[ThinkTink]

Well, one of my older posts was about a Guinea Pig, well, I never got one. It turns out that the person who I was getting from, didn't have one, they had fake pictures and fake information. So now I am going (if the person doesn't fall out from the deal) to get a Hamster :) . I have owned one before, but now I have different questions.
*Can I use a Guinea Pig Cage as its cage, or is that to big?
*(If the cage is too big, don't read this) Can I set up an array of tubes, a brick, a big piece of wood? Or can he get hurt with the brick and piece of wood?
*If I make him/her a bed with material and pillow stuffing, and he eats it, will he/she get sick?
*Do I leave his/her food out all day, or feed him at certain times?
*What are some other toys that he could play with?

Now I just have some weird questions about them.
*Why do they make Hamster cages in bright colors? Doesn't that hurt their eyes?
*Do they make collars and harnesses for Hamsters?

Thanks

[Fr_Chuck]

Use proper bedding, anything they have for bedding is suppose to be OK if eaten by accident. The food tray can stay out all day.
I have a 4 level cage, a large glass one like a fish tank, with a tube going up to another cage, and a slide going up to another level, with a ramp going up to a wheel.
Get them a wheel to run in, they will run and run and run all night.

Just do a web search Google or Yahoo for hamster and you will find more than you need to know

[Boots011]

The guinea pig cage *might* be too big. It depends on the kind of cage and the size of the hamster. Most pig cages have widely spaced bars, and hamsters can squeeze through very small spaces.

I wouldn't recommend using a brick. That sounds potentially dangerous. If you use wood, make sure it is clean. Nothing just lying around in the yard. There are different kinds of wood available in pet stores that are great for climbing and chewing on. Check the small animal and reptile sections.

Making a bed is a great idea. If he does eat it, he would get sick, but chances are he will *not* do that. If he chews it open, he'll probably try to make a nest elsewhere with it.

Leave food and water out *always*. He'll be eating several times during the day and at night, so make sure there's always enough food in his dish.

Some good toys are sold in stores, things like sisal balls or wood chews (my guys love their sisal balls!). Toilet paper rolls are fun for exploring, as well as appropriately-sized ladders that you can find in the bird section at the pet store.

A lot of hamster cages are wildly colored to attract children. Hamsters are considered good pets for kids, while unfortunately that isn't normally the case. Also, hamsters have very poor eyesight. They might even be color blind, but I don't know that for sure. They don't care what color anything is.

They do sell hamster harnesses, but use them with care as little hammies can easily squirm out or chew through the straps, even the reinforced mesh ones. Again, it depends on what kind of hamster you're getting.

**Make sure you know what kind of hamster you're getting. There are two main kinds: Syrian and Dwarf. Of the dwarfs, there are three primary types: Russian (Campbells--sometimes called "fancy" or Winter White), Chinese, and Roborovski (or Robo). They all have different needs and personalities, so look into it before you make any big commitments.

[joyluo1999]

You should do lots of research online and you can also buy some books on hamster care.

Good Luck


Joy