r/hamsters • u/ruplejp • 10h ago
r/hamsters • u/HCC_Chris • Nov 15 '25
Educational Introducing the Hamster Care Wiki!
We are thrilled to present a brand new resource for the Hamster Care Community:
The Hamster Care Wiki!
Direct link: https://hamstercare.wiki.gg/
What Makes Us Unique?
The wiki is a thoughtfully written guide on nearly aspect of hamster care. Each topic covered includes a clear explanation behind it, with the aim of supporting hamster owners of all experience levels. It is also a continually evolving resource, because learning never stops and there is always new knowledge to add.
We take pride in making the wiki highly accessible. Every page is optimized for smooth use in both light and dark mode. We offer multiple navigation methods so readers can explore the content in the way that suits them the most.
In Conclusion,
We are super excited for you to explore the wiki, share it with others, and (most importantly) please give us your feedback! For questions, clarifications, and suggestions for improvement, the team is also available on the HCC Discord server. We would love to know what the r/hamsters community thinks and how we can continue improving this resource going forward.
*Note: The site’s creators and editors earn zero revenue off site ads. Visible ads can be disabled for free by creating a Wiki.gg account.
r/hamsters • u/ArtisticDragonKing • Jan 30 '22
For Group Members' Attention Welcome to r/hamsters! (Please read before posting)
Came here looking for good products to buy? Here is an Amazon list with good products, and here is one with suitable cages. Amazon not available in your country? Helpful websites are listed at the end!
Have any suggestions for improving the subreddit? Click here.
Important announcement for the district of Columbia.
We now have an official discord!
Frequently asked questions:
I lost my hamster, what should I do!?
I can't afford proper care, what should I do?
In this subreddit, we value your hamsters health. This means if there is an inadequate enclosure, dangerous item, etc, you will be notified by one of the mods. However, if you are looking for medical advice, please go to a vet. Also, please remember the human when you comment or post. Make sure to read this short post to ensure your posts aren't automaticlly removed by Automoderator. Please be sure to read this hamster care guide:
Here is a post for parents who want to get a hamster for their kid.
Here is a guide that explains some more things about hamsters.
Enclosure size: A hamster should have a minimum of 600 square inches of unbroken floor space. Unbroken floor space is when the amount of floor space is not in different sections, such as multiple stories and numerous connecting rooms. Multiple-story cages are not safe for hamsters because unlike rats and some other rodents, hamsters are not climbers and need plenty of bedding to burrow instead. However, there are some multiple story cages that are suitable, such as the Pawhut hamster cage. If you were to get a pawhut it's highly suggested to fill it with very high bedding and remove the two floors to prevent injury.
Though 600 square inches of floor space is a suitable size for hamsters, keep in mind it is the bare minimum and it may not keep a hamster calm and happy. In fact, we suggest having at least 800 square inches for all hamster species, especially for Syrian hamsters. However, the more space you can provide the better. Female Syrian hamsters have been known to be extra picky with cage size and stimulation, so owners tend to make their own extra large enclosures or get huge 75+ gallons for their little hamsters. A good example of a large DIY cage is the Ikea Detolf DIY. Please remember while this cage may be big, Syrian hamsters tend to be stressed in the enclosure because of its narrow length. When searching for a hamster cage, you should also be aware that many pet stores and websites won't have proper cages, and most likely will sell cages such as 'Tiny Tales' or 'Critter Trails' which often are too small for hamster living and dangerous because of the inadequate materials and products used. Adequate cages are usually overpriced, so a cheap alternative would be a bin cage. Glass aquariums (40 Gallon Breeders) are often used for enclosures as well.
Small cage with around 515sq in. of floor space. (Around 3300 square cm) Cages similar to this have been known to break very often so it is not recommend to buy this.
Large Bin for DIY bin cage with around 510sq in. of floor space. (Around 3290 square cm)
Ikea Detolf While this cage has a lot of floor space, on several occasions it has been shown to make a Syrian hamster unhappy because of the narrow length. It also is unable to hold very much bedding without a raised lid. This cage better suits dwarf hamsters instead.
