Syrian hamster: reviews, description, keeping at home

Care and maintenance of Syrian hamsters

Syrian hamsters are very popular both in our country and around the world. Most likely, this is due to the unpretentiousness of maintenance, the resistance of the hamsters’ immunity, as well as their attractive appearance.

How many hamsters to get

The peculiarities of keeping them are that these animals prefer to lead an isolated lifestyle, while becoming attached to a certain territory, which they fearlessly defend. You need to know this in order to decide on the number of animals you plan to have. Therefore, they cannot be kept even in pairs, not to mention entire groups of animals. At the same time, it should be noted that there is a type of social hamsters - these are Roborovsky hamsters, which can be kept in whole groups without any problems.

Selection and filling of the cage

Syrian hamsters are relatively large in size, so a small cage is not suitable for keeping such a pet. In addition, the size of the cage must be such that it can accommodate a wheel with various labyrinths, as well as other accessories.

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The best option can be considered a cage with dimensions of 37x27 cm and a height of about 36 cm. If the cage has two floors, then this is even better, since it is more convenient and more comfortable for the animal.

Features of the cell include:

• It is not necessary that the cage have several floors, but the main thing is that its dimensions are optimal.
• Dimensions should not be less than 50x30 cm.
• If the cage is too small in size, the animal may suffer from lack of movement, which leads to obesity.
• The second floor should be located at least 30 cm from the bottom of the cage.
• The door dimensions should be optimal, but not small.
• The distance between the rods is no more than 1 cm.
• It is better to get a cage that has a solid tray rather than a mesh one.

The hamster's home should be equipped with a special wheel, which will act as a gymnastic apparatus, and the bottom should be filled with sawdust, which can absorb moisture, as well as foreign odors.

Important point! The more game elements there are in the cage, in the form of a wheel, various manholes, steps and ladders, the more active the pet will behave.

Do not cover the bottom of the cage with cotton wool or paper. An excellent play element for a hamster in his home is a wooden driftwood with a smooth surface.

Rules of care and hygiene

Keeping a pet hamster requires deep cleaning of the entire home once a week. To do this, the upper part of the cage is removed and any remaining food, as well as bedding, is removed. As a daily activity, it is advisable to carry out partial cleaning, replacing the remaining feed and bedding that has become unusable.

After general cleaning, disinfection measures are mandatory using safe substances, after which the cage is wiped dry with a cotton cloth or paper towel. In addition, all additional elements of the cage, including bowls and drinking bowls, require regular washing. Cleanliness is the key to your pet’s health.

What to feed your Syrian hamster

Proper keeping of rodents such as Syrian hamsters at home is to provide the animal with a balanced diet, including various treats.

The use of ready-made, purchased food rations can be considered an ideal option, since they contain a sufficient amount of nutrients that are so necessary for the normal functioning of hamsters. In this case, you need to ensure that the feed is given in no more than the required portions.

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The feed should contain:

• Proteins – no more than 23 percent.
• Up to 6 percent fat.
• Within 10 percent fiber.

The hamster's main food products are solid grains in the form of wheat, oats and millet. If a pet has not finished eating and left food in the feeder, it must be removed immediately so that the pet cannot be poisoned by food that has become unusable.

It is important to know! Products such as citrus fruits, sunflower seeds (seeds), cabbage, chocolate and a number of other sweet products, including dairy and fermented milk products, with the exception of cheese, are contraindicated for feeding these animals.

As a rule, rodents' teeth grow throughout their lives, so it is necessary to create conditions for the animal to grind them down. To do this, the hamster is given branches of various fruit trees, such as apple and cherry, and also includes foods such as apples, carrots, persimmons, zucchini, turnips and raspberries in the diet.

Health and disease prevention

Pet hamsters may suffer from:

• For the appearance of abscesses.
• For dental problems.
• For obesity.
• For baldness.
• For inflammation of the “sacs”.
• On a “wet” tail.
• For herpes.
• For the spread of E. coli.
• For “false rabies” or Aujeszky's disease.
• For trichomoniasis.
• For conjunctivitis.

First of all, you should pay attention to the following symptoms:

• The appearance of sharp and unmotivated aggressiveness.
• The appearance of breathing problems.
• Complete apathy.
• Moisture fur and matted wool.
• The appearance of bald patches.
• The appearance of various wounds, swellings or ulcers.
• Loose or too dry stools that have an unusual color or unpleasant odor.

The owner should pay attention to the fact that the hamster is constantly trembling, and also to the fact that the pet is actively scratching its skin until wounds appear.

In any case, you should not self-medicate or try to establish a diagnosis yourself, which can only be done by a specialist. As a rule, many ailments manifest themselves due to poor care and maintenance, as well as the lack of a balanced diet. It is also necessary to pay attention to the conditions in which the cage is located, whether the room is well ventilated, and whether there are any drafts.

Reproduction and offspring

By the time of fertilization, the female must be at least 4 months old, and the male must be at least 3 months old. Successful mating is only possible if the female's estrus period is accurately determined, which occurs at intervals of 5 days. During this period, they take a female and a male and place them in a separate and very spacious cage.

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After fertilization, the female carries her offspring for 18 days. After this period, from 4 to 15 small hamsters may be born. Before the birth process, the cage is thoroughly cleaned, the bedding is completely changed, and a sufficient amount of food is poured into the feeder.

After childbirth, especially in the first days, it is undesirable not to disturb the female and her offspring. After birth, small hamsters feed only on mother's milk for a month.

