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"With those small stout bodies, short tails, and
cheek pouches, hamsters have that made-for-Disney look." Sarah Montague
LIFE SPAN: Hamsters live 3-5 years. Syrian Gold hamsters have the longest life span. With proper care Shorthaired,
longhaired, European, and Siberian Dwarf hamsters live 2-3 years. The black bear and Teddy bear hamsters
live 3+ years.
ACTIVITY LEVEL: Hamsters are nocturnal (sleeping during the day and active at night).
They are by nature wanderers.
Hamsters are predominately
a prey species feeding primarily on seeds, fruits, and greens. However they will eat burying insects
if the opportunity presents itself. They experience cats and dogs as stressful. Frightened hamsters will flop on
their backs and play dead.
SOCIAL PATTERNS: Adult hamsters tend to be solitary. Often they cannot
be housed together, especially Syrian hamstrs. Siberian hamsters of the same gender often
can be housed together if given enough space.
NORMAL PHYSIOLOGICAL & BEHAVIORAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Hamsters are a digging and burrowing species. Like all rodents, they must gnaw on objects to keep their teeth from growing
too long so they must be supplied with things to chew. All wooden objects given to hamsters must be untreated.
Hamsters taste things to identify them. They also scent mark
their territories. They make no detectable odor to humans.
Their diet includes pelleted food (chows), mixed seeds, grain, hay,
and the occasional captured insect, about 1-2 tablespoons per day. Hamsters are corpophagic (re-ingest their food).
They do not like to leave their food in a dish, preferring instead to push it out and stash it somewhere, usually near their
bed. They will also dump it into their water dish necessitating changing their water several times per day. If
using a water bottle, hamsters should drink from a standing position. Position the water bottle accordingly.
Living quarters must be large enough to accommodate a small litter pan
(do not use clumping or cedar based litter), a small area for hoarding their food, an exercise wheel, a sleeping area, a hidey
hole for privacy (an upside down tissue box with a hole cut into it will do). A hamster must be able to turn around
in whatever is set up for him or her. They can't seem to figure out backing up and will keep going forward. This
can result in injury or death for the hamster. The bedding should be changed twice a week, the substrate every 1-2 weeks.
Avoid dampness and poor air circulation.
A hamster can be free roaming in a hamster-proofed house. Hamster
sized holes (size of a quarter) must be plugged, cords covered with PVC tubing, paper and wood items removed, no cats
or dogs.
Hamsters are prolific breeders. They can begin breeding at 45 days
to two months of age. Their gestation period is 16-20 days and their litter size is about 7-12.
Adult hamsters tend to fight with one another. Some are able
to live in same sex groupings. Groupings of females are usually more harmonious than groupings of males. Hamsters
can be quite happy living alone. Both males and females make good companion animals.
SPAY/NEUTER INFO: becoming more common.
MOST COMMON PROBLEMS: The Dwarf White Russian hamster is the breed most likely to cause allergic
reactions in humans. Among rodents, the hamster is the one most likely to bite. They will scatter their litter
when bored. An escaped hamster is unlikely to return to his/her cage. They are susceptible to colds, mites, and
lice.
VET CARE: Hamsters require the services of a veterinarian trained in exotics.
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