Hamster Accessories

WHEELS

*photo grabbed from http://www.transoniq.com/*

Wheels should be made from one solid piece and should not have spaces between rungs as this can cause injuries to the hamsters' legs. For Syrian hamsters, the wheel should be at least 8 inches in diameter. The Wodent Wheel as shown above is very much recommended for hamsters, both Syrian and dwarfs, although it is a bit expensive (around P800).

HAMSTER TRAILS

Hamster trails are good for hamsters especially if you want to see them run around a lot. These should be assembled and fit properly to avoid hamsters getting out of the cage, as well as preventing accidents from happening (like feet getting stuck). These should also be cleaned often, and checked for cracks and breakages.

More to come: Hamster Baths, Hamster House, Mineral Stone

Housing Hamsters

There are different kinds of hamster cages you can use but the three I will list here are the ones that I think are best, based on my experience.

 

1. PLASTIC BINS
 

These are available in almost every hardware store. For dwarf hamsters, you can use at least 10-12L plastic bins. You can drill holes on the lid for more ventilation, and for attaching a water bottle to one side of the bin. The main advantage of this is that it is cheaper and lighter to carry / easier to clean than aquarium tanks. You can also stack them to save space. You just need to make sure that there are enough holes on the sides for the hamsters not to get suffocated.

2. WIRE CAGES

Wire cages come in various sizes and setup. The ones I would recommend though are the single/double floor type with collapsible wire frames and without pull-out trays. These kinds of wire cages are easy to clean and assemble. Three-floor cages are unnecessary and can just cause accidents to your hamsters. The plastic base for wire cages should be at least 2-3" high to avoid lots of wood shavings littered outside the cage. Pull-out trays should be avoided as much as possible because they make cleaning harder, and accumulated hamster pee and dirt seep through the sides.

3. AQUARIUM

 

An aquarium tank should be at least 5 gallons, with no sharp edges at the corners or cracked sides and a well-fitting top with no gaps or holes. The lid should be secure and well-ventilated, with a wire mesh top instead of airholes, which do not provide enough air for your hamster to breathe normally. The aquarium’s advantages are that it minimizes odors and retains bedding and food. It will also your hamster safe and confined, as long as the top is secure. The disadvantage is that there can be a lack of ventilation, and it must be cleaned often so that odors do not build up in the cage. Aquariums are bulky and can be heavy. (From: Small Angels Rescue)

Among the three hamster cages mentioned above, the one I would recommend is the plastic bin cage. There are a lot of ways you can personalize your bin cage, and it is cost effective.

 

*photo grabbed from chinchillanation.com*

Winter Whites

One of the current hamster breeds that most hamster owners in the Philippines are craving for. This cute little dwarf hamster is a close relative to the Campbell dwarf hamster, except that it has a rounder face, and shorter ears. This is the only known hamster breed that can be crossed with the Campbell, but it has been said that hybrids of the two are known to develop diabetes.

The coat of the Djungarian (Winter White) hamster is less woolly than that of the Campbell's dwarf hamster, and apart from the normal colouring, they can be coloured pearl, sapphire, mandarin, blue, argente, yellow blue fawn, camel, brown, cream, merle and umbrous The head length of the Djungarian hamster is 70 to 90 millimetres in length, the length of the tail is five to 15 millimetres, and the hind legs are 11 to 15 millimetres. The body weight changes dramatically throughout the year. It is at its lowest from July to August^. In males, the body weight ranges from 19 grams (0.67 oz) to 45 grams (1.6 oz), and in females, 19 grams (0.67 oz) to 36 grams (1.3 oz). In human care, they are slightly heavier. The average lifespan of the Djungarian hamster is one to three years of age in captivity, though they can live longer. In the wild, they are known to live as little as one year. (Exceprt from Wikipedia)

It has been said that it is easier to breed Winter White hamsters and that they breed all year round, but I think it still depends on the climate of the country they are in. The easiest way to ship these hamsters is if you buy them from nearby countries, as they have a bigger chance of travel survival. Singapore and Thailand are two of the nearest countries who abundantly sell them.

