Hamsters how much they cost

Private breeders will often charge more than the average pet store because they are specifically bred to meet stringent breeding standards. This does, however, often mean that when you take your hamster home, they are happier and healthier from the outset. If you are wanting to simply give a hamster a forever home and are not concerned with the breed or color, then when not consider adopting? Visit a local pet shelter and rescue a hamster in need as these are often offered for free when going to a good home.

Although buying a pet hamster is relatively inexpensive, it is the ongoing costs of caring for your hamster that represents the real expense.

To begin with you have the initial outlay of purchasing the cage, wheel, hideout and toys followed by the ongoing costs of bedding , substrate and food. And, if your hamster is anything like our hamster Oscar, then he will be completely pampered with his every whim catered for. If your hamster becomes terminally ill, then the only option left available to you can often be the most heartbreaking.

Although an owner never wants to have to make a life or death decision, sometimes putting your hamster to sleep is the only way to stop their suffering. This procedure is completely painless for your hamster but does need to be carried out by a professional vet. Pre-packaged muesli or pellets bought from your local pet store or online offer a great source of nutrients and minerals for your hamster, however small quantities of fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs offer a great way to supplement their diet too.

Wild hamsters forage for their food at night and are not particularly fussy, so resist the urge to go out and buy lots of fancy vegetables and give your store cupboard greens a scrub instead.

Hamster particularly love broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, chicory, kale, spinach, sweep peppers, cucumber and carrots. Be mindful, however, that some fruit and vegetables are high in natural sugars so should not be given on a daily basis. For full information on what to feed your hamster , see our informative guide.

When you visit the hamster section of your local pet store you will be presented with rows of tasty hamster treats.

But beware before buying these, as they are not always considered healthy for hamsters. Often laden with sugars and syrups a more nutritious and cost effective option is to make some hamster muffins or cookie snacks yourself.

Please see this article for some homemade hamster treat recipes. One of the biggest outlays you will make as a responsible hamster owner is to invest in a good cage, but make sure you get the correct size from the start.

We made the mistake of buying a starter kit and within weeks Oscar had outgrown his habitat. Ideally you should only consider hamster cages that are a minimum of 24 inches by 12 inches and at least 12 inches tall — especially if you have a Syrian, as these are the largest hamster breed growing to around inches in size. This should save you money in the long run, as you will not need to constantly change, adapt or update their cage as your hamster grows and develops in personality.

Make sure they have plenty of ventilation, are easy to clean out and that they are made from durable materials. If you are looking for recommendations or want to do some research before purchasing, check out our blog on best hamster cages. Alternatively, if you are thrifty and into DIY, why not make your own hamster bin cage. Bin cages are cheap to make in comparison to the prefabricated ones that you can buy at the pet store, which means money for you to spend on pampering your pet hamster instead.

If you are interested in how to make a hamster bin cage , take a look at our step by step guide. They increase your hamster's living space, providing a chance for him to move around and explore in the confines of the cage. The more you invest in a great system of tubes, the more space you're creating for your hammy. As for chew toys - they're essential for keeping your hamster's teeth in good shape. Without chewing, these teeth will grow too long.

You'll end up paying a lot more to a veterinarian for filing down these teeth. Invest in good chewing toys instead and replace them as necessary.

It's good for your hamster's teeth as well as her mental well-being. Cheap ones will break, necessitating a replacement. You could end up spending more money than you would have if you had bought a quality toy in the first place.

Do keep in mind that you can make some toys yourself. There are tons of tutorials out there on how to do so. You can even take empty toilet paper and paper towel tubes and give those to your hamster to play with. These are smart alternatives if the costs of hamster care are getting to be too much for you. Being small, hamsters don't cost a lot to provide for in terms of food and toys.

However, when it comes to veterinary care, there are no discounts for size. In fact, the opposite is true. You're going to need a specialist, at least for some conditions, so expect vet care to be more expensive.

Some experts advise that you take your hamster in for basic checkups every single year. Many dedicated owners only take their hamsters to the vet when they notice something is unwell with the animal.

