A Rotastak Home For Your Hamster

July 16, 2010 by  
Filed under Pet Talk

Rotastak is a type of housing for hamsters, although it can easily be adapted for other small rodents.
When constructing a Rotastak you should put into consideration a hamster’s natural habitat. Their natural habitats are mainly underground burrows in the desert. The most common materials needed to make a Rotastak home for a hamster are plastics bottles of all shapes and sizes, the idea being to try and make a playing room and a resting place for the hamster. Try to make them as pretty as possible by using different colours especially attractive to children. This also makes it look beautiful and fit in with the home setting.

The resting room should have a diameter of around 15 centimetres and should be made up of two pieces of plastic that are dish shaped and that are able to twirl together. The piece at the bottom should be made of solid plastic. The other one should be made of coloured clear plastic that enables the owner to see the hamster. This also enables the hamster to see through as well. Make sure when making the homes that they have exercise areas on various levels so as to encourage mobility. Hamsters are known to love exercising, by running round in circles inside their homes.

Your hamster will adore discovering his new home and will have so much to do that he will never be bored. The bedrooms should have a hole for one tube on the bottom or on the side and connected to a tube that connects two rooms together. Another room is the maxi division. It is a tank in the shape of a kidney that is quite large and the hamster can use it to play around and rest as well. It can be made of clear plastic and should have a plastic lid with hinges for easy access for the pet. On the front part of the structure, two holes can be seen and three others on the lid. This allows one to build round rooms in an upward direction and another one in the part of the lid that has the hinge.

Other rooms include the dining area where the diameter is the same length as the one of the round room. It has two tubes on the side and one hole on the floor. One hole is used for putting a bottle of water. This allows the hamster to always have sufficient water available. Make sure this is topped up daily with fresh water. Make a sliding drawer on the dining room wall in order to make feeding times easy. Always make sure to plug in all the holes of the Rotastak, or the pet will easily wander off.

Since the Rotastak is small and portable, it can be placed in any room of the house. This will not hinder the hamster from exercising. Another advantage of the Rotastak is the material that is used for its construction. Hamsters would gnaw on wood and thus the manufacturers use a kind of plastic that the hamster cannot chew through, so your hamster home should last for many years.

Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who represents a number of UK businesses. For information on pet supplies, he recommends Seapets, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of Rotastak Hamster Cages.

Hamster First Aid Kit- How Does a Complete Hamster First Aid Kit Looks Like?

July 4, 2010 by  
Filed under Pet Talk

Don’t be selfish! You have one for you, don’t you? Well, your tiny hamster needs one too. You don’t have to buy it, you can put some things together and voilà… a home made first aid kit.

Here is a short list with some of the things you ought to have in your first aid kit.

* First and most important, you should always keep your veterinarian phone number and address handy. Make sure the vet you know treats hamsters because even if the hamster is commonly kept as pet, there aren’t many vets out there for them.

* Adhesive plasters of various sizes and shapes to put on your hamster wound. You can use adhesive plasters to bandage the injured leg (broken bones, twisted ankle) of your hamster by wrapping it tightly.

* Syringes and a dropper to administer various types of drugs

* Antiseptic, antibiotic and antihistamine pills and lotions. You should use only what the vet recommended you. Remember that what lotion could be great for you when you have a scratch could be deadly for your hamster because he has the habit of grooming -continuously licking his body.

* Cotton-tipped swabs to clean the wound or even the ears of your hamster( you should try to clean your hamster only if he is sick, otherwise he doesn’t needs you because he makes such a great job)

* Scissors and nail clipper

* A bag of luck so that you will never need the first aid kit!

Feel free to add to this first aid kit everything you need that is helpful and necessarily for you hamster health.

Now, that your first aid kit it’s up and running, there are some things you may take in consideration.

1. Make sure that the first aid kit isn’t hidden in some corner of the room. It should be as close as it can of the hamster’s cage. When you need it you should be able to have it handy.

2. Make sure that every member of your family knows where the first aid kit is and knows how to use it too.

3. If you have small children, make sure that the first aid kit is out of their reach.

4. Make sure you take all the precaution methods before treating your sick hamster: use gloves and wash your hand a couple of times after handling the hamster.

