The history of the origin of hamsters. Everything you need to know about hamsters Home Hamster Report
Each pet store has a spacious cage with different types of hamsters to choose from. Thanks to their simple care and maintenance, small rodents are a very popular type of pet. But few people know that they just recently came to our house from the wild. Some of their varieties still live only in natural conditions. For example, an ordinary hamster.
Common Hamster Habitat
An ordinary hamster chooses places with sufficient food for settlement: steppes, forest-steppes, meadow meadows and even the foothills of mountainous areas (up to 1000 m above sea level). Especially the rodent loves the proximity to man and cultural plantings, often causing serious harm to agriculture.
The habitat area of \u200b\u200bthis species of hamsters is quite extensive. It can be found in the Urals, Altai, in the southern Black Sea regions, Krasnoyarsk and on the border with China. Outside Russia, it is distributed in the Kazakh steppes and in European countries right up to the border of Belgium and France. In general, the populations of the common hamster are quite extensive, but in some regions of Russia it is listed in the Red Book as an endangered species. In European countries, this individual is also protected, largely due to its unusual color and high popularity in the fur trade.
External features of an ordinary hamster
This rodent is one of the largest representatives of this species. The length without tail reaches 30 cm; there is a cone-shaped rigid tail with short bristles 5–8 cm in size. The hamster weighs 400–700 grams.
The rest of the appearance differs little from dwarf individuals: an elongated muzzle with small round ears, soft thick wool, capacious cheek pouches, low paws with fingers and sharp claws. A distinctive feature is the color. The back of an ordinary hamster is brown-gray, the nose, muzzle and legs are white, and the abdomen and breast are black. There are clear white spots on the sides and behind the ears. It is because of the bright color that they are often the object of hunting. In the photo taken in different regions of the animal’s habitat, you can see the difference in its color depending on the place of residence. There are also completely black varieties, as well as black and white with small gray spots.
Natural habits
In the wild, single hamsters. They build long, deep multi-level burrows with several pantries for winter supplies, summer and winter nests and many entrances and exits. Rodents mark their territories and do not allow other hamsters on them. Animals unite only during the mating period on the female’s territory, after which the male quickly leaves her, as the female is quite aggressive if the “boyfriend” is delayed for too long and may attack him. The female exclusively bears and brings up cubs.
The hamster is a nocturnal inhabitant, sleeps out and hides in his mink during the day, and with the onset of twilight he goes fishing, dines plentifully, fills his cheeks with supplies for future use and transfers them to the pantry. They do not know the exact amount of supplies that will be enough for the whole winter, so he stuffs into his pantry exactly as much as he manages before the first frosts, and then goes into hibernation. On average, about 10 kilograms of various food items are stored in its “barns”. Hamster pantries were found with reserves of more than 50 kg, most likely, these were the accumulations of several years of life. It is noteworthy that the animal adds up various types of food separately. So in one hole you can find various types of grain: wheat, oats, buckwheat, corn, lupins, vegetables and root crops and roots - this is what an ordinary hamster eats in a long winter.
The rodent carefully protects its supplies from other animals and relatives, is able to enter into a fight. When annoyed, gets up on his hind legs, reveals strong teeth and prepares to jump. An ordinary hamster jumps well and runs quickly when it escapes from the enemy, but in a calm state it moves slowly. Due to its activity, it is able to live up to 8 years.
The natural diet of an ordinary hamster
An ordinary hamster is absolutely unpretentious in nutrition. Its diet depends on the habitat. The basis of the diet is cereals, herbs and roots, loves animals and root crops from the human garden. With pleasure he eats larvae of insects, lizards, frogs and even small rodents, for example, mice. The stomach is very strong and is able to digest any food.
Breeding in nature
Although an ordinary hamster is a loner, it reproduces quite quickly. Mating season lasts from April to August. The male finds the female by smell, fertilizes it and leaves the territory. The female’s pregnancy lasts a little over two weeks.
The young are born blind and naked, and by the age of two weeks they begin to become covered with wool and open their eyes. The female feeds them with milk for three weeks, then transfers to natural food. At the age of 4−5 weeks, the cubs leave the maternal nest and build their minks. Over the summer, the female is able to bring 2–3 litters of 7–12 cubs each.
Females from the first litter by the end of summer already have their offspring. Thus, under favorable conditions, the population can grow very quickly.
Common hamster at home
The price of animals in the store is low, but it is unlikely that you can find an ordinary hamster in them, so this is an unusual pet for the house. Although keeping such an animal does not cause any particular difficulties, not many will decide to take a wild animal home.