And that is bound to happen during the lifetime of any hamster. Unlike a cat or a dog, which you can bring to any vet, some veterinary clinics do not treat hamsters. This way, if your hamster is ever in an emergency, you can get them immediate care. Ok, time to go over everything and see just how much proper care for a hamster should cost. Many people view hamsters as "cheap pets" that are good for beginners. While they are relatively easy to care for, they deserve the best possible life you can give them - and that does come at a price tag.

As you can see, food and toys are not that expensive - mostly because hamsters are so small - but vet bills add a lot to the totals. We'll take a look in a minute at how they compare to other pets, but yes, please don't think about adopting a pet hamster if you cannot provide it with good quality care. If you can't afford good vet care for any pet - you probably should start saving up and only get that pet when you'll be able to properly care for it.

You may wonder if hamsters are more expensive than other household pets. All information is from Investopedia and Kiplinger. Then again, health care for canines and felines is very developed and many owners find themselves having to deal with huge vet bills as the dog gets older.

So, per year, caring for a young dog or cat won't be significantly more expensive compared to caring for a hamster. Rabbits are generally more expensive to care for because they need larger enclosures and more veterinary care including neutering, for example.

That makes them much pricier than hamsters. Parrots, parakeets and other pet birds are very sensitive to stress and disease and need to be seen by bird specialist.

Expect to pay hundreds of dollars a year on vet care. Birds live a very long time though, anywhere from 15 to 18 years with some parrot species living for several decades longer. This is where the costs add up. Hamsters are still cheaper. Owning fish is surprisingly expensive. Some species of fish are pricey enough on their own, but their aquariums cost several hundred to several thousand dollars depending on size.

The latter is especially true if you need a saltwater tank. Fish are definitely more expensive than hamsters. Reptiles include frogs, snakes, turtles, and lizards. Turtles have a ridiculous lifespan of 30 to 40 years. Hamsters cost much, much less. Ferrets can live up to 10 years. While that may seem like a lot of money, there are few cheaper pets around. Even fish cost a significant amount. Before you take the leap and bring a sweet hamster into your life, make sure you can afford to give it the care it deserves.

If needs be, save up in advance to make sure you can buy the equipment and have enough for vet care - for the entire lifespan of your hamster. And lower than that can bring on a cold for the hammy. Any amount of stress or excess handling an make his condition worse. Do not place the hamster in direct sunlight, instead keep him in a shielded, darker corner.

At all times, wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap before, but especially after handling your sick hammy. Chances of survival Wet tail can be fairly hard to survive for hamsters. Once the signs of illness start to show, it becomes progressively harder to successfully treat. There were cases where the hammy unfortunately passed away, even after being cured. This was because of the stress brought on by the illness itself, and hamsters are terrible stress managers.

This means that you should be watching your hamster closely, and handling it every few hours. For older hammies, the chances are lower than for babies, This is because their immune system is already breaking down, as opposed to forming like in babies.

So, if your elder hammy is stricken with wet tail, do your best to treat him. But if worse comes to worst, be prepared for his passing. How hamsters develop wet tail in the first place The way wet tail develops is thought to be because of stress. Stress brings a host of psychosomatic reactions from the hamster, including severe changes to the bacteria in his gut.

That can trigger wet-tail. Which in turn may lead to wet tail. Stress in hamsters A stressed hamster will show any signs of illness. Hamsters are very sensitive creatures, and can be stressed easily. A few factors for hamster stress include: Overcrowded cage — the size of the cage matters so much more on that here , and keeping hamsters together in an appropriate sized cage. The right sized cage is a minimum of 24 x 12 inches, and about 12 inches tall.

Not all hamsters can live together though, and some will fight to the death. Crucial info on that can be found here. Especially the babies, under 12 weeks of age. Be very careful when handling your hamster, and never let a child or pet interact unsupervised. Hamsters require so much attention and gentleness, they are not well suited to families with small children or lots of pets. You can find out more on how to show your hamster affection the right way, without annoying him in this article.

And you can find out more about how to tame your hamster without stressing him out here. And also, an unclean cage can become moldy in some places. Imagine your tiny hamster, breathing in those mold spores, wreaking havoc in his immune system. An infection will be the last thing your hammy needs, but it might just happen. Other medications Like in humans, hamster medications can sometimes interfere. Or, they can make it easier for some problems to appear.