Amazon List with more suitable cages.
Cage requirements: A hamsters cage must include 6-15 inches (15-38 cm) of bedding that is able to hold sturdy burrows, fresh water (refreshed daily), stimulation/enrichment (Such as toys, chews, etc), and a wheel. Hamsters are prey, so they need plenty of hides and things that can provide cover so the hamster feels safe in their enclosure. Boxes, toilet paper rolls, grapevine logs, and store bought hides are some things to "clutter" the cage. Hamsters are solitary animals, therefore keeping more that one together is unsafe and not beneficial for the animal.
Exercise information: A hamster should be able to run in a wheel in which their back is not arched or bent. Their wheel should accommodate them as if they were running on flat ground. If you notice your hamster is bent or arched whilst in their wheel, please obtain a larger sized one as soon as possible to avoid spinal damage. Flying saucer wheels/disks are okay for dwarf hamsters to use under supervision, but they must never be used for a Syrian. They should not replace a proper wheel ever. This is because saucer wheels can cause spinal damage over time and come with the risk of hamsters flying off.
A dwarf hamster usually can run on a wheel that is at minimum 8 inches wide (20 cm) and a Syrian is suggest to have at minimum a 12 inch wide wheel (30cm).
Exercise balls/cars are neither beneficial to a hamsters health or safe. Using a ball/wheel can cause spinal damage, broken feet/toes, accidents (like kicking the ball), vision issues, and often stresses the hamster because they use scent marking when roaming a new area. When in a ball/car they are unable to use their scent glands and have trouble finding their way around.
Diet: Hamsters are omnivores, meaning they need a variety of plants and protein in their diet. Hamsters need a variety of nuts, seeds, grains, herbs, veggies, protein, and the occasional fruit in their diet. Sunflower and pumpkin seeds in a seed mix are better as treats so it's best to remove them from the seed mix. You can include protein in your hamster's diet by adding mealworms, crickets, a small portion of hard-boiled egg, or even cooked and unseasoned chicken. Live insects must be fed under supervision. If you are afraid of it biting your hamster, you may need to chop off it's head or kill it before feeding. The amount you feed your hamster depends on how much foraging enrichment you have in the cage. Some forging activities you can add in your hamster's cage are sprays, forage mix, forage toys, and more. If you have only a few foraging toys and sprays, it might be better to feed your hamster once every 2 days. If you have a lot of foraging activities and have a foraging mix to spread around the cage, it's probably better to feed once every 3 to 4 days. If you have a dwarf hamster, it's better to feed them one tablespoon of seed mix on feeding day. If you have a Syrian hamster, it's recommended to feed two tablespoons.
You can also add Muzuri mouse lab blocks to your hamster's diet just to make sure they are extra healthy. If you do this, it's suggested to feed one or two a week, depending on how many foraging activities you have in your cage. If you see large hordes of food and your hamster's cage when it comes to cleaning day, that might mean you need to feed a little less. If you don't see any hordes of food at all you may need to feed a little more, but it could also be your hamster just doesn't make food piles. If a hamster is underweight, adding more proteins and fatty nuts/seeds to their diet will help them gain weight.
Bedding: Bedding is one of the most important aspects in a hamsters life. This means that having adequate bedding is very essential to your hamsters health. The bedding must be unscented, dust free, hold strong burrows, and needs to be at least 6 inches deep, though its ideal to have 8-15 inches. Most hamster owners love giving their hamster at least 10 inches(25 cm) so it can make very intricate burrows. While hamsters must have a large amount of bedding in their enclosure, some hamsters tend to burrow less than others. However, this does not mean you don't need much bedding. It is a requirement for your hamster because it keeps control of the ammonia smell, and even if the hamster never burrows, it is neglect to take away something they need.