During the period of feeding the offspring, as well as during the period of feeding with milk, the female’s diet should be enriched with:

• Due to protein products.
• Using boiled egg yolk.
• Due to low-fat cottage cheese.
• Using boiled chicken meat.

After birth, in no case should the cubs be touched with your hands, otherwise the female will be able to eat all her offspring if she senses the presence of foreign odors.

In addition, during this period it is advisable to place the cage in a fairly dark place, ensuring complete peace for the female and offspring. You can start breeding hamsters after they have lived for one month and one week.

What do Syrian hamsters eat?

The diet of individuals from the hamster family in the wild and at home is very different. It is important to remember that table food that a person is used to eating is not suitable for feeding a pet.

In nature, the long-haired Syrian hamster eats everything it finds on its own. In the warm season it can be berries, vegetables, dry sticks. This animal has no idea what is useful and what is not. In order to survive in a competitive environment, Syrian hamsters eat everything they see and smell.

Absolutely forbidden:

• Sweet;
• Fat;
• Salty.

Rodents love everything sweet, but their digestive system is designed in such a way that sugar is not processed. Such an individual will not last even a year. An interesting fact about Syrian hamsters is that in the wild they are capable of eating their own babies. The ideal food in the wild is dried fruits and vegetables.

Many people ask this question: “What to feed a Syrian hamster at home”? The diet can be varied, but it is worth remembering that this is a small creature that is in no way suitable for the food that is on the table.

The entire diet of individuals can be divided into 2 categories:

• Dry;
• Wet.

Dry food should prevail in your pet's diet. You can buy it at any pet store. In addition to grains, it should be equipped with vitamins and minerals. Under no circumstances should you feed your Syrian hamster at home food for birds, rats or guinea pigs!

Wet food should also be included in the diet every day. These can be vegetables and fruits. The Syrian hamster prefers vegetables: carrots, zucchini, lettuce. It is not recommended to give your pet potatoes and cabbage. Among fruits, preference should be given to apples and grapes.

Sometimes you can give dried fruits, but you shouldn’t get carried away with it.

Syrian hamster: reproduction, diseases

If you want to breed hamsters at home, buy a pair. Mature individuals are needed for mating. The female must be at least four months old, and the male - three.

Keep hamsters in separate cages until mating. Follow the process, otherwise the animals may harm each other. After the act, separate the couple again.

Djungarian hamster: care and maintenance, what to feed, photo

A hamster's pregnancy lasts only 18 days. Usually a female gives birth to about 5 cubs, but the number may increase. Breastfeeding lasts about a month. Females are not recommended to give birth more than four times a year.

Photo: pixabay.com: UGC

Before giving birth, you need to put the expectant mother in a separate cage and provide her with complete peace and secluded places. In a state of stress, the female is able to eat the offspring. Also, newborns should never be touched, just like the mother herself.

The Syrian hamster, whose photos are very cute, rarely gets sick with proper care. The most common problem is obesity. Therefore, under no circumstances allow your pet to overeat, and also monitor its activity.

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Hamsters: types and breeds, maintenance and care

As for diseases, hamsters can suffer from:

• parasite infestation;
• viral infections;
• fungal diseases;
• diseases caused by subcutaneous mites;
• conjunctivitis;
• stomach problems;
• tumors.

To avoid any health problems for your hamsters, clean the cage thoroughly and monitor your pet's diet properly.

Photo: pixabay.com: UGC

How can you tell if your hamster is sick? The animal becomes lethargic and inactive, mostly lying down. His fur may also become dull and his breathing may change.

If there is any deviation from the norm in the behavior or appearance of the hamster, contact your veterinarian. You cannot treat the animal yourself.

Syrian hamsters are charming and unpretentious animals. Therefore, if you decide to place such a pet at home, you will never regret it.

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Description and lifestyle

The Syrian hamster is one of the largest species of rodents in the hamster family. The size of its body can reach from 13 to 19 centimeters, and the larger ones in this species are always females. The Syrian is easy to recognize by his stocky body, short legs, medium-sized rounded ears, and a round small muzzle. Many people mistakenly believe that this species does not have a tail, but if desired, it can be found under the thick fur. You can sometimes notice aggression in the Syrian hamster.

The peculiarity of the Syrian hamster is that its front legs have four toes, and its back legs have five. In the wild, the rodent is accustomed to living in shallow burrows and staying awake at night, so hamsters at home also adhere to a similar lifestyle.

The Syrian hamster has been given the title of being a good-natured animal and a favorite. People value this rodent for its friendliness, amazing habits and intelligence. The Syrian species is the only one that can be trained to a nickname. Then spending time with the affectionate animal becomes very interesting and fun.

Price for Syrian hamsters

The cost of a rodent depends on the color and type of fur of the animal - the more rare it is, the higher the price. In addition, it greatly depends on the place of residence of you and the animal itself: for example, in St. Petersburg the cost of this animal will be 100-150 rubles more expensive than in other cities, and in Moscow - 200-300 rubles. Some sellers can sell rodents for a very low price (in cases where the individual is sick or there are too many animals). Below is the average price in the city of Moscow for golden Syrian hamsters:

Three-liter jar Vs cage

“I think I want a hamster,” you thought, and began to “Google” the address of the pet store closest to your home. But remember, you still have to fork out the cash. The hamster itself is worth a penny, but don’t be fooled – the pet store intends to (and will) charge you an immeasurably large sum.

“Why does a hamster need a cage when I can arrange a home for him myself, using a shoebox or a three-liter jar for these purposes, like in the good old days,” you will think, and you will be completely wrong. A hamster needs space. Without movement, the rodent will quickly wither and die. They already have a ridiculous lifespan - on average about two years - and in such conditions the animal will not last even a quarter of this lifespan. In the wild, it covers long distances per day and is constantly on the move. Long gone are those cruel times when it was considered the norm to keep a hamster in a jar. The Djungarian hamster will have the worst time in such a home. This is the analogue of a husky in the rodent world - if he doesn’t sleep, he runs around all the time. And other hamsters suffer without space. In addition, forcing an animal to breathe through a small hole in the ceiling is pure sadism. If it's hot at home, he'll just die very quickly. For the same reason, an aquarium is not suitable - it’s stuffy. In general, just a cage. But not the simplest one will do.

In any pet store you can find a cage for 700-800 rubles. She looks very pretty. But we reject this option - it’s too small. Remember what we wrote about the need to run. 45 cm in length and 30 in width is the minimum. It’s not difficult to find one and it will cost from 1,500 rubles to infinity: there are huge, half a room, hamster palaces with 4-5 levels, labyrinths and stairs.

The cage comes with a house, but it is plastic, but a wooden one is needed so that the stupid animal does not eat up the plastic. At least another 300 rubles (although those whose hands grow out of place can save).

There will be a wheel in the cage, which is usually quite suitable (three times the size of a hamster), but this is not enough. We need at least one more “fun”. The ideal option is a hanging swing-sleeve (from 400 rubles).

Hanging sippy cup (so that there is no dirt in the cage) - from 100 rubles.

A walking ball is an indispensable item for your hamster's safety while cleaning the cage. Or just for the sake of general development and diversity. Price – 300 rubles and above.

This is the necessary minimum purchased with the hamster for its entire life. Now let’s move on to the “consumables”.

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The character of the hamster and its acquisition

Before choosing a golden animal, pay attention to its behavior. Cute animals are not the same in character, each of them is a personality. If your hamster behaves aggressively, which is not so common, this may be a feature of his character. Ladies are more susceptible to attacks of bad mood. They are slightly larger than males.

As a rule, the Syrian hamster has a good disposition, quickly gets used to people, and willingly communicates with them.

Choose an active animal with a clean coat and no discharge from the nose or eyes. A healthy animal moves vigorously around the cage and does not itch constantly.

Hamster care

Cleaning

One of the main disadvantages of keeping hamsters is the unpleasant smell from the cage. To avoid this, you need to clean the cage daily and keep it clean. However, frequent cleaning worries the hamster and leads to stress, which greatly reduces life expectancy.

Before you start cleaning the cage, you need to move the hamster to another place. Then remove any remaining food, wash the feeders and drinking bowls, check and remove supplies from the hamster’s pantry, and remove excrement. As soon as you have finished cleaning, you need to return the hamster back.

To prevent an unpleasant odor from excrement, the bottom of the cage is covered with corn or cellulose filler. Newspapers or sawdust are often used as bedding. However, such material is one of the reasons for the unpleasant odor and the cage needs to be cleaned much more often.

General cleaning is carried out 2-3 times a month. This type of cleaning includes a complete change of filler and a complete wash of the cage.

Feeding

Hamsters are omnivores, so it is important to know what you can and cannot feed your hamster.

• The basis of a hamster's diet is a grain mixture. You can purchase ready-made grain food at a pet store, or purchase grains separately and mix them yourself.
• Vegetables and fruits must be included in a hamster's diet. Vegetables are a source of fiber, which aids digestion, and fruits are an excellent source of vitamins. Among the vegetables, the hamster is often fed carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers and zucchini. Hamsters are very fond of apples and pears as fruits.
• It is also worth taking care of your pet's health. Hamsters need to wear down their teeth, which grow throughout their lives. To do this, you can hang a mineral stone in the tap hole, which is also beneficial for the body. Hamsters are also given branches of apple, pear, and birch trees.

We discussed a complete list of foods that can be given to a hamster in the article What does a hamster eat.

Communication

• Hamsters are very active and sociable pets. They quickly get used to humans and are easy to tame. It is important to avoid long breaks when in contact with a hamster. Because the rodent also quickly loses the habit and has to be tamed again.
• Contact with the hamster should be established gradually. It is not recommended to disturb the hamster during the first days in the house. During the first week, he needs to be given time to settle into the new territory and get used to the person, his smell and voice.
• It is worth considering that the hamster is a nocturnal animal. Under no circumstances should he be woken up during the day. Also, when communicating, you should not make loud sounds, make noise, shout or make sudden movements.
• You should handle your hamster with extreme caution. Taking him from the back is highly discouraged, as this causes him to associate it with an attack by a predator. You need to place your palm and wait for the hamster to climb onto it.
• It's worth being careful. Do not squeeze it too tightly in your hands, and also make sure that it does not slip out of your hands. Hamsters can be injured if they fall from a height.
• Hamsters are very clean. There is no need to wash them unless they are soiled with feces. If you still need to bathe your hamster, you need to make sure that water does not get into the eyes, ears and nose. After bathing procedures, you cannot blow dry your hamster!

Hamsters at home live on average 2-3 years. They are very timid and often exposed to stress. If you follow simple rules for caring for and keeping hamsters at home, they will delight you throughout their lives.

Diseases

In general, such an animal is in good health. With proper care, your pet will feel good.

