How to Care for Hamsters and Gerbils: Housing, Diet and Daily Checks

By Dr Duncan Houston

Hamsters and gerbils both need room to dig, forage and hide, but their social needs are very different. A companion that benefits a gerbil can put a hamster at risk of serious fighting.

Start by confirming which species you have. The gerbil advice here is for Mongolian gerbils, the species most commonly kept as pets; other gerbil species may need different care.

Quick Answer

House pet hamsters individually, and keep Mongolian gerbils in an established, compatible same-sex pair or group. Provide a spacious, secure enclosure with deep burrowing bedding, a diet formulated for the correct species, constant drinking water and gentle interaction when they are awake. Check each animal daily, and contact a vet promptly for reduced eating, diarrhoea, injuries or unusual inactivity instead of waiting 48 hours.

Should hamsters and gerbils live alone?

Syrian and Chinese hamsters should live alone. Dwarf hamsters, including Roborovskis, do not need another hamster to be content. Some welfare guidance allows carefully managed dwarf groups, but fighting can develop even between littermates, so individual housing is the safer starting plan for pet owners. Hamsters that fight need permanent separation, not repeated attempts to make them friends. See the RSPCA guidance on hamster companionship and fighting.

Mongolian gerbils need compatible gerbil company. An established same-sex pair is a practical choice. Ask an experienced rescue or vet to confirm their sex and compatibility. Do not add an unfamiliar gerbil directly to an occupied enclosure, and do not mix hamsters with gerbils.

If a gerbil loses its companion, seek advice about a carefully managed introduction rather than simply buying another and putting them together. Bonding is a process, and a bereaved or separated gerbil needs an individual plan. The RSPCA explains stable gerbil groups and safe handling.

What enclosure and bedding do they need?

Hamster housing

Choose a large enclosure with a solid floor and secure ventilation. PDSA cites at least 100 × 50 cm of floor space as a welfare starting point and recommends at least 25 cm of burrowing bedding. Larger is better; tall levels do not replace usable floor space. Exact minimum space requirements have limited research support, so watch whether the setup actually allows digging, exploring and normal movement. See PDSA's hamster housing guidance.

Mongolian gerbil housing

A spacious glass gerbilarium with a secure mesh lid accommodates their digging better than a shallow barred cage. Provide 20 to 30 cm of bedding that holds tunnels, plus room above it to stand upright. Mix suitable low-dust bedding with hay for structure. Include shelters with more than one entrance so one gerbil cannot trap another. The RSPCA gerbil housing recommendations cover burrowing depth and enclosure design.

For both, use unscented, low-dust bedding and plain shredded paper for nesting. Avoid cotton wool, fluffy nesting fibres, loose fabric threads and dusty sawdust. Provide dark hides, keep heavy furnishings securely supported so tunnelling cannot topple them, and place the enclosure away from direct sun, draughts, loud appliances and other pets. Hamsters need undisturbed daytime sleep; a busy family area is often unsuitable. See the RSPCA guidance on safe hamster bedding and surroundings.

What should hamsters and gerbils eat?

• Hamsters: they are omnivores. Use a complete hamster food as the main diet; uniform pellets help prevent picking out favourite ingredients. Add very small amounts of washed vegetables, introducing one change at a time. A tiny occasional protein treat can add variety, but a balanced main food should supply their essential nutrients.
• Mongolian gerbils: use a balanced food specifically formulated for gerbils, following the feeding guide and adjusting with veterinary advice if weight changes. Their natural diet is based largely on seeds and plant material. Small vegetable portions add variety; fatty seeds should remain occasional treats.

Avoid treating an unbalanced seed mix, fruit, cheese or hay as the main diet. There is no single teaspoon allowance suitable for every hamster and gerbil. Size, species, body condition and the main food all matter. Introduce changes gradually and remove fresh leftovers before they spoil, including those hidden in food stores. These principles are covered in the RSPCA's hamster feeding advice and gerbil feeding advice.

Keep fresh water available at all times. Clean and refill the bottle daily, check that water flows from its nozzle, and make sure each animal can reach it. An apparently full bottle may be blocked. Watch actual eating and body weight, because an empty bowl may mean food has been hoarded.

Exercise, handling and grooming

Offer plain cardboard tunnels, chewable items and scattered portions of their normal food. A hamster wheel needs a solid running surface and enough diameter for a straight back; PDSA suggests at least 30 cm for Syrians and 20 cm for dwarfs, with larger sizes when needed. For gerbils, choose a large solid wheel without a central axle or trapping points for feet and tails.

