Hamster — life stage (owner-practical care, Merck Veterinary Manual pet-owner)
Source: first-hand Merck Veterinary Manual pet-owner text, saved to source_file; every claim below is a C1 byte-substring of it.
Claims
Once outside the cage, they are difficult to find and may be reluctant to return to the cage.The enclosure should be at least 6 inches (15 cm) high, but enclosures 8 inches (20 cm) or more offer the advantage of deeper bedding.The hamster cage should be equipped with a water bottle with a sipping tip.Because of this, housing female hamsters in the same cage is not recommended.Or you can feed commercially available pellets formulated for rabbits, which contain more fiber, or “roughage,” than diets for mice and rats.Pet stores often offer exercise balls that can confine the hamster while allowing it to move over a large area outside the cage.In addition to a suitable cage, your hamster will need a balanced diet and regular time to play or exercise with you.Smooth plastic or glass is preferred for cage walls because hamsters can chew wire.Whatever cage or tank is selected, it should be easy to clean and sanitize, well ventilated, and easy to light.Sexually mature females are territorial and aggressive and frequently fight each other.Breeding females are larger than mature males and the female hamster’s aggressiveness often means that a male hamster will be injured by a female cage mate.Keep a careful eye on your hamster if the animal is in an exercise ball and be sure to return your pet to its cage for food and, most critically, water after a reasonable exercise period.
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Source: pdf-raw/owner-care/merck_hamster.txt · https://www.merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets