Need some help with food choices please

[Animal_Lover1120]

Hi all is it okay to put seeds/mix into bowls or do they need to be thrown around the tank? Also do we need to have schedules on feeding each day or can we feed veggies each night then a piece of either boiled egg or scrambled egg once a week? Same with fruit given once a week. Such as watermelon, blueberry, blackberry, strawberry all a piece of the fruit when its in the house. I've been giving a piece of spring mix leaf along with a tiny cut piece of cucumber, celery, carrot when I have them each night. Is that too much for a Syrian a Chinese and a dwarf? I keep reading that along with the seed/mix I give I need to give Mazuri Rat and Mouse Food and to throw that in the tank for them to forage. They said to also throw the seed/mix around the cage but wont that be hard for them to find they might starve if they cant take from a bowl? I don't know what to do. Oh and I was told to buy different sprays and put them around the tank but finding Flax and some others is hard all I find is bird mullet at my stores. Maybe I'm not cut out to card for hamsters and should stick with dogs and piggies. Thank you for any and all help.

 

[Socks' Mum]

Hi, the best way of deciding this is to spend time observing your new pet hamsters to see how much time they spend exploring the cage and what their individual characters are. Send us pictures of your set up so that we can advise

 

[Maz]

Hello. If you're new to hamsters, I'd suggest giving them a tablespoon of a good hamster mix every day and putting most of that in a bowl and scattering a bit of it on the substrate for them to forage. Hamsters vary, and I find with some of them, if you scatter all the food you end up with a cage full of food! They don't eat it all, they take what they want - pouch it usually and then hoard it and then they snack from their hoards - like having breakfast in bed In terms of veg, give them a very small piece daily - no bigger than the hamster's ear. It helps to put that in a separate place to their hamster mix - eg on a shelf or a separate little dish like a jar lid. Because it keeps life interesting for them and they like to go and find it. They LOVE fresh veg, but they only eat really tiny amounts each day so too much and they could either get diarrhoea or it could get hoarded and go off.

Generally they tend not to hoard fresh food like veg but eat it or nibble at it where you put it. If you give a piece no bigger than the hamster's ear it will just get eaten. Favourites tend to be a tiny broccoli floret or cucumber here but you can give carrot (not so popular here - they like the green veg), cauliflower and various other types of veg. I've linked our safe fruit and veg guide which also lists all the other safe and unsafe foods for hamsters. Hope that helps!

I'm guessing you're in the US if you mentioned Mazuri. Mazuri is basically soya for protein and while protein is needed, Mazuri or lab blocks aren't really recommended these days. You need a good hamster mix that contains enough protein. Some don't contain enough protein and then it needs supplementing a bit, so to supplement you can just give "fresh" extras, like half a walnut twice a week, or a bit of chopped hard boiled egg. Again only a TINY piece of chopped egg about ear-sized again so they eat it all. They LOVE human food!

For a mix, Higgins Vita Garden is probably the better commercial mix that's easy available, as it's sugar free and has a reasonable variety of ingredients. Some hamster owners now buy Getzoo mixes from Germany - and buy them on Etsy - but they can work out more expensive.

To keep it simple to start with, you could just get a bag of Higgins Vita Garden and then look into alternatives when you've got used to the hamster care. Also freeze any hamster food, treats or sprays or hay for a week to avoid any bugs hatching out! If you haven't done that don't worry it'll probably be fine, but ongoing it's best to freeze them for a week.

Sprays are good for enrichment but don't worry about getting everything all at once when you've just rescued three hamsters! The main thing is to get them settled so it's less stress for them and for you.

So the main things are
1) An enclosure that's large enough
2) Plenty of bedding - ideally paper bedding - at least 6" deep but 8" or more is better
3) A large house that's dark inside - a shoebox house is fine - cut the base out of a shoebox, keep the lid as a lift-off roof and cut a hole for a door. It helps to cut the hole for the door on one of the long sides, near one end/corner, rather than in the middle, as that means the other end is darker - light doesn't go round corners.
4) Additional hides and tunnels at floor level - these can just be cardboard as well like a square tissue box or a wiped out pringles tube. Tubes need to be at least 7cm diameter for a Syrian and 5 to 6cm diameter for a dwarf hamster.
5) A wheel that's large enough. For chinese and dwarf hamsters, 9" is good or 10" is fine as well. For Syrians 11" or 12". Don't spend a fortune on the wheels if you have three to buy for. In the US you can get the 9" or 12" silent runner wheels from exotic nutrition and they are reasonable prices.

