#hamster tips

Certain children's toys can be the perfect fit for your hamster, especially if they are wooden. Just make sure any sharp edges are sanded, and any compartments you think may cause issue for your pet try and remove.

The toy pictured had jutted plastic rims around the holes which I thought might cause issue for my hamster when they are jumping in and out, so I removed them away easily with pliers.

•••• 5th January 2022 ••••

Domestic hamsters don’t hibernate; they go into “torpor”, which can be mistakenly identified as hibernation. Their organs start to shut down due to it being too cold, but they often will not be able to bring themselves out of it and can sadly die. You need to slowly warm them with a blanket and your body heat. Warming them too quickly, like with a radiator or too close to a hot water bottle, can do damage too - so gradually warm them and offer small bits of cucumber for hydration as they start to come out of it.

To reduce the chance of torpor:

• use a thermometer in their cage if it’s enclosed - like a tank/wooden enclosure with only the top meshed for ventilation - or next to their cage if it’s a barred one. Make sure the thermometer can’t be reached by your hamster(s) and won’t fall to where they can interact with it.

• regularly check that their cage stays above 16°c at all times and either increase the heating in your house or use a portable radiator in the room they’re in to raise the temperature to around 23°c. It just needs to be a safe, comfortable temperature for them - not too hot or too cold. (Be mindful that the heater/radiator isn’t too close to the cage, as they obviously can’t move away from it).

• add extra shredded, *unscented* tissue as nesting material and have their burrowing area at least 8 inches deep when compacted down - this is important all year round to allow them to display natural hamster behaviours, but it is especially vital when it’s colder.

It’s common for hamsters to come out of their burrows less during the winter, so it’s handy to have a cheap night cam to make sure they are still moving around okay, drinking, getting food, etc. If they don’t come out at all one night, check on them properly the next night to make sure they’re safe and well.

[Video Description: night camera footage showing a Syrian hamster collecting tissue from around his 8,330cm² tank and carrying it back to his burrow at 2:47am.]

At the beginning of last month I got a 8 week old syrian hamster, I was told it was a male by the staff and got to hold him for a while before bringing him home. A week later, it turned out she’s a female- she had 4 babies... I took her back to the shop because I wasn’t able to give them the right care and environment and I didn’t want my tiny floof getting stressed and harming he babies. She was very friendly and even though I had her a week she wasn’t scared of being held (even though I was still nervous and a bit shaky because I haven’t had a hamster for about 10yrs). She was a little nervous about climbing onto my hand herself or taking treats from my palm, which I understand, so I’d put her on my hand from the running ball and then into the cage. I tried scooping her up when she got away one time, but she just jumped over my hands and was very stressed.

Q: I am wondering because you and your hamster are so close, perhaps you have good insight on this. do you think that robo hamsters have as much personality as Syrians? I personally do think so, but the robos are very shy in comparison and more firm on their boundaries.

A: I'm with you-- I think they do. I think anyone who thinks that any animal doesn't have her own personality isn't trying to see that personality or isn't understanding/aware enough.

Updated for this tumblr post: Meaning, not everyone is educated on an animal’s behavior or that individual animal’s behavior. A lot of people, myself included at one point, simply don’t educate themselves on their pets’ needs, and this leads to a lack of bonding and thus getting to know those personalities better or even at all. That’s why I work to bring information online now-- so much of the information provided by pet stores and even adoption agencies is incorrect or even harmful. Getting information online from other people experienced with hams has been an incredibly rewarding experience. :] [smiley]

This also means, though, that we as humans are never going to be completely understanding of another species’ communication methods and needs. For example, as close as Q-Tip and I are, I will be the absolute first in line to tell you I have no clue what she’s trying to tell me sometimes or what some of her behaviors mean. I’m not a hamster! I can’t know that. lol Simply a fact of dealing with other animals. :] [smiley]

I also think a lot of people impose human standards of "personality" onto other animals and that does nothing for the human or the other animal.

