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What is the Best Hamster Bedding?

June 26, 2013 By Sarah Yee 37 Comments

What is the Best Hamster Bedding?

This article discusses the best hamster bedding you can get for your pet.

Traditionally, wood shavings are a popular option for hamster bedding. However, some types of shavings sold in pet stores are actually harmful to hamsters. For example, bedding made from pine or cedar contain chemicals that can damage your hamster’s lungs in the long run.

Unlabeled wood shavings are also frequently made from these two materials and should be avoided. Always check the labels on the product to make sure that there isn’t any pine or cedar in it.

Other than pine and cedar shavings, scented bedding may contain harmful chemicals and are not that great for your pet hamster’s sensitive nose even if they smell great to you.

Your hamster spends literally all the time in their bedding so it’s important to get something safe and healthy for it. Here are some of the best bedding you can use for your hamsters and other small pets.

Carefresh Ultra and Carefresh Colors

best hamster beddingCarefresh Ultra is the first bedding I got for my hamsters and the one I like best. If you look at some of our earlier hamster pictures, they all have Carefresh Ultra bedding in them! This bedding is also pretty popular among other hamster owners.

Carefresh Ultra is made with white cellulose fiber and free from dyes, ink, and other chemicals. Because it’s white, it’s also easy to spot any soiled bedding which you can then remove (a.k.a spot-cleaning). By spot-cleaning, you can go longer between bedding changes/cage cleaning before the cage starts smelling bad or looking dirty.

In my opinion, this bedding absorbs odor very well. And according to the manufacturer, it’s absorbs odor three times more than traditional bedding.

The only downside to this is probably the cost since Carefresh Ultra is quite expensive compared to other types of bedding like Aspen. Some hamster owners get around this by mixing the more expensive Carefresh with other cheaper (but still safe) alternatives.

carefresh colors beddingCarefresh Colors is another bedding that I like a lot and my robo dwarf hamsters are using this at the moment. It comes in many colors and looks really attractive in a hamster cage or tank, especially if you get matching colors with your cage or accessories. Although Carefresh Colors has dyes in them, the dyes are pet-safe and the bedding absorbs odors just as well as the Ultra.

However, with Carefresh Colors, you won’t be able to see soiled bedding as easily as the white Ultra so it’s not as easy to spot-clean the cage. Similarly, it’s a little pricier compared to other beddings.

Some owners have mentioned that both Carefresh bedding can be quite dusty but I haven’t really observed the same thing. If this is a problem for you, the next bedding (below) might be a better choice.

Kaytee Clean and Cozy

kaytee clean and cozyKaytee Clean and Cozy is another bedding that’s popular with hamster owners. This is supposedly fluffier and softer than Carefresh but I haven’t actually used it myself.

According to other owners, this is highly absorbent and less dusty than Carefresh. It’s also cheaper if you compare the amount of bedding you get for the price.

If you decide to get Kaytee Clean and Cozy, make sure it’s the unscented version because they also sell scented ones under a similar name.

Although I’m not using this right now, it’s one of the bedding I’m going to try next when my existing stock runs out.

Update 20 September 2013: I’ve just switched to Kaytee Clean and Cozy and it really is as soft and fluffy as everyone says. It looks like shredded tissue and feels like it too except it controls odour (although not as well as Carefresh). It’s also completely dust-free and expands a lot from it’s original compressed packaging. I’ll probably be using a combination of this and Aspen from now on!

Aspen Bedding

If price is a concern, aspen bedding would probably be your best option. Aspen is one of the few wood shavings that are not harmful for hamsters. Compared to the other bedding, this is much cheaper for the amount of bedding you can get.

However, Aspen bedding is not as soft or absorbant as Carefresh or Kaytee Clean and Cozy.

There are many brands of Aspen bedding and Kaytee has it as well.  Because it looks very similar to Pine, Cedar, and other wood shavings, be sure to check the label if you’re getting it from a pet store.

PS: I found a great video that reviews and compares Carefresh Ultra, Aspen bedding and Kaytee Clean and Cozy. (Note: Prices mentioned in the video may not be accurate because of differences in location)

Filed Under: Hamster Care, Hamster Help

50 Hamster Care Tips & Facts

June 13, 2013 By Sarah Yee 2 Comments

50 Hamster Care Tips & Facts

Looking for hamster care tips? robohammys and budgiesonline101 have created a very informative video packed with plenty of hamster care tips and facts for hamster owners. Below is Part 1 by robohammys:

Many of the points mentioned in the above video are important things that new hamster owners may not be aware of. For example, pet shops may carry pine, cedar, or scented bedding but these are actually unhealthy  for your pet because they contain harmful chemicals. These chemicals can cause respiratory problems in dwarf hamsters and other small animals.

And here’s part 2 by budgiesonline101

If you’ve enjoyed their videos, be sure to check out there channels here and here.

Filed Under: Dwarf Hamster Videos, Hamster Care, Hamster Facts

Can You Give a Hamster Dog Treats?

June 3, 2013 By Sarah Yee 11 Comments

Can You Give a Hamster Dog Treats?

