Hamsters can be housed in a wire cage with a firm plastic base, a plastic hamster home or an adapted aquarium with a well ventiated cover. Wooden cages should not be used as hamster's can chew their way out. The most important thing to remember is that a hamster home can never be too  big - they love to explore and exercise. Multi level cages are a good idea as they add interest to the hamster's enviroment. But be careful with plastic tubes as the larger syrian hamster's may get stuck. The hamster home must alwasy have a place for your hamster to rest and hide, and another area for play, exercise and feed.

Feeding
In hamster's natural habitat they eat a range of grasses, wind blown seeds and grain. Hamsters are not herbivores as they are mistaken to be. Always buy a good qualty hamster food. The temperature in the room should be constant and away from direct sunlight and draughts and constant noise. Because they have sensitive hearing they should never be placed near a telelvison, CD player or Hi-Fi.

Exercise

Its is so important that your hamster has the opportunity to exercise every day. You need to provide it with a wheel and must be big enought so the hamster does not have to bend it back when inside, and a soid floor rather than rungs as these can cause injuries to the feet. Hamster will exercise for 3 to 4 hours a night. Giveing them tubes, tunnels and small cardboard boxes in the cage for it to play with is great for them. They will love having some twigs of willow, beech or hazel in the cage to climb and gnaw on too.

Handling your Hamster

Before attempting handling make sure that your hamster is fully awake and alert. Never wake your hamster if its asleep. Alwasy approach it slowly and gently. Place a closed first in front of your hamster and allow it to approach and sniff you. Hamsters rely on smell rather than sound, therefore smell is important so they can detect what is approaching. If your hamster is confident and appears interested then you can slowly unclench your fist and offer your palm, they may well cawl on to your hand or you can gently scoop it up. Cup the two parms of your hands to ensure that it is safe and won,t drop. Move very slowly, hamsters don;t like fast movment. Hold your hamster close to your chest.

Common Illnesses

Diarrhoea - Overfeeding your hamster with green food is a common cause of diarrhoea so don't over feed them with this. If they get diarrhoea stop feeding green food immediately, and feed it only a good quality hamster mix which you should always do. If the diarrhoea don't stop take them to the vet.

Constipation - If you find a lack of droppings in the cage and your hamster has a hunched appearance, it may be they have constipation, feeding with a small amount of green vegetable may relieve your hamster, but if there is no imporvement it should be taken to the vet.

Wet Tail - This is often confused with diarrhoea, but is a bacterial infection that can cause extrem digrrhoea, with  a distinctive smell. You will mostly see this in younger hamsters 3 to 8 weeks old. The anus and tail will appear wet and sticky. The hamster may appear hunched upas if its in pain. You must wash your hands thoroughly or  clean with antibac before you handle any other hamter. Also clean the cage with antibac too and seek vet help.

Overgrowen Teeth - Hamsters teeth continue to grow thughout their life. You  must provided them with material to gnaw, special wood can be purchased  to encourage gnawing and giving them apple and sweetcon will help.

Overgrown Nails - Hamsters nails should be trimmed by a vet and they can become overgrowen and couse problems.

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