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A hamster is a rodent belonging to the subfamily Cricetinae. There are 5 types of hamsters, mainly the Syrian, Winter white dwarf, Russian campbell dwarf, Chinese hamsters and Roborovski hamsters.



SPECIES:
Syrians (Mesocricetus auratus)
They are the best known species in the pet industry. Syrians are also known as Golden Hamsters because the first domestic hamster was a wild agouti colour, which is called Golden. They have also been called Teddy Bears because does have the fuzziness and roundness of a teddy bear. Syrians are known as fancy hamsters of all the hamster species since they come in many colour varieties and also coat varieties... some can have long fur and some short fur, which we normally call Long Hairs and Short Hairs... also there are fur types like Rex and Satin.

The most important rule about Syrians is that they are SOLITARY... never house 2 together. If breeding, there is a way where you must put the female into the male's cage only when the female is on heat. It is very risky and dangerous to house 2 syrians together at any time since they are very well known to fight till death. So if you treasure the life of your hamster, never put 2 syrians together.

Syrians are large and comfortable to hold. They make suitable hamsters for the beginner keeper. Syrians that are handled properly would rarely or never bite, and can be tame to respond well to touch and voice.

Campbell's Hamster (Phodopus campbelli)
Campbells are probably the most popular of all dwarf hamsters since they come in many colour varieties that makes them attractive. The look similar to Winter White hamsters but they are actually different subspecies. So never mixbreed them.

Campbells are dwarfs... well, small hamsters. Please do not be fooled by petshops telling you they are mini hamsters and giving you a weird price and denying that they are Campbells. Anyway, they come in different colour and patterns but to breed, one must understand that hamsters that have any white spots or markings must never be bred together coz it can produce eyeless or teethless hamsters that die later... so if you were to breed, please read up.

These dwarfs may not be suitable for young children due to some dwarfs are bitey... and because of their small size, it would be harder for children to handle. Campbells are not aggressive biters, it is just that sometimes they will bite when you make them angry or startle them from their sleep.

Campbells are good in a pair or a small colony but always make sure your cage or tank has the space and enough hides and wheels to house a colony. These social hamsters are territorial and would fight off intruders that do not belong to their colony. Campbells are ok when they are introduced at a young age but letting an older hamster be kept with a younger one, most likely a fight would start.

Winter White Hamster (Phodopus sungorus)
WW are hamsters that can change their coat colour when we minimise their daylight. Their coats will change from their normal colours to a white coat but with their dorsal stripe and side arches visible. WW come in 3 colours, which are Agouti, Sapphire and Pearl. The Pearl do not change their coat colour at all, they remain in their white coat colour for life.

WW are different from Campbells, their eyes are bigger, fur is thicker, body is more bullet shape and their ears are less conspicious. It is easy to see the difference if a Campbell and WW were side by side.

WWs are nicer to handle for they have better temperments than Campbells. WW rarely change into their winter coats in captivity, so do not force your hamster to starve and stay in a cold room... this depends on the hamster whether it wants to change or not.

WW are almost similar with Campbells when it comes to pairs and colonies. Always remember, it doesn't necessary mean we should keep them in breeding pairs or male and female colonies. A single sex group is good enough for dwarf hamsters.

WW are known to fight among themselves out of the blue. Many do not understand that WW are territorial dwarfs, they can tolerate siblings or with other WW when introduced at a young age but there would always be a day where they would start fighting. Have spare cages at hand to separate fighting hamsters if you have a pair or a small colony. The best is keeping one. Do not worry, hamsters do not die from loneliness.

Roborovski Hamster (Phodopus roborovskii)
Robos are the smallest species of hamster. Adult Robos are only 2 inches in lenght. Unlike the other dwarfs, Robos do not have a dorsal stripe and they have slightly longer legs. Easy to identify from the size and also its sandy colour and white belly.

Yes, the smallest and also the fastest, this species is very well known for being very fast and active. So they are not very handle friendly since they are likely to jump or run off your palm. Many are really attracted by the facial markings, they appear to have "eyebrows".

