Care info for animals
Hamsters
Housing
Hamsters are very active animals that can run up to 8 km in one night and require a cage at least 100 cm by 50 cm. A deep base is essential to accommodate a thick layer of bedding. Larger cages reduce stress behaviors such as monkey barring and bar chewing. Some good cages are the PawHut, IKEA Linmon, and Barney cage. Hamsters usually soil in one area, so as long as that area is spot cleaned and there are no health issues, the rest of the cage does not need to be cleaned.
Bedding
Hamsters are burrowing animals, so they require at least 20 cm of suitable bedding. Suitable beddings include aspen, spruce, megazorb, hemp, and paper bedding (Kaytee or Carefresh). Sawdust and pine shavings can often cause respiratory illnesses. Hay is a good additional bedding to structure their burrows. Ripped-up tissue can be used for nests.
Enrichment
Hamsters are highly active animals and need plenty of enrichment. Good homemade ideas are toilet tubes, cardboard boxes, and fruit tree branches. Cages should also include plenty of hiding spaces such as terracotta pots and cork tunnels. To keep their coats healthy, hamsters need to have 24/7 access to a dish of sand. Suitable sands include calcium-free reptile sand and sieved children’s play sand. Sand baths may need to be changed weekly or more often as hamsters tend to soil in their sand baths. Flat rocks help file their nails down. Alternative textures such as coco fibre and moss can also be great for enrichment. Dwarf hamsters need a wheel with a 20 cm diameter, and Syrian hamsters require a 28 cm diameter. Hamsters may also benefit from time in a secure playpen or room.
Food
All hamsters require a varied muesli. Dwarf hamsters are prone to diabetes and require a low sugar diet with no fruits. Syrian hamsters can be fed small amounts of fruits. Hamsters can be scatter-fed their dry mix. Some good examples are Rodipet and Getzoo mixes and RatRations hamster mix. Fresh water should always be available.
Example Set Ups:
Example setups for hamsters include:
Gerbils
Housing
Gerbils are very active crepuscular animals which require a cage at least 100 cm by 50 cm. They are also heavy chewers, so wooden cages aren’t suitable for them. A deep base is essential for bedding. Good options are the IKEA Detolf, a glass fish tank, and the Barney wire cage. Gerbils usually soil in one area, so as long as that area is spot cleaned and there are no health issues, the rest of the cage does not need to be cleaned.
Bedding
Gerbils are burrowing animals and need at least 20 cm of suitable bedding. Suitable beddings include aspen, spruce, megazorb, hemp, and paper bedding (Kaytee or Carefresh). Sawdust and pine shavings can often cause respiratory illnesses. Hay is a good additional bedding to structure their burrows. Ripped-up tissue can be used for nests.
Enrichment
Gerbils are highly active animals and need plenty of enrichment. Good homemade ideas are toilet tubes, cardboard boxes, and fruit tree branches. Avoid plastic as gerbils will chew it. To keep their coats healthy, gerbils need to have 24/7 access to a dish of sand. Suitable sands include calcium-free reptile sand and sieved children’s play sand. Sand baths may need to be changed weekly or more often as gerbils tend to soil in their sand baths. Flat rocks help file their nails down. Gerbils also need a wheel that is bigger than 20 cm diameter and ideally 28 cm. Gerbils may also benefit from time in a secure playpen or room.
Food
Gerbils should be given a varied muesli (about 15g a day) and fresh fruits and vegetables (such as carrots, sweet potatoes, and cauliflower) in small quantities. Gerbils may enjoy foraging for their food, so feel free to scatter it across the cage. Sprays can be a good tool to enrich your gerbil’s natural behavior. Fresh water should always be available.
Example Set Ups:
Example setups for gerbils include:
Mice
Housing
Mice need a minimum of 80 cm by 50 cm of unbroken floor space, but larger groups may need more space. Bar spacing can be 1 cm, but if mice are on the smaller side, chicken mesh can be used for safety. Mice are able climbers, so height can be good for extra enrichment. Mice need to be cleaned every one week to one month. Some great cages are the Barney, the Alaska, and the Savic Plaza.
