There are also advantages for the family as a whole. Children can checkoff when they complete each pet care. In 1950 the care and breeding of laboratory animals contained a chapter on syrian hamster care with recommendations about cage size, handling hamsters, hamster diet, cleaning hamsters, and hamster breeding. Our hamster care sheet is a guide for proper housing and feeding for your small pet. Hamsters are nocturnal creatures, which means that they like to sleep all day. As you can imagine, it isnt as easy to care for a hamster as it looked as a kid.
They are more social than syrian golden hamsters and. Syrian hamsters are popular with novice hamster owners, and younger children, as they tend to be easier to handle and tame. The name hamster comes from the german word for hoard, a reference to their habit of storing huge amounts of food in their cheek pouches. The name hamster comes from the german word for hoard, a reference to their habit of storing huge amounts of food in their. Position the cage somewhere quiet to prevent your hamster from feeling stressed. A hamsters lifespan is around 1,000 days or two to three years. When you purchase your syrian hamster at the pet store, it will most likely be caged in a group. Hamster care sheet what do i need for my pet hamster. Also be sure to check out some of the other videos on erins channel for. Owning a hamster requires that a child take on specific responsibilities. Overview the syrian hamster is a mainstay of the companion animal world.
This care sheet will guide you in having everything you need. Hamster care sheet as with any pet, keeping a hamster requires a commitment to care for it during its life which could be 23 years or longer. Todays domestic syrians are believed to be descended from a mother. They have a few other names such as teddy bear hamster and golden hamster. Unlike their larger, syrian cousins, dwarf hamsters are happiest living in groups of two or more. Syrian hamster syrian hamsters like their space, but they can be very territorial. Syrian hamsters must live alone or they will fight, sometimes even to the death. Dwarf hamsters make good household pets as they are small, cute and easy to care for. They are much larger than dwarf and chinese hamsters and are the most commonly seen type of hamster. Before deciding on taking home a syrian hamster, it is important to know their needs and the commitment they are and to think twice ensuring.
Syrian hamsters come in several color variations and go by different names, such as goldens, panda, and teddy bears. Their natural geographical range is limited to arid areas of northern syria and southern turkey. Looking after a hamster syrian hamster advice blue cross. If caged with another, they will fight to the point of injury and sometimes death. Dwarf hamsters can live in pairs if they are raised together. Hamster care guide tips from home to health to food and fun. The female syrian hamster is typically larger than the male. The most common pet hamster is the sixinch syrian, also known as the golden hamster or teddy bear hamster. The cheek pouches of the fancy hamster are used to hoard food for later. Their natural geographical range is limited to arid areas. I try to put out new videos every week so make sure to subscribe so you never miss a video.
There are some different recommendations for what cage size is. Syrian also nicknamed the teddy bear, golden, black bear, common, etc. Hamsters range in size from the dwarf roborovski at 3 inches to the large syrian also known as fancy or teddy bear at 7 inches. Syrian hamsters have rapidly become very popular household pets in the western world ever since professor. Originally the syrian hamster was discovered by 1839 in syria hence the name. This larger type of hamster is one that is suitable for children because they are easier. That is, of course, because your parents likely took care of your hamster.
Dwarf hamster care sheet because we care 1250 upper front street, binghamton, ny 901 6077232666 congratulations on your new pet. Hamsters are adorable, and if you had one as a kid, you probably remember them being easy pets to care for. However, certain breeds of hamsters require specific enclosures, tailored nutritional considerations, and delicate handling to truly flourish. Once a week, you should change all of the bedding and clean the cage with soap and hot water.
Hamster care guide pet ownership has many benefits for children, from teaching them responsibility, to developing language skills and providing support in times of stress. How to keep a roborovski dwarf hamster robo hamster care. Syrians are the most common species of hamster kept as pets and were the first hamsters to be domesticated and introduced into the pet market. Now that you have decided on a pet hamster you should have all the supplies necessary before bringing your pet home. They have gained popularity as pets and research animals since the 1930s. Hamsters have large eyes and a retina dominated by rods the part of the eye that can function in less intense light. Today we are going to look at a russian dwarf hamster care sheet russian dwarf hamsters are becoming more popular as pets around the world because they are easy. The giant hamster gets to be 812 inches long, the middle sized hamster, which is the most common hamster found in pet stores, is 56 inches golden hamsters are in this group, including the syrian golden hamster, and the dwarf hamster is only 24 inches long. Have scent glands used for marking territory and in mating.
