Hamster Help Archives - Page 2 of 2

Hamster Weight & Weighing Guide

May 22, 2013 By Sarah Yee 14 Comments

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)

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

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

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

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

If 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! ^_^

Dwarf Hamster Food List

May 3, 2013 By Sarah Yee 305 Comments

Not 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!

Do Dwarf Hamsters Bite?

March 16, 2013 By Sarah Yee 59 Comments

Do dwarf hamsters bite? This is a common question by potential hamster owners or parents looking to get their kids a new pet hamster. The short answer is yes. However, it is not common and dwarf hamsters rarely bite without reason. Also, dwarf hamsters are more likely to nibble than to inflict a real bite that draws blood. Since neither nibbling nor biting is ideal, we’ll refer to them both as biting in this article. The following explains why dwarf hamsters bite and the ways you can stop a dwarf hamster from biting.

Why do dwarf hamsters bite?

The hamster is startled
A sleeping hamster or one that is unaware of your presence may react by biting if you try to pick it up suddenly.
The hamster sees you as a threat
Hamsters are territorial and may see you as an invader if you poke your finger into their cage. If you are reaching for your hamster from above, it may also regard you as a predator and bite in defense.
The hamster is frightened
Are you holding your hamster too tightly? It may frighten your hamster and cause it to bite.
Your hand or fingers smell of food
Hamsters have highly sensitive noses and if you’re handling your hamster right after touching food, it may mistaken your fingers for food and start nibbling on it.
It also depends on the hamster’s personality
Some hamsters are more prone to biting than others. My two robo dwarf hamsters, Ichigo and Blueberry, have vastly different personalities. Ichigo has never bitten me under any circumstances but Blueberry has a tendency to nibble on anything that’s put near his face.

Here’s Blueberry the robo dwarf hamster biting at my glove:

How to stop a dwarf hamster from biting

Wash your hands before handling the hamster
Alert a hamster to your presence by putting your hand slowly in front of it and letting the hamster sniff your hand before attempting to pick it up
If your hamster is territorial, try playing with it outside the cage in a neutral area
If your hamster looks scared or takes on a defensive stance, leave it alone for a while instead of trying to interact with it
If a hamster tends to nibble, put on gloves before interacting with it

Training your dwarf hamster not to bite

According to the book Hamsterlopaedia, “reprimanding” your hamster by giving it a light tap on the nose and saying “No!” can teach your hamster that biting is unacceptable and may stop this bad behavior.

But here’s a different tip left by a reader, “cms”:

You should never ever hit a hamster for biting you. Not even a little bop on the nose. They should never see your hands as something that gives punishment, only treats and love. The first time you bop a hamster, they won’t ever forget. Try lightly blowing on their face (not hard enough to scare them) it will let them know that they aren’t supposed to do it without making them afraid of that big looming hand. If you strike them for biting, you’re only reinforcing the fear that caused the bite in the first place.

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

A 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.

Types of Hamster Cages and Their Pros and Cons

March 12, 2013 By Sarah Yee 7 Comments

A good hamster cage is well-ventilated, easy to clean, is safe and comfortable for your dwarf hamster, and prevents it from escaping. Whether you are getting a hamster cage for the first time or looking to upgrade your existing one, learning about the types of hamster cages available and their pros and cons will help you make a better decision. This article explores the various hamster cages you can get and so you can make the best choice for your dwarf hamster.

Wire-Top Hamster Cages

Wire-top hamster cages are made up of a plastic bottom tray and a wire-based top. Wire-top cages usually come in 0.5 inches (12 mm) or 0.3 inches (8 mm) gaps between the bars. For dwarf hamsters, a cage with 0.3 inches gaps such as the Prevue Hendryx Deluxe Hamster and Gerbil Cage is more suitable as the smaller gap prevents them from squeezing through the bars. When buying a wire-top hamster cage, you should inspect the cage for the appropriate gap size, any exposed wire that may injure your hamster, and whether it is securely attached to the bottom tray.

Pros of wire-top hamster cages

Easy access to your hamster
Good ventilation
Easy to clean
Usually comes with accessories like water bottle and wheel

Cons of wire-top hamster cages

Hamster tends to kick bedding out of cage
Opening or shutting cage doors may produce loud sounds
Your hamster may chew on the bars

Glass Tanks or Aquariums

Glass tanks come in a variety of sizes and with or without covers. Some have ventilation holes and others are simply aquariums that have been converted into a hamster tank.

Pros of glass tanks

Easy access to your dwarf hamster
No chance of hamster escaping through bars
Able to see your hamster clearly through the glass
You can have a thicker layer of bedding for your hamster to burrow
Chew-proof

Cons of glass tanks

May be too heavy to move around
May not be easy to clean due to weight

Plastic Hamster Cages

Plastic hamster cages such as the Super Pet CritterTrail Extreme Challenge Habitat usually come with tubes and attachments and can be easily expanded.

Pros of plastic hamster cages

Expandable
Usually comes with accessories such as wheel and bottle
Can usually have a thicker layer of bedding for your hamster to burrow

Cons of plastic hamster cages

Ventilation may not be as good as wire-top or glass tanks (with open tops)
Harder to clean with all the tubes and various attachments
Poor access to hamster if it hides in a tube
Hamster may chew and destroy plastic components

DIY Hamster Cages

DIY cages come in many shapes and sizes. There are the smaller ones made out of plastic bins and larger ones made from re-purposed bookshelves. The variety of DIY cages available is too large for me to make an accurate list of pros and cons. I may include a separate page in the future to do that but if you’re interested in such cages, take a look at an awesome one made from a coffee table below: