In the small commercial plastic cage her sleeping/nest area was the rear corner, next to the rear wall-mounted exercise
wheel. She liked to just pile & fluff up the bedding, then burrow in to "squish" against the wheel & wall.
In the Rubbermaid or Tupperware 20-gallon tub, the same ice cream box could be used, or sometimes a lower-height nest box
was used, to allow her wheel stand to sit on top yet still be safely below the lip of the tub. There are all kinds of
boxes that flow in & out of our homes -- just use what makes sense for the hamster's size. We made a hanger for the water
bottle that allowed it to hang from the top of an aquarium tank or the tub. Adjust the size so the water tube end is about
2" above a platform.
Note: Another ice cream box (open) was used as her convertible to be carried down to the kitchen for snacks. It was just
the right height for her to put paws on lip & peer out, without being able to just jump or fall while being carried. She
would eagerly scamper into the box, she knew good things were coming!
Her favorites were broccoli, green beans, snap peas, cantaloupe and honeydew melon, most any fresh fruit, esp. apple and
banana, and a special weekly treat of a drop of peanut butter, served on a popsicle stick. The Southern Hamster Club has
an excellent feeding pdf.
Bedding
We used unscented tissue or tp tissue, torn in 1" strips. Often presented to Zippy as a gift midweek,
3 to 5 at a
time, which she would drag back to her nest box or area, then return for the next one. On weekly cleanings try to save a
bit of the cleanest bedding to put in with the new for recognition.
In the large 3-level wire "condo" which sat on top of a 10-gallon aquarium, her nest box was down the ramp to the lowest
level (the 4th), in the aquarium which was wrapped by a towel on the outside, giving her a reduced-lighting area. The box
was a thoroughly cleaned oval ice cream carton, ½ gallon, 1.75 liter or 1.5 liter size. The top was fitted on, box turned
upside-down, then an appropriate sized hole cut as a doorway. These stayed clean for long periods of time, due to the
inside finish, but it was easy to change the bottom (the lid) if food made a stain. This oval nesting box was comfortable
for her, she could stretch out or squish into the end. The round straight-sided ones can also be used, cutdown 2 or 3
inches.Food
Diet should consist of seeds, grain, nuts. Small treats of fresh veggies are also welcome. Broccoli, corn, green beans,
snap peas, carrot pieces, radish, even an occasional morsel of beef or chicken! Zippy was actually raised more on fresh
veggies, with the commercial seed and grain mixture as an adjunct, and always available in her food dish. Cached food was
removed weekly along with the bedding material, except for any peanuts, she got to keep those!Exhaust
As with all pets, what goes in must come out. But we've never seen a cleaner animal! No fouling of the nest box, urinates
in a far corner (always the same one) and usually the same grouping with scat. Not difficult to clean daily if desired,
although only the urine box or tray needs it every day or so. Zippy would not "go" when out running about, unless the time
was so long she just had to get relief. When awakened, she would "corner" first to pee, then she was ready to be taken for
a ride.