Hamsters as Pets - Prepare your Family



Posted: Friday, May 06, 2011

by Maurice Bartenleau

Has it crossed your mind that you want to keep hamsters as pets? The anticipated goal of this particular article is to give you answers to most of your potential issues.

To start with, as pets, hamsters take up trivial amounts of space – compared to say a dog or a grimalkin. They dwell in a space that is no larger than a huge freshwater fish tank. Therefore it should not be surprising how well hamsters fit into a modest home or a small apartment.

You ought to have time to  invest if you are planning on keeping hamsters as pets. It will take the same amount of time as caring for a puppy. You should give nourishment and water to the animals day after day. Frequently, you must clean the potty. They need about an hour of daily human interaction.  Furthermore, hamster's homes must be cleaned each week.

Hamsters cost about the same amount to care for as any animal would. The supplies will cost money even if the animal itself does not. You will need to put 2 to 4 inches of bedding material at the bottom of the cage. Your hamster will eat about a teaspoon of food a day. Hamsters are known to be a healthy species, yet any animal can become ill. It is important that you set aside money for infrequent trips to the vet.

Hamsters as pets may or may not be amenable to handling. The hamster that is most amenable to handling is the Syrian. Although there are exceptions, dwarf hamsters retain more of their wildness. Rather than being handled by their caretakers, the dwarf hamsters prefer to play "on" their human keepers. The dwarfs also run incredibly quickly; and, being smaller than their Syrian relatives, can fit into smaller spaces.

Dogs and hamsters are similar in that they look forward to human company. Hamsters are social creatures by nature and need regular interaction. Therefore, please, please, please do not leave your hamster alone for any more than two days.

Hamsters can survive in cold temperatures but do not fare well  in warm ones. You must have continuous air conditioning if you live in a climate where it will get warm. Whereas you may be able to put up with days of 85° F (30°C), this temperature can quickly kill your hamster.

The final thing to know about keeping hamsters as pets is that hamsters are nocturnal or crespuscular.  This just means that they are mostly active at night or at dawn and twilight. Do not disturb them at times other than these.

Lastly, as long as you're willing to make the attempt, hamsters do make charming pets.

Matthew Alexander Boreau has been fascinated with dwarf hamsters for as long as he can remember.  To him, it isn't just a hobby.  Matthew's philosophy is that to be the best hamster owner that you can, you need to understand dwarf hamsters, and see the world from their point of view. For more information about hamsters as pets, visit http://www.dwarfhamstercentre.com.
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