Hamster Basic Supply List - What you need before you bring your hamster home

[Kikya]

After you’ve decided that a hamster is the best for you and your family, it’s best to get a basic set of supplies before you bring home your new family member. Having your cage and supplies all set up will save you and your hamster time and stress. If you haven't checked to see if a hamster is right for you, check out this post HERE first.

1) Because saves you the craziness of bring home a live animal that can easily chew its way out of the cardboard box it’s being held in.
2) It saves your hamster the stress of being stuck in said box until the hour it takes you to setup the new cage, panicking.
3) It gives you time to make sure you have all the basics for hamster care, and you don’t accidentally forget something at the store.

This is an extremely basic list of supplies, the must haves of hamster ownership. This is not a complete list of enrichment items or supplies that you may want to get for your hamster to have a good life. Check HERE for a list of enrichment items you may want to get as well.

Supply List
A suitably sized cage – I will go more in depth on another topic because it is dependent on where you live and what cages are available to you. Most cages at the pet store are NOT large enough for hamsters and you will need to order or make your own cage. More information on types of cages is available HERE

Bedding – You will need to fill up your cage with at least 6 inches of bedding for your hamster to burrow in, though the more, the merrier. There are a variety of types of bedding at the pet store, however, not all of them are safe. Pine and cedar bedding are not considered safe for hamsters. Aspen bedding is considered safe however, it’s usually best when mixed with a paper-based bedding. A paper-based option is the most convenient option as you only need to worry about getting an unscented version. Scented bedding will harm your hamster’s nose and lungs. More information on the different types of bedding HERE.

A suitably sized wheel – this is a wheel that allowed your hamster to run with a flat back and won’t squeak or wobble when the hamster runs on it. It’s best to buy a larger wheel that your hamster can grow into rather than buy a smaller wheel that you must replace in just a few short weeks. A good-sized wheel is usually between 9-12 inches of diameter (this is measuring a straight line passing from side to side through the center of the wheel) depending on species. Generally speaking, a dwarf hamster will use a wheel between 9-11 inches and a Syrian will use between 10-12 inches. There are, of course, exceptions. More information on different wheels available is HERE.

Food – This is a very a complicated topic that has many different options and opinions. I will leave it at, you need a seed mix with at least 12-15 food ingredients (not including added vitamins/fillers) that gives your hamster at least 17% protein, 4-10% fat, and 9-12% fiber. I will create a topic specifically discussing types of seed mixes and their availability on another topic. For now, I will say that most people start out with a basic mix from the store with an added protein of meal worms or chicken. Higgins Sunburst is an example of this along with a 2.3 oz bag of Pure Bites freeze dried chicken. More information on hamster nutrition HERE. More information on choosing a seed mix HERE.

A water bottle or water dish – Both of these have their pros and cons; however, the water bottle is the most commonly found in pet stores. If you get a water bottle, you will also need a holder to attach to the side of your cage. Make sure you set the water bottle to a level that is comfortable for your hamster to reach.

Hides or coverings – All hamsters are prey animals and like to feel safe. A cage without hides or coverings will make the hamster feel like they are out in the open and can make them harder to tame and interact with. They will need several hides and they will usually pick one or two to burrow under.

Sand bath, sand, and sieve/sifter – Hamsters need showers just like you do every day. This is how they clean their fur and bodies. A sand bath filled with suitable sand (Never dust) is a requirement for a hamster. You can go as expensive as you like or not. You can use a Tupperware container to hold the sand or use a specifically made sand bath. The most important aspect is that your hamster has room to move around/roll around in the sand bath. The types of sand acceptable for hamsters are pure sand, not dust, without any added minerals or coloring, both of which can cause your hamster to have health issues. Many people use the brand Reptisand (look in the reptile section of the pet store), without added calcium but there are other brands available. You'll also need a sieve or sifter to keep the sand clean of pee or poop. You can get those in the reptile section.

Wooden Chews – These are things like apple wood sticks or willow balls that your hamster can use to wear down their teeth. Their front teeth continually grow and need to wear down by chewing.

Some other helpful pages are links to our Health Check Guide
All exotics owners should know how to do some routine checks

As well as links to our Vet lists:
Vets in the US
Vets in the UK
Vets in Canada
Vets Worldwide

Edit: I will be adding links to other pages as I write them. Let me know if you want to write any articles!

[WorldofHamsters]

Great post!

[CallaTheHam]

Great !

[Luna123]

Thanks! This is so helpful!

[Spud]

This is great!
Could we do a more comprehensive list in another post including things like multi-chamber hides and sieves for the sand bath? Maybe we could include an estimated total cost as well?
Thanks

[Kikya]

This is great!
Could we do a more comprehensive list in another post including things like multi-chamber hides and sieves for the sand bath? Maybe we could include an estimated total cost as well?
Thanks

I added the sifter for the sand baths, thanks!

I'm probably not going to add pricing because it varies so much from country to country and prices change often.

[Boodylis]

Jumping on the vet bandwagon here! While I can't give specific advice (always best to consult a professional!), I've heard good things about checking resources like the British Hamster Society for recommendations in your area.

Finding a vet who's comfortable with hamsters can feel like finding a needle in a haystack sometimes, but don't give up! It might take a few calls to veterinary clinics to find someone who specializes in our tiny, furry friends.

Your information was certainly helpful. Thank you!

[Kikya]

Finding a vet who's comfortable with hamsters can feel like finding a needle in a haystack sometimes, but don't give up! It might take a few calls to veterinary clinics to find someone who specializes in our tiny, furry friends.

A good reminder to include a link to our vet lists, thanks! If you have an vets that you trust and would like to share, please feel free to share on the appropriate post! it's so hard to find good hamster vets!