Robos enjoy sand baths and a wheel. Due to their small size, one would need to purchase a glass/plastic tank to house them or purchase cages with small bars like the Habitrail Mini...

Robos do very well in little groups. They are the most sociable of all dwarf species and it is very entertaining to watch a small group of robos playing and eating in a tank.

Robos are not a hamster that is suitable for the beginner keeper as it could either be frustrating to have hamsters that run very fast or just unable to handle properly.

Chinese Hamster (Cricetulus griseus)
The Chinese hamster is known for their mousy looks. Yes, they were discovered in China long ago. Many people would say Chinese hamsters are hard to breed in captivity and are difficult to raise. Fighting problems occur so it is best to house them seperately. The Chinese hamster is also referred to as a "mouse-like" hamster because of its short nose, thin body, stocky legs and longer tail.

They do make great pets if they are bred by a proper breeder and have been handled often when young.

This species of hamster in Malaysia is very rare. The last known shop to have sold them were Pets Wonderland at Mid Valley years ago.

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VERY IMPORTANT!!!!

- Most hamsters do very well alone. Roborovski hamsters can be kept in small groups and best if single sexed but Syrians, Campbells, Winter Whites and Chinese hamsters are best kept on their own. They are always happier that way.

- Never breed hamsters if you do not have the space. Hamsters can reproduce every 20 days or so.

- Hamster fights are never fun to watch.

- Always remember to have food and water available. Never give too much fresh foods as it can give diarrhea to some hamsters, especially pet shop hamsters that have never eaten any veggie before.

- The bigger the cage or tank, the more comfortable for the hamster.

- Syrians need wheels that are about 8 inches in diameter. Wodent Wheels, Sanko Wheels or Silent Spinners have 8 inch wheels.

- NEVER keep different species in 1 cage or tank together... BIG big trouble there, may have some injuries, deaths... and possibility of mixbreeding Campbells with WW... bad idea.

- Hamsters do not have human emotion, they do not feel Love or have emotional feelings like humans. So there really is no reason to breed or keep them in a male and female pair unless you have a purpose as a true hamster breeder.
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DIET:
Hamsters should have a good quality staple diet that is available for them throughout the day. Grains are important for hamsters to gain protein, minerals and vitamins as well as the good fat that the body needs to stay healthy. The carbohydrates and natural sugars from grains helps in maintaining your hamster's energy and alertness throughout the day. Wrong or unhealthy diets could cause hamsters to gain weight, show no interest in using it's running wheel and does little throughout the day.
source info : Hamster Nutrition



This post has been edited by pandera999: Nov 24 2017, 12:44 PM

Treats:

Vitakraft Bisquiti 3-Mix Hamsters

A nutritious titbit made of eggs and flour, with wholesome seed.

Vitakraft Muffins Nuts Hamster

A light snack for between meals, made of eggs and flour with delicious nuts.

Vitakraft Donuts and Peas Hamsters

A light titbit for between meals, made of eggs and flourand succulent peas.

Vitakraft Praline Yogurt / Dandelion for Hamsters

Healthy and delicious treats for your hamsters. Contains yogurt, dandelion and packed with Vitamins A, D3 & E.

Vitakraft Praline Yogurt / Aloe Vera

Healthy and delicious treats for your hamsters. Contains yogurt, aloe vera and packed with Vitamins A, D3 & E.

Vitakraft Praline Yogurt / Cranberry

Healthy and delicious treats for your hamsters. Contains yogurt, cranberry and packed with Vitamins A, D3 & E.

Mealworms

Mealworms is a good source of protein for your hamster. They can also eat live mealworms but don't give him more than he can eat at once as they hatch into beetles after a few days. Its best to give live mealworms as they are fresh but canned or freeze-dried mealworms are also acceptable. As long as they are processed for hamsters.

Other treats such as crickets & grasshoppers can also be given.

