Although there are several types of hamsters occurring in the wild, only five are commonly kept as household pets. And though there are several differences between the breeds that make them each unique, there are traits common to all hamsters, regardless of type. Chief among these traits is lifespan - the average hamster has a lifespan of roughly 1000 days, or just a little under three years, with male hamsters living on average just a bit longer than females.
All hamsters have cheek pouches which they use to carry food, or in cases of danger, they're young. Also common among all hamsters is the presence of scent glands, although the location of these glands differs depending on the type of hamster.
All hamsters reach breeding age in roughly 6-8 weeks, with a very short pregnancy lasting only 15 days. The size of the litter averages about 6-8 pups. As you may already know, hamsters are very susceptible to stress, with new mothers being particularly so. If this occurs it's not unusual for the new mother to eat her newborn pups, so it's important to keep stress to an absolute minimum for new hamster mothers.
One of the most common pet hamster breeds, the Syrian hamster is also commonly known as the Teddy Bear hamster, Fancy hamster, and the Golden hamster, among others. Syrian hamsters grow to full size of about 7 inches in length, with the females usually a bit longer than the males.
If you buy a Syrian from the pet store you may see several young Syrian hamsters kept in the same cage - this is very misleading as Syrian hamsters are extremely territorial and will fight to the death with any other hamster they are caged with. The only reason the Syrian hamsters you see in pet stores aren't fighting when you buy them is that they don't develop their territorial nature until about age 6 weeks. After that, the rule is one Syrian hamster per cage!
Here's a story from Tammy Crum, a well-respected hamster breeder:
"A previous partner of mine used a shelving system to store the hamster, with Syrians on top. They were in a fish tank and somehow got out landed in a tank with Roborovskis. Needless to say that by the time he discovered the missing culprit all the Robs were dead."
Given their large size, Syrian hamsters are more easily held for longer periods of time than dwarf hamsters as they tend not to tire as easily. Another interesting fact about Syrian hamsters is that, even though they have the nickname Golden hamster, they come in over 40 different color types. This is achieved through today's advanced breeding techniques, allowing for a range of color and fur length.
Most Syrian hamsters, like all other hamster breeds, do not require any grooming on your part. The only exception to this is the Long Haired Syrian hamster. In this case, a simple toothbrush can be used to remove any bedding material that may be caught up in his fur.
Winter White Russian Dwarf Hamster (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The phrase dwarf hamster is commonly used to describe a group of hamsters that, although they share common traits, are quite unique in and of themselves.
All dwarf hamsters belong to the genus Phodopus, with the exception of the Chinese dwarf hamster - it belongs to a different genus altogether but is commonly referred to as a dwarf hamster because it shares so much in common with other dwarf hamsters.
The biggest difference between dwarf hamsters and Syrian hamsters is that dwarf hamsters tend to be far more social than Syrian hamsters. As you may already know you must never put another hamster in with a Syrian hamster, especially a dwarf hamster. The Syrian hamster is extremely territorial and will kill any other hamster that is introduced to its cage.
Dwarf hamsters do best when housed with one or two other dwarf hamsters of roughly the same size and breed. This means that although you can house a Campbell's Dwarf hamster with a Winter White hamster it will cause less stress on the hamsters to be housed with dwarf hamsters of their own breed.
A very important point to keep in mind is that unless you want to start breeding hamsters you must separate the male dwarf hamsters from the female dwarf hamsters. They are sexually mature at a very young age and will get pregnant early and often unless they are separated!
If you want to have several dwarf hamsters sharing the same cage it's best to get dwarf hamsters that were previously housed with other hamsters as they are used to the company. Be careful when introducing a new hamster to a cage previously occupied by a solitary dwarf hamster - he may have grown used to being alone and may challenge the new arrival.
If you do introduce a new dwarf hamster to a cage with an existing dwarf hamster then be prepared to hear some interesting hamster sounds and some minor scuffling. Don't be alarmed by this - it's likely due to the two hamsters trying to establish who's boss, and it rarely escalates into serious violence. Monitor the cage to make sure that the original hamster doesn't attack the new arrival - as mentioned above, sometimes they just get used to being alone and won't tolerate any new upstarts!
The most popular types of dwarf hamsters to keep as pets are the Campbell's Dwarf hamster, the Winter White hamster, the Roborovski hamster, and the Chinese hamster. The most popular of these is the Campbell's Dwarf hamster. The Cambell's Dwarf hamster was discovered in 1902 in Mongolia and is characterized by its trademark furry feet and a short tail. If handled properly the Campbell's Dwarf hamster can be quite tame and friendly.
Winter White hamsters are unique in the hamster world in that they can change the colour of their fur to a snowy white about once per year. In the wild, this usually occurs around September, but domestic Winter White hamsters can change colour several times per year based on the amount of sunlight they're exposed to.