List of Food that are Safe/Unsafe For Our Hamsters

Here is a list of foods that are safe for your hamster to eat. Remember that sugar should be avoided with Campbell's dwarves as they are prone to diabetes so no fruits, corn, peas or carrots for them or anything containing alot of sugars.All new foods should be introduced slowly to avoid upsetting the hamster's stomach and/or causing diarrhea. A good way to introduce them is to give a piece of fruit/veggie one day skip a day or two then give them another piece of fruit/veggie skip a day or two etc. once their systems get used to that amount you can slowly add on more days.Don't go overboard with it though.I'd say two a day is the max it should go. That 2 daily being one fruit/veggie and one protein/other food. Make sure you rinse the fruits and vegetables off with water and let them sit at room temp for a min or two before giving them to the hamster(s). If anything is gotten from outside you need to be absolutely positive that there are no pesticides on or around it. If you're not sure on that it's best to stay away from wild plants/veggies/fruits.

FRUITS

• Apple (seedless)
• Banana
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Cantaloupe.
• Cherries
• Cranberries
• Grapes(seedless)
• Lychee
• Mango
• Melon
• Peaches (no stone)
• Plums (no pits)
• Raspberries
• Raspberry Leaves (helpful for diarrhea)
• Strawberries

VEGGIES

• Asparagus
• Bean Sprouts
• Bok Choy
• Broccoli
• Cabbage (Limited amounts)
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Chard
• Chestnuts
• Chickweed
• Chicory
• Clover
• Corn on the Cob
• Cucumbers
• Dandelion Leaves
• Endive
• Green Beans
• Kale
• Parsnips
• Peas
• Radicchio
• Romaine Lettuce
• Spinach
• Squash
• Sweet Potatoes
• Sweet bell Peppers
• Swiss Chard
• Turnip
• Water Chestnuts
• Water Cress
• Zucchini

MEATS AND PROTEINS FOODS

• Cooked Ground Beef (Rinse well in hot water to remove any grease)
• Cooked Chicken or Turkey (Steamed or baked)
• Low Fat Cottage Cheese
• Fish Cod (Cooked removing bones and skin)
• Grasshoppers (Pet Shop)
• Mealworms (Pet Shop)
• Crickets (Pet Shop)
• Bread(whole grain no white bread) soaked in milk ( Low Fat, Skim, Soy)
• Eggs ( boiled or scrambled)
• Plain Tofu
• Plain Low Fat Yogurt
• Dog Biscuits (No Garlic, onion, or onion powder)
• Monkey Chow
• Lab Blocks

OTHER FOODS

• Buckwheat
• Baby Food(low sugar and no onion or garlic)
• Cheese (mild cheeses in moderation)
• Cooked Plain Brown Rice
• Cooked Pasta(Wheat or Spinach would be better)
• Dry toast(Also helpful for diarrhea
• Flax seed
• Low or Sugarless Cereals
• Pumpkin Seeds (unsalted
)
• Nuts (No almonds)
• Sesame Seeds
• Soybeans(Roasted no salt)
• Squash seeds
• Lentils
• Oatmeal(dry or soaked in skim or lowfat milk)
• Nutritional Yeast
• Bran and Wheat Germ (Refrigerated goes bad fast)
• Peanuts (unsalted)
• Alfafa
• Unsalted Popcorn (no butter)

FOODS TO AVOID

• Almonds (Contains Cyanic Acid)
• Apple Seeds
• Canned food
• Chocolate
• Candies
• Chips and Junk food
• Pork Products
• Potatoes (Raw)
• Raw Kidney Beans
• Eggplant
• Fool's Parsley
• Grape Seeds
• Avocado (Contains Cardiac Glycosides)
• Raw Rhubarb
• Tomato leaves
• Oranges or Tangerines(no citrus fruits)
• No watermelon (the water content is high causes diarrhea)
• Cherry Stone
• Peach Stone & Leaves
• Apricot Stone
• Lemon or Lime
• Jams and jellies
• Spices
• Garlic
• Onions
• Leeks
• Scallions
• Chives
• Pickles

GRABBED FROM: HAMSTERRIFIC

SAFE AND UNSAFE MATERIALS FOR HAMSTERS

Safe resources:
Aspen
White birch (lolly sticks)
Willow
alfalfa
Rocks (sterilized in boiling water and baked in an oven to dry. large enough so the hammies are unable to pouch them)
Toilet rolls
Plain paper (no ink or colourings)
Plain card and corigated card (again no ink or colourings)
Non toxic glue- pva, glue gun etc
Toilet roll
Poplar plywood
Birch plywood (more difficult to cut than poplar but more readily availible. plywood is NOT suitable for chinchillas due to the glue used)
Egg cartons (clean and free from raw egg stains)
Toilet roll paper mache (wet toilet roll with water molded over glass bowls/cups etc and left to dry to create tubes and dome shaped homes. Removed from glass before being given to hamsters)