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Bathing a Hamster
By Tammo ~ quote from Hamsterific.com

Bathing removes natural and essential oils from the hamster’s coat, which can cause the hamster to catch a chill and die.

Bathing should only be done in exceptional circumstances, like if your hamster has paint, varnish or anything toxic on its coat that may harm it if it licks itself or ingests it. The hamster will clean itself if it is dirty and the substance is not toxic. Chinchilla sand will keep the coat clean and grease free. Normally there should be no need to bathe your hamster with water at all during the course of its life.

If your hamster does get toxic or harmful substances on its coat, then you must bathe it unless you are able to cut it out of the coat, e.g. if there is gum or something sticky, that can usually be cut out of the coat.

The best way to bath a hamster is this:

1. Get a bowl containing 2 inches of warm water. Test the temperature with your elbow to make sure it is not too hot or too cold.
2. Wet the hamster and gently rub it into the dirty area to cleanse it. Take extreme care not to let any water get near the nose, mouth, ears or eyes.
3. If your hamster has something particularly sticky that’s can’t be cut out in its fur, then you can use shampoo, but it must be baby shampoo. Again, make sure not to get it near the hamster’s face.
4. Carefully rinse out the shampoo, and place the hamster on a towel. Dry very carefully; be careful of the hamster’s legs.
5 .Then, get a hairdryer and put it on its lowest setting. Hold it very far from the hamster and always keep your hand between the dryer and the hamster to avoid burning the skin. ** Since we are in Malaysia, I would recommended to put them in sand bath, then put the carrier to the area with abit sun light. but NOT DIRECT sunlight.
6. Wash your hamster on a warm day if possible to lessen chances of getting a chill. ** noon 12pm - 3pm
7. Make sure the fur is completely dry before returning the hamster to its cage or the shavings will stick to the damp fur.

This is not a safe way to bathe a hamster. There are no safe ways to do it. So please do not wash your hamster if it smells or looks a bit grubby.

Only if there is something toxic on the fur that cannot be cut off. This method carries the same risks as all others but this is the best way if you absolutely have to do it.

If your hamster smells bad, it may be sick and should be brought to the vet as soon as possible. To keep your hamster clean and healthy, make sure its living conditions are cleaned out regularly.
Useful links (credit to Acey)

• Hamsterific: http://www.hamsterific.com/hamsters.html
  
• My Free Hamster: http://www.myfreehamster.com
  
• Future Pets: http://futurepet.com/cgi-bin/search.exe?BP=1&RCAT=600.
  
• Hamster Hideout: http://www.hamsterhideout.com/
  
• Wodent Wheels: http://www.transoniq.com/
  
• Kare's Hamster Info: http://www.karelma.com/english/animals/hamsters.html
  
• Pet Education: www.peteducation.com

The Hamster Name Generator (thanks to Gazard7)

Lowyat.net Siggy (free to use, a big thank you to Hao ):




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How to potty train my hamster?

First of all to make things clear, its only possible to train your hamster to pee in the toilet. You CANNOT train them to poop in the toilet. Because hamsters will eat their own poop sometimes. Yes you may think its disgusting but there are two types of hamster poop. One is the excrement which contain nothing in it just poop & the other kind that they usually eat are poop that contain nutrients that was not fully digested. Hamster digestive system is not the same as human thats why they will need to eat their poop back because it contains some vitamins/nutrients are not absorbed at the first time.
1) Purchase a litter box designed for hamsters or use a small plastic box that the hamster can jump into. Specially designed litter boxes for hamsters have one corner higher than the others to prevent hamster urine from spraying outside of the cage. Most boxes are designed to be attached to the corner of a cage. A few boxes have covers and entrances.

2) Watch your hamster at night and observe which corner of the cage it normally go to pee. Place the litter box in that corner.

3) Fill the litter box one-third full with a specially made litter for hamsters. This litter can be found at pet stores.

4) Pick up hamster urine-soaked bedding and place it in the litter box. If u found fresh hamster urine try to absorb it with tissue paper & put that tissue paper into the hamster toilet. Just put the soaked/wet part in & not the whole tissue paper.