Roborovski hamsters tend to be the smallest of the dwarf hamsters, reaching only about two inches in length when fully grown. They are very gentle and extremely fast, so try not to let one escape as you'll have an extremely difficult time getting him back!
Chinese hamsters are often called the rat-like dwarf hamster, owing to its long tail and thin body. They tend to be more aggressive than the other dwarf hamsters and are better off housed alone, except when you want to breed them. Once breeding is complete the male and female Chinese hamsters should be separated again.
Teddy bear hamsters are among the most popular Syrian hamsters that possess beautiful furs. They are also known as fancy hamsters, Angora hamsters and long-haired hamsters. Most female hamsters of this type have plush furs while the men are characterized by their long skirt of furs located at the back. According to most pet enthusiasts, their furs look elegant and those that have longer furs draw the most admiration and attention.
Most teddy bear hamsters may grow up to five inches in length. Those who have thick furs may look larger than those who have thin ones. According to sources, these species rank as the second largest hamster in the world. Females usually reach their maturity at the age of six weeks while males mature when they reach the age of seven to eight weeks.
As observed by many pet owners, teddy bear hamsters love to live alone. Putting them in a cage with other hamsters would only lead to a fight. They are also known for nipping a person's hand when they weren't gently held.
Their elegant furs draw most people to get them as pets. Teddy bear hamsters usually have gold furs which sometimes have splashes of deep red lines. The fur strands typically range from one to two inches in length.
These creatures are able to groom themselves; however, one may brush them using a clean toothbrush in order to remove tangles. One should consider a toothbrush that has soft bristles to avoid scratching the skin of the hamsters. These soft bristles are capable of separating dead hair from the coat. Always brushing your hamsters will allow their furs to shine.
Hamsters generally face various health issues and they can usually live from two to three years only. However, their lifespan may be extended if they receive utmost care from their owners. According to some pet enthusiasts, some of the health issues faced by teddy bear hamsters include diarrhea, mite infestation and overgrown teeth.
Diarrhea in hamsters is usually caused by a diet consisting of lettuce and other foods that are low in fiber. Moreover, dirty cages also contribute to the onset of this disease.
Hamsters may also be infested with mites. Mites are parasites that cause severe itching. If this problem is left untreated, hamsters may scratch themselves which can result to infections. To treat this kind of ailment, one should apply adequate amount of mitacide to the hamster's body. It is also advised to thoroughly clean the cage and add fresh bedding.
Also known as malocclusion, overgrown teeth is another health concern faced by hamsters. This condition is characterized by the continuous growth of teeth until they no longer fit with one another. This inhibits the hamster to chew its food properly. If this will not be treated, the hamster will frequently experience starvation. According to veterinarians, malocclusion may be prevented during the hamster's early age. They advise pet owners to provide their pets with chew blocks so that their teeth will naturally wear off.
As a child, most of us grew up with hamsters or friends who had hamsters. Even our children are fascinated with the small fuzzy creatures. There are many types of hamsters, dwarf, Syrian, Russian, Chinese, and hybrid. The hamster is a burrower so they prefer to have lots of bedding to hide under as well as tubes to create little nests in. The most difficult aspect of hamsters is telling if they are female or male and being wrong. Who has bought two hamsters thinking they were the same gender and ending up with ten hamsters? I certainly have.
A lot of biologists and geneticists use hamsters and other rodents to show genetic possibilities. In genetics, we often discuss the genome and how genes are dispersed in relation to eye color, hair color, and other traits. When you have hamsters as pets you are seeing this first hand. I had one gold hamster and one white hamster. When they bred I ended up with several color traits from gold, white, black, white and black to many more. Half the fun for kids is seeing the baby hamsters grow up with different colors. It can be a great science project for school as well as having a wonderful pet.
Hamsters are relatively easy to take care of. You can feed them hamster food, vegetables, and little hamster treats to give them a good life. The bedding should be changed weekly or twice a week depending upon how many hamsters you have. The downside to hamsters is their short lives. Most live only a year or two making it difficult on the younger children.
There are lots of hamster accessories from tubes to wheels. Hamsters like other pets need to have exercise so giving them wheels to run on or having a hamster ball to run around the house in is good for them. The tubing and cages come in a variety of colors to add to a child’s fun. You can create straight pathways to other larger home areas or curve them around to reenter the same cage. Most of the caging is plastic and your hamster will try to chew or claw there way free. You will want to monitor their activity when you clean the cage to make sure they are not producing a hole. Some hamster owners go with a metal wire cage with tiny slits to avoid the chewing escape. Your preference will determine the type of accessories you purchase.
