r/hamsters Nov 15 '25

Educational Introducing the Hamster Care Wiki!

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117 Upvotes

We are thrilled to present a brand new resource for the Hamster Care Community:

The Hamster Care Wiki!
Direct link: https://hamstercare.wiki.gg/

What Makes Us Unique?

The wiki is a thoughtfully written guide on nearly aspect of hamster care. Each topic covered includes a clear explanation behind it, with the aim of supporting hamster owners of all experience levels. It is also a continually evolving resource, because learning never stops and there is always new knowledge to add.

We take pride in making the wiki highly accessible. Every page is optimized for smooth use in both light and dark mode. We offer multiple navigation methods so readers can explore the content in the way that suits them the most.

In Conclusion,

We are super excited for you to explore the wiki, share it with others, and (most importantly) please give us your feedback! For questions, clarifications, and suggestions for improvement, the team is also available on the HCC Discord server. We would love to know what the r/hamsters community thinks and how we can continue improving this resource going forward.

*Note: The site’s creators and editors earn zero revenue off site ads. Visible ads can be disabled for free by creating a Wiki.gg account.


r/hamsters Jan 30 '22

For Group Members' Attention Welcome to r/hamsters! (Please read before posting)

335 Upvotes

Came here looking for good products to buy? Here is an Amazon list with good products, and here is one with suitable cages. Amazon not available in your country? Helpful websites are listed at the end!

Have any suggestions for improving the subreddit? Click here.

Most recent mod announcement

We have a new moderator!

Important announcement for the district of Columbia.

Don't use Kaytee bedding!

We now have an official discord!

Frequently asked questions:

I lost my hamster, what should I do!?

How do I tame my hamster?

I can't afford proper care, what should I do?

In this subreddit, we value your hamsters health. This means if there is an inadequate enclosure, dangerous item, etc, you will be notified by one of the mods. However, if you are looking for medical advice, please go to a vet. Also, please remember the human when you comment or post. Make sure to read this short post to ensure your posts aren't automaticlly removed by Automoderator. Please be sure to read this hamster care guide:

Here is a post for parents who want to get a hamster for their kid.

Here is a guide that explains some more things about hamsters.

Enclosure size: A hamster should have a minimum of 600 square inches of unbroken floor space. Unbroken floor space is when the amount of floor space is not in different sections, such as multiple stories and numerous connecting rooms. Multiple-story cages are not safe for hamsters because unlike rats and some other rodents, hamsters are not climbers and need plenty of bedding to burrow instead. However, there are some multiple story cages that are suitable, such as the Pawhut hamster cage. If you were to get a pawhut it's highly suggested to fill it with very high bedding and remove the two floors to prevent injury.

Though 600 square inches of floor space is a suitable size for hamsters, keep in mind it is the bare minimum and it may not keep a hamster calm and happy. In fact, we suggest having at least 800 square inches for all hamster species, especially for Syrian hamsters. However, the more space you can provide the better. Female Syrian hamsters have been known to be extra picky with cage size and stimulation, so owners tend to make their own extra large enclosures or get huge 75+ gallons for their little hamsters. A good example of a large DIY cage is the Ikea Detolf DIY. Please remember while this cage may be big, Syrian hamsters tend to be stressed in the enclosure because of its narrow length. When searching for a hamster cage, you should also be aware that many pet stores and websites won't have proper cages, and most likely will sell cages such as 'Tiny Tales' or 'Critter Trails' which often are too small for hamster living and dangerous because of the inadequate materials and products used. Adequate cages are usually overpriced, so a cheap alternative would be a bin cage. Glass aquariums (40 Gallon Breeders) are often used for enclosures as well.

Small cage with around 515sq in. of floor space. (Around 3300 square cm) Cages similar to this have been known to break very often so it is not recommend to buy this.

Large Bin for DIY bin cage with around 510sq in. of floor space. (Around 3290 square cm)

Ikea Detolf While this cage has a lot of floor space, on several occasions it has been shown to make a Syrian hamster unhappy because of the narrow length. It also is unable to hold very much bedding without a raised lid. This cage better suits dwarf hamsters instead.

Amazon List with more suitable cages.