Unsafe materials
Ceder
Pine
Oak
Cotton
Paints and glues without a "non toxic verification" lable
Cotton
Straw (as in the substrate) sharp and possible damage to cheeks (by Demecat)
Hay (mites)
Net fabrics where feet may get tangled

BY: GIZMO GONZALES

Locally Available Food Mixes That Are Good For Your Hamster

1. Super Concentrate - OK rin naman pero mostly wheat grains. Limited choices for hamsters but contains no peas or beans. Same specs as Super Conditioner, but agai, more wheat. Average cost: P25/kg
2. Purina Bio 300 / 200 - Best type of feed for all small animals. Balanced content, fortified and in pelleted form. So hindi magiging choosy mga hamsters with this. The only downside is this feed can make your hamsters' poop and pee smell a bit bad due to the vitamins and minerals added to it. Average cost: P27/kg
3. Vitakraft Menu For Hamsters - The MOST popular brand sa mga prestige hamster food. Basically, well-balanced. Very wide variety ng contents and fortified with vitamins and mineral. Also controls the odor of your hamsters' excretions, hence, less odor. Downside is hindi lahat ng hamsters, gusto 'to. Also, recently, masyadong madami yung alfalfa pellets sa packs nila, but the hamsters seem to eat them though. Downside is may mejo malalaking pieces na bilog, which can be difficult for them to gnaw, hence, iniiwan nalang nila. Good for their teeth rin yung gnawing pieces. Average cost: P200/kg
4. Versele-Laga Hamster Crispy - Very rare 'to but mas mura compared sa Vitakraft. Very wide variety, more than Vitakraft actually. Fortified with 9 vitamins and minerals and with odor control plus flora-stimul (good bacteria) for digestion. My hamsters love this pero may mga big pieces na I cut up nalang. Balanced yung mix, alfalfa pellets, nuts, seeds, grains, crunchies, crispies, veggies and fruits. Downside, mejo mahirap hanapin and magastos kasi they tend to hoard this food. Average cost: P150/kg
5. Pet-Link / Jolly Hamster - Eto yung "Chin-chan-soo" ang tawag ko. Brands that come from Hong Kong / Singapore. Balanced variety and merong added treats na rin. May gelatin, biscuits, and dried fruits na kasama as treats. Fortified with Vit. A. Good brand naman and smells good too. Hamsters like this but they tend to leave the split-peas. Walang pellets, purely seeds, grain, nuts lang. Downside, sa Cartimar lang available pero worth trying. Average cost: P120/k

CONTRIBUTED BY: CAEZARSALAD

Flight of the Hamsters

Hi guys,

I just found this game, Flight of the Hamsters and thought it would be nice to check it out.

Cheers,

Master Hamster

ONLINE HAMSTER COMMUNITY FOR FILIPINOS

Hi guys, we have created an online hamster community for us Filipinos, and would appreciate everyone to sign-up and make the site alive. Just follow this link here:


Hamsters Inc., (Philippines)

and sign up!

Thank you!

-Master Hamster

HAMSTER PREGNANCY

How do I know if my hamster is pregnant?

Generally, there is no sure way to tell if a hamster is pregnant as each hamster manifests pregnancy in a different way. But, there are a few signs to be on the look for. First, the size of the expecting mother. The pelvic are of the hamster will appear larger especially on the last 3-5 days of her pregnancy. The hamster will ofteb bear a shape of a pear. Second, the female's nipples will become more pronounced or visible. This is not always a sure sign as some hamsters' nipples do not show until suckled or some hamsters' nipples are always showing. Third, a pregnant female hamster may show aggression towards her partner/cagemate and owner. Fourth, they start making nests. Though it is not always the case. Fifth, the expecting mother will hoard more and eat/drink more than the usual. And sixth, if the male doesn't mount the female or if the female refuses to mate with the male.

How long is a hamster pregnant until it gives birth?