If they;ve just arrived with you and the cages or enclosures have the basics above, then just leave them to themselves for 2 or 3 days, so they can adjust to their environment. Just put food out or talk to them throught he enclosure. Hamsters are sensitive little things. It can be 10 days to 2 weeks before they're fully confident in a new enclosure so don't go changing things around or cleaning anything out. They just need stability that first couple of weeks.

After a week you could "spot clean" the pee - ie take a handful of substrate out and replace it with another handful. The more bedding you have, the less often they need cleaning out. If you can't smell anything don't worry! Let your nose guide you. They are clean little things and it's only their pee that is unhgyienic. Don't worry about poops just yet - they can actually eat those (which is normal). They are not dirty or smelly. They're like little hard seeds.

Safe and Unsafe Food list for Hamsters

Many human foods are safe for hamsters, but some are toxic to hamsters. Our hamster site has a researched and referenced food list gives up to date information on safe and unsafe foods for hamsters.

www.thehamsterforum.com

 

[Animal_Lover1120]

Hi, the best way of deciding this is to spend time observing your new pet hamsters to see how much time they spend exploring the cage and what their individual characters are. Send us pictures of your set up so that we can advise

Thank you for responding. Since I have 3 of them I will post their cages in 3 posts. This is Mr. Po Po he is a very nippy naughty boy.

 

[Animal_Lover1120]

Hi, the best way of deciding this is to spend time observing your new pet hamsters to see how much time they spend exploring the cage and what their individual characters are. Send us pictures of your set up so that we can advise

This is the Ki Master cage he is under the bedding somewhere.

 

[Animal_Lover1120]

Hi, the best way of deciding this is to spend time observing your new pet hamsters to see how much time they spend exploring the cage and what their individual characters are. Send us pictures of your set up so that we can advise

This is the lady of the house Mistress Raven.

 

[Animal_Lover1120]

Hello. If you're new to hamsters, I'd suggest giving them a tablespoon of a good hamster mix every day and putting most of that in a bowl and scattering a bit of it on the substrate for them to forage. Hamsters vary, and I find with some of them, if you scatter all the food you end up with a cage full of food! They don't eat it all, they take what they want - pouch it usually and then hoard it and then they snack from their hoards - like having breakfast in bed In terms of veg, give them a very small piece daily - no bigger than the hamster's ear. It helps to put that in a separate place to their hamster mix - eg on a shelf or a separate little dish like a jar lid. Because it keeps life interesting for them and they like to go and find it. They LOVE fresh veg, but they only eat really tiny amounts each day so too much and they could either get diarrhoea or it could get hoarded and go off.

Generally they tend not to hoard fresh food like veg but eat it or nibble at it where you put it. If you give a piece no bigger than the hamster's ear it will just get eaten. Favourites tend to be a tiny broccoli floret or cucumber here but you can give carrot (not so popular here - they like the green veg), cauliflower and various other types of veg. I've linked our safe fruit and veg guide which also lists all the other safe and unsafe foods for hamsters. Hope that helps!

I'm guessing you're in the US if you mentioned Mazuri. Mazuri is basically soya for protein and while protein is needed, Mazuri or lab blocks aren't really recommended these days. You need a good hamster mix that contains enough protein. Some don't contain enough protein and then it needs supplementing a bit, so to supplement you can just give "fresh" extras, like half a walnut twice a week, or a bit of chopped hard boiled egg. Again only a TINY piece of chopped egg about ear-sized again so they eat it all. They LOVE human food!

For a mix, Higgins Vita Garden is probably the better commercial mix that's easy available, as it's sugar free and has a reasonable variety of ingredients. Some hamster owners now buy Getzoo mixes from Germany - and buy them on Etsy - but they can work out more expensive.

To keep it simple to start with, you could just get a bag of Higgins Vita Garden and then look into alternatives when you've got used to the hamster care. Also freeze any hamster food, treats or sprays or hay for a week to avoid any bugs hatching out! If you haven't done that don't worry it'll probably be fine, but ongoing it's best to freeze them for a week.

Sprays are good for enrichment but don't worry about getting everything all at once when you've just rescued three hamsters! The main thing is to get them settled so it's less stress for them and for you.

