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If you've decided that you'd like to get a pet hamster, it's a good idea to buy and prepare a hamster cage beforehand. That way, you can be sure that you have everything you need to care for your new pet before you bring it home.
The first thing you should look for is a hamster cage. These come in different sizes and varieties. Some are plastic with many rooms and tubes that join them. These look nice and can be a lot of fun for your hamster, but you should consider the extra effort that will go into cleaning all the individual parts. These also cost more than simpler styles. You can also consider glass cages with a mesh top. These are heavier and more difficult to move around, but they are fairly easy to clean. Another type of hamster cage has a smooth plastic bottom and wire walls and a roof that snaps on. These are the easiest to clean and move, and they are lightweight.
If you buy a simple style of hamster cage, you might want to outfit it with hamster toys and accessories. Some hamster cages come with an exercise wheel. If not, you can buy one. This keeps your hamster from becoming overweight, and it also provides entertainment and keeps it busy. You can also buy larger balls that you can put a hamster in, and then allow it to walk in them on the floor for more exercise. You may also wish to buy hamster tubes. Hamsters spend a lot of time sleeping, and they like to hide and burrow. You should provide them with some sort of hamster hut or box, which can be lined with bedding.
Hamsters need fresh, clean water in their cage at all times. You should provide them with a hanging water bottle. This keeps the water clean. Water kept in a dish can be contaminated by bacteria and could make your hamster sick. You should change the water daily and rinse the bottle thoroughly.
You should also buy hamster food and a dish. This way, you can keep track of how much food it is eating. It's important to pay attention to your hamster's eating habits so you can notice if it is sick. Moving to a new home can be stressful for a pet, so it may not eat well right away. Pet stores also sell hamster trees and chews. Hamsters like to gnaw on things, so you might want to provide them with some chew sticks or toys. You can also give them some fresh vegetables sometimes as a snack.
Think about where you want to put your hamster cage. It should be somewhere you can access it easily for cleaning and taking care of your hamster, but it should also be away from direct sunlight and cooling or heating vents. Other pets, such as cats and dogs, should not be able to get too close to the hamster cage.
Once your hamster cage is set up, you can start looking for a hamster. Find one that is active and looks healthy. Clean your hamster cage at least once a week and change the bedding. Water and food should be replaced daily. If they are well cared for, hamsters can be great pets and usually live about three years.
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Source by Tom Woodcock
