Hamsters are very undemanding pets, but there are still a few key items they can’t do without. The following is a list of what you need to buy before getting your new pet. For tips on providing care over the first few days take a look at the Bringing A Hamster Home page, which is full of advice.
![equipment for a hamster](https://www.omlet.com/images/originals/hamster_handling.jpg)
There are some key pieces of equipment you’ll need to keep your hamster housed, healthy, and happy
To get you through the first few weeks, make sure you have:
- A cage large enough for your species of hamster
- A food bowl
- A water bottle
- A suitably-sized exercise wheel
- Toys
- A sand bath
- Scales
- Food
- Bedding
- A hamster house
- Nail clippers
- Scales
- An exercise ball (optional)
- Chews or gnaws(optional)
- A carry-cage (optional)
- A wide-toothed comb(optional)
Set up the cage and all the equipment before your hamster arrives, to give your new pet as smooth a transition to their new home as possible. The equipment listed above will get you through the first few weeks, but be aware that you may need more items as time goes on. For example, any pet can develop health problems that require medicines or treatment items.
![hamsters new home](https://www.omlet.us/images/originals/bar-rub-is-painful.jpg)
Like all pets, hamsters sometimes develop health problems, such as bar-rub
If you suspect your hamster has a problem with its health, have a look at our Hamster Illnesses section, and seek veterinary advice.
If you need more specific information concerning hamster needs, we’ve compiled many pages on multiple aspects of hamster ownership, from Hamster Health and Hamster Housing, to Hamster Food and Fun.
Comments
An Omleteer, 2 December 2023
Chews are not optional hamster teeth constantly grow they need to chew on stuff to keep there teeth from growing too much also hamster balls are really really bad bc they have poor ventilation and they could get foot stuck and hurt in holes also hamsters have really bad eyesight and it stresses them out
George, 1 May 2020
I am looking for a black and white male hamster
Rocio, 12 March 2020
Im getting a hamster soon and this helped me so much!
Kirsty, 12 July 2019
I have 4 hamsters and i easily look after them
Dash_Rainbow, 25 May 2019
Once I read that the chew toys were optional, that's when I KNEW this wasn't a reliable site. Just a tip for all those to-be-hamster owners, please please PLEASE get chew toys for your hamster, or else you are actually torturing your hamster. Their teeth will get overgrown if they don't have chews, and they will get very stressed and bite you.