So the main things are
1) An enclosure that's large enough
2) Plenty of bedding - ideally paper bedding - at least 6" deep but 8" or more is better
3) A large house that's dark inside - a shoebox house is fine - cut the base out of a shoebox, keep the lid as a lift-off roof and cut a hole for a door. It helps to cut the hole for the door on one of the long sides, near one end/corner, rather than in the middle, as that means the other end is darker - light doesn't go round corners.
4) Additional hides and tunnels at floor level - these can just be cardboard as well like a square tissue box or a wiped out pringles tube. Tubes need to be at least 7cm diameter for a Syrian and 5 to 6cm diameter for a dwarf hamster.
5) A wheel that's large enough. For chinese and dwarf hamsters, 9" is good or 10" is fine as well. For Syrians 11" or 12". Don't spend a fortune on the wheels if you have three to buy for. In the US you can get the 9" or 12" silent runner wheels from exotic nutrition and they are reasonable prices.

If they;ve just arrived with you and the cages or enclosures have the basics above, then just leave them to themselves for 2 or 3 days, so they can adjust to their environment. Just put food out or talk to them throught he enclosure. Hamsters are sensitive little things. It can be 10 days to 2 weeks before they're fully confident in a new enclosure so don't go changing things around or cleaning anything out. They just need stability that first couple of weeks.

After a week you could "spot clean" the pee - ie take a handful of substrate out and replace it with another handful. The more bedding you have, the less often they need cleaning out. If you can't smell anything don't worry! Let your nose guide you. They are clean little things and it's only their pee that is unhgyienic. Don't worry about poops just yet - they can actually eat those (which is normal). They are not dirty or smelly. They're like little hard seeds.

Safe and Unsafe Food list for Hamsters

Many human foods are safe for hamsters, but some are toxic to hamsters. Our hamster site has a researched and referenced food list gives up to date information on safe and unsafe foods for hamsters.

www.thehamsterforum.com

Thank you for all the advise. Yes I am in the USA. So I don't have to go buy the bag of Mazuri? Okay where to start. Mistress Raven the Syrian is the only one who created a horde for her food. I am including 3 pictures of her buried pile. I thought she was eating all I gave her each day because it was gone each night when I put the veggies/greens in her tank but lo and behold she was burying it. The boys they don't bury their food at all I've cleaned the tanks never finding the seeds and mix so they must be eating like pigs lol. Anyway They didn't come with tanks or cages just in cardboard boxes so I bought 3 40 gal breeder tanks and lids for them. I know the Syrian will need a bigger one but at the time it was all I could afford. She seems to be fine in the 40 gal for now. The boys seems to enjoy the their 40 gals also. I have sand boxes and ya their poop look like little seeds. Let me say sorry I wasn't clear Ki Master was the 1st to come. 3 months later Nippy Mr. Po Po and 3 days later Mistress Raven so I've had them for a few months but I kept reading conflicting things and decided to ask for help. Like I was putting the seed/mix in small bowl and read that's a no no I need to throw the food around the tank and well to be honest I am not comfy doing that they could starve. Also I have been sharing boil eggs or scrambled eggs with them and the dogs. They get a small piece of white and yoke once a week or if scrambled a small piece oh and I don't use butter or anything when making the scrambled just plain ole egg no milk either. Fruit I do give them but it's rarely I give it due to sugar content and most time its watermelon pieces small when I have it in the house. I also care for 6 guinea pigs that I rescued so when I feed them the greens/veggies at night I give the hamsters some. As far as what is good mix and not up till now I've been giving I think Oxbow mixed with Huggins but not garden haven't seen that around here. When the mix I'm using is almost used up I will slowly introduce the new food you recommend feeding them.
If I think of anything else I will tell you again thank you for helping mer. God bless!

 

[Maz]

They are gorgeous! That is quite a hoard. I wouldn't give Oxbow though. It's not good for hamsters as it's very hay based and has too much roughage. It's more suitable for guinea pigs! Is it Higgins sunburst you have at the moment? That would be ok for the Syrian but it contains sugars so not good for dwarf hamsters. Dwarf and Chinese hamsters are diabetic prone species so a sugar-free diet is best. And yes I think Higgins Vita Garden is hard to get hold of. Although it looks like Petco sell it

Higgins Vita Garden - Petco click here

Or even if you can get Hazel Hamster, that's not bad and contains everything needed and is sugar-free. I'm not sure if that's still available. It's the same as Harry Hamster just different name for the US.

They are lucky to have such nice homes And it gets expensive if you need three! The only things I would suggest adding, if funds allow - are a large-ish platform and possibly a cork log. A platform gives good overhead cover so they can feel more secure and it's also somewhere else to go and also a good place to put heavier or ceramic items on. Cork logs are just large tunnels but the texture is more enrichment and they give something low level to climb over and run through, or can work as a ramp if next to a house or platform.