An animal may become ill if:

• does not eat properly;
• sleeps on damp bedding;
• there are sharp objects in the cage;
• the humidity in the room is too high or low;
• it lacks movement.

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A healthy rodent has a dry nose, thick silky fur, a clean anus and eyes.

What are the most common diseases of Syrian hamsters? Now we list them:

• colds (sneezing, nasal discharge, chills);
• pneumonia;
• clogged or damaged cheek pouches;
• diarrhea;
• skin diseases;
• conjunctivitis;
• lymphocytic choriomeningitis (the main symptom is photophobia).

Always monitor your pet's health. The first symptoms of the disease may be the following:

• loose stools,
• manifestation of aggression;
• fur loss;
• the appearance of fleas;
• formation of wounds on the skin;
• difficulty (heavy) breathing;
• the appearance of ulcers on the skin;
• slightly damp wool to the touch;
• apathetic state of the animal.

Have you noticed any alarming symptoms? Go to the vet immediately!

Ten reasons to get a hamster

Good for baby

Having an animal in the house is always a big plus in raising children. By caring for a pet, a child learns responsibility and discipline.

Easily tamed

The hamster quickly gets used to hands. But he also quickly gets used to them. Therefore, if you want your pet not to be afraid of your caresses, take it in your palms more often and hold it carefully and gently, without squeezing or hurting it. This should be very pleasant not only for you, but also for him. You can train the animal to take food from your fingers. A hamster can learn to respond to its name, crawl out of the house, and run up when called. But this is achieved only with constant “communication” with him.

The hamster is easy to care for

There are many pros and cons to getting a hamster, but this one is worth highlighting. To keep a hamster at home it is enough:

• purchase a cage with a minimum size of 30x50 cm;
• clean it at least once a week;
• water and feed two times a day good food.

Hamsters do not need to be bathed, walked, or combed. They don't get bored if their owners leave for a long time. They don't need expensive accessories and toys, shampoos and other care products.

The animal is unpretentious in food

In the wild, hamsters eat both plant and animal foods. Any pet store sells dry grain mixture. The hamster can be fed fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs, bread, milk and cottage cheese. It is allowed to offer even dry dog ​​or cat food. He needs very little food, only 10-20 g per day, so you can afford to spend money on elite food. You cannot give food from your table, especially if it is fatty, salty, spicy or fried.

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Totally positive

Every owner of a furry pet knows why hamsters are needed. For positive emotions, to lift your spirits. When a warm fluffy lump sits in the palm of your hand and trustingly looks at you with its beady black eyes or, holding a piece of carrot with its front paws, funny moves its antennae, all the troubles of the past day disappear without a trace and are forgotten. The hamster plays funny, runs around in a wheel, in a special transparent ball and amuses the whole family. He never sits still.

If the first five reasons have already convinced you to get a pet, then before purchasing we strongly recommend that you read our article on choosing the right hamster

Breeding

When getting acquainted with the pros and cons of keeping hamsters in an apartment, one cannot help but think about the relationship between the sexes. It’s interesting to watch courtship, but it’s even more interesting when offspring appear in a rodent family. This event will be the most memorable for the kids. It will be educational and useful for them to watch how tiny mom and dad take care of their offspring, how blind pink worms become fluffy and adult hamsters in just a month.

Variety in choice

Comparing the characters, habits and external signs of the many types of hamsters, a person most often chooses Djungarian and Syrian hamsters for home keeping:

• Syrian hamsters are popular hamsters up to 20 cm in size. They have a kind, calm character and are well trained. After years of being kept in captivity, the initially golden fur can now come in a wide variety of colors and lengths. Lumps in which you can’t tell where the tail is and where the muzzle is – this is a variety called Angora;
• Djungarian - nimble, small (up to 10 cm), hairy-legged, very beautiful hamsters with light fur and a dark stripe along the back;

But before you decide whether to get a Djungarian or Syrian hamster, you should also pay attention to other breeds, for example:

• Roborovsky's hamsters are the smallest (up to 5 cm) hamsters, distinguished by their protruding ears and collectivism. They love to live in friendly company and hardly smell;
• Campbell's hamsters are small (up to 10 cm) with furry legs and not a very friendly character.

They get sick a little

Compared to other pets, hamsters are not susceptible to many diseases. If their cage is not in a draft, if the animals are not shaking from the cold and are not suffocating from the heat, they will happily live their short lives without getting sick. Symptoms of illness are the same as in all animals. Timely diagnosis will help quickly cure your pet. When choosing a breed, going through all the pros and cons of Djungarian hamsters in the house, the fact that they get sick less than others can be decisive.

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Not expensive

Even the most expensive and rare breeds of these rodents are much cheaper than a British cat or a good shepherd dog. On average, the price of hamsters in our time varies from 100 to 500 rubles and depends on the breed and age of the animal. Items and accessories for its maintenance can be purchased for 1-2 thousand rubles. The only thing cheaper than a hamster are mosquitoes.

Communication skills

While in many other animals their attitude towards people depends on their character, experience, and training, the hamster loves and plays with everyone. He is trusting, quickly gets used to affection and also quickly forgets insults.

Rodent color

Special attention should be paid to the international system of distribution of rodents according to their color. With age, the color may change, as a rule, it darkens.

Types of colors:

• Golden;
• Cream;
• White;
• Smoky pearl;
• Yellow-brown;
• "Blond";
• Black;
• Dark grey.

The golden rodent always has gray small ears and black bangs. The hamster wears this coat color for about 8 months from birth. After this period, his underfur turns gray. The top hairs remain golden.

