When I was younger, I would always think about taking care of animals but over time the idea of having a house pet drifted away from me. I never thought much about getting a pet in recent years because I had never taken care of one before. However, about a year ago I was browsing through YouTube when I came across one of those cute hamster compilations. When I saw that video, I thought it would be really nice to care for a hamster. I don’t have much space in England so I thought a small pet like a hamster was more suitable than other alternatives like a dog or cat.

I’d like to address a few reasons for my decision to care for a hamster. Admittedly, I was feeling very lonely at the time and the things I used to occupy myself with in the past didn’t bring as much joy. So the idea of a small hamster companion keeping me company was very appealing. Then I also liked the idea of having to be responsible for a cute hamster and providing them a good life.

Hamster care, whilst relatively simple, would require some thought, planning and effort. It seemed incredibly rewarding to see them happy and healthy in a loving home.

Some of the YouTube videos I watched for research also inspired me because they showed that hamster care, whilst relatively simple, would require some thought, planning and effort. It seemed incredibly rewarding to see them happy and healthy in a loving home.

I don’t consider myself an expert at taking care of hamsters but having spent hours on research and having at least 8 months of experience, I thought it would be interesting to share what I have learnt. Prior to my experience I thought taking care of hamsters was quite straightforward, but I didn’t realise the depth of my ignorance until I looked into it more. I was surprised at how many things I didn’t know that would help provide a good life for a hamster and I hope you can learn some of these things through my sharing.

As a note, I have only taken care of Syrian hamsters so these articles will primarily concern these types of hamsters, though I suspect many of the tips will also apply to other hamster species. Either way, please look into other hamster care resources to double check no matter the species of hamster you are/will be taking care of.

What Are Hamsters?

Hamsters are rodents that have become very popular as house pets. Not all types of hamsters are suitable as house pets but the ones that are can typically fit in one’s hand. They are small and delicate little animals that can bring so much joy to their owners. They are often marketed as ‘starter’ pets for people who don’t have much previous experience with taking care of pets (especially children). I’m not experienced in taking care of other pets, but I guess that would be because of their natural behaviours making them relatively self-sufficient. I’ll address a range of these behaviours in another article, but they are so cute that it’s hard not to pamper and interact with them anyway.

Hamsters are small and delicate little animals that can bring much joy to their owners.

Different Species of Pet Hamsters

There are many species of hamsters in the wild but for this section, I will cover those that are commonly found as house pets. As a general rule of thumb for inexperienced hamster owners, any hamsters that are kept in pairs or groups should be of the same gender in order to avoid mass offspring production (and they can reproduce a lot with a gestation period of a few weeks). Keep in mind that the names of the following hamster species are what they are commonly but not exclusively identified as.

Syrian Hamsters

Syrian hamsters are the most common types of pet hamsters. When they reach a maturity (around 10 weeks old) they become very territorial so they should be kept away from other hamsters (even other Syrians). Adult Syrians will fight each other viciously if they are kept in the same cage, resulting in serious injuries or even death.

My Syrian hamster, Chip. Click on image to enlarge.

• Size: 5 – 7 inches (13 – 18 cm)
• Lifespan: 1.5 – 3 years
• Active Time: Crepuscular (dawn and dusk) / Nocturnal
• Diet: Omnivorous
• Notes: Syrians can come in short-hair and long-hair variations. They are the largest of the domesticated hamster species which means their home and toys will typically require more space.

Dwarf Hamsters

There are four types of dwarf hamsters that are found as house pets. Unlike Syrian hamsters, dwarf hamsters can live together with others of the same species. However, as there is a wide variance of sociability between individual hamsters, it is important to be vigilant that the pair/group are friendly with each other. It is usually much more likely for dwarf hamsters to live together peacefully if they have never been separated since a young age. If you are an inexperienced hamster owner, it is generally recommended to keep them on their own as they do not require playmates to be happy.

Campbell Dwarf Hamsters

Campbell Dwarf Hamster. Image credit: hamsterhideout.com

• Size: 3 – 5 inches (8 – 13 cm)
• Lifespan: 1.5 – 2.5 years
• Active Time: Crepuscular/Nocturnal
• Diet: Omnivorous (very prone to diabetes)
• Notes: They can be territory aggressive (when a hand enters their home), so it is important to give them enough housing space and try to handle them with patience. They are very prone to diabetes, so it is important to closely monitor their sugar intake.