But it all costs! And most platforms you can buy have fixed length legs which might not be the right length. If you're diy minded, they are easy enough to make. They seem to love sitting under a platform and climbing onto it. And it does help them feel less exposed in the tank.

Niteangel do make some with 7" legs, which would be ok for 6" of bedding but not tall enough if you have deeper bedding. But you could have it 6" at one end and deeper at the other end. A platform doesn't want to be more than 2" above the bedding.

Niteangel wave platform

For the Chinese - they are climbers! They cling on to things with their slightly longer tail and so you can have more things that are taller or for climbing on and they also need a fair bit of clutter and hidey places as they are generally quite timid especially if feeling exposed. But cardboard boxes and Pringles tubes are your friend! They don't cost anything (assuming you eat Pringles).

I've only seen set ups for Chinese hamsters in barred cages really, with things attached to the roof and bars, so for a tank something like large branch could work. I'm not sure where you get those. I think if the cage was more crowded he would probably come out more and use more of it, in time.

But there's no rush while they are settling in. Although they tend to accept something new being added very well, as long as it doesn't mean moving things around or taking something away that they've got used to! A slight adjustment at one end would be accepted but not a total cage rearrange - if that makes sense. They really are creatures of habit and like everything to stay the same!

Yes these days it's thought scattering the food encourages normal foraging behaviours, but they can forage for other things. I have the food on a large plate which the hamster sits on and "forages" from the plate. And I just scatter two or three treats each day. Scattering didn't work for me or the hamster, but it depends on the hamster. A food bowl is fine as well and you can do other things for foraging, like scatter two or three pumpkin seeds.

I think it's reptile shops where you'd find branches or grapevine. There's one on amazon here but it's a bit expensive.

Grapevine

It doesn't have to be a branch though, you could just have other taller items like a cork log or ramps to a platform.

@Daisy knows more about Chinese set ups.

 

[Animal_Lover1120]

They are gorgeous! That is quite a hoard. I wouldn't give Oxbow though. It's not good for hamsters as it's very hay based and has too much roughage. It's more suitable for guinea pigs! Is it Higgins sunburst you have at the moment? That would be ok for the Syrian but it contains sugars so not good for dwarf hamsters. Dwarf and Chinese hamsters are diabetic prone species so a sugar-free diet is best. And yes I think Higgins Vita Garden is hard to get hold of. Although it looks like Petco sell it

Higgins Vita Garden - Petco click here

Or even if you can get Hazel Hamster, that's not bad and contains everything needed and is sugar-free. I'm not sure if that's still available. It's the same as Harry Hamster just different name for the US.

They are lucky to have such nice homes And it gets expensive if you need three! The only things I would suggest adding, if funds allow - are a large-ish platform and possibly a cork log. A platform gives good overhead cover so they can feel more secure and it's also somewhere else to go and also a good place to put heavier or ceramic items on. Cork logs are just large tunnels but the texture is more enrichment and they give something low level to climb over and run through, or can work as a ramp if next to a house or platform.

But it all costs! And most platforms you can buy have fixed length legs which might not be the right length. If you're diy minded, they are easy enough to make. They seem to love sitting under a platform and climbing onto it. And it does help them feel less exposed in the tank.

Niteangel do make some with 7" legs, which would be ok for 6" of bedding but not tall enough if you have deeper bedding. But you could have it 6" at one end and deeper at the other end. A platform doesn't want to be more than 2" above the bedding.

Niteangel wave platform

For the Chinese - they are climbers! They cling on to things with their slightly longer tail and so you can have more things that are taller or for climbing on and they also need a fair bit of clutter and hidey places as they are generally quite timid especially if feeling exposed. But cardboard boxes and Pringles tubes are your friend! They don't cost anything (assuming you eat Pringles).

I've only seen set ups for Chinese hamsters in barred cages really, with things attached to the roof and bars, so for a tank something like large branch could work. I'm not sure where you get those. I think if the cage was more crowded he would probably come out more and use more of it, in time.

But there's no rush while they are settling in. Although they tend to accept something new being added very well, as long as it doesn't mean moving things around or taking something away that they've got used to! A slight adjustment at one end would be accepted but not a total cage rearrange - if that makes sense. They really are creatures of habit and like everything to stay the same!

