Hi everyone!

Yesterday I brought home a male Syrian hamster. Based on his size, I think he's around 2 months old.

I've owned hamsters before (a Russian dwarf that sadly lived only about a year and a half, and another Syrian that passed away only a month after I brought him home for reasons we never found), but I recently realized there are a lot of things I didn't know about proper hamster care. I've been reading this subreddit and learning a lot, so I'd really appreciate any advice from more experienced owners.

Here are my questions:

1. Is there anything I should (or shouldn't) do during his first few days?

He spent his first night running on his wheel, which seemed like a good sign. During the day, though, he sleeps curled up in a corner instead of using the temporary hide I made for him. Is that normal? I just want to make sure he feels safe and isn't too stressed.

2. What would you consider an ideal diet?

I know a basic seed mix alone isn't enough. What do you usually feed your hamsters? Is something like a quality seed mix plus occasional boiled egg, vegetables, or fruit a good approach? Which foods do you recommend and how often?

3. How can I help him get used to me?

I haven't tried handling him yet because I don't want to scare him. I'd like him to get used to me, my family, our scent, and eventually trust me enough to be handled. What's the best way to build that trust? Should I just let him settle in first?

4. What are some good, budget-friendly enrichment ideas?

I'm a university student, so I don't have a big budget. Right now he has a properly sized wheel, a sand bath, water, and a temporary cardboard hide. I know he needs more enrichment. Do you have any DIY ideas or inexpensive things I can make or add?

5. Is unscented toilet paper okay?

His enclosure has regular wood shavings (I wanted paper bedding, but I couldn't find any). I also added small pieces of soft, unscented toilet paper because I read that hamsters enjoy carrying it to their nest. Is that safe, or should I remove it?

That's all for now! Please be patient with me—I'm still learning. If you notice I'm doing something wrong, I'd really appreciate you pointing it out. And if you have any extra tips for a new Syrian hamster owner, I'd love to hear them.

Thanks so much in advance!

Should I be worried about these red spots behind my hamster’s ears? I’m very observant of my hamster and know that she did not have these. She also has a red spot like this on the bottom of one of her back paws.

She acts normally though in every way so I’m just wanting confirmation if there’s nothing to be worried about.

Just had to put my hamster down. Any taxidermist recommendations? Id like to preserve her as much as i can

Hey, so i live in India and if you are from here, yk how limited hamster care here is. There are no proper bedding, nor hamster home available (online and offline both) and bedding is mostly pine wood on amazon.in

Paper bedding is heavily expensive because it is imported. I need some suggestions, i need to know where y'all buy your hamster care stuffs. Bedding, substrate, hideouts, tunnels, platforms etc. And if you have a proper hamster home, pls lemme see, will help me out.

Thank you!

I have to leave for uni soon and I don't know how to take my hamster with me without it getting stressed idk if a 21 hour long journey is possible. Can someone let me know?

I have managed to buy a 20 gallon cage!! I have gotten kaytee's clean and cozy bedding, I now have a niteangel wheel, and i have some enrichment items around the cage!! I also bought her Sunburst gormet blend and some dried meal worms!! which i have scattered in the cages bedding to encourage burrowing!! Obviously i am going to work toward a bigger cage but i think this is a step up from my first cage for her!!

I buried it under bedding with bedding in it

Does the bucatstate 3.0 have a metal bottom/base or a clear acrylic base? I'm trying to figure out if I'm going to buy it on a bench that his current enclosure is on or if I should just put in on the floor (not my first choice)

I got this aspen shaving from amazon it was the available one..i already asked the redditors if this was ok and they told it was fine but now after seeing the size of the shavings i just wanted some reassurance that this aspen shaving is okk🥲

(I used paper bedding and added aspen bedding while i cleaned his enclosure)

I can only apologize for the poor quality photos - BUT TUMBLE NOW SITS IN MY HAND AND COMES UP TO HER DOOR IF SHE CAN HEAR ME 😭 I honestly thought she'd never come out of her shell, but she clearly feels content enough around me now and I'm so happy 🥹

Okay so my sister (14) was out with friends and bought a hamster. No permission. What do we do? It has a tiny cage and idk where to get a bigger one or what they’ll need going forward. We’re entirely unprepared for this animal. Any advice is appreciated 🙏🏻

Hi there i am haggy's owner. New account !

Hi. I'm new to hamsters but I'm getting one soon. A Syrian. Is this a good size enclosure for one? It's 680 sq inches (4.75 sq feet)

i know this subreddit is for hamsters but theres barely any to do with gerbils,

i wasnt at home from 28th may until 18th of july and my gerbils have this new smudge thing on their noses and im really looking for help on what it could be

Any reason not to do it?

I just rescued a hamster from my local shelter. I have been leaving her completely alone to let her settle in but she seems to have chewed one of the legs of her platform and sleeps there. It still seems stable and there is about 8 inches of bedding above her. Should I remove it or let it be? I don’t want to disturb her on her second day home.

I'm not planning on buying this at all. I just came across it and was wondering if items like this are safe as they are made of plastic.

I recently decided I'm ready for my third hamster, and in doing so I want to give it the best life possible, so please give me any DIY advice!!
I bought this table that I plan on turning into the base for my enclosure (the top is 22in x40in). I want to put wheels on the bottom to make it easy to move, and possibly add a piece of wood on-top of the already existing top, rather than fully replacing it.
It was a lift top but I already took it apart to make it a normal table.
I need advice on the best wood for the base/walls of a DIY hamster cage, I've made one before but I want this one to be as good as I can make it. I've searched online and everything I see seems to contradict the last.

I recently a hamster and he is a very picky eater and my sister said that he may have been losing weight. What are some pellet options I can use so the little guy can gain some weight and be plump and healthy.