For housing you will need a large reliable cage. Due to its larger size compared to domestic individuals, it needs more space for movement. Be sure to have a wheel for running. If an ordinary hamster does not have enough movement, he will greatly recover and may become ill.
Care is to maintain cleanliness in the cell, providing proper nutrition. The hamster needs to provide enough material to equip the nest and pantry, it can be white paper, sawdust, pieces of fur. To change the litter and clean the cage, the animal must be transplanted from it into a container, since the rodent will not let outsiders into its territory and can bite it severely. The description of his life in nature tells us about his warlike character, and even domesticated animals still remain savages.
In nutrition, an ordinary hamster is completely unpretentious. At home, it is possible to feed the pet with products from the home table. But we should not forget that it is desirable to bring it closer to the natural: give more grain (homemade cereals are also suitable: buckwheat, millet, rice), root crops in raw and cooked form, boiled meat. Do not feed the hamster too spicy and spicy food, as well as sweets. Sugar is very harmful to animals, their body can not cope with the processing of a large amount of glucose.
It is not a good idea to breed an ordinary hamster at home. In nature, this beast does not live in pairs, will not tolerate this in captivity. Rodents should be kept in different cells, they can be combined only at the moment of mating and follow this process in order to isolate the male in time, until the female begins to get angry and attack him. 4-5 weeks after birth, small hamsters need to be relocated from their mother, preferably in different cells. If you leave them to live together, conflicts and fights are inevitable.
Relationship with man
Even if the hamster was born at home, he will not become a tame animal. Man for him is, above all, another beast encroaching on his territory. An ordinary hamster is not afraid of large predators and without fear will rush at anyone who will disturb him. At home, it can only become a fun subject to watch.
In the wild, an ordinary hamster is an enemy of human cultural plantings and a peddler of infections. Despite the fact that in some regions it is listed in the Red Book, in the places of its proximity with a person it is destroyed.
At home, the hamster will live 2-4 years and will delight the inhabitants with its bright color and natural spontaneity.
We have prepared a description of the hamster for children and adults, so that it would be easier for parents to introduce their kids to these interesting animals. We also recommend visiting our page dedicated to everyone.
Hamsters are popular domestic rodents that are often the very first pets in families with small children. They are easy and simple to care for, and they also love active games, which attract the attention of small owners. To learn interesting details about animals and about, read a fascinating story about hamsters for children!
Both home and di 
some rodents have a very small body. Some of them grow up to 5 cm, others up to 15 cm, and the largest species can grow up to 35 cm in length. The animals have a thin and short tail, which does not grow more than 4 or 6 cm. The legs of the hamsters are squat, that is, very short, but very strong and hardy. Most often, hamsters are owners of fluffy and soft hair, but there are separate breeds of bald rodents. The ears of the animals are small and neat, and the eyes resemble dark round beads. The fur of rodents is most often gray, brown in color on the back and snow-white on the stomach and neck.
Hamsters always make edible supplies for their cheeks, where there are special ones that hold a lot of delicious grains. Natural stamina made these pouches one of the most developed parts of the hamsters' body. For example, a large animal, which has grown to 30 cm, can fit 50 g or a whole handful of grains. Thanks to such bags, animals can carry hunted food into the mink or make supplies in their cage by dragging treats to secluded places.
In order not to confuse the hamster and the mouse, look at their cheeks, which will become the main difference between the animals. If you come across a very well-fed mouse with the same big cheeks as a hamster, then you should pay attention to size. Do not forget that the hamster will always be larger than its closest relative. The color of their fur coat will also help to distinguish animals: mice are only gray or white, and hamsters wear wool of sand, brown, gray-white or black color, which most often happens with spots.
Where and how do hamsters live?
In nature, rodents are common in many countries in Europe, South African and in the Far East. They live in the steppes, deserts and fields, building themselves deep minks. Their underground houses consist of three compartments. In one, they equip a pantry where all the mined grain is stored. In another, they rest and sleep in the winter, when the time comes for hibernation. Just during this period, hamsters never leave their home and, sometimes waking up, feast on supplies from the pantry. The last compartment is the tunnel itself, through which the hamster falls into the hole.
Every day, animals have to travel very long distances in search of food, which a person can overcome only in a two-hour journey by car. The peculiarity of an active lifestyle is also transmitted to pets who live in cozy and spacious cages. They will also make edible stocks and constantly move around the house. For a hamster to live comfortably in a cage, he will need a running wheel in which he can run a lot, keep himself fit and be healthy.