It can happen, rarely, but it can still happen. Make sure your hamster stays healthy You can make sure your hamster survives by not getting wet tail in the first place.

That means your need to follow a few steps in the first place. Keep your hamster away from stressful environments Hamsters are very susceptible to stress-related illnesses.

So naturally, they must be kept away from stress factors. Do not house your hamster with another. One hamster will always be more dominant, and might start bullying the submissive one. It can be hard to make out the difference between playfighting, and actual serious fighting between hamsters. Hamsters are mostly nocturnal, so a rowdy house during the day will be incredibly stressful for the hamster.

Do not introduce lots of new people to your hamster at the same time. Your hammy will be overwhelmed, and needed a few days to trust you in the first place. He will freak out and hide when faced with many new people he does not know. Try not to wake up or annoy the hamster, since it will not rest properly and he will be very irritable.

Let the creature rest peacefully. Keep the hammy at a comfortable temperature hamsters need a certain temp to feel comfortable. A hamster exposed to very cold temperatures will enter a state that can be confused with hibernation. More on hamster hibernation and the risk of keeping them in too cold a room. Always clean your hands before handling the hammy Hamsters are very sensitive creatures, and as such your hands need to be clean before handling them. Before you touch your hamster, make sure your hands are clean.

Use an antibacterial soap, and try to find one with little to no scent. They too need to be disinfected and cleaned before you first place them in the cage. The shipping, the handling, and where the toys were stored can all be health risks. Do not feed the hamster overly watery foods Watery foods, like cucumber, watermelon, zucchini, grapes more about safe foods here can trigger diarrhea in your hammy.

Well, the water your hamster can decide how much to drink. I mean the water from the water bottle. But the water content in the fruit or veg is not up to him, and he can be overly hydrated. Conversely, do not give your hammy milk. The lactose content in milk is the highest compared to cheese or yogurt , and that can trigger a bout of diarrhea too. Make sure the water you give your hamster is safe The water your hamster drink must be safe and clean.

So, you can either boil the water beforehand, to rid it of bacteria. Or, you can use a bottled water that is labeled as safe for newborn humans, which is safe for hamsters as well. You can find out here how much water a hamster needs, and how to clean his water bottle.

A word from Teddy I hope you found out how to save us if we ever get wet tail. I hope your hamster friend is alright too. If you want to know more about us hammies, you should check out the articles below for more info how to care for us and feed us right If you own a hamster, you may already know that these animals love playing by themselves and are pretty active even when they are left alone.

This is due in large part to the hamster wheel, which allows the hamster to move and play all on its own whenever it wants to. But it can be pretty annoying whenever the hamster is playing with its hamster wheel at night because of all the noise it makes.

So, should you take your hamster wheel out at night? They can even run up to five miles every single night. Taking the hamster wheel out at night will be sort of cruel because of how you are taking away its source of fun. How long can a hamster go without a wheel? How to keep your hamster quiet at night1.

Lubricate the wheel4. Give your hamster a larger and enclosed place to live in5. Buy a new and quieter hamster wheelBest silent spinner hamster wheel1. Being active at night also means that a lot of the physical things a hamster does to have fun is done when the sun is out. This includes using its hamster wheel. Hamster wheels are invaluable for hamsters because it is their only source of fun and activity whenever they are kept in their habitats.

They mostly run on their hamster wheel at night and may even reach up to five miles at night. Just goes to show how important the hamster wheel is for your hamster. This can be borderline cruel on your part because you are basically going to leave your hamster without anything to do whenever it is at its most active. On top of that, your hamster may actually end up with health concerns precisely because of its inactivity. Instead, what you need to do on your part is to find alternatives that you can do so that you can sleep better at night if you find the hamster wheel noisy.

This can happen if it outgrew its old wheel or if the wheel is broken. In such cases, it might take a while for you to replace its old wheel especially if you ordered it online or if there are no nearby stores selling hamster wheels.

So, theoretically speaking, how long can a hamster go without a wheel? Well, for starters, hamsters can live and survive without a wheel but they might get bored. However, if you keep it without a wheel for weeks, then that would be concerning because of how the hamster might end up gaining a lot of weight or even develop bad habits due to how it was inactive for quite some time.

