Elmer's Aquarium Hamster Care

Hamsters As Pets: Hamsters are very popular pets. They are hardy, easy to care for, and very entertaining. Hamsters can be kept in relatively small quarters, and are good pets for children with limited budgets. They are clean, noiseless, and their cage requires little maintenance. Hamsters can be left for several days during vacations without requiring care. Hamsters are most active in the evening, and do well when kept as singles.

Housing: Aquariums: A 10 gallon aquarium with a screen cover is our recommended housing. It is easy to clean, oderless, and prevents escapes. Fit your aquarium with a locking screen cover, pine beddings, water bottle and bottle holder and exercise wheel. Elmer’s has a complete deluxe hamster kit just for this purpose.
Wire Cages: Several good wire cages are available. Our 3 story cage offers plenty of exercise and comes with a wheel.
Plastic Cages: These come as complete sets, and offer expansion through add-on tubes and accessories.

Bedding: Keep a layer of white pine bedding, or aspen. The bedding provides a comfortable sleeping area, and it absorbs odor. Do not use cedar shavings. As an option you can add special nesting material for your hamster to bed in. Temperature: Maintain a temperature of 65-75 degrees. Keep the cage well ventilated, avoid direct sunlight, drafts, dampness, and extreme heat.

Maintenance: Hamsters are sanitary animals. They will urinate in one corner of the cage and make bedding in another area. Change the bedding material once or twice a week. Clean the seed and water dishes regularly. For a very complete cleaning and disinfecting, the cage can be cleaned with one of our "Hamster Cage Disenfectant" sprays.

Age/Longevity: Longevity is 2-3 years. Be sure to buy a young hamster because they are easier to handle, and tame easily. Hamsters sold in our store are babies that are 5-10 weeks old unless otherwise marked.

Feeding: Use one of our quality seed mixes, such as "Sun Seed Company Hamster Food". Keep fresh seed mix available all the time. Supplements: Your hamster will appreciate food supplements such as fresh alfalfa cubes, carrot slims, oats, and sunflower seeds. We carry several good supplemental seed mixes that they will enjoy. To prevent diarrhea avoid lettuce, cabbage, or carrots. Foraging: Hamsters are foraging animals and they have a cheek pouch which they use to hoard food. They will often carry the food to another area of the cage. Water: Hamsters drink very little water, but always keep fresh water available, Change the water bottle every two days. When you fill the water bottle, fill it to the top in order to create a vacuum and prevent leaks.

Exercise: Hamsters need exercise. Their cage should be provided with an exercise wheel. Watching your hamster run on a wheel is a very entertaining sight. Clear plastic exercise balls give your hamster run of the house without getting hurt or lost. Hamsters sleep during the day and are active in the evening.

Handling/Taming: Give your hamster a few days to adjust to it's new home. Hamsters which are not used to handling will sometimes roll on their back, or rise on their hind legs when they are approached. This is the hamsters way to protect itself when frightened. They will stop doing it after they are used to handling. Gradually get your hamster used to you by gently touching it and giving it food by hand. After a several days you should be able to safely pick it up without any danger of biting. After a while your hamster should become very tame and can even be taught a few tricks. If you wake a sleeping hamster give it a few minutes to wake up before handling it. The best time to play with your hamster is in the evening. They like to sleep during the afternoon. Wash your hands before and after handling your hamster.

Handling by Children: Handling of hamsters by young children should always be supervised by an adult. Child should sit on the floor while holding the hamster.

Compatibility: Hamsters are solitary animals and do best when kept by themselves. . Two males will often fight, and two females will often fight.

Breeding: Hamsters are prolific breeders. If you keep a male and female together they may have litters 3 to 6 times a year. Here are some breeding facts; gestation time is 16 days; average number of young is 6; weaning time is 4 weeks; babies will be sexually mature shortly after they are weaned, but it is best to wait until the female is 3 months old before breeding it. The male must be removed before birth because he may kill the babies. The male should be separated for 6 weeks. Feed the mother well but do not touch the babies until their eyes open. Clean the bedding in the cage as usual but do not disturb the nest where the babies are. For further information on breeding we suggest a general book on hamster care.

Before you decide to breed hamsters you may want to check to see if you will be able to find a home for them. At Elmer's Aquarium we will sometimes buy litters from local breeders. Call us when they are 4 weeks old. If they are tame and healthy we will try to take them. Since it is our policy to sell only young animals we can not accept adult animals.

Suggested Reading: To enjoy your pet the most we suggest you purchase a book on Hamster care. Our salespeople will be able to recommend a good book.

Our Small Animal Department: We want to make your pet ownership a very enjoyable experience. With 32 years of experience, we know that requires top quality livestock and quality pet supplies. Just as important, we strive to maintain the areas most experienced sales staff. Our sales staff is trained in all aspects of animal care and will be glad to assist you. Compare our pricing on pet supplies. Our volume buying helps us keep prices well below average retail prices. All of our foods are guaranteed fresh and we will gladly offer a refund for any pet food you are not satisfied with.

Our Guarantee: Problems are rare, but should the animal die, the following guarantee applies:
(Please save your receipt) Dies within 7 days- Replace at no charge. Dies within 8-30 days- Replace at 1/2 price.)

Problem	Symptom	Treatment/ Notes
Wet Tail	Diarrhea, wet hind area, acts listless	Wet Tail is an intestinal infection that causes severe diarrhea, and can cause death. Add "Dri Tail" medication (contains Neomycin) to water, provide clean cage.
Diarrhea	Watery droppings	Avoid soft vegetables and fruits. Add "Diarrhea Aid" to water
Old Age	not as active, some hair loss	Hamsters live 2-3 years
Escapes	Hamster escapes from cage	Search in evening when hamsters are active. Look in closets, and dark areas. Most escape proof cage is aquarium with tight screen cover.