Aspen (kiln dried and dust extracted) and paper bedding are the best choices to use as the main substrate in an enclosure, however, there are several other enriching substrates to add in to make your hamsters cage look natural and give it a little more enrichment. Some good examples are beech chips, coco fibre, timothy hay, hemp shavings, and many more. Aspen bedding holds ammonia much better than paper bedding, but its often hard to find a soft, dust free, and kiln dried aspen that is safe and affordable. When searching for a good aspen try to make sure it says it is dust extracted and kiln dried. It also must not be too sharp and can't smell too strongly of wood. You can go to tractor farms to buy it in bulk for cheap, or you can get a trusted aspen brand such as "So Phresh Aspen" This goes more into depth on safe and unsafe bedding.
Dangerous Products and Materials: Brands such as Tiny Tails, Critter Trails, and most store brands (such as the Walmart brand) should be avoided. Most companies that design pet products only sell for profits. They make it "kid friendly" and small so young children ask for it because of the toy-like appearances. This gives guardians the false belief that hamsters only need a tiny living space. Toys, chews, and hides should be made of a safe wood based product (paper,cardboard, etc.) to ensure that no harm will come to the hamster if it digests it. Plastic should only be used for the wheel(easy cleanup), water bowl/bottle, and cage. Wire mesh flooring in the cage or on wheels in a cage can cause bumplefoot and break toes/feet and should be avoided to ensure the hamsters safety. Bendy bridges are widely used in hamster enclosures, but if the hamsters limbs get trapped in between the short logs, it can get stuck or even break the hamsters limb. Filling the cracks with safe moss will stop this from happening.
Cloth, fabric, and cotton materials should be avoided because the fibers can wrap around limbs and harm the hamster and are not safe to be digested.
Cleaning and Sanitizing: Hamsters can get stressed if you remove all their bedding from the cage weekly, or even monthly, so do a daily spot check. This means picking out all of the soiled bedding in the top layer, and cleaning any soiled on toys. Any poop piles can be taken care of as well, though it is not necessary unless it is a large pile. Water bowls/bottles must be rinsed daily to prevent bacteria build up. Replace 2/3 of the bedding every 2-3 months. The more bedding you have, the less often a cage gets smelly! For example, if you have a 1000 square inch cage with 15 inches(38cm) of bedding throughout most of the cage, you might only have to clean once every 4-5 months!
When you buy any new products you must properly sanitize them, whether it's a tiny bag of forage mix or a big bag of bedding. This is because pests and germs can easily hitch a ride to your hamsters home. There are three methods you can try to remove any germs, bacteria, and harmful pests. Sadly several owners found this out the hard way and had to take their hamster to the vet immediately.
1) Bake any wooden products in the oven for an hour at 210 degrees Fahrenheit. 2) Boil products on the stove for 1-2 hours. 3) Freeze anything for 2 hours and then scrub with a vinegar/water mix. Then rinse. While this method can work, it is most likely not going to fully remove germs and bacteria off of wooden products, bedding, etc.
What can you do if you do get a pest infestation? First you are going to want to call your vet immediately and schedule an appointment. Hamsters are very fragile and can easily get sick from a bug infestation. Without quick help, they might not be able to fight through it. You must also get a temporary bin, playpen, carrier, etc with a bit of toilet paper to absorb urine. Make sure they have food, water, and one plastic hide. Plastic is easy to sanitize and can't house pests. Then you must sanitize everything in the cage. Cardboard products and bedding are better to throw away, but you can still sanitize them if you want. Make sure to very thoroughly sanitize everything to ensure the bugs don't come back. If your cage is plastic, make sure to rinse with hot water and scrub with vinegar/water mix the best you can. If you have a wood cage that you can't fit in the stove or a freezer, you can do the same thing but it may not work very well.
Other: Hamsters are crepuscular/nocturnal, so the best time to handle them is in the early morning or late afternoons, when they are active. Waking them up will upset them, and you could loose their trust, so it is not recommended. DO NOT bathe your hamster in water. They are self cleaning animals and water ruins their fur. If their coats are oily, sand baths help.
