One of the best starter pets for any child -- or adult -- is the lovable hamster (figure A). This tiny ball of fur is easy to care for and fascinating to watch. (For instance, did you know that hamsters store food in pouches inside their cheeks? The reason for this is simple: in the wild, they need to be able to collect food quickly and take it back to their burrow to eat it; that way, they're exposed to predators for the shortest amount of time possible.) Getting ready for your first hamster - Read up on hamster ownership before you get started.
- Buy a glass terrarium.
- Spread out plenty of bedding.(Note: On the broadcast, cedar chips were recommended, but actually aromatic substrates should not be used. There are many safer alternatives readily available. Check with your local pet store for recommendations.)
- Hang a gravity-feed water bottle on the side of the tank.
- Kepp plenty of hamster mix and fresh vegetables on hand for feeding your pet.
- Supply an exercise wheel or tubes so he gets plenty of exercise.
- Cover the cage -- hamsters are escape artists!
A few warnings - It's good for a hamster to be held, but you must let your new pet get used to you before you try to handle him. These animals are near-sighted, and a hand that gets shoved into a hamster cage may find itself bitten. Hamsters compensate for their bad eyesight by having an exceptionally good sense of smell, so your pet needs to have the time to get used to your scent and the sound of your voice before you pick him up.
- There are many varieties of hamster available, but you should never put more than one type in the same cage! It's an absolute certainty that they will fight if they're mixed.
- Hamsters average 14 babies in a litter but can give birth to as many as 20. So unless you want to be overrun very quickly, maybe you ought to have a single hamster -- or at least, only one per cage.
Web site resources for Hamsters: All About Hamsters
RESOURCES :
Hamsters Today : A Complete Authoritative Guide
Model: 0793801109
Author: Dennis Kelsey-Wood
TFH Publications
November 1996
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