What is the character of hamsters
Domestic rodents are sociable, calm and complaisant in nature. They enjoy spending time in the company of children, but do not really like it when they are often picked up or disturbed during sleep. If you accidentally wake up a sleeping rodent, it can be very scared and, therefore, you need to communicate with animals carefully and try not to scare a small animal.
And if you meet a wild hamster, in no case do not try to catch it, stroke it, and also feed it with delicious food. The nature of rodents living in an open nature is not at all so kind and trusting, because the animals have to take care of their safety. Seeing a man, the hamster can take him for a predator who is trying to attack him, and will actively defend himself and his territory.
Hamsters, even at home, react very aggressively to an attempt to enter their house, so the rodent must live where it will be the real and only owner. If you want to have several animals at once, then you have to put them in different cells and put them away from each other. Only in this case, the pets will feel calm and delight in friendliness.
How to feed a hamster
You can treat your pet 
different grains. For example, wheat or oats. Sometimes you can feed a rodent
A domestic hamster is a small unpretentious animal that is suitable for any family. Unlike a cat or dog, a tiny rodent does not cause any trouble. He is easily tamed, allows children to play with themselves. The food of the animal is inexpensive - its content does not affect the budget. The only drawback is the short life of the hamster at home. On average, he lives 1.5-2 years, rarely lives up to 3-4 years.
View Features
Hamsters are animals from the order of rodents. They form an independent family. They are found in different regions of Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Syria, Iran. These animals are found in China, Mongolia. Their favorite habitats are steppes, semi-deserts, deserts, and forest-steppes. Often animals settle near human dwellings, in the fields. Some regions cause significant damage to agriculture.
Appearance
The size of an adult animal is small, from 5 cm to 34 cm. The tail of the hamster is short, almost imperceptible, in some species it can reach 10 cm. Coloring is most often brown or sand, often multi-colored or spotted. Black animals or albinos are rare.
An interesting feature of the animals is the presence of cheek bags. They hide food there and carry it from place to place. Some species may bag in air to swim in water.
Nutrition
Rodents in the wild feed mainly on cereals. Sometimes they diversify their diet with grass, vegetables, fruits and even insects. The wild hamster mink is a system of intricate moves with numerous cameras and warehouses. Animals sometimes store from 5-6 to 90 kg of food, a rather big mountain of grain is obtained. females and males in most cases live separately. After 2-3 months the young leave parental housing, dig their own holes or occupy old and empty ones.
Life span
Hamsters live in the wild for about 1-2 years, rarely live up to 3-4 years. Animals have many natural enemies. They are hunted by foxes, badgers, ferrets, kites, herons, crows. Competitors in the natural habitat are rats, mice, voles and other rodents.
Animals breed quite intensively: a hamster gives birth 3-4 times a year. For one offspring can lead 5-18 cubs. Already at 3 months the animals reach puberty.
Hamster breeds
Small hamsters as pets began to breed relatively recently. In the century before last, they were brought from Syria to England, decorative animals quickly gained popularity. But at the beginning of the twentieth century, it began to decline, and animals in Britain almost disappeared. The second time they were introduced in the 1920s and spread throughout Europe.
What thoroughbred hamsters exist today? At home, the following varieties are most often found:
- Syrian;
- Dzungarian;
- Ordinary;
- Sungarian;
- Robrovsky;
- Campbell
- Taylor
- Radde;
- Long-tailed;
- Chinese.
Syrian hamster
This breed is the most common, it is precisely such animals that were first brought to Europe as domestic animals. They are well tamed, unpretentious in the care and maintenance. Their body length is 13-19 cm, body weight is about 110 g. Most often they are beige and golden, but spotty colors and even black ones are found. No other breed can describe such a variety of interesting and beautiful colors. Much less often albino cubs are born. The life of Syrian hamsters is short, about 2 years. But they reproduce perfectly at home.
Dzungarian hamster
This breed is small in size, the length of an adult hamster is about 10 cm. A distinctive feature is a dark strip on the back and a triangle in the forehead. Color varies from light gray (almost white) to almost black. The character of the Dzhungar hamsters is very friendly, they are active, but quickly get used to the hands, practically do not bite. They live up to 3 years, are prone to diabetes, therefore they can not be fed with sweet fruits.
