Syrian hamsters are the largest breed of hamster making them the easiest to handle and play with. Most Syrian hamsters have a deep bond with their owner, some say more than any other breed. They live around 1-2 years and they come in different colors and patterns. They can be long haired or short haired. They are nocturnal and also omnivores. They need a good diet to maintain good health.
Cages
You need a cage minimum of 360 sq inches. The bigger the better. Make sure your hamster cannot escape his or her cage. You can find good cages at most local pet stores or you can build your own. Don't use ones with screen at the bottom because their feet can get stuck.
Food
Hamsters need a good food blend to stay healthy, you can buy pellets or seed mixes, both are good although some say seed mixes allow hamsters to pick out fatty foods and leave the healthy ones. Use a ceramic food dish so they can't flip it over and change food daily. Also add fresh fruits and veggies once a week for a healthy diet. Make sure they are safe first.
Bedding
Care fresh or Critter Care bedding is highly recommended to use for your hamster although you can use aspen wood chips. Never use cedar or pine because those can be deadly to your hamster. they need 3-4 inches of bedding to burrow.
Toys
A hamster wheel is a must, but don't use ones with slats or holes in the bottom because your hamster could get his foot stuck. You can buy a silent wheel but it must be at least 7 inches or more for a Syrian. Also you need chew toys, wooden sticks will work as long as the wood is safe and not treated with chemicals. You can buy salt licks and other chews at the pet store.
Water Bottle
You can buy a water bottle that attaches to the cage as long as it does not leak and that your hamster can reach it. Change water out frequently to prevent it from getting nasty.
Treats
Use treats to train your hamster, and to get him to like you because the best way to his heart is his stomach. I think yogurt ones work best but feed in moderation.
Hut
Your hamster needs places to hide and sleep so you need to get him a house. Wooden ones will work but you can also buy edible ones. I use edible tiki huts for my hamsters and they love them. You can also throw in some cardboard toilet paper tubes for some extra places to hide. But some say the glue used is not safe for hamsters although I have never had a problem. You can also buy these at a store
Extras
You can buy nesting material but they can wrap around hamster's limbs so I give mine some toilet paper they can shred. you can buy hamster platforms and a cage with tubes but hamsters don't climb in the wild and they might chew or get stuck in a tube, especially Syrians. You can buy or build playpens too, or just line your bathtub with towels and put your hamster in there (no water). You can also buy a hamster ball but make sure it is big enough and that your hamster goes potty before using it. You can also use sand baths because you can never get your hamster wet.
You can probably find all of this stuff at a local pet store. I get most of mine from pet smart. My male Syrians seem more outgoing then my girls, but that just may be me. The initial cost will be around 75 - 150 depends on what you buy but after that you need food, bedding and toys monthly, so around 20. You need to clean a hamsters cage weekly with soap and water so you might want a hamster ball but you can just build or buy a play pen.
Cages
You need a cage minimum of 360 sq inches. The bigger the better. Make sure your hamster cannot escape his or her cage. You can find good cages at most local pet stores or you can build your own. Don't use ones with screen at the bottom because their feet can get stuck.
Food
Hamsters need a good food blend to stay healthy, you can buy pellets or seed mixes, both are good although some say seed mixes allow hamsters to pick out fatty foods and leave the healthy ones. Use a ceramic food dish so they can't flip it over and change food daily. Also add fresh fruits and veggies once a week for a healthy diet. Make sure they are safe first.
Bedding
Care fresh or Critter Care bedding is highly recommended to use for your hamster although you can use aspen wood chips. Never use cedar or pine because those can be deadly to your hamster. they need 3-4 inches of bedding to burrow.
Toys
A hamster wheel is a must, but don't use ones with slats or holes in the bottom because your hamster could get his foot stuck. You can buy a silent wheel but it must be at least 7 inches or more for a Syrian. Also you need chew toys, wooden sticks will work as long as the wood is safe and not treated with chemicals. You can buy salt licks and other chews at the pet store.
Water Bottle
You can buy a water bottle that attaches to the cage as long as it does not leak and that your hamster can reach it. Change water out frequently to prevent it from getting nasty.
Treats
Use treats to train your hamster, and to get him to like you because the best way to his heart is his stomach. I think yogurt ones work best but feed in moderation.
Hut
Your hamster needs places to hide and sleep so you need to get him a house. Wooden ones will work but you can also buy edible ones. I use edible tiki huts for my hamsters and they love them. You can also throw in some cardboard toilet paper tubes for some extra places to hide. But some say the glue used is not safe for hamsters although I have never had a problem. You can also buy these at a store
Extras
You can buy nesting material but they can wrap around hamster's limbs so I give mine some toilet paper they can shred. you can buy hamster platforms and a cage with tubes but hamsters don't climb in the wild and they might chew or get stuck in a tube, especially Syrians. You can buy or build playpens too, or just line your bathtub with towels and put your hamster in there (no water). You can also buy a hamster ball but make sure it is big enough and that your hamster goes potty before using it. You can also use sand baths because you can never get your hamster wet.
You can probably find all of this stuff at a local pet store. I get most of mine from pet smart. My male Syrians seem more outgoing then my girls, but that just may be me. The initial cost will be around 75 - 150 depends on what you buy but after that you need food, bedding and toys monthly, so around 20. You need to clean a hamsters cage weekly with soap and water so you might want a hamster ball but you can just build or buy a play pen.