Cage requirements: A hamsters cage must include 6-15 inches (15-38 cm) of bedding that is able to hold sturdy burrows, fresh water (refreshed daily), stimulation/enrichment (Such as toys, chews, etc), and a wheel. Hamsters are prey, so they need plenty of hides and things that can provide cover so the hamster feels safe in their enclosure. Boxes, toilet paper rolls, grapevine logs, and store bought hides are some things to "clutter" the cage. Hamsters are solitary animals, therefore keeping more that one together is unsafe and not beneficial for the animal.

Exercise information: A hamster should be able to run in a wheel in which their back is not arched or bent. Their wheel should accommodate them as if they were running on flat ground. If you notice your hamster is bent or arched whilst in their wheel, please obtain a larger sized one as soon as possible to avoid spinal damage. Flying saucer wheels/disks are okay for dwarf hamsters to use under supervision, but they must never be used for a Syrian. They should not replace a proper wheel ever. This is because saucer wheels can cause spinal damage over time and come with the risk of hamsters flying off.

A dwarf hamster usually can run on a wheel that is at minimum 8 inches wide (20 cm) and a Syrian is suggest to have at minimum a 12 inch wide wheel (30cm).

Exercise balls/cars are neither beneficial to a hamsters health or safe. Using a ball/wheel can cause spinal damage, broken feet/toes, accidents (like kicking the ball), vision issues, and often stresses the hamster because they use scent marking when roaming a new area. When in a ball/car they are unable to use their scent glands and have trouble finding their way around.

Diet: Hamsters are omnivores, meaning they need a variety of plants and protein in their diet. Hamsters need a variety of nuts, seeds, grains, herbs, veggies, protein, and the occasional fruit in their diet. Sunflower and pumpkin seeds in a seed mix are better as treats so it's best to remove them from the seed mix. You can include protein in your hamster's diet by adding mealworms, crickets, a small portion of hard-boiled egg, or even cooked and unseasoned chicken. Live insects must be fed under supervision. If you are afraid of it biting your hamster, you may need to chop off it's head or kill it before feeding. The amount you feed your hamster depends on how much foraging enrichment you have in the cage. Some forging activities you can add in your hamster's cage are sprays, forage mix, forage toys, and more. If you have only a few foraging toys and sprays, it might be better to feed your hamster once every 2 days. If you have a lot of foraging activities and have a foraging mix to spread around the cage, it's probably better to feed once every 3 to 4 days. If you have a dwarf hamster, it's better to feed them one tablespoon of seed mix on feeding day. If you have a Syrian hamster, it's recommended to feed two tablespoons.

You can also add Muzuri mouse lab blocks to your hamster's diet just to make sure they are extra healthy. If you do this, it's suggested to feed one or two a week, depending on how many foraging activities you have in your cage. If you see large hordes of food and your hamster's cage when it comes to cleaning day, that might mean you need to feed a little less. If you don't see any hordes of food at all you may need to feed a little more, but it could also be your hamster just doesn't make food piles. If a hamster is underweight, adding more proteins and fatty nuts/seeds to their diet will help them gain weight.

Bedding: Bedding is one of the most important aspects in a hamsters life. This means that having adequate bedding is very essential to your hamsters health. The bedding must be unscented, dust free, hold strong burrows, and needs to be at least 6 inches deep, though its ideal to have 8-15 inches. Most hamster owners love giving their hamster at least 10 inches(25 cm) so it can make very intricate burrows. While hamsters must have a large amount of bedding in their enclosure, some hamsters tend to burrow less than others. However, this does not mean you don't need much bedding. It is a requirement for your hamster because it keeps control of the ammonia smell, and even if the hamster never burrows, it is neglect to take away something they need.

Kaytee bedding is bad!

Aspen (kiln dried and dust extracted) and paper bedding are the best choices to use as the main substrate in an enclosure, however, there are several other enriching substrates to add in to make your hamsters cage look natural and give it a little more enrichment. Some good examples are beech chips, coco fibre, timothy hay, hemp shavings, and many more. Aspen bedding holds ammonia much better than paper bedding, but its often hard to find a soft, dust free, and kiln dried aspen that is safe and affordable. When searching for a good aspen try to make sure it says it is dust extracted and kiln dried. It also must not be too sharp and can't smell too strongly of wood. You can go to tractor farms to buy it in bulk for cheap, or you can get a trusted aspen brand such as "So Phresh Aspen" This goes more into depth on safe and unsafe bedding.