Handling hamsters should be kept to a minimum and you should always wash your hand before and after. Hamsters can have a tendency to bite if they are not handled at least once a day or if they become scared. Be cautious with little children.
Hamsters are a lot of fun for all ages whether you have a budding scientist or just want an easy pet your child can care for. You will want to make sure you feed your hamster properly by not over feeding them while maintaining proper exercise. When your hamsters procreate, you will want to separate out the mother and children from the rest of the crew. A cautionary note before concluding this article: Dwarf hamsters are very susceptible to infections with cedar chips because it can tear holes in their tiny mouths.
One can’t just take his eyes off hamster pups, as these tiny cute little creatures will sure have your attention. Baby hamster are born without any fur and are closely attached to their mother. Though you may have the desire to hold them, bare in mind that there is nothing you can do within two weeks period after delivery.
Female syrian with her two babies, which are less than one week old. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
REMEMBER NOT TO TOUCH THE BABIES!! Your action might harm the babies and change its scent thus confuses the mother. She will think that they are not hers, abandon them and worst she might even eat the babies (it did happened to my hamsters). Not to cause any stress to the mother, avoid cleaning up the cage within this period. It is advisable to place the babies at the bottom of the cage as none of them had opened their eyes yet.
After this two weeks ‘vital’ period, you can hold them but only for a brief period as not to disturb or stress the mom or babies. You can also clean up the cage and place fresh beddings in most of it. Remove just the soiled parts in the nest area and put a good portion of the old bedding in it. Put the babies back in the nest after it is cleaned up followed by the mother.
Once the babies eyes are opened (which should occur on the 11-12 days, but some take less/more), they should figure out how the bottle works. In order for them to reach it easily, put it lower and in an area where they frequently go. If they haven’t figured out how to use the bottle and you are worried about them not drinking enough, you can give them pieces of cucumbers to prevent dehydration. Do not put water in a bowl to prevent them from falling in and drown or catch a cold.
At three weeks, you can separate the babies if you observe any fighting among them but if they seem immature, less developed and not quite independent enough to leave mom just yet, let them stay together until they are four weeks old. When they reach five weeks old, independent and have a healthy development, they can be placed in new homes and play in new surroundings and environment.
Watch out for symptoms that may indicate your hamster has an illness. The first key to maintaining proper hamster health is to make sure that her environment is always dry and clean. When cleaning the living area, be sure to clean any spills or other mess.
Humans do not have to worry about most of the diseases found in hamsters. Zoonotic diseases refer to a disease that can be transferred from an animal to a human. Two common examples of a zoonotic disease are salmonella and ringworm. Before and after you handle your hamster, be sure to wash your hands since this is a great way to prevent the transfer of any such disease. Once your hamster is diagnosed with a zoonotic disease, you will be given additional instructions on how to make sure it does not spread.
Hamsters who live alone are less likely to catch a disease than those who are kept with several other hamsters. Also, use care when introducing any new hamster to your existing pets. You may not notice right away that your hamster has a disease, even though they may look healthy to you.
Although your hamster does not require an annual wellness examination, it is still recommended that you find a qualified vet before there is truly an emergency. Ask around to see if anyone know of a vet who specializes in treating exotic animals, like your hamster. For future reference, you should also ask them how much they charge for various services.
Hamster can catch diseases, they can be injured, and catch other illness as a result of poor house cleaning. Be on the lookout for these common things:
Abscesses
Fighting with another hamster can result in a wound that gets infected and causes an abscess. To treat the abscess, you can drain it and then apply treatment, but this is quite painful for your hamster and should be avoided. The best way to deal with an abscess is to just make an appointment with your vet.
Colds/Pneumonia
If you notice any type of wheezing, difficulty breathing, or eyes glues shut, you need to take your hamster to the vet clinic immediately. You may also notice things like weight loss, a discharge from the hamster's nose, and general lethargy.
Tyzzer's Disease in Pet Hamsters
Tyzzer's Disease is a very contagious disease that spreads from hamster to hamster, and usually results in death. Some hamsters will show no obvious signs of the disease before they die. Others will show symptoms like a lack of activity, a scruffy-looking coat, diarrhea and dehydration. The disease is quite common among hamsters who live in an unclean environment, and hamsters who are under plenty of stress. Fortunately, it is rare in animals with clean housing and who are well-cared-for.
Diabetes
This is a disease that has been encountered in Campbell's Russian hamsters. A hamster who has diabetes will use suffer from excessive thirst and frequent urination. Changing the diet is usually the extent of treatment. Diabetic hamsters should not be given fruit. You may also want to limit, or completely remove, peas and corn from their food. An accurate diagnosis can be done by a qualified vet, and they can also give you recommendations on how to take care of your hamster.
Glaucoma
Winter White hamsters have been found to have glaucoma. There is no cure for hamster glaucoma, but your vet can give you some eye drops to relieve the discomfort for your hamster.