Yes! Dog treats or biscuits are pretty hard and are usually given to hamsters to help them wear down their teeth. Although wooden chews do a fine job of that, some hamsters simply refuse to use them. In that case, getting a plain dog treat (no additional flavors) for the hamster can help encourage it to bite on the treat and prevent their teeth from being overgrown.

It’s important to get a plain dog treat because not all of them are safe for hamsters. For example, dog biscuits with garlic or onion in them should not be given to hamsters as these food can be harmful to your pet hammy.

Many experienced owners milk bones which you can get online or in major pet stores. It’s quite big so a single piece should last a long time (the entire box would probably last forever in hamster-years) These are not available where I am so I got my hamster another type. You can see my winter white dwarf hamster, Flaxseed, chewing on a dog treat in the photo. That was taken weeks ago and right now, it’s still a whole piece with lots of bite marks on it (:

winter white hamster chewing on dog treatDog treats may also be a good source of protein although I would not recommend anyone giving it to their hamster as food. Some hamsters may enjoy the treat so much that they eat the treat instead of their regular food. If you notice your hamster going through the biscuit really quickly and not touching their food, it might be wise to remove the treat for a while. This is important because the treats do not contain all the nutrients that hamsters require to be healthy.

That said, it’s rare for a hamster to eat only the dog treat instead of their regular food mix (I’ve only heard it happen once). All four of my dwarf hamsters enjoy chewing on dog biscuits, but never as their main source of food.

Filed Under: Hamster Care, Hamster Help

Hamster Weight & Weighing Guide

May 22, 2013 By Sarah Yee 14 Comments

Hamster Weight & Weighing Guide

What is the average hamster weight?

If you’ve weighed your hamster (if you haven’t, check out the instructions at the bottom), you probably want to know whether it’s too heavy or light compared to other hammies. So here’s a list of average hamster weights. The weight ranges are from the book Hamsters A to Z which also contains plenty of helpful information on hamsters and dwarf hamsters.

Note: These are adult hamster weights.

Syrian hamster weight: 5oz – 7oz (140g – 200g)

Syrian hamster

Dwarf hamster weights

Winter White dwarf hamster: 1.5oz – 2 oz (40g – 60g)
Campbell’s dwarf hamster: same as above
Note: the two species of hamsters are also commonly referred to as Russian dwarf hamsters or Siberian hamsters

unidentified russian dwarf hamsters

Roborovski dwarf hamster: 1oz – 1.5oz (25g – 40g)

roborovski dwarf hamsters
Chinese hamster: 1.5oz – 1.8oz (40g – 50g)

dominant spot chinese hamsters

My dwarf hamsters’ weights

I weighed my hamsters today. The winter white dwarf hamsters are still under two months old (as of May 2013) so they’re not fully grown yet. Their weights are 31 grams (Oatmeal) and 25 grams (Flaxseed). My Roborovskis are fully-grown but their sizes are so different! I don’t have their exact ages because I got them from the pet shop. Ichigo is 40grams and Blueberry is slightly underweight at just 24grams.

How to weigh your hamster

hamster weightIf you’re wondering how to weigh your hamster, this is a short guide that will hopefully help you. As we all know, hamsters aren’t particularly keen on staying put in a single place. Of course, if you have an exceptionally tame hamster, you might not think the same, but a hamster (especially if it’s a Robo dwarf hamster!) would likely prefer running about than standing on a weighing scale for you to record how heavy it is.

Why weigh your hamster?

It’s a good idea to weigh your hamster regularly so you can spot any excessive weight loss and deal with it. Sometimes, hamsters lose weight quickly when they get sick, or if their teeth is overgrown and they can’t eat. If you’ve just changed your hamster’s food, it’s also good to track its weight so you can be sure it’s eating properly and not just hiding all the new food somewhere because it doesn’t like it.

Guide to weighing your hamster

  • Digital scale
    You want to use one that’s for weighing postal items or kitchen ingredients. I use this kitchen scale which is under $10 if you get it from Amazon.
  • Small cardboard box or container
    This is for putting your hamster in. I’ve found that my hamsters tend to stay in the house/box so I get enough time to record their weight. If I place them on the scale directly, they just walk off it immediately >.>
  • Treats or sunflower seeds
    If your hamster doesn’t stay in the box or if you can’t find a box, put some treats or sunflower seeds on the scale to get them to stay on it longer. Remember to take into account the weight of the treats. A few sunflower seeds usually don’t weigh anything unless you’re using very large ones.
  • Your hamster
    This is pretty self-explanatory ^^

What I do is put a few sunflower seeds in the box or container and weigh it first. Then, I lure my hamster into the box and weigh the box + hamster together. Subtract the weight of the box from the total weight and you’re done!