Diana Tudor is a hamster lover for quite a while. She loves these little creatures (especially the 2 dwarf hamsters that she has). Want to make your own hamster first aid kit? The hamsters and Diana await you at their cozy place to learn about your hamster health and much more.

How to Buy a Healthy Hamster – 7 Steps Guide

June 18, 2010 by  
Filed under Pet Talk

Heading for the store to buy a hamster? That’s great! But did you do your homework? Here is 7 Steps Guide on how to choose a healthy hamster.

Check the fur: Look for parasites, bald patches, sticky areas and make sure the fur looks normal, shinny and equal. The hamster grooms himself many times during the day so any abnormalities in the coat are because of the poor health condition.

Look at his eyes, nose and ears: Eyes should be clear and lively, the nose dry and free of discharge and the ears soft. Any abnormality in these is a sign of a disease and improper care, so be very careful. Bites signs mean that the hamsters has some altercations because they were kept in a small cage or just cause one hamster is more aggressive.

Look at his cage mates: If the other hamsters show signs of sickness or are aggressive, go to the next pet shop on your list because it’s most likely that the hamster you liked has the same problems.

Check his behind: A wet and messy behind probably indicates that the hamster has Wet tail, a common disease among hamsters. If the pet shop assistant tells you that this is due to the bedding and to the fact that the hamster didn’t groomed himself well, leave the pet shop because this is a big sign of ignorance from them. They are only interested in selling their pets, unfortunately.

Look for bumps or lumps: These clearly indicate health problems, most often an abscess.

Ask about his age: 4-5 weeks it’s the best age because they are smaller and easier to tame.

After you make sure that the hamster you intend to buy has no health problems, pick him up, put it on a table and see how he reacts. Does he come to you, smelling you or he runs in the opposite direction, quite scared? If he came to you, great! You just found yourself a great hamster. If not, do not worry. It’s quite normal for him to react that way. Maybe you woke him up or interrupted his meal and he is upset. If he doesn’t bite you, this is a good sign and you can take the hamster home.

Tips:

* Go hamster shopping late in the evening to see the little hamster in action! He is crepuscular so he kind of works in night shifts!

* If you can do this, buy from a breeder to avoid any problems with your hamster’s health.

* Buy from a pet shop were pets are well treated.

Didn’t you know that man’s best friend is a hamster? Hi, my name is Diana Tudor and I’m a huge hamster lover. I have 2 little hamsters, named Snooky and Goofy, that prove to me that hamsters can be man’s best friend, each and every single day. If you want to know more about hamsters, how to buy a healthy hamster and almost everything you can think off, relating to these little creatures, Snooky, Goofy and myself await you at HamsterBungalow.com

Rotastak Hamster Cage Buying Guide

June 6, 2010 by  
Filed under Pet Talk

Rotastak units for hamsters

Each of the Rotastak hamster cages comes with its own full colour assembly instructions. These plastic hamster cages are not as hard to put together as it may first look!

Rotastak units is based on a modular system which allows you to build on and create palace for your hamster pet friend.

Rotastak for hamsters

Each of the Rotastak hamster cages comes with its own full colour assembly instructions. These plastic hamster cages are not as hard to put together as it may look!

Dwarf hamsters, baby Syrian hamsters and mice may find it difficult to climb vertical tubes. You can adapt Rotastak fo hamster cages by fitting ‘mouse’ ladders to the inside of the tubes.  Securing these to the cage with wire is recommended

The Basic Units

The ‘Original Unit’, well known, round unit. Has been available for three generations. The ‘Starter Home’ is a single round unit with an attic bedroom – suitable for a single hamster, gerbil or mouse. These popular easy clean plastic hamster cages have a large easy access in the roof. Starter Delux illustrated.

The ‘Maxi Unit’, nearly double the floor area of a single original round unit. The smallest unit in this range is the ‘Maxi Mansion’ which comes complete with hamster exercise wheel, water bottle and attic bedroom. Suitable for a single hamster, gerbil or mouse.