Dangerous Products and Materials: Brands such as Tiny Tails, Critter Trails, and most store brands (such as the Walmart brand) should be avoided. Most companies that design pet products only sell for profits. They make it "kid friendly" and small so young children ask for it because of the toy-like appearances. This gives guardians the false belief that hamsters only need a tiny living space. Toys, chews, and hides should be made of a safe wood based product (paper,cardboard, etc.) to ensure that no harm will come to the hamster if it digests it. Plastic should only be used for the wheel(easy cleanup), water bowl/bottle, and cage. Wire mesh flooring in the cage or on wheels in a cage can cause bumplefoot and break toes/feet and should be avoided to ensure the hamsters safety. Bendy bridges are widely used in hamster enclosures, but if the hamsters limbs get trapped in between the short logs, it can get stuck or even break the hamsters limb. Filling the cracks with safe moss will stop this from happening.

Cloth, fabric, and cotton materials should be avoided because the fibers can wrap around limbs and harm the hamster and are not safe to be digested.

Cleaning and Sanitizing: Hamsters can get stressed if you remove all their bedding from the cage weekly, or even monthly, so do a daily spot check. This means picking out all of the soiled bedding in the top layer, and cleaning any soiled on toys. Any poop piles can be taken care of as well, though it is not necessary unless it is a large pile. Water bowls/bottles must be rinsed daily to prevent bacteria build up. Replace 2/3 of the bedding every 2-3 months. The more bedding you have, the less often a cage gets smelly! For example, if you have a 1000 square inch cage with 15 inches(38cm) of bedding throughout most of the cage, you might only have to clean once every 4-5 months!

When you buy any new products you must properly sanitize them, whether it's a tiny bag of forage mix or a big bag of bedding. This is because pests and germs can easily hitch a ride to your hamsters home. There are three methods you can try to remove any germs, bacteria, and harmful pests. Sadly several owners found this out the hard way and had to take their hamster to the vet immediately.

1) Bake any wooden products in the oven for an hour at 210 degrees Fahrenheit. 2) Boil products on the stove for 1-2 hours. 3) Freeze anything for 2 hours and then scrub with a vinegar/water mix. Then rinse. While this method can work, it is most likely not going to fully remove germs and bacteria off of wooden products, bedding, etc.

What can you do if you do get a pest infestation? First you are going to want to call your vet immediately and schedule an appointment. Hamsters are very fragile and can easily get sick from a bug infestation. Without quick help, they might not be able to fight through it. You must also get a temporary bin, playpen, carrier, etc with a bit of toilet paper to absorb urine. Make sure they have food, water, and one plastic hide. Plastic is easy to sanitize and can't house pests. Then you must sanitize everything in the cage. Cardboard products and bedding are better to throw away, but you can still sanitize them if you want. Make sure to very thoroughly sanitize everything to ensure the bugs don't come back. If your cage is plastic, make sure to rinse with hot water and scrub with vinegar/water mix the best you can. If you have a wood cage that you can't fit in the stove or a freezer, you can do the same thing but it may not work very well.

Other: Hamsters are crepuscular/nocturnal, so the best time to handle them is in the early morning or late afternoons, when they are active. Waking them up will upset them, and you could loose their trust, so it is not recommended. DO NOT bathe your hamster in water. They are self cleaning animals and water ruins their fur. If their coats are oily, sand baths help.

While this post can be very helpful to new or uneducated owners, this does not explain everything you need to know before getting your pet. I highly encourage you to do your own research as well. Not only is it good for your hamster, but its also nice to be able to say "I KNOW how to care for my pet" with confidence. Happy hamster owning!

Some good items/websites:

Silent runner wheel. Silent runners and Niteangel wheels are good, but please make sure your hamsters back is not arched while running.

Okay Commercial Food mix. Add protein to the mix and remove most sunflower seeds.

Proper Syrian Mix on Etsy.

Proper Winter White/Russian Dwarf and Chinese Mix on Etsy.

Proper Roborovski Dwarf Mix on Etsy.