The gestation period of a hamster varies on its breed. For Syrian hamsters, usually around 16 – 18 days. For Dwarf Russian Winter White and Dwarf Russian Campbell’s hamsters, 18 – 21 days. For Roborovski hamsters, 21 – 30 days. For the dwarf species, complications often arise when the hamster carries its babies too long. A Syrian hamster can have up to 6 – 24 pups, for the dwarfs, up to 4 – 14, and the Roborovski, 3 – 10. Although, bigger and smaller litters are not rare.

When can I separate the pups from their mother?

For the first 12 days of their lives the young cannot control their body temperature, so an adult needs to be on the nest and the father or siblings are vital for the care of the offspring. The babies cannot grow if they are cold and as litters are born in such quick succession, they need to grow fast. About 11 days, the pups will start to open their eyes and eat solid food. At 14 days, they are fully capable of living by themselves but it is advised to let the pups stay with the mother until they are 4 weeks of age so they may learn the basic survival instincts.

BY: CAEZARSALAD

DIFFERENT HAMSTER BREEDS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Syrian [Mesocricetus auratus] (Also known as Teddy Bear, Golden Hamster) – The largest of all pet hamsters and the most common in pet shops. They can range from 5” – 8” in length. They are the best beginner hamsters as once tamed, they are forever tamed. They are less likely to bite. They come in many colors and coat types. This hamster is not very social towards other hamsters as they may fight to death if housed in groups, thus, it is most recommended to keep only one Syrian Hamster in per cage because they are very territorial.

Campbell’s Dwarf [Phodopus campbelli] - They are the biggest of the dwarf species, ranging from 4” – 5” in length. They have a reputation to be biters but this is not entirely true. Though among the breeds, they are likely to bite when they feel threatened or annoyed as this hamster moves quite slow. They come in a wide variety of colors and coat patterns. They also possess a dorsal stripe that runs through its back. This hamster is quite sociable and enjoys company, given that they grew up together, especially in same sex groups.

Roborovski [Phodopus roborovskii] (Also known as Desert Hamster) – The smallest hamster known to date, reaching only 3” in maximum length. They are noted for not having a dorsal stripe, unlike other dwarf species. They are also noted for their cute faces, puffy noses, long whiskers, and their white eyebrow-like patches above each eye. They are very fast, and not intended for beginners and children. They are also very social hamsters, and prefer living in same sex or mixed sex groups. Taming them can also take some time but they almost never bite. They do not have much coat variations as they are fairly new to the pet trade.

BY: CAEZARSALAD

A-Bao Dreaming

Here is a video from Youtube I just want to share. It's a golden hamster sleeping, and apparently dreaming. Enjoy everyone!

PETS 101 - Hamsters

Hi guys! Here is a video from Youtube that features hamsters as pets. I hope you enjoy this one!

-Master Hamster

Introduction to Pet Hamsters

Basically, hamsters are rodents. They look like mice w/o tails, and much much cuter! In the Philippines, three kinds are being sold in most pet shops.: the long-haired Syrian hamster (also called Teddy Bear Hamster), the Campbell dwarf hamster, and the Roborovski dwarf hamster. The short-haired Syrian hamster (also called Golden Hamster) is also available, but only in a selected few stores.

The Syrian hamster is the easiest ones to breed, as they can give birth to more pups compared to the dwarf hamsters. They are also the easiest to tame, and once you've tamed them, they never forget. Adults measure from 5 to 7 inches long, and can live up to 3 years at most. The average number of litter they can produce is around 8-10 pups.

The Campbell dwarf hamster is a bit harder to tame, and have the tendency to nip or bite. They are smaller than the Syrian hamster, being about only 4-5 inches long, and can live to an average of 2 years. The average number of litter they can produce is around 5-6 pups.

The Roborovski dwarf hamster is the smallest of the three hamster breeds i mentioned, and the fastest ones. The are really cute, and look like hamsters with brows and mustaches. They measure around 2-4 inches long, and can live up to 3 years. They are also the hardest to breed, and have a longer gestation period.

All three types of pet hamsters are very cute, and easy on the pocket, but it depends on the preference of  the pet owner which one they want to keep as each kind has their own unique characteristics everyone can enjoy.

Welcome to Hamsters Inc., (Philippines) !

This page is dedicated to hamsters, and hamster lovers not only in the Philippines but around the world. Trivia, instructional videos, and other information regarding hamsters will be posted here for our readers to enjoy and learn from.

We hope that you enjoy visiting our page and support our cause for promoting hamsters in the Philippines.

Thank you very much!

-Master Hamster