Pod Units

The ‘Pod Unit’, a triangular sectional cage on two levels with a combination of plastic and wire bars. The smallest, also suitable for a single hamster, gerbil or mouse, is the ‘Cosmo Pod’ which includes feeding bowl and water bottle.

These are clear plastic with multi-coloured accessories in primary colours, red, blue and yellow.

Combination Units

All Rotastak hamster cages can be connected together with special sectional tubing. To help protect the ends of these tubes it is recommended that you use protective anti-gnaw rings.

Above are larger ‘Combination Units’ and ‘Themed Units’. i.e. Pink Palace (iIllustrated), ‘Adventure Zone’ and ‘Creepy Castle’. These are clear plastic with multi-coloured accessories in primary colours, red, blue and yellow or the theme may have a different colour scheme. 

Alot of people always ask the question are the stickers permanent?  No they are not they are transfers similar to the type you get on a tax disc.  They can stick anywhere on the clear plastic but just as easily be removed.  All the units start off without any stickers and its upto you where to put them or not!

All these units are available at net pet shop brand new and boxed with all packaging.  

Combination units are by far the most popular

Add on units

To keep adding and make your living space and fun space for your hamster even better rotastak has many add-on units and connecting tubes to do this.  Whether you want to combine main housing units or just add an extra wheel runner to your hamster home rotastak has the products. 

Spare and Accessories

To help you aaccomplish your rotastak ‘buckingham’ palace and to keep it in ship shape so that you always have the perfect safe home, Rotastak provides lots of spare parts and accessories, wheels, bottles, ladders (for dwarf hamsters), gnaw rings, covers, spare clips to keep hammy in.

Bowls and Bedding

Rotastak also provides bowls and bedding from luxury ceramic bowls to eco-friendly made from recycled materials  bedding.

Enjoy creating your hamster homes

Ian Waters is a Pet article writer for Net Pet Shop and he recommends exploring the range of their
Rotastak Hamster Cages

Hamster Language – How to Interpret Your Hamster Body Language and Sounds

May 21, 2010 by  
Filed under Pet Talk

It’s easy for us to chat, text message or just talk with our friends. But how our hamster gets along with his buddies? Just the same way -ok, maybe not just like us.
Hamsters have a quite simple language: body language and vocalizations. Some of the sounds they make are ultrasonic. That way, they can not be heard by predators or humans when they talk.

Is your hamster stretching and yawning ? This means that he is feeling happy or that he is a bit tired. It’s not a good idea to try to play with him now because he might nip you. You would do the same if some huge hand would take you from your bed the second you waked up.

Is your hamster sitting up on his back legs, ears forward, without moving? That is a sign that the hamster is listening something very interesting that caught his attention.

Is your hamster sitting on his back paws in battle position, with his front paws up? Hamsters usually stand like this when they are threatening their cage mate(s) or even you.

Is your hamster collecting bedding and food in his cheek pouches? If he is stuffing all this thing in his pouches when he is out of the cage, it means that the hamster feels that the food/bedding you give him isn’t enough. Instead, if the hamster is carrying the bedding and food supply from a corner of the cage to another, do not worry. he is just decorating his cage the way he likes it. Sometimes, his stuffing and collecting food isn’t a sign of anything. the hamster just likes to stuff his pouches.

Is your hamster chewing the bars of the cage- he is tying to tell you that he is bored, that he needs toys to chew on or he is just stressed.

Is your hamster digging? Sure he is! Digging is their favorite thing to do.

Is your hamster nipping? If not, you are a lucky one. Hamsters usually nip when they are annoyed by something or when they want attention from our side.

So, as you can see, every little thing your hamster does has a meaning. Be careful at his behavior and you will soon be able to understand your hamster.

Diana Tudor is a hamster lover for quite a while. She loves these little creatures (especially the 2 dwarf hamsters that she has). Want to improve your hamster language? The hamsters and Diana await you at their cozy place to discover more about them.

Where can I buy the cheapest hamster cage that is good for 2 hamsters?

May 5, 2010 by  
Filed under Pet Talk

I am now in the Philippines..Is the cheapest hamster cage found in Cartimar? May I place my 2 hamsters first in a carton temporarily?