Today we are going to look at a russian dwarf hamster care sheet russian dwarf hamsters are becoming more popular as pets around the world because they are easy to maintain, care for and inexpensive to keep. When buying, adopting or owning a new dwarf hamster, it helps knowing what you will need. How to take care of a hamster for beginners hamster care sheet. Other species, such as the russian dwarf, naturally live in groups. In the wild, syrian hamster adults generally inhabit lone burrows. Hairless hamsters benefit from a small amount of nontoxic aloebased lotion rubbed into their skin to keep it soft. Hamster care sheet because we care 1250 upper front street, binghamton, ny 901 6077232666 congratulations on your new pet. Syrian hamsters are great family pets and are very easy to handle when they are properly handled. Syrian hamster care advice and tips on caring for syrian. Sprinkle in a few shavings from your hamster s old habitat and your new friend will feel at home right away. Once a week, you should change all of the bedding and clean the cage with soap and. The word hamster originates from the german word hamstern, which means hoarder. Our pet care charts for hamsters are a great tool to ensure that your kids remember to do their part.
Mesocricetus auratus syrian or dwarf dwarfs grow up to 4 inches syrians grow up to 7. The golden hamster is native to the dry, hot deserts of syria. It is cared for in the same way as other hamsters and is a popular pet for children. Shorthaired and longhaired teddy bear hamsters are clean and captivating companion animals that are best kept individually. They are commonly known as a nocturnal animal however they are actually a crepuscular animal this means they are mostly active in the twilight hours. The commitment required includes not only routine feeding, care and time spent with the hamster but also the provision of veterinary treatment if the hamster becomes ill which can be costly. As an adult the average size of a syrian hamster is 5. This is because these hamsters are young, and not quite to the mature point, but soon will be. Robo hamster care guide how to keep a dwarf hamster. Dwarf species such as the siberian, roborovskys djungarian, and chinese are smaller than syrians, at. A syrian hamster has a general lifespan of 2 to 2 and a half years. This enables them to carry food back to their nest from far and wide. I hope to include a pdf version of this in the future.
Keep your syrian hamster in a solidbottom wire cage or aquarium with a wire mesh top 10 gallon minimum. The 1947 first edition of the ufaw handbook contained a chapter on the care of syrian hamsters. How to take care of a hamster for beginners hamster care. As you can imagine, it isnt as easy to care for a hamster as it looked as a kid, but once you get into a groove, you may find that it isnt all that hard either. The giant hamster gets to be 812 inches long, the middle sized hamster, which is the most common hamster found in pet stores, is 56 inches golden hamsters are in this group, including the syrian golden hamster, and the dwarf hamster is only 24 inches. Hamster care guide care sheet how to take care of hamsters. If you need additional information, refer to the sources section or contact your veterinarian as appropriate. There are 24 species of hamster, but only a few of these are kept as pets. Todays pet or laboratory hamster, known as the syrian hamster, was bred from a small group of hamsters removed from a burrow near syria in 1930 as well as 11 more collected in 1971 and three in 1978. Due to technical difficulties it will have to wait until future time. The shorthaired or golden hamster is the wild type.
Hamsters are often a childs first pet and assumed to be reasonably easy to look after. Hamster various species while hamster is a broad term for many species of rodent, most of what youll find available in the pet trade come from only a handful species native to locales across asia. The lifespan of a golden hamster is about 23 years. That is, the form that most closely resembles the animal mesocricetus auratus in nature it has been domesticated from. Hamsters are short, stocky rodents with an abundance of loose skin. Syrian hamster 101 breed info and care sheet with images. This larger type of hamster is one that is suitable for children because they are easier to handle and are less jumpy than the dwarf sized hamsters. They sleep during the day and become active in the evening, ideal for many family schedules. A fancy hamster is a shorthaired version of the popular syrian hamster.
