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Balls
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To prevent a hamster escaping while using a hamster ball, use a large piece of masking tape across the entire door mechanism. Otherwise the circular door might work itself loose while the hamster is running, or the hamster might chew its way out while the ball is sitting in one position.
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![]() SqueakyChu
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Bedding
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I went through peoples' pics on here and I saw this 1 person's cage had like little cotton or something. Don't use stuff like that. Use aspen, care fresh, or pine but let it sit out for a while to get the strong smell out. Aspen is better.
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![]() thug hamster
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Bedding
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For bedding, use Aspen bedding. My hammie loves the bedding. It's also very comfortable. Petsmart uses that bedding too.:)
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  sistra28
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Bedding
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Avoid using cedar bedding because it can be toxic to hamsters. The best bedding to use is a paper-based product such as Carefresh. Aspen can also be used (although the safety of it is still being debated). Kiln-dried pine is less desirable than aspen. If you use any bagged wood shavings (pine or aspen), it is wise to leave it open to air for a few days before putting your hamsters into it .For more information re the toxicity of cedar and pine, see: Respiratory toxicity to cedar and pine wood
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![]() SqueakyChu
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Bedding
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There is evidence that fluffy cotton-type bedding is harmful to hamsters. It has been known to become impacted in hamsters' bodies as well as amputate limbs. Avoid this type type of bedding at all cost. For lining nests, offer your hamster white, unscented, torn tissue paper. You can find more information about this problem at:
The Complete Hamster Site
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![]() SqueakyChu
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Bedding
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Hemp is a great bedding if your hamster likes to dig in the wood. It has less dust and no smell...and it's absorbant
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![]() SammyJ
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Beddings
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Well, we've all heard about Cedar and how bad it is for your rodent (No matter what breed). But from personal experience, don't go with pine either. Here's the dirt. . . if the bedding you are using has a noticible odor, that means that the wood has esthers which can cause respiratory problems in rodents, as well as cancer. The "eco dry" bedding, that ugly but wonderful grey/brown lumpy stuff works very well for rodents, especially the larger ones, but is difficult to get some places, and expensive. The best all-around bedding choices we have come up with are Aspen for smaller rodents, as it is clean, has no oils or esthers and also is easy tunnelling. HOWEVER, you should fluff it and let the dust out before you put it in a cage. For drip pans, the ground corn cob begging works great, it is fairly cheap and very absorbant. Have Fun!
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![]() Gavin
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Breaking aquariums
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here are the pictures of the accident that occured yesterday where Mr. Nibbles' tank fell off of its shelf because i had scooted it out to give him more food. Well, as the pictures suggest, it was broken all to pieces, so my suggestion is not to put a glass aquarium on such a low shelf as the one i had his on to where you have to scoot it out to gain access.
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travisbk
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Breeding Syrians
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When breeding Syrian hamsters, educate yourself beforehand. Never leave both the male and female together in an enclosed cage unsupervised for an undetermined amout of time. After the mating process has been completed, the female will often begin to attack the male. In some cases, the worst of these injuries can even result in the male's death.
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![]() SqueakyChu
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cages
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Please think carefully before choosing the Crittertrails Revelutions cage, we got one for one of my son's Hammy. the little part that helps it spin came apart and we think he swallowed a piece of it he died very soon thereafter :-{ I fully believe the cage caused his untimly death and the heartbreak of a 5 yr old.
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LindaMarieHamsterQueen
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Chewing
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Be aware that allowing your hammie to chew on cardboard can be harmful. I had a hamster die from swallowing cardboard and having it clog her intestine. The wooden chew sticks found at pet stores are a better option. Never give your hamster any wood that was not bought at a pet store to chew as it can contain harmful chemicals that could kill your pet. Do make sure to always have chew toys readily available for your hamsters as their teeth need to be worn down or the teeth may grow so long that the hamster can't do neccessary things such as eating or grooming.
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![]() appaloosatb
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Escape
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Be sure that your hamster cage is well secured to prevent escape of your pet. A fall from a high surface can either injure or kill a small animal. In addition, a free-roaming pet may be exposed to the ravages of household poisons, lack of food, an unsuitable environment or another larger pet who is unaware that a hamster is not food!
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![]() SqueakyChu
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Escaping
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If your hamster has a habitrail cage that the door hooks onto a bar and your hammie keeps opening it and getting away you can use twist-ties to secure the door to the cage. This will prevent the hamsters from falling to the ground from a high surface and being hurt of even killed.
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_Beckmyster_1
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Food
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My hamsters love chicken, hamburger, pototoes, and almost anything I eat....a little bit of ice cream is a good treat, too!
