Is it possible to keep a hamster in a jar and box, where should I put it if there is no cage?

We bet you will have a hard time finding a person in your circle who adores animals and, at the first opportunity, would agree to live in the same apartment with a hyena or puma? But every second person will be happy to share living space with a hamster. But it is unlikely that anyone will begin to count before buying an animal how much money he will have to spend per year from his budget on the same hamster. The editors of Sibdepo decided to do this for you and calculate how much money our pets “eat up”. We realized with horror that if we put into the piggy bank the same amount that we have to spend on food and care for the animal, within a year we can go on vacation for at least a couple of days to Sheregesh. No, no, we love animals very much, this is just a dry fact.

Let's agree in advance - in this and subsequent articles we will describe the expenses necessary for the pet to live in optimal conditions and spend all the years of its animal life with dignity. So it will be significantly more expensive than many thought.

A hamster is an ideal pet: small, not too noisy, eats little, not at all vindictive and takes up little space in the apartment. By the way, he won’t get in the way either, he always sits in a cage. The main thing is not to forget to feed him and clean up his home, then you will become ideal neighbors. And he doesn’t require additional attention - he knows how to entertain himself very well. Running for many hours in a special wheel replaces his cute hugs with his owner. By the way, he doesn’t need an individual of the opposite sex either, unless, of course, you want to become the owner of a hamster farm. And you can buy a hamster at any pet store in Kuzbass. The minimum price for one two-week-old rodent is 150 rubles.

Three-liter jar Vs cage

“I think I want a hamster,” you thought, and began to “Google” the address of the pet store closest to your home. But remember, you still have to fork out the cash. The hamster itself is worth a penny, but don’t be fooled – the pet store intends to (and will) charge you an immeasurably large sum.

“Why does a hamster need a cage when I can arrange a home for him myself, using a shoebox or a three-liter jar for these purposes, like in the good old days,” you will think, and you will be completely wrong. A hamster needs space. Without movement, the rodent will quickly wither and die. They already have a ridiculous lifespan - on average about two years - and in such conditions the animal will not last even a quarter of this lifespan. In the wild, it covers long distances per day and is constantly on the move. Long gone are those cruel times when it was considered the norm to keep a hamster in a jar. The Djungarian hamster will have the worst time in such a home. This is the analogue of a husky in the rodent world - if he doesn’t sleep, he runs around all the time. And other hamsters suffer without space. In addition, forcing an animal to breathe through a small hole in the ceiling is pure sadism. If it's hot at home, he'll just die very quickly. For the same reason, an aquarium is not suitable - it’s stuffy. In general, just a cage. But not the simplest one will do.

In any pet store you can find a cage for 700-800 rubles. She looks very pretty. But we reject this option - it’s too small. Remember what we wrote about the need to run. 45 cm in length and 30 in width is the minimum. It’s not difficult to find one and it will cost from 1,500 rubles to infinity: there are huge, half a room, hamster palaces with 4-5 levels, labyrinths and stairs.

The cage comes with a house, but it is plastic, but a wooden one is needed so that the stupid animal does not eat up the plastic. At least another 300 rubles (although those whose hands grow out of place can save).

There will be a wheel in the cage, which is usually quite suitable (three times the size of a hamster), but this is not enough. We need at least one more “fun”. The ideal option is a hanging swing-sleeve (from 400 rubles).

Hanging sippy cup (so that there is no dirt in the cage) - from 100 rubles.

A walking ball is an indispensable item for your hamster's safety while cleaning the cage. Or just for the sake of general development and diversity. Price – 300 rubles and above.

This is the necessary minimum purchased with the hamster for its entire life. Now let’s move on to the “consumables”.

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Aquarium for hamsters

The material for making aquariums is ordinary or organic glass. The top of the structure is always covered with a wooden or plastic mesh. The animal does not have the opportunity to reach this covering and chew it.

There is always enough air inside the aquarium; it comes from the surrounding space in a wide flow through the mesh on top. For additional ventilation, the walls of the hamster's home have several holes at a height of 10 cm from the floor level.

Advantages and disadvantages

Hamsters that live in an aquarium feel much more confident compared to rodents in a regular cage. The advantages of such a house for animals are:

• good visibility through the glass;
• the opportunity to pet your pet inside the home;
• cleanliness around (pieces of food and bedding do not fly out of the house);
• convenience during cleaning and disinfection;
• muting sounds, rustling.

The pet's house needs weekly deep cleaning. Experts believe that keeping animals in an aquarium is much more hygienic than in a wooden cage.

However, this housing option also has disadvantages. For example, securing a drinking bowl is quite difficult. In addition, the bottom of the aquarium has a small area, so there is not enough space for the rodent to actively run.

Hamster owners find a way out by installing vertical structures inside a glass house, which will give the animals the opportunity to fulfill their need for daily dynamics.

Important! There must be a layer of bedding on the floor of the aquarium so that the animals' paws do not freeze on the cold glass. You can use felt, sawdust, hay, paper, filler.