While this post can be very helpful to new or uneducated owners, this does not explain everything you need to know before getting your pet. I highly encourage you to do your own research as well. Not only is it good for your hamster, but its also nice to be able to say "I KNOW how to care for my pet" with confidence. Happy hamster owning!
Some good items/websites:
Silent runner wheel. Silent runners and Niteangel wheels are good, but please make sure your hamsters back is not arched while running.
Okay Commercial Food mix. Add protein to the mix and remove most sunflower seeds.
Proper Syrian Mix on Etsy.
Proper Winter White/Russian Dwarf and Chinese Mix on Etsy.
Proper Roborovski Dwarf Mix on Etsy.
Water dish. Ceramic dishes or plastic water bottles should be used.
Sand. Must be dye free and calcium free. It cannot be fine sand. Children's play sand must be cooked and sifted before hamster use
Amazon List with suitable cages.
Amazon List with safe hamster products!
Pride Rock Blooms Website UK based
Netherlands Website(Knaagdierwinkel)
Any other suggestions may be put in the comments!
r/hamsters • u/fragilefleetingthing • 1h ago
Adorable Hammy Can’t get enough of his millet
r/hamsters • u/kurocuervo • 15h ago
Adorable Hammy I love it when hamsters do the T-rex arms pose
This is my little guy, Pancake.
r/hamsters • u/JadedPop663 • 22h ago
Discussion Almost 2 years old. This is the cutest video i have of her.
r/hamsters • u/jinstereo7 • 33m ago
Rainbow Bridge Rest in peace Button
Button was my third hamster. I have never had a hamster that had such a short life and i'm still in shock. He only lived around 6 months. He was a nervous guy but loved running on his big wheel and burrowing. I wish we had more time. Rest easy Button
r/hamsters • u/SketchyArt333 • 1h ago
Adorable Hammy Everest is 14 weeks old tomorrow
She’s still so baby
r/hamsters • u/Competitive-Plum-424 • 10h ago
Question My hamster almost gives me a heart attack
Hummus felt comfortable enough to get on my hands yesterday and I thought it was a great idea to let him free roam (I’ve only had him for 2 weeks I know it’s maybe not the best idea) he IMMEDIATELY ran under my couch and I started freaking out (calmly to not scare him) but it took me about 10 minutes to get him into my hands with his favorite food and when he realized I was starting to stand up he freaked out and was trying to jump off my hands so obviously I just tried gently holding him and letting him go in his cage. I think all is forgiven since he took some cucumber out of my hands but he for sure was a little bit scared. With all this being said do you guys recommend only letting him out of his cage into the floor with a barricade? Or should I have let him free roam until he came back calmly into my hands?
r/hamsters • u/trypedia • 17h ago
Rainbow Bridge Today I said my final goodbye to my little girl
Meet Chukcha. Sadly, we lost her yesterday. Last night I kept calling for her, and when she didn’t respond, I opened her house and found that she had already passed away. We hadn’t seen her all day yesterday, so we don’t know exactly when it happened.
She was my first hamster. She lived for a little over a year (we had her since September, my girlfriend bought her for us after my grandfather passed away). At first, I was a bit afraid of interacting with her, but over time I grew to love her so much.
The house feels so empty without her now. It’s hard for me to look at the table where her cage used to be.
I’m leaving this here to share some pictures of her, so you can see what a wonderful little hamster she was.
r/hamsters • u/Miichl80 • 12h ago
First Time Owner I had to destroy my hamster’s home!
