HAMSTERS SOUTH AFRICA
EXCUSE THE MESS! * SITE UNDERGOING UPGRADE *
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TAKING CARE OF YOUR HAMSTER
Thinking of getting a hamster? New to owning a hamster?
Already have a hamster?
With too many pet shops generally providing outdated & incorrect information, this site will give new & current hamster owners proper researched advice and tips to ensure a happy and healthy life for the little animal.
Before you get overwhelmed with too much information, we suggest that you begin with the two basic pages for consideration BEFORE you get a hamster, or make any adjustments for the one you already have:
While not all pet shops are completely bad, most are still stocking potentially harmful products, so please be cautious of any advice you receive, and make sure you know exactly what you should use and not use!
It is a good idea for you to download & print our BASIC CARE SHEET to take with for reference when physically shopping for the little one.
A
Additional substrates/enrichment
Adoptions - groups & pages to advertise
Attapulgite/Palygorskite/Sepiolite Clay Litter
B
Baby Hamsters (when to separate)
Baby Hamsters (emergency hand rearing)
BALLS (rolling/exercise balls)
Bathing a hamster (bad)
Bedding Substrates - Depth & Quantity
Bedding Substrates (international list)
Bedding Substrates - Pine Shavings
Bedding Substrates - Safe (paper based)
Bedding Substrates - Paper (HOW TO USE)
Bedding Substrates - Safe Wood Shavings
Bucket Trap (catch escaped hamster)
Butternut Pips (treats)
C
CAGES - also see "H" for Housing
Cages - OK, but not recommended
Cages - bad wire cages
Cages - Rabbit & Guinea Pig (mesh wide bars)
Chipsi Super Granulate & Chipsi Extra XXL
Clay litter - attapulgite/sepiolite/polygorskite
Colds & Respiratory Infections
Cold Weather - keep your hamster warm
Cotton/Fluffy Nesting (bad nesting
E
Eco-Earth (coco/palm peat)
Elderly Hamsters (special care)
Enrichment
Escaped Hamster - How to catch
Eye Infections & Irritation
Eyedrops (Rooibos-Saline)
EXOTICS VET DIRECTORY
F
Fireworks - keep your hamster calm
Flowers & Herbs (bedding toppers)
Flowers & Herbs (safe & unsafe list)
Foam Chips (packaging) (bad substrate)
Food - Dry Food - Additional mixes
Food - Dry Food - fussy hamster
Food - Dry Food - Homemade mix
Food - Fruit & Veg (good list)
Food - Pregnant/Nursing/Baby hamster
Fruit Kernel Bedding (cat litter)
G
H
Handling/Holding your hamster correctly
Herbs & Flowers (Bedding Toppers)
Herbs & Flowers (safe & unsafe list)
Hot Weather - keep your hamster cool
Housing - Cages - rat & tall cages
Housing - Cages - OK, but not recommended
Housing - Custom DIY - Bin Cages
Housing - Habitat Manufacturers
Housing - Glass tanks (fish tanks)
Housing - Modular cages (Habitrails, etc)
I
Important Considerations - general
International Bedding Substrates
International Food List (commercial - dry)
M
N
Nesting Substrate - Fluff/Cotton (bad)
Nesting substrates - Safe (1-ply)
Nibble Rolls (seed gnaw treat- diy)
Non-Toxic Clay - Paper Pulp (diy)
NV1530/1528 Daro/DaYung Wheels
O
P
Pairing/Grouping (hamsters together)
Palygorskite/Attapulgite Clay Litter
Paper - newspaper, magazines, & printed office
Paper & Wood "Wool" (packaging)
Pick up your hamster correctly
Pine Shavings - dangers (research)
Palygorskite/Attapulgite/Sepiolite Clay Litter
Q
R
Reporting abuse
Reptile Enclosures & Vivariums (glass)
Reptile Enclosures & Vivariums (wood)
Respiratory Infections (pneumonia)
S
Sand - beach and building sand
Sand - cleaning (potties & pits)
Sand - garden soil & river sand
Scratches & Abrasions -treatment
Sepiolite/Palygorskite/Attapulgite Clay Litter
SEXING (genders - male or female?)
STARTER LIST (Essential Items)
Stormy Weather - keep your hamster calm
Summer - keep your hamster cool
Swimming - getting your hamster wet
T
TAMING YOUR HAMSTER (main page)
Taming your Hamster (video tutorial)
Taming your Hamster (editorial)
Taming - advice about rescued hamsters
Terrariums & Vivariums (glass)
Thyme-Rooibos Tea for scratches
Toy & Cushion Stuffings (bad nesting)
Transport & Lifts for adoption
U
V
Ventilation - wire mesh options
Vivariums & Terrariums (glass)
Vivariums & Reptile Enclosures (wood)
W
Wadding, Toy, & Cushion Stuffing (bad nesting)
Water - wetting/bathing your hamster
Weight - average hamster weights
Wheels - hack (fix a stiff wheel)
Wheels - hack (fix a squeaking wheel)
Winter - keep your hamster warm
Wire Mesh options for Ventilation
Wood & Paper "Wool" (packaging)
X Y Z
DETAILED INDEX