Updated for this tumblr post: Meaning that many people seem to be enamored with the idea that if you tell your dog, “Hey, Mr. Fluffkins, don’t pee on the couch,” Mr. Fluffkins will understand their human speech and not pee on the couch. So when Mr. Fluffkins inevitably pees on the couch again, he’s treated as though he’s deliberately behaving in a human manner and spitefully peeing on the couch. What should be thought of at this point instead is that poor Mr. Fluffkins may have a bladder control issue, kidney disease, anxiety, is being abused by someone, etc. Other animals don’t behave the same way as humans, and to anthropomorphize them in such ways is harmful to them.

I think people also are keen to ignore how their own behavior may be frightening their hamster (and preventing a closer bond because of it sometimes) and just dismissing them as "unfeeling" critters.

Updated for this tumblr post: This goes back to the previous example. Many hamster parents think that because their hamster attacks them when their hand is in the hamster’s environment is a sign of an unloving, ungrateful, mean little hamster instead of considering that the hamster has a reason for it. For example, the human may be coming at her in a position that is threatening/looks like a predatory move; the human may not be providing enough space, making the hamster extra territorial; the human may be encroaching on what the hamster views as time alone; the hamster may have a neurological condition; the hamster may otherwise be ill or in pain and the human continues to touch her in a way that is hurtful/stressful; the human may be a jerk who thinks their hamster’s needs don’t really matter because the human bought/adopted her so the hamster is therefore required to be/do what the human wants; and so on. Generally, if you treat your hamster as an object, she’s gonna be pissed off at you and attack. :| [unimpressed face]

Q: I have a hamster, I got her when she was 8 months old and she had lived in a box for all that time without anyone who played with her or showed her love. She is scared of everything now, she has been with me for 4 months now but I can't even touch her... Do you know what can I do to show her that she doesnt have to be scared anymore? I am not new in the "hamsters world" I used to have a hamster and we used to be like you and Qtip but he died from cancer last year.

A: Oh gosh, the poor baby. :( [sad face] That's a good question. I'm sorry your hamster was put in such an awful situation. I don't personally have experience working with hamsters who have been abused, but I'll give what thoughts I have and some places I look to for help (this will be a little long, sorry). I've survived abuse myself, and I feel a lot of the things I would want as a survivor can be applied to some animals' situations.

I think an important first step is to recognize that your hamster may never feel unafraid. Some animals bounce back from abuse and are okay with humans again eventually, but many won't ever feel completely safe around us again (for good reasons!). You may also develop a better bond but not be able to touch or hold her much or even at all, but I think improving any of this relationship will be good for you both. So I would say try not to get your hopes too high and try to be understanding of her fear, even if you feel frustrated that she doesn't feel safe around you yet-- remember, you know you're not going to try to abuse her, but she doesn't know that. This will help both you and her.

The next thing I would say is to be as educated about hamster behavior as possible and her behavior/personality. Knowing what exactly scares her is going to be a crucial part of building a relationship with her that's satisfying to you both. It's also important to know what behaviors to avoid for her health, too, since hamsters are prone to stress-caused illnesses and can die easily.

Another thing you can try to do is what new hamster-human relationships employ-- associating your smell with good things. :] [smiley] So for her, this would likely mean associating your scent with food, treats, and respectful distance/treatment. Obviously it's important for all hamsters to have this association with their humans, but I think it would be even more important for you to be extra careful around her to make sure you don't accidentally trigger her fear. Going out of your way to show her that the way she feels is valid and important will help her feel respected. I think, in general, prioritizing her needs and desires over your own is going to be one of the best things you can do for her-- after all, her needs have never been considered or cared for before.

I hope this helps! >< [scrunched eyebrows] Sorry it's a bit long. I would suggest you also check out some pages like Hamster Hideout and Hamster Central-- there are lots of experienced hamster parents on there who can also offer great advice. :] [smiley] Best of luck to you and your little one! I hope you both end up with a satisfying relationship! <3