But a few days without a wheel will be fine especially if you are just waiting for the new wheel to arrive. How to keep your hamster quiet at night So, if you feel like your hamster is a bit too noisy during the night while it is playing with its hamster wheel, there are some alternatives that you can take.

There will be some people who would suggest that you try to make your hamster diurnal and change its habits so that it would sleep at night but that would be tampering with its natural habit.

That way, you could sleep better at night without getting bothered by what the hamster is doing with its hamster wheel. As such, one way for you to make the hamster wheel a bit quieter is by lubricating it so that it will run smoother than before. Give your hamster a larger and enclosed place to live in Most hamster cages are designed to be quite open, and that is why it is easy for the sound of the hamster wheel to escape.

A good aquarium might be nice. Buy a new and quieter hamster wheel Believe it or not, there are some instances where the hamster wheel you chose was the reason why your pocket friend is making so much noise at night. Best silent spinner hamster wheel If you are in the market for a silent spinner hamster wheel, here are our choices. Suncoast Sugar Gliders Wodent Wheel — Best Overall The Suncoast Sugar Gliders Wodent Wheel is one of the best silent hamster wheels you can get on the market and is actually our top choice for the best overall silent hamster wheel that money can buy.

The reason is that it comes with a closed design that keeps the sound inside the wheel. Meanwhile, the build quality of this product is so amazing that it will surely last for a very long time. Kaytee Silent Spinner Exercise Wheel — Best for the Price Our favorite budget choice when it comes to silent hamster wheels is the Kaytee Silent Spinner Exercise Wheel, which promises to be a lot cheaper than most of the other hamster wheels the market has to offer without compromising on how silent it is.

So, if you want to get your hands on this product, here is its page on Amazon You only have to feed them, clean their cages, and give them attention. They are great for teaching children responsibility or as a starter pet before you get them a dog or a car. There are 16 types of hamsters that we have discovered, and only a few of them are kept as pets.

Some are more difficult to tame, some need more care, and others will bite. Make sure you do your research before you get a hamster to know exactly what to expect. You should also be aware of the fact that hamsters never bond with people as cats or dogs do. Syrian Hamster The Syrian hamster is also known as the golden hamster, and it is one of the most popular hamsters that people keep as pets. They make very good pets for beginners since they are easy to tame, fun to play with, and very low-maintenance.

Syrian hamsters originate from dry areas of northern Syria and southern Turkey. Their fur is naturally colored golden brown and they have a lighter belly. Nowadays there are many different colors, patterns, and hair lengths of Syrian hamsters thanks to selective breeding.

The captive-breeding programs for Syrian hamsters have begun in the s both for experiments and pet trade. Because they are losing their habitat in the wild, they are considered to be vulnerable. Syrian hamster weighs around 5 ounces and is 5 to 9 inches long. It lives for 2 to 4 years. You might have heard that Syrian hamsters have a reputation that they bite a lot. This type of hamster likes to be alone and is very territorial.

You should never have more than one Syrian hamster living together in a cage. If you keep 2 or more Syrian hamsters together in a cage, they will get really aggressive, and they sometimes even fight to the death. You should keep any other pets you might have in your household away from the hamster because they will likely hurt each other. Syrian hamsters, like all hamsters, sleep during the day and are active during the night. They are generally quiet, but it would be best if you kept it away from your bedroom at night because it could wake you up.

If you are looking for a hamster to bond with, you will have to look for some other type of hamster, because Syrian hamsters never really bond with their owners. Some might come closer when they see you and sleep on your hands. Make sure you spend enough time with your hamster each day to keep it tame. The Syrian hamster will need as big of a cage as you can get.

The smallest cage you can put your Syrian hamster into can be 1x2x1 feet. Place a sleeping hut in the corner of the cage, you can usually find these in the pet store. You will have to feed your Syrian hamster with nuts, grains, and seeds, fruits, and vegetables. Syrian hamsters are omnivores, so you can occasionally give them a hardboiled egg or some insects.

You should talk to your vet to see what is the best diet for your hamster because it depends on the size and the age of your hamster. There should also be a water bottle or a water bowl in the cage, and you should change the water each day.