5) Keep adding fresh urine-soaked bedding until the hamster begins to use the toilet. Relax the process usually takes time, it dosent happen overnight.

6) Keep the toilet clean and filled with fresh litter once a week once the hamster is trained on its use.

Reference: http://www.ehow.com/how_2074136_potty-train-hamster.html

It is often found that many people do not possess a strong reading and researching habit. Although there are often long and informative posts on the first page, newbies do not seem to read them and have to be reminded frequently to do so.

Please read, it is important else, you might torturing your hamster with toxic substances.

Housing & Setup [Bedding for hamster]

Items needed:
- A right size of tank or cage.
- A wheel is MANDATORY.
- A water bottle
- A food dish/bowl
- A toilet (if your hamster is toilet trained, Syrians are easy to toilet train)
- Bedding: Breeder Celect, Corn Cob, Wood Shavings (no pine, no cedar)

Diet & Supplement:

Main Diet:
- Vitakraft Premium High Range Hamster
- Nutri-Smoothie (a Balanced Diet of fresh)
- Oxbow Hay Cake
- LC-Vit Syrup (Multi-Vitamin)
- Calci-Aid (for growing pups and nursing mothers)
- Organic Vegetarian Powder

Others:
- Rolled Oat
- Millets
- Sesame Seed
- Wheat Germ
- Buckwheat
- Dahl
- Pumpkim Seed
- Toufu
- Almond Seed

Note: Ratio of mixing Prestige Hamster: Britter Bunny; 1 bag(800gm) : ¼ bag(250gm)

BIG NO-NO food!!
- Chocolate
- Onion
- Garlic
- Cabbage
- Orange
- Pineapple
- Grapes
- Coffee



This post has been edited by pandera999: Nov 27 2017, 12:35 AM

My hamster gave birth!! What to do now???
Is my hamster male or female??

Please refer to this thread >>> http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/477850

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Approved treats for hamster:


Note: Please give in small amount. Do not give too much because they will horde it & the food will start to turn bad.

Vitamins:
Only small amounts of vitamins are required; but they are essential to your hamster's good health. Lack of vitamins can create several health problems. Refer to the table below.

Note: You can buy vitamin for your hamster at pet shop. They come in a small bottle & all you need to do is add few drops into your hamster water bottle depending on the water volume. Please remember to change your hamster water & clean the bottle after 3days or else fungus/bacteria will start to grow in the bottle.


References:
http://www.hamsterific.com/Nutrition.cfm
http://www.hamsterific.com/hamsteruniversity/foodlist.html

==========================================================================
Frequently asked questions (FAQ):
Q: My hamster is toilet trained but why he always sleep in the toilet?
A: Well its normal. There are many reason for it, your hamster might prefer the toilet more than the bedding. Or the temp might be warm & the toilet is more cooling than the usual place he sleeps. Or maybe he/she just like to sleep in there.

Do take note hamster do not think like how human thinks so if he/she knows that is a toilet that dosent mean he/she cant sleep in there. but we human were taught from young that we shouldnt sleep in the toilet. hamster dosent understand english so they wouldnt understand even if were are trying to teach them. You can discourage your hamster though, when u found out he/she is sleeping in the toilet you can gently blow & wake him up. keep blowing till he runs to his house to continue his sleep. Try to do that after he is potty trained around 1month later because it might affect the potty training process, you do not want your hamster to stop peeing in the toilet right after he just learned to use it.

Q: Why my hamster like to eat in his toilet?
A: Its normal. As i said before they knows its a toilet but they dont know why cant they eat in there. Its just the way they are, nothing can be done. All u can do is recycle the food back into his food bowl if its good & throw the food if its soaked in urine. If your toilet is big enough some hamster are smart, 1 conner they will use to store their food & the other conner they will use to pee.