Yes these days it's thought scattering the food encourages normal foraging behaviours, but they can forage for other things. I have the food on a large plate which the hamster sits on and "forages" from the plate. And I just scatter two or three treats each day. Scattering didn't work for me or the hamster, but it depends on the hamster. A food bowl is fine as well and you can do other things for foraging, like scatter two or three pumpkin seeds.

I think it's reptile shops where you'd find branches or grapevine. There's one on amazon here but it's a bit expensive.

Grapevine

It doesn't have to be a branch though, you could just have other taller items like a cork log or ramps to a platform.

@Daisy knows more about Chinese set ups.

Wow let me digest all you wrote and thank you for it. Now since I cant pick up Ki Master the Chinese I do watch him I don't really see a tail so I am confused maybe he isn't a Chinese after all? He has squinty eyes looks like a Chinaman Here are some pictures of him. Also he has a house that he can climb on if you look at the picture again as well as a taco truck that he goes in and out of. I read that hamsters are escape artists so no tall things in the cage that they can climb and possibly escape. Wont a platform be dangerous for them they can fall off it? The other 2 have a Teenage mutant Turtle van that they climb on when I put treats on them but Ki has his house and taco truck we couldn't find another TMNT van for him. Oh before I forget I'm a mother and my adult daughter helps me when I go out rescuing the animals and she picks the decorations in their tanks not me lol. She has been working with them to tame them and Ki who has been here the longest is starting to let her hold him. I am so proud of the work she does I just cant get bitten so I don't handle them much. Anyway about the food. I mixed 2 different bags so they have a lot will I be hurting them if I keep giving it to them till its almost gone? How about a teaspoon for the smaller ones and 2 teaspoons for the Syrian each day? I hate to have to waste the food and I really don't want them on different food as it is the 3 dogs I rescued have to be on different food due to conditions. I have to tell you I cant hang anything in the Syrian cage she climbs everything I put in it and she bites it till it breaks off she is tough cookie that girl! Oh forgot to tell you my daughter said the Chinese is an albino red eyes and all.

If you suggest a ramp or platform I will look into it when I get my disability check in Aug. I will also look into the food to have ready. Thank you

 

[Animal_Lover1120]

They are gorgeous! That is quite a hoard. I wouldn't give Oxbow though. It's not good for hamsters as it's very hay based and has too much roughage. It's more suitable for guinea pigs! Is it Higgins sunburst you have at the moment? That would be ok for the Syrian but it contains sugars so not good for dwarf hamsters. Dwarf and Chinese hamsters are diabetic prone species so a sugar-free diet is best. And yes I think Higgins Vita Garden is hard to get hold of. Although it looks like Petco sell it

Higgins Vita Garden - Petco click here

Or even if you can get Hazel Hamster, that's not bad and contains everything needed and is sugar-free. I'm not sure if that's still available. It's the same as Harry Hamster just different name for the US.

They are lucky to have such nice homes And it gets expensive if you need three! The only things I would suggest adding, if funds allow - are a large-ish platform and possibly a cork log. A platform gives good overhead cover so they can feel more secure and it's also somewhere else to go and also a good place to put heavier or ceramic items on. Cork logs are just large tunnels but the texture is more enrichment and they give something low level to climb over and run through, or can work as a ramp if next to a house or platform.

But it all costs! And most platforms you can buy have fixed length legs which might not be the right length. If you're diy minded, they are easy enough to make. They seem to love sitting under a platform and climbing onto it. And it does help them feel less exposed in the tank.

Niteangel do make some with 7" legs, which would be ok for 6" of bedding but not tall enough if you have deeper bedding. But you could have it 6" at one end and deeper at the other end. A platform doesn't want to be more than 2" above the bedding.

Niteangel wave platform

For the Chinese - they are climbers! They cling on to things with their slightly longer tail and so you can have more things that are taller or for climbing on and they also need a fair bit of clutter and hidey places as they are generally quite timid especially if feeling exposed. But cardboard boxes and Pringles tubes are your friend! They don't cost anything (assuming you eat Pringles).

I've only seen set ups for Chinese hamsters in barred cages really, with things attached to the roof and bars, so for a tank something like large branch could work. I'm not sure where you get those. I think if the cage was more crowded he would probably come out more and use more of it, in time.

But there's no rush while they are settling in. Although they tend to accept something new being added very well, as long as it doesn't mean moving things around or taking something away that they've got used to! A slight adjustment at one end would be accepted but not a total cage rearrange - if that makes sense. They really are creatures of habit and like everything to stay the same!

