FAQ

1. Can syrians be housed together?
   No, syrians are solitary animals by nature and will fight till death if kept together. Even if they do not fight they will continue to be stressed by this unnatural situation and their immune system will be lowered making them susceptible to illness.
2. Can dwarfs or Chinese hamsters be housed together?
   Yes, though they have specific housing needs and if they fight then they must be separated.
3. My hamsters has escaped what should I do?
   Be sure to put away any predatory animals and leave food in the middle of each room to draw the hamster out. I've heard of countless ways to set 'traps' for your hamster but I have never had any luck with them. The only way that I've ever found any missing hamsters was when I got down on my hands and knees and turned every room upside down until I found that elusive hamster.
4. I read that 10 gallon tanks are perfect for hamsters, is this true?
   No, hamsters may be small but they need lots of room. The minimum floorspace required must equal to an area of 360 square inches (aka a 20 gallon long tank).
5. Will brothers and sisters breed with each other?
   Yes, this is called inbreeding and is highly dangerous to both the mother and the babies.
6. I know that cedar shavings are dangerous but pine is safe, right?
   Nope. Pine and any other softwood shavings contain phenols just like cedar that cause respiratory problems.
7. Can I put two or more different species together?
   No, none of these species of hamsters would meet up in the wild. Trying to house them together would be stressful as they have different ways of communicating and sometimes different care needs.
8. My Syrian has brown scabs on his hips, is he ok?
   Yes, he's fine. Syrians have scent glands on their hips to mark their territory. You'll sometimes see them rubbing up against things, this leaves their scent behind. Dwarfs and Chinese hamsters have a scent gland on their belly.
9. Can I let my hamster go swimming?
   No they could drown, catch a cold or just become terrified and stressed. Bathing them also strips the natural oils from their coat and skin. Hamsters do not enjoy getting wet and so you should simply avoid the stress that it causes.
10. If hamsters shouldn't swim, then how can I bathe my hamster?
    Bathing isn't necessary. Hamsters keep themselves very clean all on their own. If their fur looks greasy then you can provide a sand bath (using Chinchilla sand or children's play sand). They will roll around in it and it will make their coat look great!
11. Do hamsters smell?
    They have a slight scent but nothing that is overpowering or bad unless you don't keep their cage clean that is. Though females do emit a musky odour when they are in heat however most people don't even notice this smell.
12. My hamster is chewing on the bars, what should I do?
    Hamsters chew on the bars for a few reasons. They may need to wear down their teeth, they may be bored or they may be trying to get your attention. Providing some wood chews or milkbones for your hamster will give them something else to chew on. Next you need to make sure that their cage is big enough and that they have plenty to do. Finally be sure to give your hamster plenty of attention and out of the cage time each day. If you have done all of this then it is likely just a bad habit. Rubbing lemon juice on the bars will deter your hamster from chewing on the bars.
13. My hamster is chewing on the silicone glue on his tank, will he die?
    Nope, the glue is safe (or else it would leech into the water and kill fish). Chewing on the glue is often a sign of boredom, so make sure that the tank is large enough and that they have plenty to do.
14. I bought a bed for my hamster but she won't sleep in it, how do I make her move?
    You can try to tempt her to move into the bed by placing treats and bedding inside. However where she will sleep is up to her and you cannot force her to move.