The golden or syrian hamster mesocricetus auratus is a rodent belonging to the hamster subfamily, cricetinae. This hamster care sheet will guide you in having everything you need. There are many different colours and textures of hamster coat. A mother with a litter of babies was brought to jerusalem for study in 1930, and most if not all syrian hamsters available for sale today are descendants of that mother and her babies. There are several kinds of hamsters and most live for about 23 years. Sep 06, 2019 to care for syrian hamsters, start by setting up a roomy cage with bedding made of shredded paper, an exercise wheel, and other accessories. To care for syrian hamsters, start by setting up a roomy cage with bedding made of shredded paper, an exercise wheel, and other accessories. Habitat you will need a cage or aquarium that is at least 15 inches long by 12 inches high for one hamster or two dwarf hamsters. The average lifespan for a syrian hamster is 2 to 2. It will need to 12 ounce of food daily 1015g it will consume 6 tablespoons 30ml of water per day. They are great pets for young children and are preferable to dwarf species as. It is sometimes difficult to introduce new dwarf hamsters to each other, so it is best to purchase them at the same time from the same cage at the pet store. Syrian hamsters should never be kept in pairs or groups once mature.
Most commonly you will find djungarian or roborowski hamsters available. Do not house male and female dwarf hamsters together, as hamsters breed quicklyand often with large litters. In this guide we are going to cover everything about the syrian hamster including its many cute looks, how to properly care for it. Syrian hamsters must live on their own as they are territorial mammals and will start to fight with each other once they have reached maturity, which is between 8 and 12 weeks. Syrian also nicknamed the teddy bear, golden, black bear. Taking care of a roborovski hamster is pretty simple and follows the same steps as usual hamster care. The syrian hamster is a mainstay of the companion animal world. Remember, hamsters are chewers, wanderers, and burrowers so choose the home accordingly. Guide to caring for syrian hamsters natural world pets.
Nov 27, 2018 it will need to 12 ounce of food daily 1015g it will consume 6 tablespoons 30ml of water per day. Syrian hamster care includes all the actions which a person might take to promote animal welfare in the syrian hamster when it lives with humans either as a pet or laboratory animal. Hamsters make suitable pets for older children, providing they are taught the responsibilities of their petis routine for cleaning, feeding, and care. The information on this care sheet is not a substitute for veterinary care. Several cages may look cool but arent very functional and are extremely difficult to clean. Hamsters stay clean and rarely need baths, but can be spotcleaned with a damp washcloth or unscented baby wipes if needed. Bedding or substrate for the bottom of the cage where your pet can burrow and hide. The average lifespan of a syrian hamster is approximately two years. Also, feed your hamster a commercial hamster food and be sure to provide access to fresh water at all times. The syrian hamster is the largest type of hamster that you can buy as a pet. Youll need to provide a suitable cage with enough room for exploration as well as a good diet, toys, safe bedding and plenty of things to do. Larger than dwarf hamsters, the syrian hamster also known as the golden or teddy bear hamster is a small rodent belonging to the cricetinae family. Background information on hamsters hamsters are peculiar little rodents with large cheek pouches and short stubby tails. Choose a habitat with a solid bottom or go for a glass aquarium tank with a wellventilated wire mesh top.
Also be sure to purchase groups of the same sex, as dwarf hamsters reproduce readily. Syrian hamster care essentials erinsanimals this is a great and informative video covering most of the essential basics of caring for your syrian hamster. Kids pet care charts caring for a hamster kid pointz. Most hamsters, including syrian hamsters, are solitary and must be kept alone. Aspcas hamster care sheet recommends a minimum of 2 inches of bedding, and to provide toilet paper or tissue for nesting. Their numbers have been declining in the wild due to a loss of habitat from agriculture and deliberate elimination by humans.
And amongst hamsters, the syrian hamster is the most popular breed to a large part because of its teddy bear appearence. The syrian hamster also known as the golden hamster is the species of hamster most commonly found in pet stores. Line the habitat with 1 to 2 inches of aspen, pine or recycledpaper. Syrian hamster care, facts, colors, life span shorthair. Todays pet or laboratory hamster, known as the syrian hamster, was bred from a small group of hamsters removed from a burrow near syria in 1930 as well as 11 more collected in. With their differing personalities and quirky ways, syrian hamsters can be a wonderful choice of pet and are easy to care for once you know their needs. Hamster information and care recommendations medvet. All syrian hamsters living in captivity today are descendants of a single female and her twelve babies, captured in syria in 1930.
1622 925 902 1151 233 1323 406 286 606 1174 1560 718 30 1220 372 1390 1565 480 287 1400 326 454 485 578 1042 1287 1277 262 755 529 1321 1269