Syrian hamsters rarely get sick, but there are a few diseases you should be on the lookout for. One such disease is a wet tail, a gastrointestinal infection that is caused by stress. This is the most common disease that affects Syrian hamsters.

Make sure you take your hamster to the vet if you notice any of these symptoms. Dwarf hamsters Dwarf hamsters are tiny hamsters that originate from the desert regions.

Unlike larger hamsters, they are very social and are happiest when they are in groups. They weigh between 1 and 2 ounces and are around 2 inches long. You can expect them to live for 3 years. That being said, if you try to wake up the Dwarf hamster, it will probably bite you. Most hamsters wake up in the evening and are happy to hang out with people then.

This type of hamsters usually likes being held by people, however, if they feel uncomfortable, they will bite you. You should start handling them when they are young and always be careful and gentle. Hamsters are very quick and they can escape from your hands before you realize it.

If your hamster falls from even a couple of feet and hits the ground it could lead to some serious injuries. Your Dwarf hamster should have a big cage because it needs a lot of room to play in. The smallest cage you can keep your Dwarf hamster is in 1x2x1 feet, but that is the bare minimum.

If you have more than one hamster, you will have to get a bigger cage. Dwarf hamsters usually live in glass or plastic aquariums, or in wire cages. You should place at least a 1 to 2-inch layer of bedding, for example, chemical- and dye-free shredded paper or hardwood shavings. You will have to change the bedding once a week, and clean all surfaces with water and soap. Make sure you clean up any wet spots each day.

There should be a lot of mineral or wooden toys to chew on so that hamsters can take care of their teeth, and add a sleeping house to the cage. Your hamster should be fed once a day, and ask your veterinarian how much food you should give it. You can buy food blends that are made specifically for Dwarf hamsters. You can also feed your Dwarf hamster with a bit of nuts, seeds, oats, bananas, and carrots.

Never feed your Dwarf hamster with avocados, almonds, and chocolate as they are very toxic. Dwarf hamsters are prone to many health issues, and make sure you have a veterinarian near you who treats Dwarf hamsters before you buy this type of hamster. They can lose hair and get skin lesions from rubbing on something in its cage or because it was attacked by another hamster. Make sure you take your hamster to the vet as soon as you notice any skin injuries because they can get infected quickly.

Dwarf hamsters are known to be prone to diabetes. This will make it hard for your hamster to eat, and the vet will have to trim its teeth. Robovski Hamsters Robovski hamsters are the smallest and fastest hamsters. They originated from China, Mongolia, and Russia. If you choose to have more than 2 hamsters, you will have to provide 12 by 6 inches of space for each new hamster.

It is not recommended that you use pine or cedar shavings because they can be harmful to hamsters. This type of hamster loves being active so make sure it has a lot of toys and an exercise wheel. This also goes for food and water. Robovski hamsters are also active during the night and sleep during the day. They are gentle and rarely bite.

However, they are extremely fast which makes it hard to handle them. You should always handle them above a large box so you can catch them if they slip away. You can train Robovski hamsters to take treats from your hand. To do this, you will have to rest your hand and put a treat in your palm. The hamster will explore your hand and find the treat. This type of hamster is very social, and it is best if you keep it in groups with same-sex hamsters.

You should establish groups from a young age. Robovski hamsters are naturally sandy brown and they have white bellies, which lets them blend in with the desert nicely when they live in the wild. Chinese hamsters Chinese hamsters are small hamsters that originated from China and Mongolia.

Most of them are brown and they have a lighter belly and a black stripe running down their back. You can recognize these hamsters because they have longer tails than any other type of hamsters. They are easy to take care of, however, some of them bite.

They weigh between 1 and 2 ounces and live for 2 to 3 years. Always sit when handling your hamster because it could get injured if it falls. You can choose to only have one Chinese hamster, or keep them in same-sex groups. It would be good if you can get hamsters from the same litter that will grow up together and gets used to each other.

They will also need 1x2x1 feet cages, and you should layer 1 to 2 inches of bedding, for example, aspen shavings or some other paper-based products. Make sure you add toys, an exercise wheel, and a sleeping hut to their cage. You can put food for the whole day in the bowl and place the bowl in the cage.

