Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
Get It Today
Read more tips about hamster housing including how to choose bedding & nesting materials as well as some safety tips to keep your pet hamster safe
Updated on November 13th, 2025
Congratulations on deciding to bring a hamster into your family! Make sure you have their new home set up before their arrival with this essential hamster shopping supply list.
Updated on November 13th, 2025

Learn more about your pet gerbil as it is a loving, friendly and innately curious animal.
Updated on November 13th, 2025
Chinchillas have an inquisitive and gentle nature, but also have a lot of energy. Learn about the care and supply needs for pet chinchillas.
Updated on November 13th, 2025
Learn how to take care of your small pet and ensure their safety and wellbeing even during power outage.
Updated on November 13th, 2025
Mice make very fun little pets! You will want to use a bedding substrate that is dust free. I recommend Care Fresh. It will need to be changed about once weekly. They love the have the little wheels to run in and most of them enjoy another mouse for company. You can give them a sock to make a nest out of but it should not be the primary bedding. In general you will not need an additional heat source as long as the house is warm. Keep the cage away from drafty windows and in a warm room. Mice also like to have toilet paper tubes and boxes to play and hide in. Make sure as well that you are feeding an appropriate diet meant for mice. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Updated on August 12th, 2025
It would be safest to avoid all types of pine bedding. There are other options that are safer such as aspen shavings or any one of the recycled paper type bedding materials. The current bedding is fine to use as well.
Updated on August 12th, 2025
I have had many pet rats and I love them! They are smart and interactive! They do have some health problems though. Upper respiratory issues are very common so you will always want to use a dust free litter like Care Fresh and keep their cage SUPER clean! You also see a lot of cancer which is unfortunate. About 2 years is the average life expectancy. Make sure to get 2 or more rats of all the same sex. Females tend to be more active then males but both are sweet. Females also tend to get along a little better than the males. I approve your decision!
Updated on August 12th, 2025
Hi! Hamsters can make great pets if they are socialized and handled gently. A standard hamster cage with a wheel, tunnels, a hide box, some soft bedding in which to burrow (like carefresh), fresh food and water are the basic needs of any pet hamster. If you want, you can add a network of tunnels to provide more exercise and enrichment opportunities. Hamsters can get sick and should only be fed hamster specific food items to decrease the chances of tooth and gastrointestinal problems. It’s also a good idea to take your new pet to the vet shortly after you get them so you have a baseline of health and have an established relationship with a vet in the event your hamster does become ill. Good luck!
Updated on August 12th, 2025
In such a young rat the most common reason for hair loss is parasites, I would trear him for them anyway as they can be hard to see. If that doesnt help then I would consider allergy, dust free bedfing can help and good quality pellet food specifically formulated for rats.
Updated on August 12th, 2025