How to Grow an Edible Dig Box for Your Hamster
How to Grow an Edible Dig Box for Your Hamster
Hamsters in the wild eat a lot of plants, and a good way to replicate that in captivity is a dig box with sprouts. Here is how to make one:
First, you’re going to need a container. Any container should be okay, as long as it’s made of something your hamster is okay chewing, or you know that your hamster doesn’t chew. It can be any size, as long as you can grow plants in it. A lid is preferable, but you can use something like saran wrap if you don’t have one.
Second, fill the container with some hamster safe dirt. This could be potting soil without fertilizers or additives, or a reptile-safe soil.
Then, add some seeds. In the past, we’ve used seeds straight from a hamster seed mix such as sunburst. You can also buy hamster safe seeds like millet, oat, wheat, flax, sunflower and more. Sprinkle the seeds in the soil, and wet it until it is damp. Then, cover with the lid, and place it in a warm area.
It is important to keep the soil damp but not soaking wet, so that the seeds sprout but not mold. It is recommended to spray the soil daily with a spray bottle. The seeds should sprout in a few days, and be sprouts in a week or two. When the sprouts are over 1 inch long, you can take the lid off and give the whole container to your hamster.
Many hamsters love to play in the dirt, as well as eat the sprouts. This can be a very enriching way to give your hamster an extra treat.
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Where should you put your hamster cage?
A lot of people talk about how big your hamster cage should be, but another important topic is where you should put your hamster cage. Given that hamsters should live in cages that are above 450 sq in, they can’t just be stuffed into the corner of a room. So where should you put your hamster cage?
The ideal place for your hamster is a medium-to-low traffic area. First of all, you don’t want to put your hamster somewhere that people are always going by or there are a lot of loud noises that could scare or disturb your hamster. On the flip side, you don’t want to put them somewhere you never ever go. Find a nice, relatively quiet place of the home that you visit frequently to put your hamster in. If you are a minor or want to put your hamster in your bedroom, this could be a bad idea as hamsters are nocturnal/crepuscular and can be quite loud. If your hamster isn’t loud, that’s great, but some wheels and hamsters can cause quite the commotion. Temperature can also play a role. Make sure anywhere you place your hamster doesn’t drop below 15°C or go above 30°C. If it gets below 15°C, your hamster could go into torpor. If it gets too hot, your hamster could get heat stroke.
In short, choose a quiet, easy to access, temperature controlled area to put your hamster cage.
Happy Lunar New Year, from your friends at Ontario Hamster Club! Wishing you Happiness, Success, and Good Fortune. 🐹🐯
Free roaming your hamster for short periods of time can be a great way to provide enrichment, exercise, bonding, as well as time out of the cage. Free roaming means letting your hamster run around a room or an area of the house, and should be only done under supervision or if there is nothing the hamster could hurt themselves with.
First of all, you might want to either get a playpen or make one so that your hamster doesn’t escape and go somewhere you don’t want them to. Plüschraupe on YouTube has a great video on how to make a hamster playpen. Set up the playpen if using, and clear the area of any dangerous things, like wires, toys, houseplants, etc. Then you can put in some hides and a wheel for your hamster to play with while out of their cage. It’s also a good idea to provide a source of water and a small amount of food. Then, simply get your hamster and put them in the free roam area.
Remember to supervise your hamster while out of their cage; don’t let them just run around your house.
Not every hamster enjoys free roam time. Some may be timid, and would feel more secure in a less open space, so watch your hamster’s body language and tailor your play time to what works best for you and your hamster!
Difference in Care Part 2:
Chinese Hamster
The Chinese hamster is the least common species of pet hamster, as they are not as widely available in pet stores across Canada as the other hamster species. They are occasionally seen for rehoming on Kijiji or similar marketplace sites. They weigh around 30-40g. The Chinese hamster is long and skinny, almost like a mouse, and with their longer tail, they are much better at climbing than any of the other hamster species. Provide extra climbing opportunities like grapevine wood and safe ropes. They need a large wheel like Syrians, due to their long bodies, but don’t need 3” openings in hides. These hamsters are prone to diabetes as well, so their diet should be carefully monitored. Like Syrians, Chinese hamsters are strictly solitary.
Roborovski Hamster
Also called the Robo hamster, this is the smallest species of hamster. They usually weigh around 20-30g. Robos usually are tan with white “eyebrows” and a white belly, but other patterns do exist. They are also the fastest species of hamster and can be quite hard to handle, though that will depend on the individual hamster. With their speed, they do best on a 8” or larger wheel, so they can control it without flipping. In some circumstances same-sex siblings can be housed together, but only experienced keepers who can read their body language and follow escalation patterns should do this. The OHC encourages most owners to house their Robo hamsters separately.
The Hamster Species
Difference in Care Between Species
The word “hamster” actually refers to almost 20 different species, five of which are domesticated. All hamsters need things like a large enclosure and a sand bath, but different species require slightly different care.
Syrian Hamster:
The Syrian hamster is the largest species of domesticated hamster. Adults can weigh anywhere from 100-300g, depending on its lineage and how it was raised. Being the largest species of hamster, they need larger wheels (10-12”+), and larger hides and tunnels. The openings of these hides and tunnels should be ~3”. They should NEVER be housed together once adults, as they are strictly solitary and could fight to the death. Syrian hamsters, especially female syrians, are prone to boredom and may be demanding of enclosures larger than the minimum recommendation to thrive.