Bedding
Chipsi, hemp, megazorb, cardboard shreds, paper bedding (such as Kaytee), aspen, and spruce are all suitable beddings for mice. Hay can be used to strengthen nests. Our favorite bedding is a combination of hemp and cardboard with paper bedding for nests. Sawdust and pine wood shavings can cause respiratory infections. Mice love to burrow, so add at least 15 cm of bedding in one area.
Enrichment
Mice are very active animals and enjoy having lots of toys to climb on and chew, such as ropes, tunnels, bird perches, bridges, branches, multiple hides, and cork tunnels. Different textures such as moss and coco fibre are also very good for enrichment. Most mice also enjoy running, so add a wheel of at least 20 cm diameter.
Food
Mice are omnivores and require a good mix of ingredients. Some good examples are RatRations isamix-11, RatRations no 9, Berimix, or the homemade Shunamite diet. Mice should also receive small volumes of fresh veggies and fruits such as carrots and broccoli. Freshwater should always be available.
Example Set Ups:
Example setups for mice include:
Rats
Housing
Rats are large active animals that require a lot of space. We recommend a size of at least 80 cm by 50 cm by 80 cm for two rats and 100 cm by 50 cm by 60 cm for 3-4 rats. They also benefit greatly from out-of-cage time in a secure room. Some suitable cages are the Coco Large, Mamble 100, Savic Royal Suite 95, and Liberta Explorer. They need to have a base to add bedding; if your cage doesn’t have this, you can add a sturdy plastic storage box or make a deeper tray from perspex. Cages should be cleaned weekly.
Bedding
Paper (such as Kaytee), cardboard, or hemp-based bedding are suitable alternatives. Rats love to dig and rummage, so they need at least 5-10 cm of bedding at the bottom of the cage. Hay and shredded paper help them create better nests. Sawdust and wood shavings can cause respiratory issues, and fleece is not suitable as it cannot absorb urine well and does not allow them to dig. Rats should also be provided with a litter tray with paper litter and a rock, which can help them become litter trained.
Enrichment
Rats are very active animals and enjoy having lots of toys to climb on and chew, such as ropes, tunnels, bird perches, bridges, branches, multiple hides, and cork tunnels. Rats may also benefit from a large dig box filled with coco fibre or other suitable beddings. Additionally, rats should be provided with time out of the cage with other enrichment activities such as pea fishing.
Food
Rats do best on a varied muesli rather than pellets. Selective feeding is not usually an issue when the food is scatter-fed. Rats don’t need a food bowl – scatter the food in their bedding instead! We feed our rats a homemade mix following the Shunamite diet, but other good options are premade mixes on the RatRations website.
Example Set Ups:
Example setups for rats include:
Guinea Pigs
Housing
C&C cages are the most common for guinea pigs. A 4x3 grid setup meets our minimum requirements of 16 sq feet. The base should be lined with fleece liners. Guinea pigs can be housed outside in the summer, but the enclosure needs to be predator-proof, well insulated, and ventilated. Guinea pigs should be spot cleaned daily, and fleece liners should be changed weekly.
Bedding
The best option for bedding is fleece. We line our guinea pigs either with donated fleece liners or towels and then add cute fleece blankets on top. While litter training guinea pigs is challenging, placing hay above a litter tray with paper pellets will help contain waste. Other bedding options include cardboard shreddings and bath mats.
Enrichment
Guinea pigs love running through tunnels and hides, which can be made from cardboard. They can also be given chews to play with.
Diet
The majority of a guinea pig’s diet should be hay, which should always be accessible. Timothy hay is the best type and can be bought in bulk online or from farm shops. After hay, guinea pigs should be provided with about a cup a day of green plants, herbs, and vegetables such as bell peppers. They should also be fed a tablespoon of pellets a day with added vitamin C.