Thank you for reading and if you’ve found this post helpful or interesting, please share us with your friends! ^_^

Filed Under: Hamster Care, Hamster Facts, Hamster Help

Dwarf Hamster Food List

May 3, 2013 By Sarah Yee 305 Comments

Dwarf Hamster Food List

dwarf hamster food - seedless grapeNot all dwarf hamster food is equal

Dwarf hamster food usually comes in the form of hamster mixes but the occasional fresh food is also fine. However, not all fresh food can be fed to dwarf hamsters as they may be toxic. Different species of dwarf hamsters also have different food requirements. For example, Russian dwarf hamsters such as Winter Whites and Campbells are not able to eat many fresh fruit because fruit are mostly high sugar and these hamsters get diabetes easily. Some people prefer not to feed their Russian dwarves fruit because they think it may cause diabetes. Roborovskis, on the other hand, can enjoy a seedless grape now and then (like my hamster in the photo ^_^)

Some food is toxic for hamsters and pets

And then there are the foods that are toxic or unhealthy for all types of hamsters. The obvious ones are human junk food like potato chips, chocolate, and candy. But there are also food that are seemingly harmless but are still very bad for your hamster. For example, Avocadoes contain a substance that can cause heart failure in pets when eaten in large quantities. Bitter almonds contain cyanide which can be highly toxic to small pets.

Dwarf hamster safe food list

To help you pick the right dwarf hamster food, here’s a list of food for dwarf hamsters that are safe. Unlike other lists on the internet, I have 1) checked that they are safe from various sources 2) given these food to my hamsters and can confirm that they are safe. I will update the list as I find more food. If a food is not on the list and you would like me to check, please leave a comment below!

Important: Please feed these food in moderation. They should never be used to replace a hamster food mix or pellet

Try our hamster food bot

Check if any food is safe or unsafe instantly with our free (and experimental) hamster food bot. Click on the Send to Messenger button below to start.

Grains, seeds and nuts:

  • Barley
  • Cashew
  • Flaxseed
  • Millet
  • Oats
  • Peanut
  • Pumpkin seed
  • Quinoa
  • Sesame seed
  • Sunflower seed
  • Walnut

Vegetables:

  • Asparagus
  • Basil
  • Bean sprouts
  • Bell pepper
  • Broccoli
  • Carrot
  • Celery
  • Choy sum
  • Cooked potato
  • Corn
  • Cucumber
  • Green bean
  • Kale
  • Okra (a.k.a ladies’ fingers)
  • Spinach
  • Watercress
  • Wheatgrass

Others:

  • Brown rice pasta
  • Boiled egg
  • Mealworm (yikes, but they love it)
  • Grasshopper
  • Crickets
  • Cooked plain salmon
  • Cooked plain chicken
  • Tofu
  • Yogurt

Fruits

You may notice that I didn’t include any fruit. That’s because most fruit is high in sugar and bad for Russian dwarves which get diabetes easily. This is why I think some fruits are okay for diabetic or diabetes-prone hamsters. Don’t give these to your winter white, campbell’s, hybrid, or Chinese hamsters if you’re worried.

  • Apple (without seeds)
  • Banana
  • Blackberry
  • Blueberry
  • Cantaloupe
  • Coconut
  • Cherry
  • Grape (without seeds)
  • Guava
  • Honeydew
  • Lychee
  • Papaya
  • Peach (without pit)
  • Pear
  • Plum (without pit)
  • Starfruit
  • Strawberry

 

Once again, if there is anything that’s not on the list but you would like me to check, please leave a comment below. Thank you for reading!

Filed Under: Hamster Care, Hamster Help

Do You Need a Hamster Wheel for Your Dwarf Hamster?

March 14, 2013 By Sarah Yee 4 Comments

Do you need a hamster wheel for your dwarf hamster or even any other hamster? The short answer is yes! Hamsters are active little creatures that need plenty of exercise. A hamster wheel is not just an accessory for your cage, but a necessary item for the health and wellness of your pet hamster. Robo dwarf hamsters, for example, have been known to travel up to a distance of 4 human marathons every night. That is about 100 miles and plenty of running. In a cage or tank, your pet hamster can only get all that running if you provide it with a hamster wheel.

How to pick a good hamster wheel

Super Pet Silent Hamster WheelA good hamster wheel should be a solid one without rungs. The gaps between the rungs are dangerous and may cause your dwarf hamster to break a limb if they fall though it while running at high speed.

The hamster wheel should also produce little or no sound. If your cage is in your bedroom, you don’t want to get a squeaky wheel because your hamster(s) will be running on it all night.

The wheel should be an appropriate size. Larger may not always be better and your dwarf hamster may struggle running in a wheel that’s too big for it. A 6.5″ wheel is a good size.

Do you need a standing wheel or one that’s attached to your cage? Be sure to get the right one. Some hamster wheels are attachable to cages but cannot stand on their own. If there isn’t a place for you to attach the wheel, make sure you get one with a stand.

The Super Pet Hamster Silent Spinner 6 1/2 Inch Exercise Wheel is a hamster wheel that meets the above requirements.

Here’s another video of my white face robo dwarf hamsters, Ichigo and Blueberry running on their wheels. Sorry about the video quality! This was my first ever attempt at a video.

Here’s a Vine video of Ichigo running on his wheel. You can check out the rest of our Vines here.

Filed Under: Hamster Care, Hamster Facts, Hamster Help

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