The bar spacing in a wire cage should be less than one-half inch to prevent him from escaping. The wires should also be covered with a substance called PVC to prevent rusting. Make sure the cage flooring is smooth. Your dwarf hamster could get his feet stuck in wire flooring and possibly break one of his leg bones. If you have a cage with wire flooring, cover the flooring with a smooth material, such as cardboard or laminate flooring (available at a hardware store). Cages with colorful plastic tubes and tunnels are fun to look at, but can be very difficult to clean. In addition, your dwarf hamster could chew through the plastic. Clean your hamster’s cage and its components once a week with hot water. [3] X Research source His bedding should also be replaced with each cleaning. Glass aquariums do not always circulate fresh air very well, which could lead to a high level of ammonia in the cage, which can be toxic to your hamster. Clean the aquarium regularly to prevent an ammonia buildup. Glass aquariums also lack good ventilation and may heat up rapidly if placed in direct sunlight.
A larger cage will not get dirty as quickly. With a large cage to call home, your dwarf hamster won’t be as likely to get bored or agitated. When your dwarf hamster is happy, he’s less likely to develop compulsive behaviors, such as bar chewing, that are bad for him. If you have more than one dwarf hamster in the same cage, a large cage will keep them from being aggressive towards each other. If you have chosen a glass aquarium to house your dwarf hamster, it should be at least 10 gallons. [5] X Research source
Pine shavings would be a very comfortable bedding for your hamster. [7] X Research source Do not use cedar bedding. Cedar oil can cause your hamster’s fuzz to fall out and his skin to crack. If his skin cracks, he can become dehydrated and very sick. [8] X Research source
A room that is too cold (below 60 °Fahrenheit/15 °Celsius) could make your hamster very sluggish, possibly to the point of hibernation. Because hamsters like to play at night, your bedroom would not be a good place for your hamster’s cage. The noise of his activity could keep you from getting a good night’s sleep.
Pellets are very healthy and give your dwarf hamster something to chew on. Chewing on pellets helps your hamster keep his teeth filed down. [13] X Research source Be careful with feeding a seed mix to your dwarf hamster — he may pick out and eat only the tastiest seeds in the mix, causing him to miss out on important nutrients. [14] X Research source Seed mixes tend to be high in fat. [15] X Research source A good quality commercial hamster food should contain at least 15 to 20% protein. [16] X Research source Read the ingredient label to see how much protein is in the food.
Leafy greens (spinach, Romaine lettuce) are great additions to your dwarf hamster’s diet. Other vegetables to feed your dwarf hamster include broccoli, cauliflower, and cucumbers. [18] X Research source Add vegetables to your hamster’s diet very slowly — one small piece of vegetable once or twice a week. This will prevent him from getting diarrhea. Work up to feeding one small piece of a vegetable once a day.
Vegetarian protein sources include tofu, flaxseed, and roasted soybeans. [22] X Research source Add extra protein to your dwarf hamster’s diet once a week. [23] X Research source Whichever protein source you choose, feed it to your dwarf hamster in one small piece at a time.
Crunchy toast and cereal would be good for your dwarf hamster to chew on. As with the other foods, feed the grains in small bits to your dwarf hamster.
Your pet store may carry “yogurt drops” for hamsters. These are very fattening, however, so your hamster should not eat them very often.
Some foods—raisins, potatoes, onions, garlic, sprouts—are toxic to dwarf hamsters and should be avoided. [27] X Research source
Do not put the water in a bowl. Your hamster would eventually turn his cage into a watery mess by drinking water from a bowl. [28] X Research source
Plastic portable tubes also make great toys for your dwarf hamster. You can purchase them at your local pet store. Keep in mind, though, that he could chew through the plastic—replace the tube when he’s chewed enough to cause damage. You can also make your own hamster toys. Examples of homemade toys include ladders, hamster houses, and obstacle courses.
You may notice that your dwarf hamster will stash food in different areas of his cage as a snack for later. [32] X Research source
Your hamster could also chew on a bendable wooden toy, which is made of rounded pieces of wood that are banded together. You can also twist this toy type into different shapes to create walls, platforms, and houses that your hamster could play on or in. Give your dwarf hamster small, soft rawhide chews to chew on. [35] X Research source Dwarf hamsters also like to chew on mineral blocks, which can last a long time. You can find chewing materials at your local pet store.
If the exercise wheel starts to sound squeaky after a while, grease it with Vaseline where needed. [36] X Research source An exercise ball will allow your dwarf hamster to exercise outside of his cage. Let him play in the ball for up to 30 minutes — not only will your hamster need a rest after about 30 minutes, but he may also need some fresh air. Let your dwarf hamster run in the hamster ball in different rooms, but never near a set of stairs or open water, like a pool. [37] X Research source Plastic flying saucers are also good for your hamster. [38] X Research source He can run on them like he runs on an exercise wheel.
Do not reach down into your dwarf hamster’s cage to pick him up. Your hand will remind him of a large bird of prey swooping down to snatch him up — he will be terrified by this. [42] X Research source Use slow and gentle movements when putting your hands in his cage. Always speak to your dwarf hamster before putting your hands in his cage. Your voice will help keep him calm as you go to pick him up. [43] X Research source Do not chase your dwarf hamster around his cage to get him to step onto your hands. Let him come to you instead of the other way around.
Bites are usually not friendly. They are your dwarf hamster’s way of telling you that he is stressed, scared, or just upset that you haven’t handled him enough. Hamster bites are usually faster than a nibble and are accompanied by a sound of distress, like a squeak. Bites can be painful. Whether your dwarf hamster bites or nibbles, do not jerk your hand away. This could frighten him and make him wary of you. Gently blowing in his face and saying a firm “no” should stop the biting behavior. [45] X Research source
Dwarf hamsters enjoy being handled. [47] X Research source Do not let your dwarf hamster fall out of your hands when you hold him. [48] X Research source Prevent this by supporting his body and keeping him close to you when you lift him out of his cage.
