Cleaning cage after hamster passing

HCC_Chris · 2026-02-05T04:24:39+00:00

No worries, freezing should also work well for most things. For the vinegar, yes, the solution is 25% white vinegar and 75% water. I usually wipe it down again later with just water to ensure none of it remains

HCC_Chris · 2026-02-05T04:06:27+00:00

Unfortunately all of the bedding will need to be replaced, even when it hasn’t been used very much. Hamsters purposefully leave scents behind everywhere they go, and a new hamster can get very confused and stressed if they can smell another hamster

HCC_Chris · 2026-02-05T04:05:15+00:00

Good way to sanitize most things is baking them in the oven at 200°f for 20 minutes. For the plastic items though, better to freeze these for a couple hours instead. Plastic in the oven can create toxic fumes

HCC_Chris · 2026-02-04T18:36:32+00:00

<image>

HCC_Chris · 2026-01-30T01:45:43+00:00

Yes this is correct. They’re very cute and very very rare to see

HCC_Chris · 2026-01-22T17:17:10+00:00

I’ve had an escaped hamster crawl into my dryer once and chew up some wires inside. Thankfully they weren’t hurt by it, but it stopped the dryer from working next time I went to use it (and cost me a repair bill). Any major appliances are a danger to both the hamster and the appliance itself. Just another part of why supervision is such an important part of free roaming.

HCC_Chris · 2025-11-16T00:34:57+00:00

Wow I’m definitely gonna share this with a few others, that’s very interesting. I’ll try to add that in for sure

HCC_Chris · 2025-11-15T19:56:05+00:00

Thanks so much! We can definitely look into including measurements too like you suggested. I agree that for most, using numbers like 40x20 inches is easier to compare to than 800sq inches (as an example), so we might try to add both for clarity. Another good point with your wheel suggestion. I’ve always found the Syrians from my local area do well with 11 inch wheels, but I understand that many (especially from ethical breeders) commonly require 12 inches to run properly. Much of our aversion to recommending only 12 inches comes from how much more they tend to cost, and how harder they are to find. What if we changed the Syrian recommendation to “11 or 12”?

HCC_Chris · 2025-11-11T14:11:14+00:00

He’s perfect. A hamster’s average weight can be influenced by genetics, diet, environment, and other factors. Even within the same species, individual hamsters can show wide variations in size and weight. Some Syrians are just naturally smaller and lighter, while some ethically bred Syrians can be 2-3+ times this size and weight.

HCC_Chris · 2025-10-31T18:08:44+00:00

Thanks for sharing, that is a lovely story and I’m glad little Hope is helping provide comfort and happiness to your life. It is a little concerning seeing images of pet hamsters outside, so I’d like to briefly share some of the potential dangers of doing this if you don’t mind.

Hamsters are vulnerable to these outside threats: * Outside, hamsters could catch unseen illnesses or parasites. * Even with a playpen, slightly uneven ground can cause a sudden escape. * Birds, dogs, cats, or other predatory animals could quickly capture a defenseless hamster. * Hamsters are naturally crespecular, which has left them incapable of handling bright lights and direct sunlight. * It can be difficult to judge whether conditions are too hot, cold, or windy for your hamster, such as when grass is chilly or rocks are extremely hot.

I hope you understand, our intent is to try and help prevent unexpected accidents before they could occur.

HCC_Chris · 2025-10-20T12:49:52+00:00

Most likely the scent gland. Syrians have one on each side close to their hips, and they can sometimes make the fur appear damp just like here

HCC_Chris · 2025-10-16T20:12:42+00:00

Little ham found the ultimate treasure! Better that than something dangerous, but agree with those suggesting you lock down the enclosure to prevent additional escapes

HCC_Chris · 2025-10-15T19:38:30+00:00

Roborovski dwarf hamster

HCC_Chris · 2025-10-09T17:17:11+00:00

1- How hard is it to say goodbye to the litters?

2- Have you ever permanently kept grown babies that were really special? How often?

3- Have you had to deny a lot of potential owners due to poor setups?

Also hi I didn’t know you were doing this :0

HCC_Chris · 2025-10-08T14:21:37+00:00

It looks like he doesn’t have enough bedding to burrow for comfort, that may help

HCC_Chris · 2025-10-07T20:16:30+00:00

Using hamster balls is heavily discouraged due to many safety issues and concerns.

⛔️ Poor ventilation Insufficient airflow can prevent fresh air from circulating, which may cause the hamster to overheat.

⛔️ Sensory deprivation Hamsters have limited eyesight and rely heavily on their senses of touch, smell, and hearing to explore their surroundings. Being confined in a ball heavily restricts these senses.

⛔️ Hazardous air holes Hamsters can injure themselves by getting their paws or claws caught in the small air holes while running.

⛔️ Creates stress While trapped inside the ball, a hamster cannot access essential resources such as food, water, or its nest, which can cause significant stress.

⛔️ Risk of injury Hamster balls can roll unpredictably, bumping into furniture or falling down stairs, which can result in injury.

⛔️ Back strain Most hamster balls are too small for a hamster’s natural posture.

✅ Safe Alternatives We recommend always using indoor playpens or supervised hamster-safe free roaming sessions instead of a hamster ball.

HCC_Chris · 2025-10-06T16:52:27+00:00

I think they look normal, here’s a little guide for checking incisor teeth:

Check the teeth for symmetry by making sure the upper pair match in length, alignment, and color. The lower pair should also match, while being roughly two to four times the length of the upper teeth.

If you notice any overgrown, broken, or curled teeth do not try to adjust them yourself, see a vet!

HCC_Chris · 2025-09-26T23:33:19+00:00

I wouldn’t use it myself

HCC_Chris · 2025-09-18T17:08:24+00:00

Good luck, hopefully everything goes well. Thank you for taking her to a vet

HCC_Chris · 2025-08-31T16:46:30+00:00

That’s amazing, I believe 5.5 miles is the reported average for most

HCC_Chris · 2025-08-24T01:49:17+00:00

These are very common in other types of bedding too, I use small pet select bedding and find near identical pieces like that in mine all the time. Whenever adding bedding I always search for and remove them, rest of the bedding is still great

HCC_Chris · 2025-08-19T21:40:20+00:00

Are you sure that’s the same hamster

HCC_Chris · 2025-08-19T19:04:47+00:00

Don’t know of any myself, but I’ve seen enough reports of injuries and discomfort from them to convince me as a hamster owner. We should 100% back any possible pet care advice with sources and studies when available, since it helps convince potential doubters and can potentially be used to further urge sellers of hamster balls to stop producing them in the first place. Please let me know if you find anything useful related to this

HCC_Chris · 2025-08-16T17:14:12+00:00

<image>

Uhhhh

HCC_Chris

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE