ABC Hamster Care
Hamster Care Advice Site
Frequently Asked Questions
Most FAQs have already been answered somewhere on the site, but here is the place to come before sending a question in to us. If your question isn't listed, please get in touch and ask away! This will be added to as more of you send in your questions.
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Can I give my hamster a bath?
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In short, no. Hamsters catch a chill very quickly and may drown in even shallow water, and anyway, hamsters do a great job cleaning themselves! The only time you should ever bathe your hamster is if something toxic gets on its fur (eg non child-safe paint), and even then you should just wipe your hamster with a damp cloth, not bath it in the literal sense.
My hamster has an upset stomach, what should I do?

Hamsters have very delicate digestive systems so upset stomachs are quite common. They're usually caused by stress, by a sudden change of diet or because you've fed too much fresh food. The first step is simply to identify and remove (if possible) the cause of the stess and not feed any fresh food for a few days. If the upset stomach is severe, your hamster seems unwell or if the above hasn't worked, you should take your hamster to a vet. Even standard diahorrea can be quite serious for hamsters, and occasionally diahorrea can be a sign of a very serious condition called wet tail.
To help stop your hamster getting diahorrea, you can buy probiotic powders formulated for pets that can be sprinkled in your hamster's food or water. These won't protect against wet-tail but may help prevent diahorrea caused by other factors.
Do hamsters bite?
Yes, but not without cause. They will normally only bite if upset, stessed or scared. Correct taming will help lessen the chances of you being bitten, see our guide
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The only other reason a hamster/your hamster may bite is if you smell like food. Washing your hands before going near a hamster will help prevent this.
Are hamsters blind?
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Some hamsters are, just like some humans are, but for the most part, hamsters are just very nearsighted. They rely on their sense of smell much more than we do, a little like dogs.
My hamster won't stop barchewing, what should I do?
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Provide your hamster with some alternative enrichment, scatter some food around their cage or provide a new toy. You should also ensure that your hamster has something else safe to chew and that their cage is big enough. Click for further information on cage sizes.
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Some hamsters just get into the habit of barchewing and can be difficult to stop. The only solution for this sort of bar chewer is to move them into a cage in which they can't barchew (a glass or plastic tank).