Roborovski Dwarf Hamsters

Roborovski Dwarf Hamster. Image credit: farm4.static.flickr.com

• Size: 2 inches (4.5 – 5 cm)
• Lifespan: 3 years
• Active Time: Crepuscular/Nocturnal
• Diet: Omnivorous
• Notes: Whilst generally shy to humans and prone to stress, they are often very active and full of energy. As the smallest of the domesticated hamsters, ensure their home is secure (especially wired cages) so that they can’t endanger themselves by escaping.

Russian Winter White Dwarf Hamsters

Russian Winter White Dwarf Hamster. Image credit: ErinsAnimal (YouTube)

• Size: 3 – 4 inches (7 – 9 cm)
• Lifespan: 1 – 3 years
• Active Time: Crepuscular/Nocturnal
• Diet: Omnivorous (prone to diabetes)
• Notes: As the name suggests, during the winter season their fur coats can turn white. They are prone to diabetes, so it is important to monitor their sugar intake. Apparently, most winter white hamsters found in pet stores are hybrids of winter white and Campbell’s dwarf hamsters (due to crossbreeding).

Chinese Dwarf Hamsters

Chinese Dwarf Hamster. Image credit: wideopenpets.com

• Size: 3 – 5 inches (8 – 13 cm)
• Lifespan: 2 – 3 years
• Active Time: Crepuscular/Nocturnal
• Diet: Omnivorous (prone to diabetes)
• Notes: Of the domesticated hamsters, they have the longest tail and generally appear to have a mouse-like appearance. They are prone to diabetes, so it is important to monitor their sugar intake.

How Much Does a Hamster Cost?

Generally speaking, hamsters themselves do not cost very much. In England, pet stores can sell a young Syrian hamster from as little as £10 (USD13). Other types of hamsters commonly cost around that price but it often depends on the country and supplier. Alternatively, you can adopt a hamster for free. I won’t discuss too much on the ethics between adopting and buying from a pet store or responsible breeder. I know those with experience advise against purchasing hamsters from chain pet stores but the hamsters there need love and care too. I simply believe that providing your hamster with a happy home is the most important thing, no matter where they come from.

Whilst the cost of caring for a hamster may seem cheap at first glance, it can add up to more than what may be expected for a small animal. Click on image to enlarge.

The majority of the costs for a hamster owner comes from the initial start-up and the monthly maintenance. I will cover what is recommended for setting up a hamster home in other articles but based on the quality and quantity of purchases, costs can vary greatly. However as a rough estimation, the cost of a starter that will hopefully provide your hamster with a happy home, will likely be at least around £60-£80 (USD80-USD100). Monthly maintenance costs will likely be around £10-£20 (USD13-USD26), which comes mostly from the replacement of bedding substrate and food.

If your hamster does fall ill, mandatory vet care will also increase costs depending on the medical care that may be required. Furthermore, not all vets will treat hamster health problems. Hamsters are classed as ‘exotic pets’ so it is crucial to have quick access to a vet for exotic pets. So whilst the cost of caring for a hamster may seem cheap at first glance, it can add up to more than what may be expected for a small animal.

Conclusion

This little introduction to hamster care has allowed me to share my reasons for choosing to care for hamsters and why I have chosen to work on a hamster care guide. Hopefully this article has given you some insight into things you might not have known about hamsters and what it generally entails to care for them well. If you have not owned a hamster before, or you are thinking about owning one soon, I hope this article can inspire you to research more into hamster care.

Further Reading

• Quick Guide to the Five Species of Domestic Hamster. (hamsterhideout.com/forum/topic/75398-quick-guide-to-the-five-species-of-domestic-hamster/)
• Hamster Myths and Facts. (hamsterhideout.com/forum/topic/104161-hamster-myths-and-facts)
• Vet Care and Hamsters. (hamsterhideout.com/forum/topic/133989-vet-care-and-hamsters)
• Purchasing Hamsters (Considerations). (hamsterhideout.com/forum/topic/67160-purchasing-hamsters-and-animals)
• Hamster Care Community Forum (hamsterhideout.com/forum)
• Hamster Care Community Forum (hamstercentral.com/community)

For more interesting information:

• 16 Things A Dog Cant Eat
• Our beloved pets are important
• Don’t Abandon Senior Pets!
• Good News for Animal Lovers!
• Wonderful News from Mo
• Help The Birds That Nobody Wanted
• 7 Signs Your Dog Is In Pain And Trying To Hide It
• Sometimes we to have read this…
• Jesse the Housemate?
• Wish we had this in Malaysia
• Do animals reincarnate back as humans?

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