Q: Can i keep my hamster in pairs?
A: Please read the 1st post.
Q: But last time my uncle keep two syrian hamster in pairs wor...they never fight also..
A: He was lucky they didnt fight. Please do not repeat what he did or u will end up killing your hamster & yes if that happens then its your fault. Please do not repeat what this guy did >>> http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1972354

Q: Why my hamster keeps drinking lots of water & peeing a lot lately?
A: 1) Maybe its just too hot so its too thirsty or dehydrated.
2) Urinary tract infections: these are more common in female than male hamsters, but males can get them too. you might also notice a bit of blood in the urine. to treat this, you'll need to make an appt. with a rodent-experienced vet who'll give you hamster-safe antibiotics such as Batril, or Albon. the infection should clear up in a week or so.
3) Diabetes, an increasingly common disease in dwarf hamsters. it's diagnosed through a urine test, which can be done either by your vet or yourself at home, using urine test strips such as Bayer Diastix.

If you hamster tests positive for diabetes, you'll immediately need to make adjustments in his diet. find a sugar-free seedmix such as Harry Hamster or Small World. you'll need to remove the corn and peas from the seedmix. and also remove any fruit from the diet as well as any treats that include sugar in the ingredients.
Your vet may be able to help you treat your diabetic hamster using a med called 'Glipizide' which has successfully treated diabetic guinea pigs as well. but you need to have a vet experienced with hamsters who will know how to weigh your hamster and come up with a Glipizide dosing based on the hamster's weight.

Q: How can I tell if my hamster is pregnant?
A: It is very difficult to tell. She will only look more fat than usual about 2 days before giving birth. She may be building a nest and will usually be more active than usual. Dwarves are pregnant for around 19-21 days (Syrians only 16 days) so the best thing to do is to wait and see! When she does give birth, consult the breeding pages of hamsterific, and remember not to touch the babies.

Q: How long do hamsters live?
A: Syrian's (teddybear hamster) usually live about three years.The smaller varieties, like the Siberian and Campbell's, not quite as long, usually around two years. The Roborovski is the dwarf hamster exception, and has been raised to three years in captivity.

Q: My hamster has escaped! How can I find it?
A: Hamsters can be regular little escape artists, but don't fret, hamsterama has the perfect solution. The first thing you should do is close all the doors, and get any other animals such as cats or dogs out of the house if possible. Put piles of your hamsters usual food mix in the corner of each room. Observe which pile of food gets eaten to determine which room your hamster is in. Once you know which room he is in, you can trap him. Take a bucket and put some bedding and some strong smelling food (such as cheese) inside. Then, using books, build steps up to the top of the bucket. The hamster should clamber up to the top, smell the delicious food and fall in, but not be able to get out!

Q: How often should I clean the cage?
A: The wet/soiled areas should be scooped out daily. The acessories should be cleaned at least once a month or whenever they get dirty. The cage should be cleaned once a week with soap and water. However if you have a potty or something similiar that hamster urinates in the bedding can be dumped out an replaced weekly while the cage can be washed and dried once a month but that's only if the hamster hasn't urinated anywhere else.

Q: Why does my hamster sleep through the day?
A: Hamsters are crepuscular, which means they like to sleep during the day and party all night long. If you don't believe me try putting your hamster's cage in your bedroom one night and see how much sleep you get. This doesn't mean you'll never see them. If you give your hamsters a treat when you get home they'll come to expect it and be waiting for you!

Q: Do hamsters bite?
A: Yes; but normally not without just cause, or maybe if they think you are a tasty sunflower seed.

