Food! Glorious Food!

Rather there storing it in their cheeks, hoarding it, or munching on it, hamsters love food! Want to feed your hamster something besides regular hammy food and store bought hammy treats? Me too! Here is a list of everything you can feed your hamster! (In alphabetical order, by category.)

Fruits: Hamsters love fruits, both fresh and dried. Fruits make great treats for your furry friend!
Apples
Bananas
Blackberries
Blueberries
Cantaloupes
Cherries
Cranberries
Grapes
Mango
Melon
Peaches
Plums
Raspberries
Strawberries

Vegetables: It is a good idea (though not completely necessary) to feed your ham some fresh veggies once a day, though once in a while as a treat is fine too.
Asparagus
Bean Sprouts
Bok Choy
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Chard
Chickweed
Chicory
Clovers
Corn
Cucumbers
Dandelions
Grass
Green Beans
Kale
Parsnips
Peas
Red Peppers
Romaine Lettuces
Spinach
Squash
Sweet Bell Peppers
Sweet Potato
Turnips
Watercress
Water Chestnuts
Zucchini

Grains: Grains can be fed daily, or as a treat.
Bran
Buckwheat
Flax
Oats
Wheat Germ

Seeds: Most store bought hamster foods have seeds mixed into them, but it doesn't hurt to add some of these or make your own mix.
Bird Seeds
Flax Seeds
Millet Seeds
Pumpkin Seeds
Sesame Seeds
Squash Seeds
Sunflower Seeds

Protein: It is ok to serve small amounts of protein daily (Though it is not necessary), or randomly as a treat.
Beef (Cooked)
Chicken (Cooked)
Cottage Cheese
Crickets
Eggs (Cooked with NO shell)
Meal Worms
Tofu
Turkey (Cooked)
Yogurt (Plain)

Hays: Hays can be given as a treat, or used as bedding materials.
Alfalfa Hay
Timothy Hay

Human Foods: Human foods should be fed as treats and only in small amounts.
Bread
Cheerios
Crackers (Plain, Unsalted)
Oatmeal (Plain, Uncooked)
Peanut Butter
Peanuts
Skin Milk
Walnuts

NEVER EVER NEVER feed them:
Almonds
Canned Fruits
Canned Vegetables
Chocolate
Cinnamon
Citrus Fruits
Coffee
Garlic
Onions
Raw Beans
Rotten Fruits
Rotten Vegetables
Salt
Spicy Things
Sugary/Sweet Things
Toffee

Remember! The above listed foods are NOT a replacement for regular hamster food! Your hamster needs a proper diet to be healthy and the best way to offer a proper diet is fresh hamster food daily, chewing materials, and any of the above listed. All hamsters are different and they all have different tastes. If you offer your pet something that it turns it's nose up to, don't become discouraged! Try again in a day or so with something a little different! :))

CAUTION!!!!
Hamsters are notorious hoarders! If you provide your hammy with something that will eventually spoil (such as fresh fruits and veggies) make sure to check their habitat after a day or so to make sure they haven't hidden it and let it go bad. If hamsters eat spoiled foods they can become very ill. But as long as you check up on them, everything should be ok!

Good luck figuring out your hammy's favorite food! :))

-Tracy

Hamster Haul!

In an earlier post I talked about all the things that are necessary for your hamster to be happy and healthy. But there is so much more out there for your hammy that isn't exactly necessary, but sure is fun and beneficial!

1. Toys: Hamsters love to play with things and will chew on almost anything they can get there cute little paws on! So give them toys! One of the cheapest ham ham toys you can get is a toilet paper roll! They love to run through them and chew them up. Pet stores sell all kinds of small animal toys, also. There are hanging chews, that can be hung from the top or side of the cage, and there are rolling chews, which are chew toys that roll around and are easy to move. Hamster chew toys come in all shapes, sizes, colors, flavors, and materials.