Nutrition

The hamster, of course, does not eat much, and a package of special food will last you for a month. Don’t go cheap, cereals alone (90 rubles per package) are not enough for him - buy food that also contains nuts and dried fruits (230-250 rubles in Kemerovo pet stores).

In any pet store, in addition to regular food, you can buy hamster treats - cookies or various kinds of bars. But this is not necessary - “live” vitamins are no worse. We don’t include this in our expenses: after all, we buy fruits and vegetables for ourselves, which means that the hamster will also get it – how much does he need?

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Recommendations

If you decide to purchase a terrarium or aquarium for your pet, you should definitely take into account some nuances:

1. Choose a design according to the size of your pet.
2. It is better if it is a large-sized housing in which you can install additional attributes - a wheel, a nesting house, a ladder, a drinking bowl and feeders.
3. Choose a model made of ordinary glass. It is durable and highly decorative for several years.

Article on the topic: Molting in red-eared turtles: the shell peels off, the skin on the neck and paws peels off

Care

The most important thing here is the cage filler, which needs to be changed once a week. With disgust we throw aside the torn paper and cotton wool. The first is the dirt and stench in the cage, and the second is generally slow and painful torture. Thin, almost imperceptible fibers wrap around the animal’s paws, disrupting blood circulation. And it is impossible to notice and remove them. And the same thing happens with the internal organs, we remember: this pet strives to eat everything it sees.

Fortunately, modern pet stores offer two excellent options: corn husk litter (from 700 rubles, a package is enough for 3-4 shifts) and hay (from 100 rubles, a package is enough for 3-4 shifts). Both options are generally good. But corn is “noisy”; when your pet goes out for a walk at night, even the neighbors will hear it. But you don’t need to change it more often and you can burrow into it just fine. Hay needs to be changed at least once a week. But it is much cheaper and, what is important, you can build a cozy nest in it.

As for care, you should not wash your rodent with water. Hamsters wash themselves in the sand. In a special, very small one. Just install a bath in the cage and get aesthetic pleasure - they have a lot of fun bathing. The sand needs to be changed every time the cages are cleaned. And ideally – once every two days. A bottle of high-quality sand costs at least 280 rubles.

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Terrarium for hamsters

Such dwellings provide for ventilation and sound insulation systems. Their prices vary depending on the size, quality, and included accessories. Among the materials from which structures are made, experts recommend choosing inorganic glass; it is much stronger than other options.

Advantages and disadvantages

The proportions of the terrarium are designed to provide sufficient air for all its inhabitants. As a rule, there are 3 main elements inside such a structure: a feeder, a drinking bowl and a small house. To entertain hamsters, it is also recommended to install gaming accessories inside the terrarium: a wheel, hammocks, ladders.

The advantages of a terrarium are:

• absence of noise from animals in the room;
• blocking unpleasant odors;
• ease of monitoring the hamster;
• saving time and effort when cleaning the home - the terrarium for hamsters is easy to clean and disinfect.

Important! When selecting detergents, it is necessary to take into account their aggressive effects on animals.

The disadvantages of the terrarium are minor:

1. We'll have to think about a way to strengthen the drinking bowl.
2. Communicating with your pet through glass is less fun.

Important! Many breeders of pet rodents place a Velcro drinking bowl inside the terrarium.

How to make a terrarium with your own hands

The basis is a plastic container. It is better to choose larger sizes. For example, for 2 dungeons, a plastic box with dimensions of 57x39x27 cm will be enough. For work you will need: a metal mesh with small cells, scissors, an awl, and wire.

Manufacturing instructions:

1. On the lid of the container, mark the perimeter of the hole on which the mesh will be installed.
2. We apply the mesh and use an awl to poke holes for the wire.
3. We cut the required piece of mesh and secure it with wire on the lid.
4. From the inside of the lid, cut out a rectangle along the contour of the wire fastenings, and you also need to leave a gap (1 cm).
5. We make several holes in the bottom of the container for additional ventilation.

The modified lid conveniently “snaps” onto the container - the animal will not be able to move it. This terrarium is easy to move and wash. It is advisable to choose transparent containers for homemade designs.

Treatment

You can relax here. You won't have to vaccinate your hamster; you'll save your hard-earned money on vaccinations and veterinarian fees. Firstly, these rodents rarely get rabies. Secondly, vaccinating an animal that lives only two or three years is simply not profitable and pointless. Virus-resistant antibodies simply do not have time to be developed in the hamster’s body during its short life.

But you cannot do without treatment completely. The rodent may develop parasites - worms and fleas. To make your animal feel comfortable, you will have to buy a special powder and treat it. This powder costs about 100 rubles, and it won’t last a hamster’s entire life.

Of course, rodents sometimes get more seriously ill. But in each specific case, you need to consult a veterinarian, who will prescribe the appropriate treatment, the cost of which can be found out directly at the veterinary clinic.