Yes these days it's thought scattering the food encourages normal foraging behaviours, but they can forage for other things. I have the food on a large plate which the hamster sits on and "forages" from the plate. And I just scatter two or three treats each day. Scattering didn't work for me or the hamster, but it depends on the hamster. A food bowl is fine as well and you can do other things for foraging, like scatter two or three pumpkin seeds.

I think it's reptile shops where you'd find branches or grapevine. There's one on amazon here but it's a bit expensive.

Grapevine

It doesn't have to be a branch though, you could just have other taller items like a cork log or ramps to a platform.

@Daisy knows more about Chinese set ups.

I found this so far but you prefer Higgins above this brand right? https://www.walmart.com/ip/MerlinsM...es/15414201235?classType=REGULAR&from=/search

 

[Animal_Lover1120]

They are gorgeous! That is quite a hoard. I wouldn't give Oxbow though. It's not good for hamsters as it's very hay based and has too much roughage. It's more suitable for guinea pigs! Is it Higgins sunburst you have at the moment? That would be ok for the Syrian but it contains sugars so not good for dwarf hamsters. Dwarf and Chinese hamsters are diabetic prone species so a sugar-free diet is best. And yes I think Higgins Vita Garden is hard to get hold of. Although it looks like Petco sell it

Higgins Vita Garden - Petco click here

Or even if you can get Hazel Hamster, that's not bad and contains everything needed and is sugar-free. I'm not sure if that's still available. It's the same as Harry Hamster just different name for the US.

They are lucky to have such nice homes And it gets expensive if you need three! The only things I would suggest adding, if funds allow - are a large-ish platform and possibly a cork log. A platform gives good overhead cover so they can feel more secure and it's also somewhere else to go and also a good place to put heavier or ceramic items on. Cork logs are just large tunnels but the texture is more enrichment and they give something low level to climb over and run through, or can work as a ramp if next to a house or platform.

But it all costs! And most platforms you can buy have fixed length legs which might not be the right length. If you're diy minded, they are easy enough to make. They seem to love sitting under a platform and climbing onto it. And it does help them feel less exposed in the tank.

Niteangel do make some with 7" legs, which would be ok for 6" of bedding but not tall enough if you have deeper bedding. But you could have it 6" at one end and deeper at the other end. A platform doesn't want to be more than 2" above the bedding.

Niteangel wave platform

For the Chinese - they are climbers! They cling on to things with their slightly longer tail and so you can have more things that are taller or for climbing on and they also need a fair bit of clutter and hidey places as they are generally quite timid especially if feeling exposed. But cardboard boxes and Pringles tubes are your friend! They don't cost anything (assuming you eat Pringles).

I've only seen set ups for Chinese hamsters in barred cages really, with things attached to the roof and bars, so for a tank something like large branch could work. I'm not sure where you get those. I think if the cage was more crowded he would probably come out more and use more of it, in time.

But there's no rush while they are settling in. Although they tend to accept something new being added very well, as long as it doesn't mean moving things around or taking something away that they've got used to! A slight adjustment at one end would be accepted but not a total cage rearrange - if that makes sense. They really are creatures of habit and like everything to stay the same!

Yes these days it's thought scattering the food encourages normal foraging behaviours, but they can forage for other things. I have the food on a large plate which the hamster sits on and "forages" from the plate. And I just scatter two or three treats each day. Scattering didn't work for me or the hamster, but it depends on the hamster. A food bowl is fine as well and you can do other things for foraging, like scatter two or three pumpkin seeds.

I think it's reptile shops where you'd find branches or grapevine. There's one on amazon here but it's a bit expensive.

Grapevine

It doesn't have to be a branch though, you could just have other taller items like a cork log or ramps to a platform.

@Daisy knows more about Chinese set ups.

I found these https://www.amazon.com/Hamster-Acce...c74c9&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9odWNfbXJhaQ==

https://www.amazon.com/Hamster-Platform-Platforms-Accessories-Hamsters/dp/B0GZM9TF1V/ref=sw_ttl_d_sspa_dk_huc_pt_comp_4?_encoding=UTF8&pf_rd_p=6e4c3312-e212-4b62-af2b-ffcdabbc74c9&pf_rd_r=7635A0M14K0V0XHFY7AE&pd_rd_i=B0GZM9TF1V&pd_rd_w=7Wr6l&pd_rd_wg=70S1R&pd_rd_r=ee5bf464-d19c-4296-9619-64bbf6a4bbda&content-id=amzn1.sym.6e4c3312-e212-4b62-af2b-ffcdabbc74c9&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9odWNfbXJhaQ==

