Hamster/Mice Care
This a care guide written by myself. this lists all of my care recommendations for hamsters and mice.
Nutrition
First off let me explain why a healthy diet is IMPERATIVE to a hamster’s and Mouse's longevity. And why they shouldn’t be fed just any old food. Hamsters, especially dwarfs are susceptible to diabetes and weight problems. This comes from 3 things.
• They can be more prone to it if health was disregarded in their breeding (this is very typical in pet store hamsters)
• They are fed a bad food and treats high in artificial flavors, colors, sugars and fats.
• Lack of exercise. No wheel or too small of space to run and burn off that fat.
Sometimes it is a combination or all 3 of these things combined
Here, health is a top, if not the top priority in the hamsters and mice we breed so if fed a good diet and proper exercise outlets, diabetes and weight should not become an issue in your little friends.
Now let’s down to the grit and grime of nutrition.
• Protein! 17% - 19% is the ideal range you want to look for in a pellet. Though younger hamsters/mice can use more protein for development. 20% - 24% but this is a high amount for the average adult hamster/mouse. Though 17 to 19 is a fairly appropriate range for all ages. There are other great sources of protein which I will list below.
• Fats! 4% - 7% Too much fat in a diet will obviously lead to excessive weight gain. But too little fat can be just as harmful as it will lead to malnutrition.
• Fiber! 6% - 15% Fiber helps with digestion. You can rarely have too much fiber in a feed. The biggest problem is having too little.
Occasionally you will have a picky hamster/mouse so sometimes variety can be key to keeping your hamster/mouse healthy! Personally I like to mix several brands together to give them more options. They might like one part of a feed and not the rest. You’ll notice what is left behind after they’ve picked through a bowl.
Now the moment you’ve been waiting for. What brands do I use/recommend to fellow hamster/mouse owners? A block food and a seed blend.
Block
• Mazuri 5663
• Harlan Teklad 8640
Seed
• Higgin’s Sunburst Gourmet Blend
• Vitakraft Vitasmart Complete Nutrition
• Tiny Friends Farm Hazel Hamster/Mimi Mouse
Mix in some dried mealworm or dog food for an extra protein boost.
These brands I believe to be the best. The seeds offer variety all while being made with quality ingredients and nutritional value! The blocks offer steady nutrients so you’ll know they’re getting what they need. If you’re wondering where you can find the seed brands can be found at just about any pet store or online. As for the block I have to purchase it online because it’s not available in my local stores.
• They can be more prone to it if health was disregarded in their breeding (this is very typical in pet store hamsters)
• They are fed a bad food and treats high in artificial flavors, colors, sugars and fats.
• Lack of exercise. No wheel or too small of space to run and burn off that fat.
Sometimes it is a combination or all 3 of these things combined
Here, health is a top, if not the top priority in the hamsters and mice we breed so if fed a good diet and proper exercise outlets, diabetes and weight should not become an issue in your little friends.
Now let’s down to the grit and grime of nutrition.
• Protein! 17% - 19% is the ideal range you want to look for in a pellet. Though younger hamsters/mice can use more protein for development. 20% - 24% but this is a high amount for the average adult hamster/mouse. Though 17 to 19 is a fairly appropriate range for all ages. There are other great sources of protein which I will list below.
• Fats! 4% - 7% Too much fat in a diet will obviously lead to excessive weight gain. But too little fat can be just as harmful as it will lead to malnutrition.
• Fiber! 6% - 15% Fiber helps with digestion. You can rarely have too much fiber in a feed. The biggest problem is having too little.
Occasionally you will have a picky hamster/mouse so sometimes variety can be key to keeping your hamster/mouse healthy! Personally I like to mix several brands together to give them more options. They might like one part of a feed and not the rest. You’ll notice what is left behind after they’ve picked through a bowl.
Now the moment you’ve been waiting for. What brands do I use/recommend to fellow hamster/mouse owners? A block food and a seed blend.
Block
• Mazuri 5663
• Harlan Teklad 8640
Seed
• Higgin’s Sunburst Gourmet Blend
• Vitakraft Vitasmart Complete Nutrition
• Tiny Friends Farm Hazel Hamster/Mimi Mouse
Mix in some dried mealworm or dog food for an extra protein boost.
These brands I believe to be the best. The seeds offer variety all while being made with quality ingredients and nutritional value! The blocks offer steady nutrients so you’ll know they’re getting what they need. If you’re wondering where you can find the seed brands can be found at just about any pet store or online. As for the block I have to purchase it online because it’s not available in my local stores.
Proper Habitat
When getting a hamster/mouse from the pet store, often times they will try to sell you colorful commercial cages. While they might be cute and flashy, not only are they too small for your hamster/mouse, they are expensive and difficult to clean. For this reason I do not use commercial cages and I recommend you don't waste your money or time on them either. As pictured above, I recommend the use of storage bins and tanks. They're far cheaper, easier to clean, and give your hamster/mouse the space it needs to run around.
The storage bin method (Which is the cheapest and easiest to maintain in my opinion) is very simple. Buy at least a 50 Quart/12.5 Gallon Storage bin with a lid. Cut a rectangle out of the lid or a side (I prefer lid unless I stack other bins on top). Duct tape wire mesh to the opening or if you have a drill, drill holes into the top of the sides to allow oxygen inside. Fill 2 to 3 inches with bedding. Replace bedding every other week. image for example, I do not own it.
The storage bin method (Which is the cheapest and easiest to maintain in my opinion) is very simple. Buy at least a 50 Quart/12.5 Gallon Storage bin with a lid. Cut a rectangle out of the lid or a side (I prefer lid unless I stack other bins on top). Duct tape wire mesh to the opening or if you have a drill, drill holes into the top of the sides to allow oxygen inside. Fill 2 to 3 inches with bedding. Replace bedding every other week. image for example, I do not own it.
The tank method is pretty simple but costs a bit more typically and is a little harder to clean because of its weight in my opinion. By at least a 10 gallon tank with wire mesh lid (Used on reptile tanks). Fill with 2 to 3 inches of bedding. Replace bedding every other week. Image for example, I do not own it.