The most common color is cream. As a rule, such hamsters are long-haired. There is virtually no need for grooming for this species.

The white Syrian hamster is different from its counterparts. Their fur is snow-white and their eyes are red. The ears are small and gray. This species should not be confused with the ivory rodent. It is difficult to distinguish them, but the latter are distinguished by their dark gray eyes.

The smoky-pearl color is characteristic of the family of hamsters that live in Asia. Their fur is gray from root to tip. The underpad is beige. This is where the illusion of a pearl shade is created. These rodents eat mostly only solid food, so their color does not change over the course of their lives. Such a Syrian hamster can lighten up at home. This is due to a varied diet.

Yellow-brown rodents are the most common species found in Africa. Most of the fur has a rich honey hue. The yellow tint occupies only 30% of the total color. It was from this species that the yellow Syrian hamster was artificially bred. A distinctive feature is that these individuals retain their coat color throughout their entire existence. They eat any food except meat.

The “blond” color was developed by crossing a yellow and a white individual. These Syrian hamsters can live up to 3 years at home with proper nutrition. The coat at the roots has a light gray tint, and the upper part has a smooth transition from white to cream. The size of the Syrian hamster reaches 18 centimeters in length.

A fairly common species that lives in Eurasia is the black Syrian hamster. These individuals are distinguished by their timidity and small size. They feed exclusively on dry food. Life expectancy is from 1 to 2 years. They are not suitable for keeping in a cage. It is quite difficult to accustom such a rodent to handling. Caring for such a Syrian hamster will not be easy.

The dark gray color is characteristic of animals that have taken root in America. They are quite unpretentious. They can be kept as pets, but there is little hope that they will become tame. The underfur has a distinct black color. The top coat can vary from light to dark shades of grey. This Syrian hamster lives at home for no more than 2 years.

Method 1. Ideal habitat

1. Provide enough space. Your hamster may seem to sleep most of the time, but at dusk he becomes active and needs space to play. Provide as much space as you can! The hamster uses different parts of the cage for different activities and there should be sufficient distance between them.

So: cage dimensions: 30x30x50 cm. Bigger is better.

• Mesh cages and aquariums, plastic and glass, are also suitable. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages. A lattice cage provides more climbing space but takes longer to clean.
• Make sure that the bottom of the cage is deep enough, at least 3-5 cm, and take care of high-quality filler.

2. Make sure there are enough toys. Hamsters are active creatures who spend a lot of time having fun and playing. The wheel is necessary, but they alone cannot do it:

• Wooden twigs and other shaped toys are not only fun, they help maintain the proper shape of your teeth. The tree must be clean and safe.
• You can make toys yourself. For example, an empty cardboard box is both a play tunnel and a chew item.
• And if you fill a small box with special shavings, the hamster will happily dig around in it.
• Do not use cardboard with glue or paint residue.

3. Give the hamster a wheel. A win-win option for running and channeling energy into a peaceful direction. The wheel must be made of a smooth material, in no case from mesh! If your hamster gets stuck between the bars, it can injure its paw.

• Large wheels designed for rats are also suitable for hamsters.
• Another option that allows you to run for a long time is a special ball.
• Lure the hamster out of the cage by placing a ball at the entrance and pretending you don't care. Make sure the room is safe and there are no other animals.

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How do hamsters differ depending on the variety?

The hamster is one of the most popular pets. If you decide to get a hamster for yourself or your child, then you have to figure out which hamster to choose, what gender and age. The character of the pet depends on this, what kind of relationship there will be between you, how long the rodent will live and how difficult it will be to care for it.

Now we are interested in the varieties of hamsters: let’s figure out what their differences are and how to determine which variety is best for you.

The most popular varieties of domestic hamsters

There is a huge variety of species and subspecies of hamsters, but the most popular for home keeping are:

Each variety has its own characteristics. Animals differ from each other in temperament, size, and life expectancy. Let's look at each of them in more detail.

Dzungarian (Sungur) hamster

Dzungarian and Sungur are the names of the same hamster, but in everyday life it is simply called “Djungarik”. This rodent grows up to 10 cm and is considered one of the smallest among domestic hamsters. Weight – up to 50 grams. Djungarians have a very short life expectancy: only 1.5-2 years. Only a select few live to be 3 years old. The legs of the dwarf are covered with hair, the fur on the back is dark, and on the tummy it is light. A characteristic external feature of this variety is a dark thin stripe along the back.

For small children, dzhungarikas are not the best choice, because they are very small, fragile and mobile creatures. It will be difficult for the child to hold the nimble baby in his hands, and the hamster will run away. By nature, dzhungarikas are very shy and secretive creatures. They need to be taught to handle from a very early age, otherwise an adult may even behave aggressively.

A rodent accustomed to humans will be very affectionate and friendly. Some dzhungarikas happily sit in the owner's arms and even fall asleep on them.

Djungarians do not get along with other representatives of the hamster family or do so reluctantly. This animal is kept mostly alone in a cage.

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The diet of the dzhungarik should consist only of permitted and healthy foods, otherwise the animal will get sick and die prematurely.

Syrian hamster

Quite a large variety among domestic hamsters. Individuals reach a length of 15-20 cm and live 2-3 years. In good conditions they can live up to 4 years.

Unlike dwarf hamsters, Syrian hamsters are more suitable as a pet for children. They are large and easier to hold in your hands.