Trouble With the Cheek Pouch
The pouches in the cheek that are used in food storage and transportation can become pierced, impacted or damaged. Symptoms include being unable to empty the pouches or having an everted cheek pouch (one that is turned inside out). Take your hamster to the vet as soon as you suspect that she may have a cheek pouch injury.
About the Author:
Andrew Martin Jr. is a pet hamster enthusiast. Visit Hamster Care Answers for more information on hamster health.
A short-haired hamster
(named "Egbert") sitting in its owner's hand and eating a piece of
carrot. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Hamsters, as a rule, are very territorial creatures, with some being far more aggressive to other hamsters than others. Syrian hamsters are a good example - never ever put two Syrian hamsters in a cage together unless you want to scoop out a dead hamster the next morning. Dwarf hamsters can be housed together, but it's a good idea to know how hamsters behave when interacting with each other so you can identify the warning signs of things possibly taking a turn for the worse.
Hamsters rely a great deal on body language to convey information or messages to other hamsters. Just as you or I would read hand wringing as a sign of nervousness or foot tapping as a sign of restlessness, hamsters read subtle body messages as signs of anger, anxiety, or pleasure from the actions of other hamsters.
Hamsters that have never met before can identify each other and their sex by sniffing a scent gland located just behind the ear. Hamsters that are related to each other take far less time to identify each other than they do strange hamsters, thus lending evidence to the theory that each hamster has a unique identifying scent. When two male hamsters meet and sniff, the subordinate hamster will turn and leave, while a female hamster in heat will, upon meeting and sniffing a male, turn and present her rear to the lucky male.
Being fiercely territorial creatures, hamsters spend a lot of time measuring each other up to see which is the dominant animal. They do so by sniffing another scent gland located at their midsection, forming a 'T', with each hamster taking turns sniffing. The subordinate hamster sometimes ends up on his rear legs due to aggressive sniffing on the part of the dominant hamster. If this occurs then the dominant hamster may seize the opportunity to do some damage by biting at the exposed stomach of the subordinate hamster. The attacked hamster at this point has two choices - surrender or fight.
If the subordinate hamster doesn't feel like testing his luck he can indicate his surrender by holding out one of his paws in front of him and avoiding eye contact. If this doesn't work then the two hamsters will enter the first phase of combat, called rolling fighting. This is basically some intense wrestling with a few bites at the midsection for good measure. A hamster can admit defeat at this point by rolling over on his back. However any fighting that continues past this point becomes very serious.
Any hamsters still fighting at this point are in it to do some serious damage to each other. In the wild a beaten hamster can attempt to flee, but in a confined space such as a cage the hamsters will fight until one has torn the other to shreds. Attempting to pull them apart with your bare hands will get you nothing other than badly bitten fingers - your best bet at this point would be to spray the hamsters with a water bottle and separate them while they're recovering from the soaking. Wear gloves or else you could still receive a nasty bite.
By Adam King
Visit the Hamster-Zone website for even more detailed information on hamster care, hamster diet, hamster cages, and much, much more. Learn important tips on how to keep your hamster healthy and happy, including proper diet, care, and cage enrichment. Remember, a happy hamster is a healthy hamster!
Also get your FREE handy hamster illness chart when you sign up for the Hamster-Zone newsletter.
A hamster and a hamster wheel (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Having a hamster or gerbil as a pet can be a fun experience but, before you make a decision, you should learn more about the pros and cons of owning each animal.
Are These Animals Friendly?
Even though gerbils and hamsters are popular pet choices, the latter is not too fond of captivity. However, gerbils will make great pets as long as you buy more than one. Of course you have the option to purchase a single gerbil but since they are social animals you should purchase two so they can bond with each other.
If you do choose to purchase multiple hamsters and gerbils, it is a good idea to purchase two males. Female gerbils and female hamsters are aggressive with each other, but gerbil and hamster males get along well with one another. If you choose to buy a male and female gerbil or hamster, they should not be housed together, especially at a young age. You may also be interested to know that hamsters breed quickly.
Gerbils are ideal pets for children who have little or no experience caring for a small animal. This is due to the fact that gerbils are active throughout the day and rarely bite. Hamsters, however, do not like to be petted or held. Hamsters will bite when they are held or if they become irritated. And, although hamster bites do not cause serious danger, the bites are often painful. If you have young children, a hamster may not be the right pet choice for your family.
It is not expensive to purchase a hamster or gerbil, nor do you need a large budget to maintain them as pets. Most hamster cages come assembled, as well as any cage accessories you might want to purchase for your pet. Keeping a gerbil or hamster cage clean is also simple to do and it does not cost a lot of money. When purchasing a gerbil or hamster cage, you can spend as little as $50. Likewise, you may spend $50 a year on gerbil or hamster food, depending on the brand you purchase. When it pertains to these pets, their litter and bedding materials are the most expensive part of owning either of the two.