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phenoixrocketqueen
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Food
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Do NOT under any circumstances feed your hamster chicken, hamburger, and other human foods. It isn't healthy for your dog or your hamster. If you aregoing to feed it anything other that it's pet food, then give it veggies only. You can give your pet food allergies if you feed it anything else.
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I_Am_Laura_Doll1
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Hand washing
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For both your and your hamster's safety, always wash your hands before and after handling your pet. This simple procedure can prevent the transfer of disease (human to pet, pet to human, pet to pet) as well as reduce your chances of being being bitten.
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![]() SqueakyChu
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Handling
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If you are new to hamsters, always handle the hamster over its cage or over a broad, flat surface (bed, table). A fall can cause a hamster to sufferfractures or other injuries leading to death.
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![]() SqueakyChu
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Locking doors
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If you think the door might be open, check. Its a lot easier to get up from a show or bed than to be frantically searching for the lovely guy the next day
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![]() SammyJ
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Metal Wheel
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Make sure that, if you use a metal wheel for your hamster, to weave paper through the rungs so your hamster won't get his/her legs caught.
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![]() Victoria
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Pet Playpen
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If you buy a Pet Playpen (usually 10 bucks at Wal-Mart), and it's the kind that folds up that has 9 panels and vertical bars all over, please situateyour toys inside very carefully. Make sure that no toys are near the edges. Hamsters can easily climb up their highest toys, jump and hook their paws into the horizontal bars at the top of the panels, which makes for a great escape ladder. Even if you think your arrangement is safe, always supervise.
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Elven-Eve
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Pet Playpen
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My syrian can easily climb over the playpen without any boosts. It only took her ten minutes to figure out how do it too.
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I_Love_Wheels_G
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Plastic Toys
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Don't buy those cute little plastic toys for your hamsters that are sold in pet stores. Nine times out of ten your hamster will chew on the toy. Chewing plastic can lead to sore mouths where your hammie won't be able to eat. If the hamster eats the plastic it could cut up it's insides (ouch!). Instead buy wood toys or use toilet paper tubes.
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![]() HamsterLady
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Preventing injury
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If your hamster is running free, and you cannot actually see him, do not sit down or walk hurriedly into any space unless you know for sure that your hamster will not be in the space you're about to occupy or enter.
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![]() SqueakyChu
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Sickness
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When your hamsters is sick or you think he's sick, don't try to treat him yourself unless you know what you're doing. Some medicines or antibiotics can be harmful to a hammie. So, please, if your ham is sick, take him to the vet.
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_Beckmyster_1
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Syrians
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Never have more than one Syrian together in the same space at the same time after the age of 6 weeks except for breeding (after learning the technique of doing this safely). These are solitary animals and will turn on one another quickly, resulting in preventable injury or even death. This often happens at night when these pets are least likely to be monitored.
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![]() SqueakyChu
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Toob a Tops and look out posts
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Make sure that look out posts and hamster tubes have air holes because many of the look out posts (especially the ones more than 2 years old) do not allow air to flow in and out and could result in major brain damage or even death! If there aren't any holes, you can usually drill some holes (with the hamster NOT IN THE LOOK OUT POST OR TUBES, of couse!) or poke holes with a knife... but please be careful!
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_-_Alyss_-_
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Treats
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In a two-level cage, avoid offering your hamster a treat large enough to lodge in the vertical tubes. A lodged treat may either trap a hamster or block the hamster from access to food and water.
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![]() SqueakyChu
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Wheels
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Use a wheel that has a solid surface and rear wall so that tiny feet/legs do not get caught, broken or amputated. Be sure that the wheel is the right size for your hammy. Too large and hammy can't spin it, too small and hammy won't enjoy as his back is arched and he can't stretch is legs to run. Keep wheel clean to prevent spread of germs and infection. Always position the wheel so that it is far enough away from balconies or other climbing objects that the hammy won't fall and get caught or pinched. If the wheel is too close to objects, reposition objects/balconies higher up and slide wheel left/right until there is enough space that hammy will plop down into a nice thick pile of bedding. Keep wheel in good working condition by cleaning and checking regularly for any cracks or other damage. Replace immediately with a safe and appropriately sized wheel and keep squeaks and rattles at bay by lubricating the post after each cleaning with a scant amount of non-toxic lubricant.
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knottyceltic66
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Wheels
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Secure the wheel safely to SOMETHING, if you wake up in the morning and Hammy's leg is caught or he got crushed, it's a horrible feeling (we had a faulty wheel when I was young and it broke it's leg)
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![]() SammyJ
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