Provide 2 in (5.1 cm) of bedding in your hamster's cage so it can dig.Ĭhoose a specialty hamster bedding and avoid using pine or cedar shavings.Method 1 - Enriching Your Hamster’s Environment: To get your hamster out of its cage and exploring new environments, create a maze or an obstacle course, use a hamster ball, set up an outdoor playpen, or teach your hamster some new tricks. In the wild, hamsters love to dig, burrow, and build nests deep into the ground.Ī depth of 2 in ( 5.1 cm) is only a minimum and you can add more bedding to give your hamster more digging space if you prefer.Ģ. Make sure that your hamster has plenty of things to chew. ![]() You can also give your hamster untreated, softwood to chew on.īake small branches ( approximately 3 in (7.6 cm)) of wood for 1 hour on low heat first to ensure that it is safe for your hamster.Hamsters love to chew on different materials and this is a great way to keep them entertained.Ĭhange the chewing materials in the cage these whenever you clean it out so that your hamster has variety.Ĭoconut shells, hay cubes, sea-grass, and pumice stone are all ideal options. Wait for it to cool before placing it in the cage. ![]() Good softwood options include apple, elm, hazelnut, pear, and yucca.ģ. While it’s important to limit treats and to give your hamster a healthy diet, that doesn’t mean that food can’t be entertaining! Hide food in the cage so your hamster has to forage for it. ![]() Place some food inside the food bowl and hide the rest inside toys or under bedding to encourage your hamster to forage. Foraging is a natural hamster behaviour.You can feed your hamster occasional treats such as seeds, small pieces of fruit and vegetables, and cooked pasta.These are available from pet supply stores.Feed your hamster well-balanced, nutritionally-complete, rodent pellets. It helps to reduce boredom and aggression.Ĥ. Place a hamster wheel in the cage so that your hamster can exercise.Ĭhoose a minimum of a 6.5 in (17 cm) wheel for Roborovski and dwarf hamsters and a minimum of a 8 in ( 20 cm) wheel for larger hamsters such as Syrian hamsters.įollow the instructions that come with the hamster wheel to fit it to the cage. A plastic wheel is safer than a metal wheel for hamsters because plastic wheels don’t have rungs.Your hamster’s legs are fragile and can easily get injured in wheel rungs.Make sure the wheel is large enough so your hamster’s back is straight and level while it runs as opposed to a U-shape.Hamsters require a lot of exercise to stay happy and healthy.Ī hamster wheel helps them to exercise and to avoid health problems such as obesity.ĥ.Put a cardboard tube in the cage to create a tunnel. Reuse paper towel and toilet roll tubes to create a fun form of enrichment for your hamster. Simply place the tubes in the cage and replace them whenever the old ones get worn down. Your hamster will use the tunnel for hiding and exploration. You can purchase ready-made paper and cardboard hamster toys from pet supply stores.Ħ.Cardboard tubes also give your hamster something to chew on. Place a variety of different toys in the cage for your hamster to play with. ![]() Pet stores stock a huge range of different toys that are suitable for hamsters. These are commonly made out of plastic, metal, and wood. Let your hamster crawl over your hands to help form a bond.Method 2 - Entertaining Your Hamster Outside the Cage: If possible, choose natural and dye-free toys to help keep your hamster healthy.You can also make your own hamster toys at home with cardboard to create tunnels, platforms, and hiding spots. Pick up your hamster and take it out of the cage. Hold your hamster in your hands and let it sniff you and crawl over your hands to explore. Hamsters can remember your scent and voice.This not only helps you and your hamster to bond, but it also keeps your hamster busy with all of the new sights and smells. Spending time holding your hamster lets you gain its trust while keeping it entertaining.Ģ. Create a maze or an obstacle course for your hamster to explore. Hamsters are very curious and love to explore new things. Make your own maze using LEGOs, toilet paper rolls, boxes, or large plastic blocks.Īlternatively, purchase a hamster maze from a pet supply store.
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