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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 October 29th, 2025
Learn about hamster habitats, bedding and nesting which will help your hamster to live a long and happy life.
Updated on October 29th, 2025

Learn more about your pet gerbil as it is a loving, friendly and innately curious animal.
Updated on October 29th, 2025
Learn how to care for a gerbil, recommended diet and habitat setup. Find the right food, supplies and equipment at your neighborhood Petco.
Updated on October 29th, 2025
Learn the many fun and easy ways to provide stimulating toys to enrich the environment of your pet rat or mouse.
Updated on October 29th, 2025
Do not use an aquarium tank. A suitably sized (and secure) wire cage with a solid bottom is recommended. HabiTrail and Kaytee have excellent choices for cages. Buy the largest cage you can afford and fit in the chosen space. You can use recycled paper bedding such as CareFresh or Yesterday's News. Aspen shavings or pellets are also acceptable. Do not use pine or cedar shavings as these can be irritating. A commercial diet from Kaytee or VitaKraft can be fed from a ceramic bowl. A ceramic bowl prevents gnawing and tipping. A non chewable water bottle can be hung to provide fresh water daily. Other necessary items include chew toys and an exercise wheel. Find a veterinarian experienced in treating pocket pets and have your new addition examined to confirm good health. Feed, water and exercise daily. Clean the cage weekly. These little guys require very little care and can provide lots of entertainment. Congrats and enjoy!
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 most instances a cage is recommended over an aquarium for small mammals because there can be inadequate ventilation with glass aquariums and ammonia from the urine can build up within the cage and cause respiratory problems. A wire cage with small bar spacing is often recommended with a thick layer of paper bedding (such as Carefresh bedding) and plenty of areas to climb and hide.
Updated on August 12th, 2025
There is commercial gerbil food available at the pet store, they also need a water bottle and a warm enough environment. Their cage needs to be cleaned about twice a week at least and food needs to be provided twice a day.
Updated on August 12th, 2025
You can use an exercise ball with s gerbil. Be sure to keep it away from stairs or ledges. You can also try a different wheel or exercise apparatus. There could be a personal preference. Make sure the cage is big enough for 2 gerbils to prevent stress or bullying.
Updated on August 12th, 2025