Chinese hamsters like eating small portions throughout the day. Chinese hamsters are prone to respiratory issues. They can also suffer from the wet tail. So read on here to find out more, starting with the basics.

Table of Contents Do hamsters have good hearing? Yes, hamsters have very good hearing. Hearing is actually one of the main ways hamsters navigate their habitat, and avoid predators. A sudden movement will scare the hamster, while a sudden noise will be investigated and learned. How wild hamsters use their hearing to survive In the wild hamsters are hunted by almost every creature possible. Hamsters sleep for much of the day, when most of their predators are out and hunting.

Once evening sets in, hammies wake up, and perk their ears up. This trait has been passed down to your pet hamster too. Your hammy will learn every sound in the house A pet hamster is still very much like a wild hamster.

Aside from variations in the colors, pet hamsters have largely the same personalities they had as wild hamsters. You can find out more about how hammies came to be pets, and where they all come from, right here. For example my Teddy a Syrian male, golden used to stop and listen for everything when he was young. We have an air freshener that goes off on auto, that was mind-blowing for him.

Over time he calmed down and learned every sound in the house, and those usually around the house as well. Our neighbors, a door closing somewhere, someone speaking outside, a dog barking, and so on. As they age, hamsters become more accustomed to all the sounds and smells of their home. My Teddy took almost a year to relax, and not stare at me when I open the fridge. The ears, but the fur as well. So no stark lines or patches of color. When he was a baby he was all cream, and had a bit of white on his belly and paws.

Once he started coming close to the 3 month mark when hamsters become adults he started getting all of his markings. Which included darker, grey ears, and a few grey markings on his forehead, and shoulders.

This can apply to all hamster breeds, since they only become adults around the 3 month mark. Only when they become old, will there be any other changes. So for example hammies can have their ears folded, in several situations. If he just woke up, his ears will be folded, and you will notice he moves slowly, eyes half open, fur a bit ruffled.

No one looks great in the morning. This fear can be dangerous, depending on the hamster. Some hamsters flee, some fight. Those who fight get their folded ears mistaken for a sign of aggression. The hammy is a very clean animal, in fact, and he can clean his own ears just fine.

He has to, in order to be able to use them properly. But sometimes, infections happen, or a parasite, or even an injury. Make sure you isolate the sick hamster from the other hamsters, since most of these conditions are contagious. Whatever the case, sometimes you will have to help your little friend. Ear infection An ear infection can come about in many ways, even if the cage is clean. An ear infection is bad, but treatable. It does require you to reach a veterinarian, though.

The vet will prescribe a round of antibiotics for your hammy. He might keep your friend for a couple of days, or he might give you the medicine to administer at home.

It depends on the vet and how bad the infection is. Ear tumor Ear tumors can grow in older hamsters, and will require surgery. The tumors usually grow very fast, and will send you to the vet a few times in the same week. Take pictures of it every few hours, to compare the growth. Know that tumors can be both under and on the skin, so you might have to pick up the hammy and feel him. Still, I found at least one example of a Dwarf type that needed a surgery for an ear tumor, and survived.

No worries, the hamster is safe and he made a full recovery. Ear mites This can be tricky to tell with black hamsters, or those with very dark ears. Your hamster is probably scratching himself furiously. Bring the hamster to the vet immediately, so he can give your friend the proper treatment.

The treatment can extend over a few weeks, but your hamster will be fine. This is a case you should bring your hamster to the veterinarian for a treatment.

Excessive scratching can lead to more than just ear loss, it can develop an even worse problem. So make sure you speak to your vet, to possibly get a treatment for your hamster. Another reason for fur loss, but not necessarily around the ear, can be ringworm. Which is a fungal infection that gives the hamster bald spots, with dry itchy skin. This too can be treats by a veterinarian. A word from Teddy I hope you found out how to take care of our ears here. I know us hammies look like the most adorable creatures, but we do get sick sometimes, and we need your help.

If you want to know more about us hamsters, be sure to check the articles below, so you get all the info you need to help us have a great life with you My Teddy loves to just run around all night.