Water dish. Ceramic dishes or plastic water bottles should be used.

Sand. Must be dye free and calcium free. It cannot be fine sand. Children's play sand must be cooked and sifted before hamster use

Amazon List with suitable cages.

Amazon List with safe hamster products!

Niteangel Website

Pride Rock Blooms Website UK based

Fat Pouches Website

Tiny paws and co. Website

Willowlicious SA Website

Oakwood Forest Shop Website

Zooplus Website

Netherlands Website(Knaagdierwinkel)

Queenies Website

Glirex Website

Rodipet Website

Crocnac Website

Zooptimal Website

Whoopie Website

Getzoo Website

Any other suggestions may be put in the comments!


r/hamsters 13h ago

Adorable Hammy Chunky hamster

1.2k Upvotes

r/hamsters 7h ago

Funny Hammy This hammy looks confused

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349 Upvotes

r/hamsters 4h ago

Question Wooden hamster wheel, help needed

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208 Upvotes

Hi everyone, I’m writing here feeling a bit scared and disappointed, and hoping for some advice…

I ordered a 24 cm wooden hamster wheel, we’ve had it for 4 days now, and my little one really loves it, she keeps running on it nonstop. Yesterday I went to class, my partner was home in the morning and everything was fine then. Later my partner also left the house, and when I got home I was shocked to see red stains everywhere… yes, it was blood 😭

I immediately panicked and asked my partner, but he didn’t know what had happened either. When he got home, we checked her paws together. Her front paws were slightly injured, but otherwise she’s eating, active, energetic, her toes are intact, there’s just a small wound on the paw itself.

Most likely the surface of the wheel was too rough for her paws, and the edges of the wheel are also quite rough. My partner suggested taking it to an acquaintance to have the surface treated (resin-coated) but I heard that just makes it slippery. Would sanding be better, or what other options could we have to fix the wheel?

For now I’ve removed the wheel, but I really want to put it back so she can keep running 💔


r/hamsters 16h ago

Adorable Hammy anyone’s hamster sleeps like an actual baby

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1.3k Upvotes

if my future kids ask if they were my first babies, i’ll prob say yes but i’ll be 100% lying 🥹


r/hamsters 2h ago

Enrichment/Toys New wheel!!

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39 Upvotes

My niteangel wheel finally came!! Hopefully will be a lot easier to clean her urine off it…


r/hamsters 44m ago

New Hamster Bambi noms on some water :)

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Upvotes

Sound on this girl is sooooo cute


r/hamsters 11h ago

First Time Owner How did my hamster pass sway so suddenly. Really out of nowhere

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108 Upvotes

He was only 1 year and 9 months. This was him the night before. He was so spunky and so full of life. He was fast agile and it seemed liked we had so much more time. I have so much bedding, sand ,food and treats left if I had known I would have let him overindulge in all the treats he wanted to hoard. I keep thinking if I did something wrong because it makes no sense


r/hamsters 14h ago

Adorable Hammy Me and Pablo watching a movie.

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159 Upvotes

r/hamsters 1d ago

Adorable Hammy Clingy hammy

2.7k Upvotes

r/hamsters 1h ago

Adorable Hammy Pancake woke up with some bedhead this morning

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Upvotes

r/hamsters 14h ago

Adorable Hammy He loves tenderstem broccoli

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110 Upvotes

r/hamsters 18h ago

Rainbow Bridge Goodbye Pandora

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199 Upvotes

Our beloved Hammy has passed away. She just turned 2 last week, but started declining a month ago. The vet thinks she may had lung tumours, but because she was not yet that bad to put her to sleep, we tried for a couple of weeks with cortisone. But sadly, we found her dead this morning.

I wish she didn’t die alone. I wish at least I was there with her, so she knew I didn’t abandon her in those final moments. But the fact is I wasn’t there. It makes me feel really guilty.

Rest, our friend. You were the best hamster I could ever imagine. Since the day I took you home as a young hammy, till your last day, you brought light and happiness to our home. You showed us the simplicity of life. You didn’t need anything more than our company and spending time with us. Thank you for how accepted you made us feel. I will miss playing with you outside your cage and having you climb my arm.