Djungarian or Winter White Hamster & Campbell's Dwarf Hamster:
These two species were once thought to be one species because they are so similar. They are the only two domestic species that can interbreed and create hybrids. In North America, pure breds can only be sourced from an ethical breeder, and therefore all Russian dwarf hamsters in pet shops are hybrids. Because the two species are so similar, their care is essentially the same. The Djungarian hamster, also called the Winter White, is native to parts of Kazakhstan and Russia. The Campbell's Dwarf hamster is actually native to parts of Mongolia. Both these species are much smaller than the Syrian hamster, weighing around 30-60g, with Djungarian hamsters weighing a little bit more than that on average. They should use a wheel that is 8”+ and tunnels with a diameter of ~2”+. Campbells and hybrids are prone to diabetes, so their diet should be carefully monitored. While cohabitation is possible, this is best left to experienced keepers who can read their body language and follow escalation patterns. The OHC encourages most owners to house their dwarf hamsters indepe
Should you adopt from a rescue or ethical breeder?
Adopting from an ethical breeder or a rescue is a great alternative to purchasing a hamster from the pet shop. Both ethical breeders and rescues are great places to get a hamster, but there are some benefits and drawbacks to each.
Ethical breeders are breeders that care about the health and well-being of both their hamsters and hamsters as a species. They pay attention to the genetics and health traits of their hamsters as to breed the healthiest, happiest, friendliest hamsters. Adopting from an ethical breeder is a great choice if you want a hamster that is friendly, and likely to live longer than your average pet store hamster. Ethically bred hamsters also tend to be bigger than other hamsters. You can also be assured that the hamster you are getting was never abused and came from a place that took good care of their hamsters.
Rescues, on the other hand, are better if you want to give a hamster a second chance. Hamsters from rescues often originate from the pet shop, but were given to the rescue when the owner could no longer or didn’t want to care for the hamster anymore. Rescues are great because you can support an organization that is saving animals and help a hamster out. Working with rescue hamsters is often more worthwhile as the difference you make is tangible on many levels - most importantly, you helped give a hamster in need an amazing home!
Whether you choose a breeder or a rescue is up to you, but in short, getting a hamster from a rescue or an ethical breeder is a great way to get a hamster without supporting animal mills.
Hi friends!
We all know the struggle to find toys and tunnels for our furry friends that are not only inexpensive but durable.
One option we have found would be pvc pipes that are at least 3 inches (increase the size if you have a larger hamster). These are cheap and conveniently found at hardware stores.
Ensure the edges and inside are smooth before you introduce it into your hamsters enclosure and always be mindful of chewing. If you notice they are chewing on the pipe, take it away for awhile and reintroduce it or provide more chew toys or different varieties.
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Images provided by OHC member:
Sarah L. - Gordie
(Check Out Our Instagram Page)
Aren’t our hamster buddies so cute while they keep hydrated?!
When it comes to hamster care, proper hydration is key 🔑
You want to ensure their water, bowl or bottle, is well maintained. Fresh water and proper cleaning is a benefit to their well-being and hydration.
You want to ensure the bottles are large enough to hold a fair amount of water to get them through a day or 2.
The bowls, you want to ensure are not deep enough that they may drown in but enough to hold a fair amount. Tea light holders for example are a good size as reference.
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Images submitted by OHC members:
Sarah L.
Evelyn LR.
Ashlee H.
Ashley M.
(Check our Instagram)
Did you know…..?
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The cages most pet shops advertise and sell are not appropriate for hamsters.
At minimum a hamster should have 600sq inches of floor space (measure inside the enclosures base, not outside) or a 40 gallon breeder tank. They should also have a height that allows at least a 12 inch wheel and minimum 6-8inches of deep bedding.
Deep bedding allows your hamster to burrow and create their tunnel system. This tunnel system allows for their sleeping chamber, food chamber and potty 🤭
Hamsters also need a sand area (this could be enclosed in a candy jar, box or a section of the enclosure.
Larger enclosures also allow for more hides, toys, chews and run around space.
Another issue with store bought cages is that they focus on levels rather than deep bedding space and floor space. Hamsters are not great with height and levels as they are burrowing animals.
I hope these lovely examples of enclosures that our Ontario Hamster Club members provided help you see the benefits of larger enclosures.
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Images provided by members:
Holly M.
Caroline M.
Melissa L.
Heather W.
Sarah L.
Yuerui Y.
Here we have a lovely display of hamsters enjoying some yummy veggie snacks (and a sneaky banana)
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Check out our list of tasty fruits and veggies that your hamster might just enjoy
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Another healthy alternative to the sweeter snacks would be veggies!
Hamsters can be picky eaters, just like their humans, but some snacks they can’t get enough of are broccoli tops and green beans
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Boiled or raw (never seasoned or flavoured) your hamster buddy will enjoy these tasty greens.
Just remember, not too much or they will hide them in their food stash and it’ll go bad. Give them a small amount a couple times a week and they will be happy.
Check out our food guide for more fun approved fruits and veggies!
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Images submitted by OHC members:
Chad - Heather W.
Jupiter - Tri Tri T.
Roar - Ashley M.
It’s always hard finding the right size wheel for your hamster buddy.
We generally say bigger is better and that’s for a good reason.
Smaller wheels,especially for Syrians, can cause back problems because when they are running they tend to bend their back in a not natural way.
With bigger wheels this allows your hamster to run flat, allowing their spin to remain properly aligned. As well, if your hamsters wheel is too small they will most likely refuse to use it which is not beneficial for their health.🐹
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Images submitted by OHC members:
Yellow wheel- Roar(Ashley M)
Blue wheel- Princess(Coral B.)
Clear wheel- Gordie(Sarah L.)
Did you know, some store bought hanging toys can be repurposed?
If your hammy has chewed through their toy or is not interested in them, you can repurpose the metal rods/hanger and turn it into a snack toy! 🤩
This will give your hamster an enrichment toy that they will enjoy and helps their brain figure out how to get the treats.🐹
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Image submitted by OHC member Roxane S.
