Friend got a hamster

[Eventrocker33]

My friend just bought a hamster from a petstore. I never thought her mom would let her get one but I guess she did. And like most people they didn't rescue. Any info on them would be great. How to sex them? What they eat? Would a 2x2 cage be good because I am going to tell her all about this site and that they need big cages too, even though a 2x2 isn't big. Just any info would be great! Thanks.

[Eventrocker33]

Would it be ok to use a large tub with high walls for a cage. Would the air ventilation be ok?

[amfeider]

Hamsters are expet climber so there has to be a lid on the cage. If she got a dwarf hamster it needs a same sex companion.

[Plummie]

Dwarf hamsters don't "need" a same sex companion. They can do well in pairs or trios or they can also do fine alone. Syrians must always live alone.

For either species of hamster, Dwarf or Syrian, I would recommend using a large clear tub rather than a C&C cage. They can squeeze out of the regular grids (1.5" x 1.5" openings) but you may be able to build one of out mesh cubes successfully.

I have dwarves and syrians, both live in large sterilite bins and you don't need a lid if the walls are high. They can't climb out of them unless you have large houses that are tall and near the side of the cage. If you have cats, dogs, or other predatory pets that would pose a threat to them, then I would very much suggest a lid. The bins are always very easy to clean and I've never had a problem with ventilation.

To sex hamsters, they are fairly similar to guinea pigs, if you know how to do that. The males have a penis and testicles, with a large gap between the anus and urethra. The females have a smaller gap, with the vagina and anus rather close together. And they obviously have no testes.

I feed my hamsters the Mazuri diet for hamsters/gerbils along with a small amount of fresh veggies and fruit each night. Hope this helps.

[Da_3_mad_pigs]

I have a dwarf hamster and when I bought him, a couple of days later I went out and bought him a friend, but they really didnt get on, they kept fighting, so I had to split them up. They are really happy on there own! I wouldnt suggest a large tub, If you look in my gallery, I have a picture of one of my hamster cages, I think they are the best one(thats just my oppinion), or this:


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fancy-HAMSTER-CAGE-Play-Centre-NEW_W0QQitemZ7718133196QQcategoryZ1286QQrdZ1QQcmdZ ViewItem


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/6-Floor-Hamster-Cage-Folds-Flat_W0QQitemZ7717297357QQcategoryZ1286QQrdZ1QQcmd ZViewItem

[lilchris_28]

I use a rubbermaid bin too, but I drilled holes in the sides. I got the locking ones from walmart, b/c they seemed less escapable. Also if you poke around their parts and it bulges, it's a boy... Although Plummie's way is right too.