We have a new hamster!

[Piper77]

Hi, if you happen to remember me, I'm the one with an 11 year old son who has lost 2 white dwarf hamsters. Well, after LOTS of careful looking, he found one to bring home. I couldn't find any breeders, so we went to a pet store out of town. He is a 5 week old russian dwarf hamster named Zippy. He's so tiny and so cute! I think this is a good thing to start with one young, we can keep him healthy from the beginning. We are using the hamster vitamins right away, that's the only thing we weren't doing with the other two. My son is already so protective, when someone gets close to the cage, he says "what are you doing?" and goes over to it. I'm sure he's a little nervous from what he's already been through. I have a few questions, I thought I read somewhere to give them dog biscuits? Also, that cotton bed fluff is not good? Are there any other special do's or dont's for dwarf hamsters?

[Sparky2006]

dwarf hammies should be kept together (same sex)!!!!!!!!!!!!

cotton balls arnt good.

[animalmagic]

Dwarf hamsters are prone to diabetes so don't feed any sugary snacks like yoghurt drops and stay away from fruit really. If you are feeding a seed mix then take out the corn cause that's bad for diabetic dwarves too.

The fluff bedding is bad, and plain unflavoured dog biscuits (milk bones work) are good for their teeth.

[dwankrista]

first of all, congrats on the new boy! :) it's a good idea to keep them in pairs or groups as dwarves are social, but littermates are usually the best bet. cotton bedding can get tangled around their limbs or cause strangulation. unflavored dog biscuits are great chew toys for hams, just check the ingredients to make sure they do not contain onion or garlic. milk bones are my first choice. also, vitamins in the water are not needed and usually won't make a difference. :) good luck!

[TiaMaria]

I agree with everything posted here :) ^^ :D