| Kid's Korner General Care Sheet By Rebekah Brittain |
| What to look for: So you want a hamster? Well when you go to pick your new friend you have a few things to look for. Make sure he looks healthy and happy with big bright eyes and shiny hair. Make sure you get to hold him and make sure he seems nice and friendly. Housing: There are lots of cages you can get for your new hamster. You can get him one with bright colored tunnels and tubes or one as easy as a fish tank. Make sure he has toys to make him happy, food, a water bottle, and a solid wheel. Bedding: Your new friend needs something soft to walk and sleep in, so that is where bedding comes in. Aspen or CareFresh are the best beddings. Never use Cedar or Pine. They have a strong smell that could make your fuzzy friend sick. You can also give your friend some plain white toilet paper or tissue to make a nest with. He will really like that, but never buy the fluffy bedding from the pet stores. It can hurt him if he gets tangled in it or eats it. Food: Any store bought hamster food is good. Just make sure it doesn't have too much corn or sunflower seeds or your hamster will get fat! You can also give your fuzzy friend fresh fruits and veggies. They love broccoli, carrots, and apples for a special treat! Also, don't forget to give him fresh water everyday! Cage Cleaning: Your hamster needs his house cleaned once a week. He doesn't like living in a dirty and smelly home. Once a week you should dump out all of his bedding and replace it with fresh new bedding. Every few weeks it is good to wash his house out in the bath tub with soap and water. Your hamster will be really happy that you cleaned his house. Handling: Your little friend loves to come out and play with you! Once he gets used to you he will love to come out and play every night and explore new things with you. You can even get him a ball to let him run around in. Never let your hamster run in his ball for more than 20 minutes, or he will begin to get very tired! My Hamster is Sick: If your little friend is sick that is not very good. There could be lots of things wrong with him. What you need to do is take him to the vet as soon as you can. The vet will know what to do and can be very helpful and can give you medicine to make your little friend better! And if your parents don't think you're ready for a hamster, you might want to read this article. It gives hints on how to show them you're ready for a hamster. Remember, your hamster is a friend for life! © California Hamster Association |
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