Some owners have reported successfully keeping dwarf hamsters together in the same cage, but this is not recommended. Hamsters are very territorial and will kill each other as they mature in age.
Make sure you have some chew items for your pet to gnaw on or he will chew on the bars. Apple branches are fine, or you can buy "chew sticks" try to get those with no color dyes. Your little critter will also benefit from a salt lick and mineral block.
The cage will need a weekly cleaning. Be sure to pay close attention to the corners.
Feeding:
The easiest thing to feed your hamster is commercially prepared Hamster Food. Usually this is a mixture of seeds and pellets. The food should be put in a bowl, but you will note that your hamster will usually stuff his, or her, cheeks with some food and move it to the den. When the food dish is empty it is important to fill it again, because it will be hard for you to know how much food your little pet has stored in its den.
Hamsters can eat most fruits and vegetables, and should be offered small amounts of these treats every few days to add variety. Some of their favorites are apples, bananas, or carrots. They will also eat dandelions but make sure if you pick them that they have not been sprayed or treated with any herbicide or pesticide. You should wash any fruit or vegetables from the store before giving them to your hamster. Some unsafe foods are onions, garlic, and chocolate. Your hamster can eat meat, like chicken, but some people feel this gives them the "taste of flesh" and may make them more likely to bite, plus it is unnecessary to feed them meat. Do not overdo offering of any treats, or you can cause stomach upset. Do not give your pet excess fresh food, you will have odor issues if fruit is "stored" rather than eaten.
Escape!
There comes a time when most hamster owners experience the worry of an escaped hamster. The main thing to remember is that they are nocturnal, so they will be sleeping in the day, and awake later in the evening or at night. You need to look for him, or her, at both times. They are fully capable of squeezing under doors, but cannot climb up wooden stairs, however they will fall down stairs. As such you should start your search on the level your hamster lives, and work your way down. They will usually look for a cozy place to sleep, check a pile of clothes or a corner in a closet.
If you cannot find your hamster you need to set a trap. Put down several feed stations and bedding areas, such as empty tissue boxes with a few pieces of torn up toilet paper. Also put out water. Check the feed stations and beds for signs of use, you should be able to narrow down where your pet is. At night have the house all quiet and listen for scurrying sounds.
Other Information:
For more exercise opportunities for your little pet, you can get hamster balls. You put them in the clear ball to roll around in on the floor. Make sure all doors to stairs are closed and that you do not leave them in the ball for too long, as they could over heat or dehydrate.
"Wet-Tail" is the most common disease in hamsters and can be deadly. It is a bacterial infection caused by stress and an unclean environment. The symptom is soft stool or diarrhea. Veterinarian attention is required.
It is not a good idea to breed hamsters unless you know you have buyers for the young. Breeding any animal simply so you can see "the miracle of birth" is actually creating more unwanted pets.
Good Alternative Pets to Hamsters
Because the main draw backs are the biting and being nocturnal, you may want a pet that is neither. Rabbits and Guinea Pigs are your best choices. Being larger they are also more hardy, and longer lived.