Alternative solution

We have already found out that a cage is much better suited for keeping a hamster at home. But if you have a spare aquarium at home, it can also be adapted to suit a hamster’s needs. For example, in a terrarium you can arrange a relaxation and entertainment room for your beloved pet.

Here are the items you can place in the aquarium:

1. Running wheel on a stand.
2. Various pipes and labyrinths.
3. Spacious shelter.
4. Toilet (if the animal is accustomed to it).
5. Bath with sand for bathing.
6. Various stairs and bridges.

The hamster can be moved into the terrarium to play, especially if all the attractions do not fit into the cage. You can also place the animal in the rest room while you tidy up its permanent home.

Don't forget that in addition to toys there should also be essential items. Be sure to leave a bowl of food, saucer or bottle of water for your furry friend.

Total

As Vladimir Mashkov , “let’s be like a grandmother”: on the day you buy a hamster you will have to spend at least 2,750 rubles. Its annual maintenance will cost you 17,140 rubles with corn as a filler, or 9,940 with hay. And that's the minimum. Now let's remember how much the hamster itself costs. Well, doesn’t he deserve to be called a “budget eater”? Another thing is that the costs, in our opinion, are worth it. The Djungarian hamster Pesha, who posed for this article, belongs to one of our editorial staff. And this employee assures that he does not regret a single penny spent, because in return the gray pet gives his family a sea of ​​positive emotions.

Sanitary difficulties

We especially highlighted one of the disadvantages of the aquarium. The fact is that a large glass house is extremely difficult to clean. After all, usually the terrarium consists entirely of glass, and is not installed on a glass tray. When washing, it is easy to cut yourself or break the hamster's house.

And you will have to wash it more often than a regular cage with a wire frame. In addition, the lack of free air circulation allows not only dangerous bacteria, but also mold to actively multiply. It is very difficult to remove it from joints, and sealants cannot provide a 100 percent guarantee that it will not appear. To disinfect the aquarium as much as possible, you will have to use aggressive agents, and many of them are toxic to hamsters.

A hamster can be kept in wide aquariums, but the animal will be much more comfortable in a cage. A house made of twigs is more consistent with hygienic standards for small rodents. But if you have an empty terrarium, you can easily adapt it into a room with attractions for temporarily keeping a hamster.

Keep a male and a female in the same cage if you do not plan to have babies

Some inexperienced owners buy a pair at once - a female and a male, believing that they will have much more fun together.

However, one should not rush to conclusions. If you put a boy and a girl in the same cage, then one day they will make you happy with offspring. And it will not be one or a couple of small animals, but at least a dozen at once.

If you are not ready to breed these rodents, then it is better to purchase one. Hamsters themselves are not social animals; they do well without company, in splendid isolation. And so that they don’t get bored, you can place various wheels, labyrinths and hammocks. Nowadays you can find a wide selection of products in the pet store.

Failure to study the main signs and symptoms of diseases

It is imperative to know the symptoms of certain diseases. After all, prevention is the best treatment. A timely visit to the veterinarian can save your pet and help avoid many problems.

It is worth paying attention to changes in the behavior of your furry pet. Reasons for concern may include:

• excessive activity and lack of sleep;
• lethargy;
• lack of appetite;
• sadness.

If you find this, be sure to contact a specialist.

Using the wrong bedding

In order for a hamster to feel comfortable and please its owners with its healthy appearance and active games, it needs to choose the right food, change the water often and use the right litter for the cage.

You can find a lot of bad advice on numerous forums on the Internet. For example, that rodents love rags. Bury yourself in them and live there. However, this is not at all true. The rags will quickly absorb dirt and become unhygienic. Besides the fact that it will emit an unpleasant odor, and aromas are important for hamsters.

Other materials such as:

• softwood shavings;
• cat litter.

Good, quality bedding material is very important for your pet. At the pet store you can find:

1. Hay. You can not only purchase it, but also prepare it yourself. The hamster will be able to make a nest out of it and even feast on it on occasion. However, its environmental friendliness is not always guaranteed.
2. Sawdust. This is an inexpensive and universal litter that is suitable for any rodents. However, due to their very light weight, they will be not only inside the cage, but also outside it.
3. Wood pellets. Or pressed sawdust. They absorb odor better than all of the above and are environmentally friendly. However, some types of hamsters will not be comfortable living on the pellets as they are quite large in size. In addition, they contain wood dust, which does not have the best effect on small animals.
4. Cellulose filler. Externally, it also looks like granules, but not as large in size as wood. They are the safest and most convenient. But they don't absorb odor so well.

The following compounds are strictly not suitable:

1. Newspaper. This filler was used quite widely in the past for lack of anything better. However, printing ink alone can cause irreparable harm to your pet's health.
2. Plain paper. The hamster will definitely try it on his teeth and may be injured by the sharp edges.
3. Cotton wool. Some people also use this kind of filler, motivated by the fact that it will be a cozy nest. Maybe the house will actually turn out to be quite good, but the fibers of this material can wrap around the paws and cause irreparable harm to the limbs.

The issue of bedding for a small rodent should be taken very seriously.