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077PXX4XF/ref=sw_img_1?smid=&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D2WT1JY4/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A3E420QYEWXC1F&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0G8YK91RD/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=A17PVDA5WVTEOO&th=1

 

[Socks' Mum]

Wow let me digest all you wrote and thank you for it. Now since I cant pick up Ki Master the Chinese I do watch him I don't really see a tail so I am confused maybe he isn't a Chinese after all? He has squinty eyes looks like a Chinaman Here are some pictures of him. Also he has a house that he can climb on if you look at the picture again as well as a taco truck that he goes in and out of. I read that hamsters are escape artists so no tall things in the cage that they can climb and possibly escape. Wont a platform be dangerous for them they can fall off it? The other 2 have a Teenage mutant Turtle van that they climb on when I put treats on them but Ki has his house and taco truck we couldn't find another TMNT van for him. Oh before I forget I'm a mother and my adult daughter helps me when I go out rescuing the animals and she picks the decorations in their tanks not me lol. She has been working with them to tame them and Ki who has been here the longest is starting to let her hold him. I am so proud of the work she does I just cant get bitten so I don't handle them much. Anyway about the food. I mixed 2 different bags so they have a lot will I be hurting them if I keep giving it to them till its almost gone? How about a teaspoon for the smaller ones and 2 teaspoons for the Syrian each day? I hate to have to waste the food and I really don't want them on different food as it is the 3 dogs I rescued have to be on different food due to conditions. I have to tell you I cant hang anything in the Syrian cage she climbs everything I put in it and she bites it till it breaks off she is tough cookie that girl! Oh forgot to tell you my daughter said the Chinese is an albino red eyes and all.

If you suggest a ramp or platform I will look into it when I get my disability check in Aug. I will also look into the food to have ready. Thank you

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Such a pretty little hamster She has a nice large cage. I would take the string away, string can lead to digestive problems if they chew it. Also, she should have some deep 6 inch bedding at least in parts of her tank so that she can dig burrows and nest underground It's very nice though and lovely and spacious

 

[Socks' Mum]

Sorry, he not she Your hammy looks very relaxed, your daughter has done a good job of taming him

 

[Maz]

Ok he's a russian dwarf hamster Not a chinese - so doesn't need to climb. Unfortunately Russian Dwarf hamsters can have a bit of a reputation for being bitey. It varies, and yes your daughter is doing a great job of taming him. If he still bites then she could wear gloves (something like suede or gardening gloves) and hopefully when he is more used to it the biting will stop. @Doodleham on here does that.

The Hazel Hamster you linked is fine. However it is better for Syrians than dwarf hamsters. It has some large-ish pieces which are good for Syrians. You can technically give it to dwarf hamsters as well, but ideally a dwarf specific mix is better for dwarf hamsters. But there aren't any commercial dwarf specific mixes in the US without sending off for some from Germany I believe. The Higgins Vita Garden would have smaller pieces so would be better for dwarf hamsters, and also suitable for Syrians, but if it's easier to get the Hazel Hamster then they could all have it. And what you could do for the dwarf hamsters, is give them some extras - they like small seeds - so you could get some linseeds and hemp seeds and mix them and put a pinch of those out daily on a separate dish. They are also healthy seeds for immunity and fur condition. They are fine for Syrians as well. I tend to give the linseeds and hemp seeds to older syrians or ones with health conditions, but your Syrian could have them as well just for general health, but not essential.

Socks Mum is right that string is bad for hamsters to chew, but it looks like the nice hanging chew/boredom breaker you have is sisal string, and that is ok. So I wouldn't remove it just yet. Is it a kind of rough hairy string?

Of the other items you linked.

The first one - no. Those hamster toys have chains and aren't very safe or anything a hamster would actually use

Second one - the platforms - as with all wood hamster items you need to know what would it is. I think it just says "hamster safe wood" - that isn't good enough as "wood" could be anything. It needs to say pine wood or birch wood or whatever. They might be ok but I wouldn't rely on it. Also with platforms you need to check the leg length - that's the tricky bit, finding one the right height. To answer the question, platforms are perfectly safe - as long as they are not too high. No more than 2" above the substrate level. Even an inch above substrate level is ok because there is still a gap for them to burrow under or you could lower the bedding a bit under the platform

Third one - bendy stick bridges. These can be useful as ramps but can have little gaps in where hamsters feet can get trapped so people stuff moss or tissue paper in any gaps. So that is a possibility, but there are some smooth ones that are safer and don't have gaps. Linked below - most of the Niteangel items are safe.

