Hamsters

Hamsters are amazing little creatures.  They make great pets for kids and adults alike.  Hamsters are small and easy to handle, and fun to play with.  You can buy a little ball to put your hamster in and let him roll around the floor in it.  This is really fun to watch.  But you also have to remember that, even thought they are fun to hold and play with, hamsters are still very fragile.

Something you do need to watch is their diet.  Hamsters are prone to diabetes, and therefore you need to pay attention to what they are eating.  When you buy a package of premixed food for hamsters and gerbils, look at the label.  Check for ingredients that include sugars and glucose.  You don't want your hamsters to get to much of these.  If your food lists all natural ingredients and no sugars, great.  You can buy a little extra treat to mix in with their daily diet a few times a week.

Hamsters need to chew on solid things to keep their teeth from becoming overgrown. You can buy little chew sticks, or have your local pet shop employee help you find some toys just for this purpose.  The chew sticks are more recommended than the toys.
 
Something else that is really important is to give your hamster(s) fresh food and water every day.  This way, they keep eating healthy.  And you wouldn't want your hamster to drink warm water on a hot day.  Plus, water does go stale after a few days.

Clean the cage regularly.  This will keep the animals healthy and happy as well as keep any odors down.  Clean any toys, wheels, and "houses" that are in the cage as well.  This will help keep the cage area clean and get rid of any germs and bacteria that may be lurking from before the cage was cleaned.

If you just use some common sense, and take good care of your pets, they will be happy, healthy, and long lives.