2. Treats: Could you imagine eating the same food every day for the rest of your life, with no deserts or candies? It would suck huh? So why put your hamster through it?! Feed them some treats! You can purchase hamster treats from any pet store! There are yogurt drops, food bars, dried fruits, hays, and salt licks that you can purchase for your furry friend. Want to try something else? Feed them fresh fruits and vegetables!

3: Cage Expansions: If your ham ham lives in a cage with tube doors you can expand their habitat with tubes and other cages or lookouts. Hamsters are naturally curious creatures, and they love to explore, so giving them more room to run is important! Most hamster cages are actually too small for the poor hammies so make sore they have plenty of space to play in! It will also help keep them in shape.

4: Run About Balls: Anyone who has ever watched a hamster in action knows that there little exercise freaks! It seems that all they want to do is run on their wheel all night long. Why not try a Run About Ball? Run About Balls are small clear balls made of plastic that have a small door and air holes. Your hamster can run in them and explore! Just make sure your ham ham can't roll down a staircase or under a bed or something! If your worried your hamster will roll into danger, they also sell race tracks too keep them from going into dangerous areas. Or you can use a baby gate to keep them in one room.

You can also make your own hamster homes and toys out of household items. A good idea is to have more than one house or toy for your hamster. Even if they don't all fit in their cage at once you can switch them out so your hamster doesn't get bored! I hope this helps!

-Tracy

Just Sasha Being Sasha!

Here are some random pictures I've taken of Sasha being herself! :))     

It's Been A Week!

It's been a whole week since we adopted Sasha! 

She is already very tame. She hasn't bitten anyone yet, aside from some gentle nipping, and she will eat from my hand. She likes walking on my boyfriend's chest and stomach, and she is the sweetest little thing! So far I've learned that her favorite foods are pumpkin seeds and corn, and every day after I freshen her food she hides it in between her food bowl and her igloo house and eats it from there. She rarely eats it straight from the bowl.

She still hasn't quite figured out how to climb down the tubes in her cage so she spends all of her time on the upper floor. I'm sure she will figure it out soon, but if she doesn't I'm going to have to get a different cage for her. (Which I'm really hoping I won't have to do!) But aside from that Sasha is a very good girl and I'm very happy we chose her. <3 Until next time!

-Tracy

New Name, First Bath!

A New Name For A New Hamster!
After much though, we have finally named our little ham ham! My boyfriend and I were talking about her and I said that Winter Whites were Russian. My boyfriend then suggested we name her "Sasha" because it is a Russian name. I love it! The name is super cute, and suits her well! So this little girl's name is now Sasha! :))

Sasha's First Sand Bath!
Today Sasha had her first Sand bath! Sand baths are fun and cleansing for your hamster. Hamsters should never need a bath, but if you would like to let your hamster enjoy a sand bath, then that's ok! Sand baths are easy! Buy some Chinchilla sand from your pet store. (make sure it is SAND not DUST because dust baths can lead to respiratory problems and eye problems) You can either place a few spoonfuls of the sand into a bowl or a special bath house. Either one will work fine. Next put your hamster in the bath and watch him/her roll and play in the sand! This is super cute and it leaves your ham ham fluffy, soft, and dirt free! Sand baths can be a part of your ham ham's habitat, but keep in mind, your hamster is very likely to kick sand out of the house or bowl so if you don't want sand mixed with your bedding you may want to save sand baths for once a week or special occasions and do them in separate containers (such as supervise them in a box like I did) or in their cage on cleaning day.

Sasha enjoyed rolling, digging and scratching around in the sand, and I had so much fun watching her do it!

-Tracy

Welcome Home, Little One!