This is a nice one for dwarf hamsters - its both a ramp and a hide - but it's too small for Syrians

https://www.amazon.com/Niteangel-Climbing-Hamsters-Similar-Sized-Trapezium-Shaped/dp/B09CCKK7YV/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2O7WFSATQFR3X&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.-XWj3buBk-54UeSqxrsGds34mHn8sFwXQbQK5BeMASOtEvORz_CPo-jykuZBBjRajmLcvATVcp_obn39jJNKwSnMdo9_I5L-lH6y7IpOjmpK0sqRu7zu4xO2b9RLc5MeJyN3KXkLLQsUzuOeMA489SAwBxVHNG-oJgTxkwH7m9rC0osSTrvLaPb-lJ-0_bmIQow9HNjAuuXNEebCH_if1Fe3QZTTbPkY0Ouskv5zqwNSUX-Q2nqvXi3XfpvT4FdA7vdL1Fwo2zVw8mGOzzoxvBcYByPog7gurINSX-cp93A.2hYz5gLVDRW7pyAVNUGQaNNxj1gWbGVWviIdfCgdnBg&dib_tag=se&keywords=niteangel%2Bramp&qid=1785505839&sprefix=niteangel%2Bramp%2Caps%2C219&sr=8-5&th=1

This is also a useful little ramp for either dwarf or syrian hamsters and some people use it for access in and out of a sand bath as it's steeper on one side and longer and shallower on the other. By the way do they have sand baths? Hamsters do benefit from a sand bath in the cage all the time, and also sometimes use it as a toilet and then you can just use a small sieve and sift out the wet patch!

https://www.amazon.com/Niteangel-Hamster-Climbing-SandBath-Small-Sized/dp/B08ZSLLS6Q/ref=sr_1_10?crid=2O7WFSATQFR3X&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.-XWj3buBk-54UeSqxrsGds34mHn8sFwXQbQK5BeMASOtEvORz_CPo-jykuZBBjRajmLcvATVcp_obn39jJNKwSnMdo9_I5L-lH6y7IpOjmpK0sqRu7zu4xO2b9RLc5MeJyN3KXkLLQsUzuOeMA489SAwBxVHNG-oJgTxkwH7m9rC0osSTrvLaPb-lJ-0_bmIQow9HNjAuuXNEebCH_if1Fe3QZTTbPkY0Ouskv5zqwNSUX-Q2nqvXi3XfpvT4FdA7vdL1Fwo2zVw8mGOzzoxvBcYByPog7gurINSX-cp93A.2hYz5gLVDRW7pyAVNUGQaNNxj1gWbGVWviIdfCgdnBg&dib_tag=se&keywords=niteangel+ramp&qid=1785505914&sprefix=niteangel+ramp%2Caps%2C219&sr=8-10

This is the smooth bendy stick bridge without gaps.

https://www.amazon.com/Niteangel-Hamster-Climbing-Suspension-Hedgehog/dp/B0878X7K9P/ref=sr_1_11?crid=2O7WFSATQFR3X&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.-XWj3buBk-54UeSqxrsGds34mHn8sFwXQbQK5BeMASOtEvORz_CPo-jykuZBBjRajmLcvATVcp_obn39jJNKwSnMdo9_I5L-lH6y7IpOjmpK0sqRu7zu4xO2b9RLc5MeJyN3KXkLLQsUzuOeMA489SAwBxVHNG-oJgTxkwH7m9rC0osSTrvLaPb-lJ-0_bmIQow9HNjAuuXNEebCH_if1Fe3QZTTbPkY0Ouskv5zqwNSUX-Q2nqvXi3XfpvT4FdA7vdL1Fwo2zVw8mGOzzoxvBcYByPog7gurINSX-cp93A.2hYz5gLVDRW7pyAVNUGQaNNxj1gWbGVWviIdfCgdnBg&dib_tag=se&keywords=niteangel%2Bramp&qid=1785506036&sprefix=niteangel%2Bramp%2Caps%2C219&sr=8-11&th=1

However Niteangel stuff can get quite expensive to buy - not all of these are essential.

A page of Niteangel hamster safe items

Amazon.com : niteangel ramp

The sprays are fine. I would probably go with the Bucatstate selection as it has flax in and dwarf hammies seem to love nibbling the flax!

Forget about the climbing That was just for a Chinese. Syrian and dwarf hamsters are ground dwellers and yes they can fall from heights and hurt themselves. But a low level platform is fine. And no risk there even for an older hamster.