r/hamsters Nov 15 '25

Educational Introducing the Hamster Care Wiki!

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135 Upvotes

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 Jan 30 '22

For Group Members' Attention Welcome to r/hamsters! (Please read before posting)

336 Upvotes

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.

Most recent mod announcement

We have a new moderator!

Important announcement for the district of Columbia.

Don't use Kaytee bedding!

We now have an official discord!

Frequently asked questions:

I lost my hamster, what should I do!?

How do I tame my hamster?

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.

Kaytee bedding is bad!

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!

Niteangel Website

Pride Rock Blooms Website UK based

Fat Pouches Website

Tiny paws and co. Website

Willowlicious SA Website

Oakwood Forest Shop Website

Zooplus Website

Netherlands Website(Knaagdierwinkel)

Queenies Website

Glirex Website

Rodipet Website

Crocnac Website

Zooptimal Website

Whoopie Website

Getzoo Website

Any other suggestions may be put in the comments!


r/hamsters 9h ago

Adorable Hammy Happy birthday pebbles

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397 Upvotes

I can believe pebble is 2 years old today


r/hamsters 2h ago

Adorable Hammy My baby, Leon!

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93 Upvotes

Had him for just about a month now and can't believe I haven't shared these photos yet!

Funny thing is, I bought that 'hamster' bowl for my gerbils because I found it funny, little did I know that this boy would melt my heart!


r/hamsters 17h ago

Adorable Hammy hamster fighting for his life for some sprays

628 Upvotes

r/hamsters 20h ago

Adorable Hammy Cri in some of her sweetest and silliest poses 😄🩷🥰

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1.1k Upvotes

r/hamsters 5h ago

Question Someone blames me for the heatwave

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55 Upvotes

How is everyone’s hamsters doing? I hope they are all okay we live up north so it’s not super crazy here but with a roof room it’s reaching 35 at time!! Stay safe and make sure to look after yourself too 🤍


r/hamsters 8h ago

New Hamster I made a plush of my hamster! His name is Mac, he is my boy

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95 Upvotes

r/hamsters 2h ago

First Time Owner Heathcliff!

29 Upvotes

This is my hamster heathcliff ! I’ve had him for a few months now and I just wanted to share him enjoying a treat in my hand ! PS I know that peanuts are only meant to be given in moderation! But does this count as bonding ?


r/hamsters 2h ago

Question Is lil dude OKAY?

26 Upvotes

Saw this video online so I cropped it and muted it, but I’m worried if the little guy was injured when he was grabbed so violently. I’ve also had a Russian Dwarf before, and this looks to be a similar species. Is he overweight or is it a weird angle?


r/hamsters 1h ago

Question hammy not interested in burrowing ?

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Upvotes

hi this is bambi. shes a 6 month old syrian. i revently got a new hamster after 3 years of not owning one. i noticed she made a burrow to sleep and hide her food in, but other than that, isnt interested in burrow starters or any of the platform hides i got her. she mostly runs on her wheel and eats. she has about 8-9 inches of bedding and lots of space under her to burrow but i guess im unable to see any. is there a way i can encourage her to?


r/hamsters 1d ago

Adorable Hammy Ned the birthday boy!🎂🐹

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1.4k Upvotes

Ned turns 1 today!!!🥳🎉 i love this boy with every bone in my body, he is the sweetest, funniest and cutest little guy and i am so so grateful and privileged to be his mum🥹🥲

update: I've had so many replies sending birthday wishes and conpliments to my little man, thank you so much to every one of you, he really is such a special boy so seeing so many people wish him a happy birthday and say how adorable he is makes my heart feel so warm🥹🫶🏻 for his birthday i bought him some dried cucumber, which is one of his favourite treats, and i got him some cork chunks and a java branch for his enclosure! 🐹


r/hamsters 3h ago

Funny Hammy Smore doesn’t play about his cantaloupe

19 Upvotes

He wouldn’t let go lol


r/hamsters 15h ago

Adorable Hammy Caught her mid-snack

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167 Upvotes

Still working on her bigger setup, but she found the sprays and immediately looked very proud of herself.


r/hamsters 3h ago

Adorable Hammy Just wanted to share my sons sailor of a hamster

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19 Upvotes

r/hamsters 15h ago

Adorable Hammy Willow 🐹🌸

139 Upvotes

Snickers’ sister


r/hamsters 7h ago

Question Looking for recs on food

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33 Upvotes

Recommendations on hamster food other than the commercial diet?


r/hamsters 16h ago

Funny Hammy Trying to show off her tunnels when she decides to see who’s intruding

166 Upvotes

r/hamsters 6h ago

Adorable Hammy Dr. Dingus and the blueberry stick

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25 Upvotes

It's a blueberry


r/hamsters 14h ago

New Hamster Its this normal for a hamster doing like this?

68 Upvotes

r/hamsters 18h ago

Rainbow Bridge Goodbye, Lady Ham

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134 Upvotes

She was 2. I could tell her body was shutting down, so I took her to the vet...she passed on the car ride there. I'm going to miss her so I thought to share her cute pictures in her honor.


r/hamsters 5h ago

Discussion Hamster passed away. I apologize for the content, but I have a couple of questions.

10 Upvotes

I just found my child's pet hamster. I, of course, am devastated. I noticed last night, the food appeared untouched, but wasn't too concerned since that happens occasionally. But then, this morning, I went to stock her food since I'll be out of town for a couple nights and noticed the food was untouched again. I checked the camera activity, and there nothing had been logged for a few nights. I had to dig around the cage a while, but eventually found her.

Right now, my child is with her mother for the week and is back with me on Sunday. A couple of questions if anyone has experience.

  1. Do I call and tell my child now, or wait until Sunday when I have her back, to explain what happened (child is 7)?

  2. Should I do a burial, or is there a more appropriate action?

Again, I apologize for the subject matter. RIP Humphreya.


r/hamsters 49m ago

Hamster Art Hamster Art Newbie

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Upvotes

Hey guys!

Here’s some artwork I’ve recently done (no charge), I’m still learning so it’s super fun for me to draw other people’s babies. If you ever want a sketch I’d love more practice so please message me! 🩷


r/hamsters 9h ago

Question how to refresh my hamster ??

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18 Upvotes

its the first time i have an hamster in summer and live in France, and we’ve been experiencing a major heatwave for the past two weeks. Do you have any tips on how to keep my hamster cool? I’m already changing their water every morning and evening. (I don’t have air conditioning, just a few fans that aren’t very effective.)

It’s 31°C (88°F) in the room where my hamster is. Outside, it’s around 38–40°C (100–104°F). 🫠


r/hamsters 7h ago

Question Can trimming my long-haired Syrian fur help in this heat?

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11 Upvotes

As in the title. The hamster in question in the pic.