Sleeping Patterns
You should know the sleeping patterns of any pet before making a purchase. If you want to sleep well during the night, a hamster is not the right choice for you. Since hamsters are nocturnal, they will spend most of the day sleeping, and their nights will be spent playing with hamster toys or running on the hamster wheel inside their cage. Hamsters do not like to be woken up for any reason, even to play.
Gerbils are diurnal; therefore, they will not interrupt your sleep by digging or moving around in their cage. Gerbils like to play during the day, which can be fun for you and your children.
Escaping the Cage
Sometimes, regardless of how attentive you are, gerbils and hamsters escape their cages. When a hamster escapes his cage, he will be difficult to find and capture. You should know that hamsters enjoy chewing on furniture and wiring. So, if your pet hamster escapes his cage and he chews on the wires in your home, it could cause a house fire. Gerbils are also hard to find once they escape, which is why you must purchase an escape-proof cage for either of these little critters.
Remember that owning a gerbil or hamster will require some of your time, money, and patience. Overall, gerbils and hamsters can make great pets. But they are not the right choice for every pet owner which is why you should weigh the pros and cons before choosing one... or two in the case of gerbils... to bring home to meet the family!
Hamsters are loved as pets around the world by young and old alike. Their cute antics and playful nature make them a popular choice for a family pet. The average hamster lives anywhere from one to three years, so when considering a hamster as a pet for a child it is important to keep this in mind.
Coping with the loss of a pet hamster can be a sad yet important life lesson for a young child, and in the meantime they can learn responsibility while they care for the daily needs of their pet hamster.
This photo shows a Golden Hamster (she is a rescued hamster called Vince), she is a great pet. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The two most common pet hamsters are the Syrian hamster and the Dwarf hamster.
The Syrian hamster has been bred into many different types that go by several different names: Teddy Bear hamster, Golden hamster, and Fancy hamster to name a few. A fully grown Syrian hamster can reach about seven inches in length, with the females being just a touch larger than the males. The most important thing to remember about Syrian hamsters is that they're extremely territorial, so you must only ever have one Syrian hamster per cage. They will fight to the death if housed with another Syrian hamster!
Dwarf hamsters are smaller, and most importantly, can share a cage with other Dwarf hamsters without fights breaking out. Dwarf hamsters are a popular choice as they tend to be quite tame and friendly as long as you handle them correctly.
When taking your hamster home it's important to remember that hamsters are extremely susceptible to stress, so you want to make the journey to their new home as pleasant as possible. A pet store will typically give you a small cardboard box to carry your hamster home with, but if possible you should bring a larger container filled with hay and some hamster food.
You should buy and prepare your hamster cage before heading out to get your hamster so that when you return to your house his home is ready and waiting for him. Be sure to get the essentials such as bedding and nesting material, a food dish, a water bottle, and some toys. Having all of this prepared will drastically reduce the stress on your hamster.
If you choose a wire cage for your hamster make sure that the distance between the wires is no more than half a centimeter or else your hamster can squeeze right through!
The location of your hamster cage is just as important as the type of cage you choose. Hamsters are nocturnal creatures and so they sleep during the day. They'll need some peace and quiet during daylight hours, so don't put their cage next to a blaring TV set! Hamsters are also very susceptible to temperature changes, so keep them away from direct sunlight or drafts. And even though they're in a cage, having a cat or dog tormenting them all day long will lead to a very stressed-out hamster. If you already have other pets please keep this in mind when deciding on a location for your hamster cage.
Hamsters are naturally quite clean creatures, but even so you'll need to clean the cage about once a week.
The hamster will need to be removed from the cage while you do this, so it's a great opportunity for him to get some playtime in a hamster ball. Throw away all the old bedding material and replace it with fresh material. Use a light disinfectant as any strong smells left behind by your cleaning will upset your hamster, and make sure that the cage is completely dry before you put the new bedding material back in the cage.
By Adam King
Visit the Hamster-Zone website for even more detailed information on hamster care, hamster diet, hamster cages, and much, much more. Learn important tips on how to keep your hamster healthy and happy, including proper diet, care, and cage enrichment. Remember, a happy hamster is a healthy hamster!
Also get your FREE handy hamster illness chart when you sign up for the Hamster-Zone newsletter.
Article Source: EzineArticles
A photo of one of my dwarf hamsters, Minica. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Anyone who has experienced the joy of owning a dwarf hamster knows that they make wonderful pets. But if you aren't familiar with them and are just now starting to research the possibility of adopting one of your very own, you'll probably want some basic background information on dwarf hamsters, where they came from, how they came to be domesticated, and what you can expect from these friendly and furry little critters sometimes referred to as "pocket pets."