After months of research I'd finally decided on a Djungarian Hamster and had my heart set on one. After only previously raising Syrian Hamsters I thought this would be a nice change. Well, I went to the PETCO near my house to do some pre-hamster-homecoming shopping, only to find out that they did not sell the Winter Whites I'd set my sights on! So I ended up getting a friend of ours to haul us completely across town to another PETCO that did have them. We run in and I bee-line straight to the small animal section, where I almost have a heart attack: The tank marked "Female Djungarian Hamster" is empty. But I peek inside the igloo and see the bedding rustling around a bit. There was still hope! Two workers came over to help us. A girl picked up the igloo and two tiny little noses poked out of the bedding. The boy scooped up one of the hamsters in the igloo and let me see her. She was beautiful. But she just sat there. She didn't appear to be frightened at all, but she just sat there. She let me pet her, but she just seemed so disinterested in the world. My boyfriend whispered in my ear, "Look at that one" I looked at the other one. She was peeking at us from behind a mound of bedding. The man saw me looking at her and switched the girls for me. This one was much more beautiful, and so much more lively! She ran in circles around, and around the igloo. It was the cutest thing! Then she stopped and looked up at us. I gave her a very gentle pet and announced "She's the one." They boxed her up, I signed the papers, paid, and we were on our way! When we got home, I cupped her up and put her in her new home. She is kind of shy and is currently adjusting to her new home. I can't wait until I can start interacting with her more. :))

I have yet to settle on a name for her though! If you have any suggestions, please let me know! Thank you!

-Tracy

Ham-Ham-Must-Haves!

Below I will list what I will be referring to as Ham-Ham-Must-Haves. Ham-Ham-Must-Haves are simply things that you will need to provide for your hamster so he or she can live a happy, healthy life. (In a later post, I will list some hamster products that are fun, but not completely necessary)

1. Cage/Habitat: Your hamster will need a safe cage/habitat to live in. Make sure that it is an appropriate size. Many hamster cages on the market are a bit small, though you can make them bigger and more fun by attaching other cages to them via tubes and other methods. Make sure that the bars are chew-proof and are not too widely spaced apart to prevent escape. There are many types of hamster cages. Wired, wire-plastic, tanks with screen lids. As long as your hamster can not gnaw through it in any place it should be ok.


2. Food and Chew Sticks: Hamsters love to eat! There is a very wide variety of food that is acceptable As long as it is a mixture of seeds and pellets it should be ok. Chew sticks are also very important because hamsters have teeth that are constantly growing and they need to chew on things in order to prevent them from becoming overgrown. Chews come in a wide variety. There are natural one and colorful ones that are sometimes flavored. Chews come in simple sticks or blocks and also houses and toys. These help your hamster stay healthy and active! Keep in mind that you should refresh your hamster's food every day. (There are also other things your hamsters can eat but I will discuss this in a later post)


3. Food Bowl and Water Bottle: Of course you will need something to put your ham ham's food in. A small hard plastic or ceramic bowl will do just fine. Many hamster bowls are made chew-proof and spill-proof. You will also need a water bottle! Every day your hamster will require clean drinking water. It is best to provide this in a water bottle. Putting water out in bowls in unsafe because your furry friend could tip it over or get wet, and hamsters don't do well when wet, as they can get chills. When placing the water bottle make sure that is is not too high or too low.


4. Bedding: There are many types of bedding to choose from. As far as wood based bedding goes, aspen is the only thing you should use as it is not harmful to your hamster. Carefresh is also a good choice. Many other products have dust that can cayuse your ham ham to have eye problems. Make sure you put enough bedding in the cage for your hamster to play in, dig through, and use as nesting materials.


5. Running Wheel: Don't let their size fool you....Hamsters love to exercise! They will need a running wheel. Wheels are essential to hamster health! They keep them from getting over weight and bored. Make sure that it has a solid surface instead of spokes, as hamsters can get their tails and feet caught in the gaps and hurt themselves. No one wants a hurt hammy!


6. House: Your furry friends needs a special place to sleep and hide in. It should be something they will feel safe in. Hamsters like to hide in small spaces so a ham ham hut is essential. If hamsters don't have someplace to hide in when they are scared, tired, or sick, they can become irritable or possibly fall into shock. There are many types of huts, and you can even make your own out of cardboard. Just make sure they are free of glues, tapes, or any other harmful things because hamsters will chew anything they can get their cute little mouths on!


Once you have all of these things you are set to care for a hamster! There are many toys, treats, and accessories that are great for your hamsters but not quite essential. I will go over some of these in a later post. But for now, bye!

-Tracy