Understanding your pet’s needs is essential to keeping it healthy. Although most Syrian hamsters are low-maintenance pets, there are a few things you should always look out for.
The basic needs of a Syrian hamster include a balanced diet, clean water, adequate shelter, and frequent exercise. They also need to be kept warm, so they don’t go into false hibernation. An occasional sand bath will help your hamster retain a clean, shiny fur coat, but don’t overdo it.
The rest of this article answers vital questions regarding Syrian hamsters. I will include all the information you need for your hamster to stay healthy and live longer.
Syrian Hamster Needs
I have broken down your hamster’s needs into a series of frequently asked questions to provide specific answers to common concerns.
How Much Food Does a Syrian Hamster Need?
Hamsters need 12 grams (0.4 ounces or a teaspoon) of food daily. This food should be rich in protein and fiber to promote healthy digestion and development. You may also offer them a teaspoon of fresh veggies alongside.
Avoid giving your hamster sugary and fatty foods because they are prone to diabetes and glaucoma. You may offer a teaspoon of fruit but only twice a week. This is because fruits have some sugars. Offering more than these recommended portions can cause obesity and stomach issues.
Never feed your hamster pet food made for your other pets. They should only eat hamster pellets that meet their dietary requirements. Other feeds may have a higher caloric index, which can cause obesity.
Remember to offer your pet enough clean water daily.
How Much Protein Does a Syrian Hamster Need?
Syrian hamsters need 1.8 to 2.9 grams (0.06-0.1 oz) of protein, which is 15 to 24% of their daily food intake. Pregnant and baby hamsters should get around 24% more. Protein is necessary to support healthy growth. It is also vital for several body functions, such as hormone and enzyme production.
Check that the hamster feed contains at least 15% protein. Alternative sources of protein include the following:
- Hard-boiled egg white
- Mealworms
- Low-fat nuts
- Small crickets
- Insect Larvae
- Chicken bits
- Lean beef bits
- Fish bits
How Much Exercise Does a Syrian Hamster Need?
Syrian hamsters need to exercise daily for at least 30 minutes. They may exceed this time while taking breaks every 15 to 20 minutes. Exercise is essential for their physical and mental well-being. However, it shouldn’t be overdone, especially if the hamster is older or sickly.
Here are some ways to ensure that your pet gets ample exercise:
- Exercise wheel
- Maze
- Climbing rope
- Climbing platforms
- Hamster ball (must supervise during use since the pet can become entrapped inside)
- Tunnels
- Obstacle courses
- Burrowing bedding
Syrian hamsters are active and can run up to 9 miles (14.5 kilometers) daily. Exercise helps them stay fit and alleviate boredom, which can cause stress and depression.
Providing different toys in the hamster cage can encourage your Syrian hamster to be more active. However, because these pets have very poor eyesight, don’t crowd the cage, and remove any items with sharp edges that could cause injuries.
How Much Floor Space Does a Syrian Hamster Need?
A Syrian Hamster needs at least 620 square inches (4000 square centimeters or 64 by 64 centimeters). Because they grow substantially big, they need ample space to run around. The floor space should also accommodate toys and exercise items without crowding.
Like other hamsters, Syrian hamsters are primarily solitary animals and quite territorial. If you have more than one, keep them in separate cages to avoid potentially fatal fights.
There is no upper limit to the floor space size that a Syrian hamster needs. According to this study on Syrian hamsters housed in four different cage sizes, providing smaller housing can induce chronic stress, which affects thermoregulation.
How Many Inches of Bedding Does a Syrian Hamster Need?
A Syrian hamster needs at least 10 inches (25.4 centimeters) of bedding. These hamsters love to nest and burrow, and they can dig quite deep. The deeper the bedding, the better for your hamster. The bedding should also cover the whole cage floor.
Research shows that Syrian hamsters benefit greatly from having deeper bedding in their housing. Deeper bedding also better masks the pee odor (although you still need to change the bedding often to keep the cage hygienic).
Ensure that the bedding is safe for hamsters and non-toxic in case of accidental ingestion. If you don’t have store-bought bedding, shred some toilet paper. It’s cheaper and equally effective. The only downside is that it won’t mask your hamster’s pee and poo odors very well.
Does My Syrian Hamster Need a Sand Bath?
Your Syrian hamster needs a sand bath for about 15 minutes every other day. Although your hamster can do without it, a sand bath is very helpful in keeping the fur coat clean and shiny. It can also control parasites that hide underneath the fur.
The ideal sand for a sand bath is a plain reptile or Chinchilla sand with no additives. You can buy this from your local pet shop, but here is a product that I recommend: Tiny Friends Farm Bathing Sand (available on Amazon.com). This high-quality product is packaged specifically for your tiny pets. It is light, penetrates their fur coat, and eliminates all impurities. You can use it for any hamster species.
To build a sand bath for your Syrian hamster, fill a small bowl with about an inch of sand (this bowl shouldn’t be too high that the hamster can’t climb out). Then, place the hamster inside and let him play!
Avoid washing your hamster with water because it can strip the fur coat of essential oils and cause skin irritation. Furthermore, your hamster will enjoy rolling about in the sand.
Do Syrian Hamsters Need Heat?
Syrian hamsters need heat, more so in the winter. You should maintain temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 24 degrees Celsius). Substantially colder temperatures may force them into hibernation, potentially fatal due to hypothermia or dehydration.
Here are some ideas to keep your hamster warm:
- Provide warm bedding, preferably Aspen wood shavings, shredded cardboard, or toilet paper.
- Place a space heater at a safe distance from the pet’s cage (ensure it is working safely).
- Keep a small heating pad in the cage so that your hamster can retreat there to warm up when needed.
When temperatures are too low, your hamster may suffer from the following:
- Hypothermia
- Rhinitis
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite
- Shivering
If your Syrian hamster shows any of the above signs, keep it warm and visit your vet immediately for treatment.
Beware of overheating your pet’s space because they are also sensitive to excess heat. Exceeding temperatures of 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees Celsius) may cause heat stress and stroke, which can prove fatal if immediate medical assistance is not given.
Conclusion
In summary, ensure that your Syrian hamster gets the following needs met:
- A balanced diet that is low in fats and sugars for preventing obesity and diabetes
- Clean water that is replaced daily
- A spacious cage that isn’t crowded
- Various toys and exercise equipment
- Sufficient heat
- An occasional sand bath to keep its fur clean
Interacting with your hamster regularly will improve your bond. It will also keep you aware of any changes in your pet, especially those requiring medical attention.