Hamster Cages That Will Keep Your Pet Hamster Happy

May 1, 2010 by  
Filed under Pet Talk

Hamsters are solitary animals, meaning they should live by themselves in their own little home, but you should try to give your hamster the biggest cage you can afford and have room for in your own house. Usually, a proper sized hamster cage is at least one square foot in size, but like I said, if you can get a bigger one your hamster will really love you for it! You should only keep one hamster per cage, otherwise the hamsters may fight and seriously hurt each other, except for dwarf hamsters who tend to be more sociable, but it is still a good idea to only keep one per cage.

In the wild, hamsters like to run several miles each night, so you should make sure to include a hamster exercise wheel because it will provide hours of fun for your hamster, and it will also keep your hamster fit and in shape. I think the wire wheels are unsafe for hamsters, because the hamsters leg can get caught in the wire while the wheel is turning, causing a broken leg. You will need to provide fresh wood shavings in the bottom of the hamster cage for bedding. A pet hamster will love you even more if you provide some fun toys to play with. Hamsters are notorious escape artists, so you need to make sure whichever hamster cage you decide to buy is secure. Hamsters like to dig tunnels and can maneuver through small spaces to escape.

I think the best hamster cages are the ones with a hard plastic base and wire body, with a hard plastic top. These cages sometimes come with various accessories to make your hamsters life more entertaining, such as various tunnels and lookout towers. Some people prefer to let their pet hamsters live in aquariums, which is also a fine home for a hamster as long as you make sure the aquarium has a lot of air circulation and that it does not get too hot or humid for the hamster. Never keep a hamster in a cardboard or wooden box unattended, because they can simply chew their way out. Of course, you always want to make sure your hamster is kept safely away from other pets that can harm the hamster like cats and dogs. Keep this information about hamster cages in mind, and always keep learning more about your pets and continue to have fun with them.

P. Anderson is an animal lover and pet care enthusiast. For more valuable information about hamster cages and hamster care in general, visit www.hamster-care.com.

Breeding Teddy Bear Hamster For Beginners

April 27, 2010 by  
Filed under Pet Talk

It can be a truly wonderful experience to breed teddy bear hamsters; You need to think about a number of things before you decide to breed your hamsters:

Who are you going to sell your baby hamsters to? After only 20 – 25 days, baby hamsters can be weaned. They can begin to breed once they reach 45 days old. Once the pups are born, there is not much time before you need to find them homes. You need to know long before the time comes, where you are going to send your baby hamsters. Do not just set the babies free. They will be eaten, or they will starve. In the unlikely event that they survive, they will start to breed and will become a pest. They will have to go to their new homes sometime between 4 – 7 weeks old.

Do you have the required supplies as well as enough space to breed hamsters? You will have to have enough space and living area. At least four housing facilities are needed: one for males, one for females, one for a quarantine tank, and one for a birthing house.

Are you ready to commit to all the work needed for hamster breeding? You need to make a considerable commitment to be able to successfully breed hamsters. You need to keep the cages very clean. Your will have more expenses because your will need more bedding, more food, and more supplies overall. You also need to remember the cages, the toys, exercise wheels, and so on. Before you decide on breeding your hamsters, be sure that you are willing and able to invest in those resources.

Once you have made the decision to breed your hamsters, the following steps will get you off to a great start:

1. Purchase your hamsters from a good breeder. Find a breeder who keeps their hamsters areas clean, and provide them with enough space to live.

2. Before completing the sale, make sure to observe the hamster you are interested in closely. Is the hamster friendly? Calm? Tame? Curious? Do not pick a hamster who seem timid or one that seem overly aggressive. Temperament is hereditary, so you wouldn’t want to breed these hamsters. Instead you want a hamster that is tame. Ideally, you should try to find a breeder who handles their hamsters often and even tames them before they are sold. You will probably want to get your hamsters for breeding from a good breeder. This is because the local pet store does not usually handle their hamsters often enough.

3. Keep the male hamsters separate from the female hamster until you are ready to breed them. Females will often abuse their male partners if they are not yet ready for mating. Every four days or so, a female hamster becomes fertile. You will know when a female hamster is fertile by the way she freezes her tail up in the air when a male hamster is around.

