Shiney new hamster owner!!

[girliefriend]

So have just bought home a lovely Russian Dwarf hamster, dd has named her Scarlett she is very cute and small.

Is there anything i need to know? Have only had gerbils before and feel bit clueless about hamsters, we have got her a wheel which she is currently going mad in picked her up some hamster muesli but do they like to eat anything else?

TIA

Because they are so small, it is easy to upset their tummies. We occasionally give ours a teeny chunk of carrot, but other than that, we stick to dry stuff. They love the egg biscuits that you can buy - you might have had those for your guinea pigs.

Ooooh, but one thing I do, is to stuff an empty kitchen roll with bedding, with some yoghurt drops in the middle. Keeps them busy for ages.

Oh, they are soooo cute.

We've had a few of these over the years. One particularly cute one was (uexpectedly) a winter white breed that would be grey/brown in the summer, then white in the winter. He lasted 3 winters after we'd been told they would live for 18 months.

Yogurt drops - are those esp for hamsters? Will have to make another trip to Pets at home

She seems really friendly, dd currently has her out and Scarlet is enjoying having a sniff about! Will try and get a picture. The chap in the pet shop said they like apple, do you think that might upset her tummy?

Also the gerbils were always happy with hay and some tissue for bedding are hamsters the same ?

Scarlett the hamster

I've never given hay to a hamster. I just use sawdust and the paper bedding.