Q: My hamster's wheel is squeeking and it drives me nuts! Is there anything I can do?
Try using a very small amount of petroleum jelly (Vaseline). It stops the squeaks and is not toxic unlike many other lubes like WD-40. Personally i would recommend you to get a sanko silent wheel. Build quality is great & its really silent compare to those other cheap wheels.
References:
http://www.hamsterhouse.com/hamstergalaxy/health.html
http://www.essortment.com/pet-hamsters-car...tion-22796.html
http://www.hamsterific.com/faq.cfm

Good information if want to keep Hamster

This post has been edited by pandera999: Apr 19 2017, 09:01 AM

Recommended vets (this is not the only good vets, there might be other good vets out there too):

Dr. Yeoh
Yeoh Veterinary Clinic & Surgery
126 Jalan SS 24/2, 47301 Petaling Jaya 03-7804 8684 ‎
hands and paws
C-G-17, Ground Floor, Blok C,
Jln Pju 1/45,
Aman Suria,
47301 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor Tel: 03-7804 6539

Dr Vellayan
10, Jalan L2, Phase 6A
Taman Melawati
53100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 013-6246 918
Tel/Fax: 03-4108 5530

Animal Medical Centre Sdn Bhd
Wisma Medivet, 8, Jln Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
t: 603-4042 6742 & 4042 5873 f: 603-4041 3660

Ulu Klang
Animal Medical Centre Sdn Bhd
6, Medan Damai Ukay, Jalan Pinggiran 1, Ulu Klang, 68000 Ampang, Selangor
t: 603-4257 2896 f: 603-4257 5677

Kepong, Kuala Lumpur
Medivet Laboratory Sdn. Bhd.
Lot 30, Jalan 4/32A, Pusat Perusahaan Kepong, Batu 6 1/2, Jalan Kepong , 52100 Kuala Lumpur
t: 603-6258 8387 f: 603-6257 7381

searching for a vet near your area? Please refer to this thread http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/264418 (some of them might not treat hamsters u will need to check with them first)
Other Info




This post has been edited by pandera999: Feb 15 2017, 09:07 AM

Hamster pictures & tank setup

Pinterest have tons of pictures if you want do DIY hamster tank setup and hopefully some will give you an idea to start yours. Apart from that, youtube also one of the best source for you to view DIY tank setup or even toys and house for the hamsters.

Pinterest






Due to the limit lyn set, for 1 post there is a max limit of number of pictures i can post. So those pictures that i cannot post over here i will post the link instead. You can click that link to view more pictures
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Hamster Event & Gathering

Gathering:
Event:
There are no event or gatherings at the moment.
Vote for Photo Competition
Photo Competition



This post has been edited by pandera999: Nov 26 2017, 11:22 AM

Guide on Common Hamster Ailments and Illnesses

Source SoS original
Credit to original author : Popstar Ham




A - Abscess, Antibiotics and Medicine

B - Balding, Bleeding, Breathing (Difficulty, Problems, Clicking Sounds), Broken Limbs, Broken Tooth

C - Calming an Injured or Ill Hamster, Cuts (Minor), Cheekpouch (Impacted), Constipation

D - Dehydration, Diabetes, Diarrhoea

E - Eye (Swollen, Closed)

F - Falls and Related Injuries, First Aid Kit, Fur Loss

H - Herbs (Thyme)

L - Limbs (Broken, Sprained, Swollen), Loss of Balance, Lumps and Tumours

M - Medicine (Safe/Toxic), Mites and Parasites

P - Pyometra

R - Respiratory/Breathing Problems

S - Surgery

T - Tooth (Missing, Chipped, Loose, Misaligned, Overgrown)

V - Vet

W - Wet Tail



This post has been edited by pandera999: May 12 2017, 05:26 PM

Known Hamster Breeders
Avy Hamster





*If you know other breeders, do let me know

This post has been edited by pandera999: May 19 2017, 12:30 PM

WAHHHHH, new thread!

wow, so fast new thread

yeah.. that 1 od quite long ago le

2011-2017 thread.. lol... 6 years leh

coi

edited punya tag does not work la dei

hahahaha

Eh, btw, the food section all kena update la. Those brands all tak boleh cari oso here.

yaho.. ok.. will update it

Die...went to Petsmore and saw the cutest mottled Syrian hamster. Came up to me with these big eyes...adui.

pls resist the cuteness.. hahahaha

Of course! *femes last words*

end up buying.. hahaha