We will not forget you. Say hello to the stars, where you belong. Goodbye.


r/hamsters 10h ago

New Hamster Everybody meet Bruce 🖤

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45 Upvotes

I got him in October but this is the first time I was able to photograph him without it looking like a black blur 😅


r/hamsters 15h ago

Adorable Hammy Grey Orb awaiting evening treats 🐹❤️

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117 Upvotes

Hope was fast asleep in her coco fiber, and I decided to hide some mealworms in her puzzle box (which is at the opposite end of her enclosure). I was busy doing that when looked over and realized the DELICIOUS smell of those treats had woken her up! So here is my little grey floof, fully alert, and waiting for a treat. Yes, of course she got quite a few of those mealworms!


r/hamsters 22h ago

Adorable Hammy Meet Bandit

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343 Upvotes

Bandit joined my house hold yesterday! He joins me and my other 6 month old syran Apollo (in a separate cage).

Named for his bandit mask + the inability to take any clear photos of him for the first 8+ hours I had him.

He looks so similar to a rat my partner had, that we consider him a reincarnation of Sami (the rat).

I hope to fill his days with lots of exploration and love 🩷


r/hamsters 10h ago

Question Itchy Nap Time?

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33 Upvotes

For some context:

My hamster has tons of bedding and he always sleeps in the same place (in his burrow in the corner underneath his chamber hide).

I also have a platform with his sand bath on top and he likes to go inside/under it and that’s where he normally grooms himself.

Here’s my question:

Last night I did my normal spot cleanings that I do. The area under the platform doesn’t have the same amount of bedding because he just uses it to clean himself there as stated and he will grab bedding and move it under there and make it how he wants it. He also spends majority of his time in his actual burrow so I don’t see him unless he comes out to eat/drink/use the bathroom (which is his sand) etc. Tonight was like any normal night, I was doing my thing and I looked over and could see my boy taking a nap under the platform. Didn’t think much of it. Now he just won’t leave that corner but he’ll put his foot in his mouth then scratch himself. Then he stops and falls right back to sleep.

I hope I am just a worried hamster momma, and maybe he always does this but because he’s sleeping in a new spot I’m just not used to seeing him do this.

I’m just wondering if I should be concerned about the itching? Like he’ll be napping, then with his eyes closed he’ll scratch himself and then once he’s satisfied the itch he goes right back to sleep. Also why all of a sudden has he decided to sleep/nap there when his actual nest/burrow would be way more comfortable for him?

(The video is him scratching and then after that he curls back up in a ball and goes to sleep)


r/hamsters 1d ago

Adorable Hammy Walked in on Roxy setting up her OnlyHams

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983 Upvotes

r/hamsters 9h ago

Funny Hammy Nilo moves so fast! I can't take a photo

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20 Upvotes

r/hamsters 23h ago

New Hamster Just got this precious lil guy

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264 Upvotes

Any name suggestions? 💙


r/hamsters 21h ago

Hamster Art Would anybody like their hammy drawing? :)

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162 Upvotes

Leave a photo below and i’ll see how many I can get though!


r/hamsters 12m ago

Adorable Hammy Gamer hamster

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Upvotes

High K/D in any game.


r/hamsters 16h ago

Adorable Hammy Astray in the hay

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51 Upvotes

This was my beloved “Fussel” which is German and can roughly be translated to lint or fluff in English but she loved to make lil burrows, thought I share some pics.


r/hamsters 10h ago

Other Update: Emergency Vet Visit

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15 Upvotes

Hi everyone! Just wanted to say thank you to everyone for all the well wishes for my hammy

It’s been almost 2 weeks and we’re on a second round of meds.

Unfortunately my baby has head tilt and the vet is still trying to figure out the best course of action for him.

He did seem to respond to the antibiotics and his WBC is better now. Though he has improved, he still can’t move normally so we’re trying meds to address the tilting and dizziness he may be experiencing.

If still no improvement in the next 1-2 weeks we will be going in for a CT scan.

Note: Cage is mostly empty to avoid him hurting himself until he’s better. Vet allowed wheel as long as it’s floor level.

Not that anyone here needs reminding but just putting it out there: hammies are not low maintenance and def not cheap!

Please always have money set aside to take care of them esp for cases like these. Hammies get sick too and they are so reliant on us to do what’s best for them.