster will learn when it is feeding time.
Fresh water should always be available from a position the hamster can reach comfortably. Pet Shops also sell vitamin drops which can be added to water and are beneficial to the hamster. The hamster should never be without access to water.
Grooming
Hamsters do not need grooming, with the exception of Long Haired male Syrian Hamsters that may need the occasional brush to remove shavings from their coat and this is best done using a soft toothbrush.
Hamsters do not require bathing as they clean themselves and to bath a hamster removes the natural oils from the coat and there is a risk the hamster will catch a chill. Hamsters do appreciate having a dish of sand to roll in though and this helps to remove the greasiness from the coat - in the wild they live in deserts so this is natural for them.
Cage Cleaning
The cage should be cleaned weekly by removing the hamster from the cage and throwing away all old wood shavings and food. Any fresh food that may have been stored by the hamster should be removed after a couple of days to avoid it rotting. The hamster will appreciate it if some of its old bedding is placed in the clean cage along with some fresh bedding.
Health Checks
When cleaning the cage it is recommended that the hamster be checked over for any signs of illness. This is an ideal time to check that the droppings in the cage look normal: soft droppings could indicate diarrhoea, lack of droppings could indicate constipation.

http://www.petwebsite.com/hamsters/routine_hamster_care.htm

food hamster

Hamsters are omnivorous, which means they eat both vegetables and meat. Their natural foods include grains, seeds, vegetables, and insects, and they will like corn, oats, or wheat mixed with dry dog food. Premixed hamster food from a pet store has complete nutrition, but some hamsters won't eat it.Their favourite foods are foods native to their dry habitat, like seeds. For protein and variety, they will eat some small insects.They like vegetables, but be moderate in how much you feed them. The key word for the hamster diet is *variety*. It keeps them healthy. But don't feed your hamster chocolates and other sweet things.Either feed the hamster at the same time each day or leave a constant food supply. Hamsters will not overeat but will often store food in their cheek pouches and put it in a hiding place to eat later. Remove food that is no longer fresh each day, and clean out the "hidden" food once a week. Put food in heavy ceramic or plastic food dishes (so they won't tip over) and clean them weekly. Hamsters need to have fresh water constantly available. The best sort of container is a drip bottle, which can be attached to the side of the cage. A bottle with a wide neck and metal top will be easy to clean every other day. The hamster will quickly learn how to sip from it.
http://www.hamsterland.com

A hamster by any other name...

All large hamsters sold in pet stores are Syrians with different names according to markings. Typically a Black Bear is a black Syrian, a Panda Bear is a Black and White Syrian, a Fancy Hamster is a short haired hamster, a Teddy Bear is a long haired hamster, etc. These are all Syrian hamsters with different names to signify their coat type or color. A Dwarf hamster can be one of several breeds sold in pet stores. See our list below for some basic info on the different types of hamsters.
Syrian Hamster (Mesocricetus auratus): Aka: The Golden hamster, the Black Bear hamster, The Teddy Bear hamster, and the Fancy hamster. It can have several different color and coat types. This is the most common pet hamster. It reaches lengths of 6-7 inches. Also has expandable cheek pouches which can carry up to half its weight in food and/or bedding. This hamster is solitary, and will fight or even kill another hamster in its territory. Its average life span is 2½ - 4 years. They tend to make the best pet hamsters for children because of their docile nature, and easiness to tame.
Chinese Hamster (Cricetus Griseus): The mouse-like hamster from Northern China and Mongolia. Their size is 10-12cm in length. They can be flighty, but have friendly temperments. Greyish- brown fur with a dark stripe down its back, they also have longer tails than other hamsters. Their life span is 2-3 years, and they live comfortably in social colonies.
Campbell's Russian Dwarf (Phodopus campbelli): Aka: Siberian and Russian hamster. This hamster is origionally from the deserts of Asia, Mongolia, and northeastern China. Dwarf hamster with a dorsal stripe. Approx 8-10cm in length. They typically live 1½ - 2 years, and do well in social groups. This dwarf is the most common dwarf sold in pet stores.
Winter White or Siberian Dwarf (Phodopus sungorus): Aka: Siberian and Russian hamster. Originally from Siberia and Kazakhstan. Their size is typically 8-10 cm in length. Very similar to the Campbell's Russian Hamster in size and appearance and the two are often confused. In colder weather they can moult their coat into a white color. They live 1½ - 2 years, or longer, and they do well in social groups.
Roborovski Hamster (Phodopus roborovskii): Originally from Mongolia and Northern China. Their size is 4-5 cm in length which makes them the smallest of the common pet hamsters. Their small size and jumpy nature can make them hard to handle, but they tend to be very sweet. Characterised by their distinctive white 'eyebrows.' Roborovskis can live 3 - 3½ years and has a longer life span than most hamsters. They also live well in same sex social groups.
http://www.hamsterific.com/

hamster

Hamsters in General
A hamster is a small rodent. There are many different types and colors of hamsters: white, brown, grey and cream. Also the hair is different, it can be short or long. Being so popular, I don't think I've to talk about their appearance. The Golden Hamster's scientific name is MESOCRICETUS AURATUS AURATUS, usually shortened to CRICETUS AURATUS. It is also referred to as the Syrian Golden Hamster.

When buying a hamster, there are many aspects to be considered:

• The hamster shouldn't be too young (at least three weeks old) or too old (not more than three months). If you buy a hamster with two weeks it will probably die, because that hamster can't feed itself suitably. With more than two months a female hamster might be pregnant. A so young "mother" is of course not a healthy hamster. Another aspect is that young hamsters are much easier to tame.



• Buy a hamster only in the afternoon, because they sleep during the day and you can't see how active they are



• Maybe the hamster is ill or hurt and the seller wants to sell you the hamster for the half of the price, but NEVER buy a hamster in those conditions.



• The eyes of the hamster should be clear and the hair shouldn't be wet. These marks mean that the hamster is ill.



• Buy only one hamster, because when they grow they begin to fight. If you want to breed hamsters you have to keep male and female in different cages. (Exception: dwarf hamsters, if they are from the same litter)

(http://www.hamsterland.com)