Hamsters in the Wild
Contrary to what you might expect, dwarf hamsters are not a product of selective breeding of the more common Syrian or Golden hamster. They were once free-roaming wild creatures in their own right. There are no dwarf hamsters left in the wild today, but they do have wild cousins that are a nuisance to farmers on several continents.
These wild rodents - actually all hamsters wild or domestic - are members of the much maligned rodent family. But while the wild hamster and dwarf hamsters share a common scientific classification, they both belong to the subfamily of rodents, Cricetinae, they don't look very much alike.
Generally referred to as Common hamster, these wild rodents usually have a heavily flecked coat of black and brown, somewhat reminiscent of a raccoon's. They were once very prevalent in Russia and Central Europe. However, because they were viewed as pests by farmers (and rightfully so due to their love of vegetables, seeds, and grains) - their numbers are dwindling.
Varieties of wild hamster can be found in other parts of the world, too. There are hamsters in Asia, Africa, and regions of Western Europe. Most live in arid or desert regions and live the majority of their lives underground in a network of tunnels and burrows.
From Reviled to Revered
So how did an animal once detested as vermin become such a popular pet? The hamster was first brought to the attention of the "modern" world by George Waterhouse, a British zoologist, in 1829. He discovered the curious little rodent which he named, Cricetus auratus - the now familiar Golden or Syrian hamster - in Aleppo, a city in Syria.
He introduced them to the United Kingdom where they quickly become a popular pet. But the craze was short-lived and the hamster quickly faded back into obscurity. Then, in 1930, zoologist Israel Aharoni from Hebrew University in Jerusalem discovered one in the Syrian Desert - a female with a litter of twelve. His discovery dispelled the common belief among the scientific community that hamsters were extinct.
But the hamster didn't immediately regain its status as a trendy novelty pet. They were bred for use as laboratory animals. And so it remained for many years.
The Four Species of "Dwarfs"
There are four species of hamster commonly referred to as dwarf hamsters: the Chinese hamster (although toxonomically speaking, he's not a dwarf), the Siberian or Winter White Russian, the Campbell's, and the Roborovski. Of course, there is a very good reason why they are called dwarfs. With the exception of the Roborovski, which averages a diminutive two inches, they are only about four inches long when fully grown. Contrast that with their Syrian cousins which are generally eight inches in length. While dwarf hamsters are relatively new to the pet store scene - their popularity spiked in the 1990's - they have been known to zoologists for more than a hundred years.
Physical Characteristics of the Dwarf Hamster
Unfortunately, animal behaviorists don't know as much as they would like about the dwarf hamster's wild relatives. Naturally a burrower, the untamed hamster spends much of his time underground hiding in the cool recesses of tunnels, far removed from the scorching sun.
However, you can tell a lot about an animal's habits and natural environment just by studying its physical characteristics; the dwarf hamster is no exception. Large eyes indicate that he needs to see in the dark. Since these creatures originally dwelled in arid regions, they were most active at night when it was cooler.
The hamster doesn't have very good eyesight so he relies quite heavily on his whiskers, called vibrissae, as "feelers" to aid in navigation. The ears are positioned high on the head, indicating a keen sense of hearing. His sense of smell is quite well developed as well.
Believe it or not, a hamster's very survival depends on its sense of smell. He relies on it to lead him to food and water. His nose also warns him of impending danger, helps him identify other animals, aids him in finding his way back to his burrow, and tells him when it is time to breed.
He also creates smells. Hamsters have scent glands that produce a musk-like fluid, which is primarily used to attract the opposite sex. It's also used to mark and identify his territory.
The Need for Speed
Dwarf hamsters are quite swift and agile. The scarcity of food in his natural habitat required it. In the wild, he needed to travel vast distances, amazingly, as much as five miles nightly, in order to find enough food which he then stored in underground chambers. In the desert, where food can be hard to come by, storing what you do find is tantamount to survival.
Like squirrels, the dwarf hamster stores food in his mouth. He does this through the use of pouches in his cheeks. He stuffs these pouches with an enormous quantity of food - sometimes in an amount almost the equivalent of half his body weight. It's how he collects and delivers, not only food, but also nesting material from one location to another.
Although this trait is of little use in a caged environment, it was of extreme importance and safety to the feral hamster. It allowed him to gather and keep food through the winter months when the supplies were hard to find. In fact, the word hamster comes from the German word, "hamstern", which means to hoard.
Habitual Behaviors
If you've never owned a dwarf hamster before, you'll want to consider some well-established hamster behaviors that you will have to accommodate in order to ensure that your new pet lives a long, healthy life.
