Hamster Welfare and Breeding

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It is proposed that this article be deleted because of the following concern:

how-to guide

If you can address this concern by improving, copyediting, sourcing, renaming or merging the page, please edit this page and do so. You may remove this message if you improve the article or otherwise object to its deletion for any reason. To avoid confusion, it helps to explain why you object to the deletion, either in the edit summary or on the talk page. If this template is removed, it should not be replaced.

The article may be deleted if this message remains in place for five days.Prod, concern: how-to guide This template was added 2008-06-13 14:59; five days from then is 2008-06-18 14:59.

If you created the article, please don't take offense. Instead, consider improving the article so that it is acceptable according to the deletion policy.

Author(s) notification template: {{subst:prodwarning|Hamster Welfare and Breeding}} ~~~~

This article or section has multiple issues. Please help improve the article or discuss these issues on the talk page.

It needs sources or references that appear in third-party publications. Tagged since June 2008.
Its tone or style may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. Tagged since June 2008.
It reads like a personal reflection or essay. Tagged since June 2008.
It is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. may be able to help recruit one.

1 Hamsters & Other Rodents

[edit] Hamsters & Other Rodents

[edit] A New Friend

The first thing to remember when considering a hamster for a pet is:

Hamsters are living beings, hence they have the ability to think and feel. They have emotions and personalities.

[edit] Basic Set-Up

Now, back to the point, you will need to ensure a home is set up before you aquire your pet to minimise the stress of moving in. A hamster will require a decent livin space. Pet shops will often advise you to purchase a small cage/tank just to get you to buy it, but for the welfare of the animal, a cage/tank no smaller than 40cmX50cmX30cm will be suitable. In this space, you should inclube a lot of toys and beds for your hamster's enjoyment. At least two beds approx. twice the size of your hamster and at least six toys will be sufficient. Also try and include a wood chew for your hamster to gnaw on as this will keep them occupied.

[edit] Feed & Bedding

Your hamster will require regular feeding of a suitable pellet food. I recommend either "Supreme PetfoodsHarry Hamster" or "Supa BurgessSupa Hamster" Both feeds contain a variety of flavouts and textures for your hamster to enjoy, whilst providing optimum vitamin content. Feeds should be offered in a small ceramic of plastic bowl in 20-25g amounts. The bowls should be emptied every other day and replaced with fresh feed. Water should be available in a bottle dropper or ceramic bowl and changed daily.

Badding should be a soft material, idealy woodshavings- but NEVER CEDAR, some hamsters can have a potentially fatal allergic reaction with cedar woodshavings. Newspaper should be avioded as the print is mildly toxic. A soft bedding i.e. vegetable parchment should be used in the sleeping areas and changed when soiled. In the tray of the cage, woodshavings should be placed to about half an inch deep, with extra placed in the corners as this is generally where hamsters will urinate and deposit faeces.

[edit] Cleaning

Hamsters should be cleaned thoroughly every 4/5 days with a suitable hutch/cage disinfectant. Never use bleach or normal disinfectants or any other cleaning product as this is also toxic to the animals. Mild washing-up liquid can be used as an alternative, but I prefer to stick with the animal-safe disinfectant. My prefered brand is Johnsons Veterinary. They offer plenty of fragrance options and at competitive prices.