Being Syrian has several advantages:

they live longer than other hamsters. At the same time, they do not require special and complex care;

You can choose a Syrian hamster by color and coat length. The coat color is most often red, but can be yellowish or peach. But as a result of selection, other colors were obtained. The Angora hamster is a long-haired variety of the Syrian. You can choose it if you want a fluffier pet, but you will have to take care of the fur so that your pet looks neat;

Syrian hamsters easily make contact with people, quickly get used to being handled and know their owner. Even after separation, the Syrian will not forget his person and will be very glad to meet him.

There is only one downside to Syrian hamsters - their large size, which is why you will have to buy a spacious cage. Syrians need a lot of loopholes, tunnels, wheels, because this species is very active and mobile. They are kept alone, because... The Syrian can conflict with other hamsters.

The peculiarity of the Syrians is 4 toes on the front paws and 5 toes on the hind paws.

Roborovsky's hamster

This variety is the only one among domestic hamsters that can be kept in groups. But it is better not to house individuals of different sexes together to avoid conflicts.

Robokovsky's hamsters are the smallest, even smaller than dwarf hamsters. Their dimensions do not exceed 5 cm in length. Life expectancy is up to 2 years. The cost of a hamster is high due to the fact that representatives of this species reproduce poorly and are not as common as others.

Life expectancy is almost the same as that of Syrians - 4 years with quality care. But by nature they are more independent and willful than Syrian hamsters.

If it is important for you to touch, stroke and hold your pet, then the Robokovsky hamster is unlikely to become the pet of your dreams. It is very difficult to accustom him to handling, he behaves separately. The best thing you can do is observe the lives of your tiny pets from the outside.

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Campbell's hamster

These hamsters reach a length of 8 cm and live on average 2 years. Campbell's hamsters look like dwarf hamsters, but they have several distinctive features:

the color of the fur coat has a golden tint, while the Djungarians have darker fur;

if you look at the rodent from above, the dwarf hamster has an oval shape, and the Campbell's hamster has a figure eight shape;

Campbell's hamster also has a dark stripe along its spine, but it is not as pronounced as that of the dwarf hamster.

Like the Robokosky hamster, the Campbell's hamster is very rare and almost impossible to find in pet stores. Mostly they are bought from breeders. But even from them you shouldn’t thoughtlessly buy an animal. It is first important to make sure that the fluffy is not wild and is used to being handled, otherwise an aggressive pet will bring you nothing but disappointment.

Common or forest hamster (karbysh)

If you contact sellers in pet stores and ask them about the availability of an ordinary hamster, they are unlikely to understand you and will offer you any other variety. It is worth considering that the common or forest hamster (aka carbysh) is a wild rodent and pest that destroys crops and harms crops.

It is not recommended for home keeping. But many people don’t care about this, and they get a forest dweller at home. Despite its aggressiveness and love of freedom, the karbysh can still get used to a person, but only to one, whom it will consider its master. A wild hamster will be indifferent at best to other family members.

Among hamsters, the karbysh is a real giant: 20-35 cm in length, including a tail about 8 cm long. The ordinary hamster is not only a giant, it is also a long-liver: in the wild it can live up to 4 years, and in good conditions - up to 6 years. Karbysh is loved for his beautiful tricolor color and active behavior, which is interesting to watch from the outside.

An ordinary hamster needs to be kept alone; it will not get along with other rodents. You can’t keep a carbysh for children: this rodent is not human-oriented. The animal needs a special approach and careful handling, otherwise it will not seem small.

These were the most popular hamsters. Be sure to take into account the temperament and living conditions of the variety you have chosen so that the animal lives a happy life and brings you only positive emotions.

Angora hamster - reviews about the breed

• + Leave a review

Oksana
12/24/2021 at 00:22

Answer

In the photo is the twin of our Stepashka... He had a peach color. When he left the house, he began stretching exercises, and then grabbed the bars of the cage and sighed like a person... He lived for about 6 years... in a pet store where we bought a balanced one for him food for hamsters always asks again for Stepashka, whom you bought from us???? You probably don’t have small children, sharp sounds, and he doesn’t communicate with his relatives... there is no stress and a survival environment.... Oddly enough, but his everyone loved it... My elderly mother brought an apple that she had bought for him personally. I cut it finely, placed it on her palm and sat Stepashka down. While he was compacting the whole apple by his cheeks, my mother closed her eyes and said that warmth was coming from him, he was sharing with its energy... and it seemed to me that it was an equal exchange. 6 years/' is the period when you get used to and become attached to your loved one... we all cried when he died... his son buried him in a box, and we couldn’t have any more... . after 6 years, he and his wife picked up a street kitten, which grew into a beautiful and pampered cat... everyone loves her, but respects her personal space... but when I see a picture with an Angora hamster, I always remember our warm Stepashka...

Leave a review Reset

oksi74

https://irecommend.ru/content/pushistoe-schaste-1

Advantages:

• funny
• funny habits
• beautiful animals
• easy care

Flaws:

• get sick often in old age
• bite

Baby Edgar appeared in our house almost by accident. A friend brought him to his daughter and said that over time he would grow up and turn into a plump and beautiful hamster. Several months passed, but the hamster remained not very big, not very squeaky, and became fluffy. The advantage of this breed, as it turned out later, our Edgar was an Angora hamster, is that they do not require a large cage and can be kept in a small one, but they require special care. First of all, you need to constantly monitor the litter to keep it clean. But woe to you if he runs away. We were looking for ours as a family. In addition, they bite if they are not taught to handle from childhood. You can buy a hamster in specialized pet stores. The food you need is the most common one, intended for rodents. In addition, all grain waste will do.