Saying that hamsters love to chew would be an understatement. However, it's not just a nervous habit; his physical health depends on it because his teeth never stop growing. In order to keep them trimmed, he must gnaw constantly. You'll need to ensure he has plenty of safe chew toys or he'll find something on his own. This could prove to be quite destructive or actually dangerous for the hamster.
Hamsters also love to run - a lot. An average hamster, in fact, will run as much as two to five miles a day. It's part of their genetic make-up. But some hamsters have been known to become obsessive about this habit. They'll run themselves to the point of exhaustion. Generally this happens if the hamster is not getting enough stimulation. In other words, he's bored.
This is a fact that you will have to take into consideration when deciding whether to purchase a hamster. Will you be able to provide your pet with enough entertainment to keep him from becoming addicted to his exercise wheel?
Most pet hamsters are confined to their cages at least twenty-three hours a day. In order to prevent him from running obsessively, you will need to give him a variety of toys to play with and explore. Additionally, and most importantly, you'll want to be sure that your furry friend gets at least one hour of out-of-cage play time once a day. Not only does this keep him physically fit, but it also stimulates him mentally.
Of course, there is a lot more to keeping a dwarf hamster than just understanding its history, habitat and habits, and there are some key points that you should mull over carefully before deciding to take on the responsibility of any pet. Even though you may have decided that you can live with the habits of a hamster, does everyone in your household agree? More importantly, is each member of your family committed to assuming the responsibilities of pet ownership?
Don't assume that small, fuzzy and cute is equivalent to low maintenance. Along with the hours of pleasure and amusement that you will undoubtedly experience with your dwarf hamster, you - and preferably your whole family - will have daily obligations to this pocket-sized pet.
Nancianne Beetleman is an author, avid animal lover and dwarf hamster enthusiast. Over the past 37 years she has owned and cared for everything from hamsters to boa constrictors to cockatiels. Nancianne is passionate about teaching pet owners how to foster fulfilling relationships with their pets through understanding their instinctive behaviors and providing proper care.
By Nancianne Beetleman
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The Syrian hamster is the most recommended hamster for children because they are a bit larger than the dwarf species and are also easier to tame. However, there are still many particulars with each type of hamster that you should be prepared for if you are considering getting one for a pet.
Most parents believe that getting a hamster is a good opportunity for children to learn about responsibility and how to care for an animal. Parents also find that children definitely develop a great bond between themselves and their Syrian hamster. Many are surprised to find out just how much personality each hamster displays.
A photo of one of my dwarf hamsters, Minica. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Syrian hamster grows to about 6 inches long and is sometimes referred to as the Golden hamster or teddy bear hamster. Because of their size, they are easier to handle than the smaller dwarf species, which grow to only 3 or 4 inches in length. The dwarf hamster's size and quickness allows it to escape from small children quite easily and is, therefore, a better choice of pet for older children.
Hamsters sometimes can get a reputation for nipping, but only when they are not being properly cared for. For instance, hamsters are nocturnal so they are awake most of the night and tend to sleep throughout the day. If small children try to handle them when they are supposed to be sleeping, they might find they get bit.
Because hamsters are nocturnal, you might want to consider your child's schedule. Hamsters can be great pets because they do not need a lot of care during the day. When your child is at school or at extracurricular activities, their hamster will most likely be sleeping. As long as there is a quiet area of the house for the hamster, he will be quite content.
This also means that at night, your hamster will be playing in his cage, spinning his wheel and making noise. Keeping the cage away from sleeping areas can be helpful in making sure this does not disturb your child's sleeping.
Another note to consider regarding the Syrian hamster and housing is that Syrian hamsters should never be placed in the same cage with each other. They are extremely territorial with other hamsters and will sometimes fight to the death. In nature, these hamsters are loners so you should keep them solitary in your home as well. Despite their independent nature, they do still form very deep bonds with humans.
Dwarf hamsters, on the other hand, will do well with two in a cage, as long as they have been together since they were pups. Make sure that hamsters in the same cage are of the same sex, unless you intend to breed them.
Choosing the hamster species you desire before purchasing supplies for your pet is important, as dwarf hamsters can be injured if they live in wire cages made for the larger Syrian hamster. The smaller size cage for a dwarf hamster will, necessarily, require the other supplies to be of a smaller scale.
Hamsters tend to live an average of two to three years, which is a short lifespan compared to other pets. Among hamsters though, the Syrian hamsters tend to live longer than the dwarf species. Especially with a child, you will need to consider how you will handle your pet's passing. Again, this can be another learning opportunity to discuss loss, grieving, and disappointment as your child grows.
Once you have decided whether a Syrian or a dwarf hamster will make the perfect pet for your child, find a reputable breeder or rescue mission. You can also buy a hamster from a pet store. In either case, make sure your hamster is healthy before bringing him home.
