hamsters

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do you love hamsters? have you ever maintain a hamster?
after my cat died, i bought a pair of hamsters. My first hamster is Syrian hamsters, bubble and gembul~ but bubble died because of sick and gembul go away~ until now she did not return, she died but i dont know where her body
then i bought a pair of hamster again~ the type is campbell's dwarf hamster. the colour is black and grey. i want winter white but nothing in petshop~ and i hate waiting!!!
my campbell have given birth three times, totally 8 baby hamsters. yeay!
unfortunately they all die, only 2 living hamsters left. lucky and chibby. i dont know why~ my mother said that it is because of air containing sulfur. *when merapi mount's eruption* ohh yaa, lucky's favorite food is popcorn. and chibby's favorite food is sunflower seeds~
since iam busy at college, they are less maintenance. poor them..
i have some photos of my hamsters, but i dont have my campbell's photo *have not take pict them*

i have some information about hamsters, check this...

Hamsters are the most popular rodent to be kept as pets and their popularity has increased over the years. There are a number of different types of hamster and there are some very important differences to be aware of between them.

There are very many different types of hamster but there are five main types that are domesticated and commonly kept as pets:

• Syrian Hamster (or Golden or teddy bear hamster) - the largest and most popular type of hamster, these always need to be kept alone

• Campbell's Dwarf Hamster - these often like to live in groups and the male is larger than the female

• Winter White Dwarf Russian Hamster - can undergo a dramatic colour change in colder weather, often becoming entirely white

• Roborovski Hamster - smaller than the other dwarf hamsters often with longer more "ruffled" fur and they can move very quickly

• Chinese (or Striped) Hamster - distinctive in having a longer tail and a darker dorsal stripe

When choosing a cage for any hamster generally the bigger the better, so it is worth extending your budget a little bit on this one very important area.
Hamster cages generally come in three main types, the aquarium or bin cages, the tube and compartment cage and traditional wire cages. Each have their own advantages and disadvantages and we cover these in more detail in the information sections. It is largely a matter of individual choice which type of housing that you chose for your hamster.

In addition to a good cage you will need a water bottle, an exercise device e.g. wheel, a food bowl, a sleeping area or nest box and a few interesting play things for your hamsters.
There are a whole range of materials that can be used for hamster bedding. These include shredded soft paper, flattened barley straw and wood shavings. They can all be suitable but if you do chose wood shavings it is important to chose a good quality hamster safe variety. As dust particles in wood shavings can affect the hamsters breathing and some cedar and pine woods can contain also contain harmful resins which can be toxic to hamsters livers. For these reasons paper based bedding's are becoming more popular.

Hamsters will eat almost anything you give them, so it is your responsibility to ensure that nothing dangerous that could harm them goes into their cage.
In the stores two main types of hamster food is commonly available, hamster pellets (or rodent pellets) and hamster muesli. Hamster muesli is a mixture of food types so you have to watch out as your hamster may only pick out its favourite bits. If your hamster has muesli, make sure it is eating all the different pieces, not just the sunflower seeds and peanuts!
Pellets look “boring” but are full the essential nutrients, to ensure the hamster gets a balanced diet. Some hamsters will just not like the pellets (Trouble in particular), if this happens just try another kind. There are many treats available in the stores, but they are often quite expensive.
Hamsters can also eat many of the food types that you have at home, such as certain fruits, vegetables and herbs in small amounts. Introduce these to your hamster slowly, a small amount every other day to begin with. Hamsters must ALWAYS be fed these foods in small portions.

Hamster Illnesses
As already mentioned hamsters are pretty healthy animals but, of course, like all animals there are some diseases and illnesses which can occur.
These will be covered in detail in our information sections but just to list a few of the main conditions here:
• Wet tail - is a very serious illness which is a digestive disorder where the hamsters suffers severe diarrhoea and it can be fatal.
• Fleas & mites - the hamster will show signs of intense itching and excessive grooming, they can be caught from cats and dogs.
• Worms - relatively uncommon but dwarf tapeworm infestations can occur.
• Teeth & mouth problems - as hamsters teeth continually grow their teeth should be checked to ensure that they are straight. They can also have impaction of food in their pouches.
• Diabetes - common in some types of hamster. They show signs of excessive thirst and urination and the eyes can become cloudy with cataracts.
Obviously if your hamster is showing any signs of ill health you should take them to see a small animals vet.