Piers

https://irecommend.ru/content/shikarno-i-veselo

Advantages:

• funny habits
• beautiful animals
• you can leave one for 2-3 days
• positive emotions from observation and communication
• easy care

Angora hamsters attracted me with their fluffy and very unusual fur, I thought they were called rosette hamsters, they are a fluffy breed. I love these hamsters and their fur so much. You take them on your boat and stroke their sides, we have three of them, it’s so cool to watch how they spread their legs they sleep on their backs, and when it’s cold days they sleep side by side in the shavings or carry mountains of carrots and buckwheat up the stairs into the house), and how funny they are, dangling in the shavings, not biting, tame, such cute potbellies, we have red ones with a white side - Kosechka, Manyasha and Shushu. They have wonderful eyes, not red, but blue beads! They don’t really like clean bedding because their smells disappear, but I quickly put down fresh food and the most joyful moments are when they wrap themselves in shavings and sleep.

Tintur

https://irecommend.ru/content/shumnaya-vonyuchka

Advantages:

• omnivores

Flaws:

• may bite
• strong smell
• noisy

Having an animal at home is a big responsibility. You need to be prepared for the fact that you will have to not only care for the animal, but also take into account its interests. My five-year-old son begged me for an Angora hamster; since the child is small, I understood that caring for him would be entirely my responsibility. I must say right away that the animal is terribly smelly!!! I cleaned the cage regularly in the morning and evening, but judging by the smell, it could have been done more often. Quite boring because he sleeps during the day and comes out to play at night! Please note that the hamster is a nocturnal animal and very noisy!!!! When he leaves his house, he immediately begins to run around in a wheel quite noisily, then he eats noisily, then he begins to crawl around the cage, crawl along the bars of the cage and gnaw on the same iron bars, which creates an unbearable noise! The peaceful sleep stopped with the appearance of a hamster in our home!!! Even though I threw him twigs and special things that hamsters sharpen their teeth on, my hamster still gnawed on the iron grate!!!! You won’t be able to play with him again, because the hamster was biting hard!!!!! My son got tired of the hamster after three days, and I had to look for new owners for it, because we lived in a one-room apartment, and the animal made a lot of noise. The hamster himself grew big and fat in a short period of time. There were no problems with feeding.

Deladreningolar

Advantages:

• Beautiful
• they are interesting to watch

Flaws:

• Active at night

I would like to share my experience of purchasing and keeping an Angora hamster. Let me start by saying that I had never dealt with rodents before, but when I saw a small animal with unusual pink fur in a pet store, I couldn’t resist, and since, according to the saleswoman, one hamster would be lonely, I bought a pair. I felt all the “charm” of keeping two hamsters at home on the very first night, when it turned out that these animals are predominantly nocturnal. In character, my new pets differed from night to day: a rather affectionate male, who can be picked up and stroked without fear of being bitten, and a female with a wild disposition that cannot be tamed in any way. The next surprise for me was that these animals reproduce very quickly. Already at 1.5-2 months they become adults ready for reproduction and after a short time you have not two animals, but four or five. But despite all of the above, these are beautiful, nimble lumps that are interesting to watch especially for children, and adults too.

Oleg the Hamster

https://irecommend.ru/content/nu-eto-nash-khomyachok-pusha-tolko-ne-podstrizhennaya

Advantages:

• funny
• funny habits
• beautiful animals
• you can leave one for 2-3 days
• positive emotions from observation and communication
• smart
• clean

I wonder if he posed for the camera on purpose? It turned out very photogenic! I think that the Angora hamster is, of course, very cute, but how can he live without problems with such long fur? Here I have 3 hamsters living at home, they also all have fluffy fur and because of this they constantly have some problems: either pieces of paper stick to it, then hay, or dust from under the closet.

Belebroice

Advantages:

• No

Flaws:

• smells terrible
• bites
• squeals

Hello again!

This miracle was given to my brother for his birthday by friends. We called it Honda. On his birthday, no one understood anything, or rather, no one paid attention to the hamster, they put the cage on a shelf and then went about their business. The brother is far from small, his friends just joked that way. Of course, I was happy, I think at least it won’t be boring and my parents haven’t had any animals for a long time. But it was not there…

On the very first night our Honda screamed like crazy. There really was a squeal, you could go crazy. There were no reasons, no one touched, there was food and water. As soon as it got dark, he just screamed and that’s it.

We decided to wait out the night, but believe it or not, the next day was the same. Well, it doesn’t fit into any gates anymore, it’s so small and screams so loudly that the sound can be heard throughout the entire apartment. Moreover, this lady grabbed my hand, and it started bleeding. It was impossible to pick her up at all; for example, I put on a glove and tried to pick it up; she immediately rushes and bites the glove, hangs on it with her teeth, and by the way, can hang like that for a long time.

Plus, there is this terrible smell from them. Or maybe it’s just us who are such an asshole, but I think all rodents are like that.

So we had to return it back to the pet store, because the animal is completely misunderstood, smells terrible, screams and bites.

kicua

https://citykey.net/review/miloe-i-pushistoe-zhivotnoe-zabavnye-foto

All my childhood I dreamed of some kind of pet that I could take care of. But my parents never bought me anyone. Childhood is over, I now have my own children. I decided to get Angora hamsters, as they say, a living corner in the house so that the kids can admire them. But alas, we didn’t last long; the interest quickly faded.

