about hamster

Question
QUESTION: how many times do i have to fed the hamster for 1 week?
n my cage i have 4 hamster is this ok,for my hamsters n also how can i help them to exercise it,because my 1 hamster only know how to exercise as the day goes by the hamster no more going to exercise so how i going to do i 1st time taking care of them la....

ANSWER: Hi Wong

What type of hamsters are these?  If they are Syrian, then they must be kept in single cages otherwise they will fight.  If they are dwarf hamsters then they can live together providing they don't fight.  If they do, then you will need to take out the aggressive one and put them in a cage on their own.   How big is the cage?  Are there toys in it?  They need to have an exercise wheel to play in (avoid getting the type that has spokes/drainage slit).  If the cage is small, perhaps you could make a play area for them in another box that has toys in and then let them  play in that in the evening for an hour or two - I think you should watch them all the time otherwise they might try to escape.  

Hamsters are nocturnal - Syrians definitely sleep most of the day, some only awake very late at night.  Dwarf hamsters and Syrian females tend to wake up more during the day and can have short bursts of energy.

I give my hamsters a large handful of dry mix each week - sometimes I give them more.  I also give them 'treats' such as nuts (never give salted/flavored ones), dried fruit, seeds, apple, fresh vegetables daily (avoid lettuce as it can cause diarrhea).  About once a week I give a small piece of cheese or scrambled egg.

I hope this helps you.

Regards

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: i dunno y my hamster the at the backside thr big edi woh.....i dunno y n is very long time ago when i started to take care of hamster at tat day is the 1st time i take careof them?n my hamster is syrian hamster n oso my hamster gt i dunno gt 2 boys n 2 gal or 3 boys 1 gal is tat ok for them bcz i wan them have breeding la...n how to build a nest for them n i gt onli i cage i buy but very small la...i din buy any treats for them la......onli gt wheel la...for them to exrcise la....i 1 them to hav some litter but now thr all r always fight wit each n other la....so how?

ANSWER: Syrian hamsters must live alone - if you keep them together they will fight and some of the injuries can be horrendous.  I have a hamster right now who has no nose as it was bitten off - another hamster I fostered had part of his side missing - therefore it is not worth keeping them together as they are so territorial.  I suggest you separate them into their own cages straightaway.

If you want to mate them, then the thing to remember is that a litter can be as many as 14 and at 4 weeks they have to be sexed and separated into single sex cages, then at 6 weeks they all need a cage of their own. Therefore a lot of thought needs to be given before mating them to make sure that you have enough homes lined up for the babies.

If you do decide to go ahead, then the female comes into season every 4th day - the best way to determine the correct day for introducing her to a male is to stand her on the outside of the male's cage - let them sniff each other through the bars, then scratch the female's back.  If she is in season she will go rigid and raise her rear end.  If she is aggressive or doesn't respond then you know that she isn't in season and it is a case of trying again the following evening.  This procedure isn't guaranteed, but I have found it to work.

Mating should be done under close supervision in neutral territory - if you have a box or large container that they can be put in.  Watch them all the time - mating can take just a few minutes.  Be ready to separate them if they become aggressive.  As soon as the mating has taken place separate them.  Then it is a case of waiting 16 -18 days to see if the female produces a litter.  They can reabsorb/miscarry so there is no guarantee.

As the hamsters have all been together anyway, the female might already be pregnant.  I would therefore suggest that you separate them straightaway, then wait 18 days to see if she produces a litter. If she doesn't then you could try mating them if you want to.

Regards

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QUESTION: u haven't answer my 1 more question is y my hamster his backside big edi.....i can give u see the pictures but  let mi take some photo 1st la.......

Answer
I'm sorry but I don't understand what your question is.  Do you want to send me a photo?  Female hamsters have very rounded rear ends, whereas male's tend to be more pointed.  Also once a male hamster reaches maturity sometimes they have very large testicles which can change shape, be lopsided etc.

Regards