Let them approach your hands, then scoop with both hands and support the whole body close to the ground. Never lift a gerbil by its tail: the skin can strip away. Do not wake a sleeping hamster for play or force handling on a frightened animal. Adults should supervise children.

Provide suitable clean bathing sand, especially for gerbils, and avoid routine water baths. Check nails rather than trimming on a fixed monthly schedule; ask a vet or trained handler to trim overgrown claws. Long-haired hamsters may need gentle brushing. Gerbil health and coat care and hamster grooming and dental care need regular attention.

Which changes need action?

What you notice	Possible meaning	What to do and when
Burrowing, food hoarding or a hamster sleeping through daylight	Usually normal behaviour	Observe during their usual active period and continue daily checks.
Repeated corner digging, bar chewing or persistent escape attempts	Inadequate space, shelter or enrichment; sometimes discomfort	Review housing now. Arrange veterinary advice if persistent or accompanied by physical changes.
Reduced eating, weight loss, a wet rear, drooling or unusual inactivity	Possible dental disease, digestive illness, pain or another medical problem	Call a vet when noticed and arrange prompt assessment. Do not wait two days.
Fighting with biting, injuries or one animal unable to escape	Unsafe social housing	Separate safely immediately, using a barrier or container rather than bare hands. Injured animals need prompt veterinary care.

A behaviour change is not automatically boredom or old age. A hamster or gerbil that approaches food but struggles to chew may have a dental problem; loss of appetite with diarrhoea suggests a different investigation. A vet assesses the mouth, hydration, body condition, injuries and housing history. The RSPCA signs of illness factsheet explains why subtle hamster changes need prompt attention.

When is it an emergency?

Laboured breathing, collapse, severe bleeding or major injury require immediate veterinary care. A cold, barely responsive hamster should not be assumed to be safely hibernating. Call an emergency clinic, explain the species and signs, and transport in a secure ventilated carrier with familiar bedding. Do not force food or water into a weak animal or give human medicines.

A practical daily and weekly care plan

1. Today: confirm species, social setup, bedding depth and working water supply. Find a veterinary practice that treats these species.
2. Daily: observe each animal eating and moving, check droppings and the rear, remove wet bedding and spoiled food, and check for fighting.
3. Weekly: weigh each animal on a gram scale using a secure container, record the result, and inspect claws, coat and equipment. A downward trend deserves veterinary advice.
4. When cleaning: adjust the extent and frequency to actual soiling and enclosure size. Preserve some dry, unsoiled bedding and familiar layout; removing every scent can be stressful, particularly for gerbil groups. Follow veterinary cleaning instructions if infection is being treated.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Buying a second hamster because the first looks lonely.
• Assuming gerbil littermates can never fall out.
• Using a shallow cage, fluffy nesting material or an undersized wheel.
• Replacing all bedding every week regardless of its condition.
• Using an exercise ball. A secure, supervised play area with hiding places is a better option, consistent with RSPCA advice on hamster exercise balls.

Keeping them well over time

Maintain a predictable routine, offer fresh cardboard or a simple foraging challenge, and retain familiar nesting areas. Change enrichment gradually and allow the animal to retreat. Arrange routine veterinary checks at an interval suited to age and health, and have a daily caregiver available whenever you are away. Good care supports normal behaviour as well as preventing illness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can dwarf hamsters live together?

They do not need company. Some established groups remain compatible, but fights can occur later. Individual housing is the safer default, and fighting hamsters should remain separated.

Can a Mongolian gerbil live alone?

Compatible gerbil company is normally needed. After a death or serious fight, seek an individual introduction plan rather than immediately adding an unfamiliar gerbil.

Do hamsters and gerbils need hay?

Suitable hay can support burrows and provide material to investigate or chew, especially for gerbils. It does not replace a balanced species-appropriate main food.

How often should I clean their enclosure?

Check daily and remove wet bedding and spoiled food. Larger enclosures usually need less frequent extensive cleaning than small ones. Retain some clean familiar bedding unless your vet advises otherwise.

Start with the species, then build the routine

The priorities are appropriate companionship, genuine burrowing space, balanced nutrition and noticing changes early. A setup that allows each animal to eat, rest and explore comfortably is the foundation of good care.

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For help understanding your hamster or gerbil's care needs, ASK A VET™ offers a supportive place to start. Signs of illness still need timely assessment by a veterinary practice.