One thing to check for is a condition called wet-tail. Just like it sounds, wet-tail is moisture around the behind but it can indicate a very serious problem. Also look for dull eyes, a matted coat, diarrhea, and trembling. Of course, you should always have your new pets checked out right away by a veterinarian.
Finally, you should spend some time and effort to really investigate all of the details of each particular breed. Either the Syrian or dwarf hamster can be a great pet for your children and your entire family.
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Although this seems out of logic, bathing hamsters in water like cats and dogs may potentially kill them. Due to the fact that hamsters are very small animals, they are unable to handle the loss of heat when put in water at room temperature. Even when put in hot water for bathing, it is dangerous as being wet leads to loss of body heat when the water on their fur evaporates. When the loss of heat exceeds the internal heat production of the hamster, it will lead to the hamster going into a state of shock. They will remain very still as if they were dead. Once they are in a state of shock, owners have to dry their hamster with a towel and put heating pads in the hamster cage for it to regain normal body temperature. Bathing the hamster also removes healthy oils secreted by itself. There is no need to clean hamsters as they keep themselves clean. If there are dirty substances present on the fur of the hamster, use a small brush to brush aside the substance.
Two Roborovski hamsters together on the miniature hamster wheel. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
2) Syrian hamsters should never be housed together.
Syrian hamsters are characterized as being strictly solitary and territorial, though it may not exhibit such characteristics when young. This is widely known by all owners of Syrian hamsters. Ask any pet store shopkeeper and they will tell you that they have seen at least one hamster killed by a Syrian when housed together. As a matter of fact, other hamster breeds are also known to be anti-social and aggressive. If you do have to house hamsters together, place it with hamsters of the same sex and species as it is shown to be more peaceful that way.
3) Hamster can live in aquariums.
Some owners choose to save cost by housing their hamsters in aquariums that they already have. Some may argue that this is dangerous for their hamster. All animals produce urine which contains ammonia. When the ammonia evaporates, this will damage the hamster's respiratory system which will lead to pneumonia. The first signs of this would be sneezing and runny eyes. However, hamsters produce very little urine which means that the ammonia produced is very little as well. The development of pneumonia is also possible in cages when it is not cleaned often. If the hamster develops pneumonia, keep the hamster well fed and clean. The vet may prescribe antibiotics to kill off the bacteria.
4) It is important that hamsters are housed comfortably in a cage that is not too small.
Owners must never house their hamsters in a cage that is too small. Even though hamsters are small, the cage needs to be big enough for them to roam around or problems may arise. With small cages, some hamsters may become highly aggressive. It is similar to living in a jail cell. The small cage stresses out the hamster and forces it to be defensive. This means increased biting whenever you get close to it. One very obvious sign that the cage is too small is when the hamster starts biting on its cage more frequently. This behavior shows its desire to escape from its cage. There was an experiment conducted by Gernot Kuhnen on effect of cage size and enrichment on core temperature and febrile response of the golden hamster. It was concluded that cages above 825 cm² and above are more suitable for golden hamsters. Anything lower than 825 cm² would lead to in an increase in body temperature of the hamster which indicates increased stress of the hamster.
5) Not all hamsters are friendly
This may be a shocking fact to many pet owners. The common assumption would be that pets will become friendly and loving towards their owners once tamed. However, this may not be the case as each and every hamster has its own character. Some hamsters prefer to be alone in their cages and dislike their owners playing with them too much, whereas there are other hamsters who crave for their owner's attention. It is also a common assumption that each hamster breed has their own specific personality. Syrian hamsters are regarded by many to be friendly and loving. The Russian dwarf hamsters are noted to be antisocial and mean hamsters who love biting their owners. These are all myths as all hamsters have their own personalities.
6) Hamsters are not easy to care for and should not be bought as a way to teach responsibility
Although hamsters are smaller than other pets, they may not necessarily be easier for children to take care of. Hamster breeds such as the Syrian hamster are nocturnal and only wake in the early morning. This means that owners will have to sacrifice some sleep for feeding and playing with the hamster. Young children will grow bored of their hamster very quickly if they are always sleeping during the daytime. Furthermore, a pet should never be bought to teach children the value of responsibility. The hamster's life will be at risk should the child neglect it. There are many other ways to teach a child responsibility without putting innocent lives at risk.
7) Some hamsters are loud
Although hamsters are known to be quiet, there are some exceptional ones who love making noise. Especially in the middle of the night. These hamsters are the ones who are nocturnal and are very active throughout the night until the morning. If you are housing your hamster cage in your room, chances are you will be woken up with the sound of a squeaky hamster wheel moving or the tingling of the water bottle. The easy solution for this will be to house the hamster outside of your room.