4. Be sure to keep a pregnant or nursing hamster away from any noise. Do not handle them too often. Remember not to touch any of the babies until they are weaned. Separate the males and females soon after weaning to prevent them from breeding.

Andrew Martin Jr. is a pet enthusiast and publisher. He owns and maintains Hamster Care Answers, a resource for hamster breeding and hamster care.

Essential Element in Knowing How to Care for a Hamster

April 19, 2010 by  
Filed under Pet Talk

When it comes to learning how to care for a hamster, your goal should be to remember that your furry friend must be kept warm, dry, and entertained. A hamster’s needs are directly related to the life it would be living were it a wild animal. Hamsters are desert creatures, populating dry, rocky areas in places like Syria, Mongolia, and Pakistan. This is why it’s essential that you meet your hamster’s need for dry, warm housing. Avoid keeping your hamster in an aquarium, as the glass enclosure will promote the locking-in of moisture. Instead, seek out a cage made especially for hamsters-either a standard wire enclosure or one of the popular “habit rail” type cages. For more details visit to www.dishadvice.com .Habit rail cage, with all of its tubes, turrets, and tunnels will also help ensure that your hamster’s need for entertainment is met.

Diet is another essential element in knowing how to care for a hamster. Fresh water should be made available at all times via a specially made drinking bottle. Never put your hamster’s water in a dish, as the dish will quickly be tipped or filled with debris, and then you will have a sad, wet hamster. As for food, there are a multitude of pre-packaged hamster foods on the market, and it’s always a good idea to make those foods the bulk of your hamster’s diet. However, hamsters, like people, appreciate a little variety at dinnertime, so an offering of apple pieces, carrot slices, or crackers is always welcome. Greens can also be integrated into your hamster’s diet, but avoid overfeeding these vegetables to your hamster as they will contract an illness called “wet tail,” which is fatal if left untreated. Keep in mind also that hamsters are hoarders. It is nearly impossible to overfeed them, as they will most likely take much of their food with them into their nest, so remove uneaten foods that might spoil if your hamster decides to save them for later!

Other items that should be on your hamster care checklist include plenty of bedding (try cedar or pine shavings), adequate nesting material (facial tissues work great), and the all-important exercise wheel. Hamsters are nocturnal by nature, so be sure to get a wheel that won’t make a ruckus and keep you awake as your pet makes its nightly rounds. Always be sure your hamster’s wheel is unobstructed and can turn freely. To know more logon to www.100cookingtips.com .The exercise a wheel provides is necessary to prevent your hamster from developing a condition called “torpidity.” When a hamster is torpid, it hasn’t had the activity it needs to maintain proper mental health. This lack of exercise will cause the hamster to snap, and possibly attack you when you reach in to pet it. Also be sure to respect your hamster’s nocturnal habits. Avoid waking your hamster during the daylight hours as much as possible, as this could result in a nasty bite, or in the very least, a grumpy, confused pet.

Now that you’re prepared, it’s time to go pick out your new friend. Make sure you choose a clean, reputable pet store from which to buy your hamster. Look carefully to ensure that none of the animals seem sick, and make sure that the pet store employees are equipped to answer any questions you may have. After bringing your hamster home, allow it a day or so to adjust to its new surroundings before attempting to handle it. This may seem like a lot to remember, but know that the time you devote to learning how to care for a hamster is time well spent! Hamsters are affectionate, fascinating, and of course, adorable pets who will provide you with several years of enjoyment and companionship in exchange for your expert, loving care.

www.caring-for-your-hamster.com

www.bad-breath-secrets.com

Smoke – The Amazing Hamster Storing Food

April 11, 2010 by  
Filed under Pet Talk


Smoke – my hamster- stuffing her little cheeks with yummies for a late night snack. She is a syrian hamster and we made this video when she was one year old. She lived another year and a half before she passed away from old age. This did not hurt her. She was a very sweet hamster and did not mind being held and loved rolling in her ball. She got out of her cage three times – but we just left the cage open and she returned the next night. She was the best hamster ever. The music used in the video are songs from Soundtrack Pro.

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