Hamster Clubhouse

Go with the size of the hamster. The guidelines work for most hamsters, but you do get some that are at the extremes of the size spectrum.

Err on the side of larger wheels though. Some of those small wheels spin too fast, and robos flip out. Chinese hamsters should have a bit more room to ...

Cage size is one part of the equation, but enrichment makes a big difference too. For dwarfs, there's a lot you can do in 900 sq in.

With Syrians, you may run into height issues, depending on which bin you have. Ideally, you don't want the hamster to be able to reach the lid because it increases ...

I appreciate that this pellet is somewhat grain-based and has some real ingredients. But many people use pellets to boost the protein in their mix, and this pellet would actually lower it. It seems like the corn is there for cost-savings. Hamsters can eat corn, but I don't like to see it as the ...

A decent pellet can be a key mush ingredient, for getting nutrients into a hamster that is having trouble eating (particularly hamsters who broke a tooth or ill and elderly hamsters). People often add baby food or peanut butter for flavor. I would use a non-hay pellet for this though.

Hay pellets are quite common in commercial foods, but they often get peed on and left for dead. :lol:

I'm interested to hear your other findings. The selection is probably somewhat different in Canada, and I'm a little out of the hamster loop right now.
I had wanted to get back into having ...

What annoys me is that many pet stores use it and some vets recommend it. Pet owners buy it because people who should be knowledgeable recommend it.

Hay isn't species appropriate as a primary ingredient. Hamsters may nibble on hay a bit, but they mostly see hay as a building material rather than food. I don't know why that Oxbow food is so popular. It seems more formulated for a guinea pig than a hamster or gerbil.

Sometimes they go limp immediately following a fall. Carpeting can help buffer the fall.

When he's calm, make sure he is using all his limbs properly, check his teeth, and look for any abnormalities (gently - he's probably feeling rather sore).

How is he now? Is he moving around normally or is he showing signs of injury? If he hasn't recovered by now, he should probably see a vet.

Did he fall onto carpet or hard flooring?

I would give him some time to adjust. He may not be used extra enrichment or treats. Some hamsters are more cautious about new things.