Basic setup for the Hamster

When we talk about the Hamster, we mean the Syrian Hamster. The Hamster is a lot bigger in build than the dwarf hamster. We always make a distinction between a Dwarf Hamster and a Syrian Hamster, because many houses and toys that are suitable for dwarf hamsters, are unfortunately not for Syrian Hamsters. This ensures that with us you always know exactly which product is suitable for which animal. Now back to the basic design! We have put together one for the Hamster, below we explain what should be in it.

Hamster cage / habitat

We have chosen a glass enclosure with sliding doors at the front for the hamster. Because hamsters are prey animals, they do not like to be approached from above, so we have chosen an enclosure where the animals are approached from the front. This will also help a lot with taming new animals because they are not easily frightened by you when you come from the front. The terrarium also has a high edge so that you can use a lot of ground cover.

The minimum dimensions for a hamster enclosure are 100 x 50 cm.

Ground cover

As a substrate we have chosen Cotton & Cotton below, this is a very pleasant substrate that is very well accepted by all hamsters. We have deliberately not chosen a mix substrate here, because take into account that your hamster may be long-haired, if so, not every substrate or mix is suitable, because pieces can remain in the fur. This is not the case with Cotton, this is very suitable for long-haired. If you do not have long-haired, mixing is no problem. In that case you could also choose Cotton & Wood Fiber or Cotton and Hemp, then you do not have to mix it yourself! Thanks to the good absorption of these substrates you also save a lot of time!

Sleeping houses

As a basic sleeping house we have chosen a multi-room house. You might think at first "that's big", but the hamster really needs a spacious basic house, in addition, some hiding places in the form of smaller houses and tunnels are very nice, but a basic house is a MUST. The multi-room house meets the natural needs of the hamster because it has multiple rooms, just like in nature. The hamster can store its food in one room and make its nest in another room. The lid is removable so that you can always take a look to see if everything is still going well. The house can be placed under the ground cover, but also on top of the ground cover. In the latter case, there are matching legs available that you can mount under the house so that it cannot be dug in.

As a shelter we have chosen a cork tunnel. This can be used as an extra hiding place and also looks beautiful in a natural habitat. The tunnel can be placed under the ground cover or on top of it. You can do anything with it!

Nesting material

Hamsters are real nest builders, so the animals always need nesting material to be able to show their natural behavior. We have chosen kapok as nesting material, but cotton or hemp nesting material would also work. Kapok is nice and warm and hamsters like to line their nest with it.

Running wheel

As a running wheel we have chosen the Rodipet Heureka Running Wheel. OK, it looks a bit futuristic, but we are happy to explain to you why we think this is an ideal running wheel for your hamster! First of all, it is mouse and mouse quiet, so you can safely place the enclosure in the bedroom without being kept awake at night. In addition, the running wheel is made of special plastic, which makes it very easy to clean compared to wood. There are even more advantages! The special shape also has a function. The wide running surface ensures a pleasant way of walking. Hamsters have a fairly wide gait, the legs are further apart than with other rodents. Finally, the running wheel is so incredibly stable that it is simply not possible to fall over.

Hamster food

Of course your hamster also needs food, but not just any food, the best food! We have researched for you which food this is. We have listed all the foods and compared the compositions with each other. The Bunny Nature Hamsterdroom Expert has come out on top and therefore it should not be missing in the basic equipment.

Harvest

In the wild, hamsters spend a large part of their time gathering food. They often go into the fields and take different types of seeds with them in their cheek pouches. Gathering (also called harvesting) seeds is part of the animals' natural behavior. We have looked very specifically at which plant species promote this behavior and the linseed plant is one of them, so let the harvesting begin!

Rodent material

As gnawing material we have chosen responsible gnawing material consisting of 100% natural hazelnut wood sprinkled with dried vegetables and herbs. The animals like to nibble on it and can also frame their teeth in this way.

Snack

As a snack we have chosen healthy and responsible pumpkin seeds. Hamsters love pumpkin seeds! Our advice is to use these when taming a new hamster. Through the front of the terrarium you can easily approach the animal and give treats from your hand. Before you know it you have built a bond!

Drinking bottle

These are the simplest bottles, but they work the best! For a Hamster the 150 ml is ideal.

Drinking bottle holder

Nowadays we mainly keep hamsters in glass enclosures and it is a nightmare to put a bottle in it, which is why we have developed special drinking bottle holders that you can easily attach to the glass with a magnet.

Moss

Almost finally we added moss. You are probably wondering what added value this has. It looks beautiful in an enclosure and the animals like to walk over it. In addition, you can use the moss part very nicely as a solid surface for a food bowl or to put something tasty on.

Sandbox

Hamsters love sand bathing, so we have added a ready-made natural sandbox plus sand to this basic concept.

If you really want to Hamsterscape, more is needed, which we will show in the other articles that can be found in the inspiration category. But now you have the basis from which you can build further. Below you can view the products and easily order what you like! If you have any questions or need help, we are of course happy to help you!