If we talk about the hamsters themselves, they are, of course, very pretty, cute creatures. There is practically no harm from them. Except that to avoid a specific smell, it is necessary to wash their cage very often.

Food for them is not expensive, and the choice is not poor. Sometimes I collected it myself from what was in the kitchen, for example, millet, sunflower seeds (necessarily raw), nuts, dried fruits. They also eat cookies, which is very interesting to watch.

Accessories for the cage, sawdust, which also need to be changed quite often, everything can be easily found in specialized stores.

We loved holding the hamsters in our hands and looking at them. On the one hand, this is a fun, exciting activity. But on the other hand, you must always be on guard, since these animals are too nimble and can easily run away from you, and if this suddenly happens, then finding them later, much less catching them, is not an easy task.

Well, the most negative point, which depressed us very much and because of which we subsequently changed our minds about keeping hamsters, is their high fertility. Every two to three weeks they have new babies. Those, in turn, grow quickly. We had to advertise in newspapers and even post them in stores so that the animals would be quickly taken apart. To be honest, this really exhausted us, we gave away all the hamsters and decided not to deal with them anymore.

Agaihirrown

Advantages:

• Neat
• silent
• fluffy ball
• hamstering everything

Flaws:

• Runs away

In 2011 I bought this beauty for my son. The hamster was named Khabibi, but during the process of “exploitation” they called whatever came into their heads: Khomka, Manya, Fluffy, Musya, Khryamzya... She was not offended. The harmless and cute animal brought joy from the heart.

She hamstered - that's it! There was only a crackling sound behind the ears. Of course, we bought specialized food, but whenever possible, Khoma ate everything that was in bad shape. She drank her cheeks perfectly. Simply extraordinary beauty.

The beauty turned out to be surprisingly clean. There is no smell from it. She hid supplies exclusively in the house. I did wet work exclusively under the wheel.

She was equipped with a noble home. All in all. And a house and a wheel, and a sippy cup, and a feeding trough, and a ladder.

The baptism of fire with the cat was also successful. In offended feelings, the cat left the bathroom under the owner’s words: “You can’t!” »

Khoma lived in dry sawdust. At night I regularly turned the wheel. I slept during the day. I woke up around 7 pm. She was silent, like a partisan.

She made us happy for a year and a half. And then she managed to open the cage with her nose and escape, traitor.

I still feel sorry for her. The whole family was attached.

Lisik

https://otzovik.com/review_486073.html

Advantages:

• They are not here

Flaws:

• Bites
• stinks
• litters
• sleeps during the day

I love everything furry and furry, and I bought this beauty for my son... My joy knew no bounds, but... We came across a strange hamster. It bites, bites hard, and you can only handle it with gloves!

It will be worse than a dog. Terrible hamster, I'm very unhappy with him. I want to go to the pet store.

Not only does he bite, he also saws the cage at night, scatters food, sawdust and other nasty things...

The question arises: why is this hamster needed if it sleeps all day and makes noise and bites at night?

Maybe I came across such an idiot, but I don’t want any more hamsters(

SvetLana01OgureC

https://otzovik.com/review_788024.html

Advantages:

• eat almost everything
• quickly get used to your hands
• fluffy

Flaws:

• make noise at night
• throwing food around

I want to tell you about our new pets. These are Angora hamsters - wonderful fluffy creatures, they were brought to us by a cousin who breeds these hamsters.

By their nature, like all hamsters, they lead an active nocturnal lifestyle, but they are also awake during the day. They prefer fresh vegetables and fruits for food, but they don’t refuse special food either; sometimes my daughter doesn’t finish her mashed potatoes or porridge, I feed the leftovers to the hamsters, they are very happy with this food)

These hamsters are twice as large as dwarf hamsters, so they need a large cage, I hope to get one soon.

Initially, we had a hamster and a female hamster - peach and snow, they began to multiply and eat their offspring themselves, this was not pleasant, either they were sick, or the male had to be relocated, I don’t even know. After the next breeding, there were 4 hamsters left who are still living, but one night the peach ran away, they forgot to close the cage, they never found him, after that she died, probably from melancholy.

So, four hamsters stayed with us and one hamster, brought instead of a peach, was called Homa, and 3 hamsters were white and the red one was again a peach. So this new homa turned out to be very rowdy, he constantly scattered food in his feeder, the whole room was strewn with grains, but he really loves to be held. Hamsters do not bite, are friendly, quickly get used to being handled, and are very interesting to watch.

Still, I recommend getting one if you dream of hamsters, but still just one, since they breed once a month.

Wantians

Advantages:

• Kind
• funny
• affectionate
• not expensive
• active
• makes me laugh all day.

Flaws:

• No!

We lived with two rats. But one day we decided to get ourselves a hamster. We knew that the main thing is not to buy Dzungarian! Our relatives bought it from us and never trained it! He was angry and twitchy. It wasn’t something I could handle. We came to the pet store, and there were rats and gerbils, guinea pigs, degus, rabbits, a parrot, fish, etc. And there were about 20-30 hamsters! We just started choosing! We bought a brown one with black spots. Cost only 100 rubles. At home he was immediately picked up! He became affectionate and good-natured! Sometimes we put you on your head! Funny! He doesn’t leave the drum or the house all day! Sometimes the drum gets so full that it’s all wet! I have to take the drum away at night! The hamster is very cheerful and affectionate! Perfect for anyone with children! Make yourself little friends! Good luck to you and your animals!