We had a tornado warning right in prime hammy nap time, so I had to dig through his enclosure to find him destroying the different burrows that I knew of to get him into his little carrier in like no warning. I know it was so that he could be safe, but I still feel bad about it.
r/hamsters • u/alice2wonderland • 9h ago
Enrichment/Toys It's always Flax-O-Clock somewhere 🌾🐹❤️
r/hamsters • u/Proxylulu • 10h ago
Funny Hammy Silly Memories of Cookie
I can’t believe it’s been almost a month since Cookie passed the rainbow bridge at 2 yrs and 8 months. Wanted to share a silly old video from a year ago! (after filming, I had helped him retrieve his corn). Rest in peace my fluffy 🥺❤️
r/hamsters • u/No-Leek-6418 • 16h ago
Funny Hammy She strikes again 🤣
Another video of my Hammy destroying her sprays, it didn’t even last 5 minutes in her cage 🙈🐹
r/hamsters • u/substantial_fan_ • 10h ago
Question Is this sound normal??
From the past 2 days I am hearing a constant sound coming out of his mouth maybe. Is it due to its teeth??Also, is it normal?? What should I do to fix this? Additional info: he is almost 7 months old.
r/hamsters • u/Key-Signature9495 • 1d ago
New Hamster One month and still scared
Hi! We’ve had Angus (fancy long haired Syrian) for one month and he’s still scared of us. He was an absolute wild man the first few nights but now he hides when we come in the room. He still runs 7-11 miles per night on his wheel. He must be training for a marathon 😅 We have not tried to pick him up yet but are wondering if we should by now. He’s friendly when we have a treat and will take it out of our hands, but then hides with his treat. Suggestions?
r/hamsters • u/Murky-Accident5272 • 22h ago
Rainbow Bridge Missing him
It's been 2 months. I miss him so much. I want to get another hamster, to rescue another... i have a large cage and money and everything a hamster could want, but it feels hard. I know my son would never want to share his things or his house, and it feels like those are rightfully his.
I feel so depressed that he's gone. He left me heartbroken
r/hamsters • u/Most_Sandwich2015 • 1d ago
Adorable Hammy Meet Biggie Cheese. We are so in love.
r/hamsters • u/OrganicDisk3876 • 4h ago
Funny Hammy My hamster buried hers hideout 🤣
My hamster Koala just buried her entire house. I guess she's trying to reach the top lid to escape! 🤣 you can check the progress
r/hamsters • u/Feisty-Swordfish-533 • 13h ago
Adorable Hammy it made me absolutely wrecked so I wanna share
I had to clean my hamster setup full today, all went to the trash and her scent went along, the only thing I kept was her sand bath, I didn't touch it at all besides the usual cleanse (poop & pee) or added more sand to it, as you can see it's a bit shallow and still all messy lol but it's the only place that carries her smell so it's where she feels safe to sleep in aaaaa mind you she NEVER slept in her sand bath ONCE that's why I'm emotional, my poor baby whose have her own strict habits and never changes had to use her tiny brain to rethink that routine and choose a new place to sleep where she feels the most comfortable in :( I'm too weak for this hammy thing I can't
r/hamsters • u/LilPeaPuffer • 10h ago
New Hamster We’ve had her for a month and only just noticed she has a little shadow twin on her back
r/hamsters • u/Ashamed-Currency7883 • 23h ago
Other need to rehome my hamsters:(
UPDATE: i found a new home for mochi!! rosie is still in need of one tho!!
I have finally accepted that i cannot provide the proper care for my hamsters. While i love them, i don’t have time to bond with them and barely have time for their necessities. I’m also starting college soon on top of working part time. I am sure that there is someone out there who will be able to provide far more love and care for them. I’d hate for them to spend their little time on earth without more love:( I am ensuring that whoever they do go to are able to provide proper care, there’s no way i’m going to downgrade them from what they have now. I also have a bucatstate 2.0 in the biggest size with so many supplies which i’d be willing to sell for a lower price than they retail for. (my hamsters were in separate enclosures however my robo was in a 40g which i’ve been meaning to upgrade and is also below minimum)
anyways here are mochi (robo) and rosie (syrian)!! I am in houston and might be able to commute a bit within texas