Common hamster
This species is rarely bred as a pet. The hamster lives in the steppe and forest-steppe regions of Eastern and Central Europe. It is large in size, the body has 30-34 cm, the tail is about 4 cm long. The upper part of the body is covered with red hair, the stomach is brown, there are white spots on the muzzle and breast. The ears are short, the auricles are covered with black hairs. Wild rodents can be dangerous, because they carry infectious diseases that are infectious to humans.
Sungar hamster
This hamster is dwarf, its body length is 8-10 cm. The color is gray, in winter it becomes almost white. The tail is small, almost imperceptible. The paws are covered with fluffy wool, which resembles harem pants. Sungar hamsters have pronounced cheek pouches. They are active mainly at night, and therefore often do not allow the owners to sleep. In captivity, the breed does not breed, but keeping several of these hamsters in one cage is simple: a fight between them is rare. In the wild, hamsters are found in southern Siberia and Kazakhstan.
Robrovsky
The Robrosvsky hamster is another dwarf breed, originally from the Tien Shan. The name was derived from the name of the scientist who first discovered the species in 1970. These animals are very tiny, their body length is 4-5 cm. The legs are quite long, the coat is light gray or white. Rodents are very active, can easily get along with their relatives in the same cage. They breed poorly in captivity; offspring can only be obtained in special nurseries.
Campbell
Campbell's hamster is similar to Dzhungarsky. The main difference is the bare paws and stripes on the lateral surfaces of the trunk. The color of the rodents is brown, sand or cream. This breed is poorly tamed, often bites, so it is not worth buying for children as a gift. You can not keep many of these hamsters in a cage: they arrange fights between themselves. This species belongs to loners, even male and female do not get along.
Taylor
Taylor Hamster is a miniature animal. The length of his body reaches 8 cm, and the mass is about 8 g. If you pick up such crumbs in your hands, you hardly feel any weight. The color is gray with red, the animal looks almost like a small mouse-vole, very weakly molts. These hamsters live well in pairs, the male and the female take care of the cubs together. A cage for a small animal needs to be bought very small, it will not take up little space. The disadvantage of the breed is that the pet is easily lost. Finding it in a house is almost impossible, unless using a trap.
Radde
The breed Radda is sometimes still called Dagestan or Ciscaucasia. The name comes from the places where animals live in the wild. This is a rather large rodent, its length reaches 17-28 cm. At home, the species is rarely planted: due to aggressive and evil temper, it is poorly tamed. Animals are nocturnal, therefore, they can interfere with the owners sleep. In addition, a wild animal can carry dangerous infectious diseases.
Long-tailed hamster
This is a very tiny animal, its length is about 10 cm. A distinctive feature of the breed is a 4-centimeter tail. The color of the animal is dark gray, the abdomen is white, a rim of the same color is on the ears. In appearance, the hamster is very similar to a mouse.
Chinese dwarf hamster
The Chinese miniature hamster is a small animal about 10-12 cm long and with an elongated body. His tail is small, pointed. The most common color of this breed is white-spotted. The main tone of the coat is white-brown with a dark stripe on the back and a white abdomen. This species is found in the north of China and in Mongolia. The animal is very active, requires a lot of space, in the cage for it you need to equip a tunnel, tubes, put a wheel. It is better to settle a hamster alone, he does not tolerate neighbors.
House for a hamster
The content of domestic hamsters is not a hassle. Before buying a rodent, it is necessary to equip the place where he will live. An iron cage with horizontal or vertical thick rods is best suited for this: the animal will immediately gnaw the tree. The plastic hamster will also try to nibble, as a result of which it can poison and die. Only a special solid plastic material suitable for rodents is suitable, which they can not bite with their teeth.
The size of the cage for keeping a large hamster should be 0.4 × 0.6 cm, for a dwarf one, 0.5 × 0.3 cm is enough. Sawdust mixed with shavings is best suited as a litter. Sand can be poured into a separate container so that rodents arrange dry baths for themselves. You can’t put newspapers or paper into the cage: the hamster will gnaw at them, which will damage his health. The house needs to be divided into several zones:
- A place to stay or a crib. Here you can put a small house or put a little more hay, the animal will make a bedroom for himself. A place to rest is equipped in a dark corner of the cage.
- Restroom. It is best to track where the pet goes to the toilet, put a small tray there, pour a thick layer of sawdust or sand.
- Canteen. This place should be located away from the toilet, here they put a drinking bowl, 1 or 2 feeders. It is important to monitor the cleanliness of dishes for water and feed, wash them regularly and change supplies.
- Pantry. All hamsters love to stockpile. They will not start eating until they put it back a little in their pantry. The rodent will choose a place for storage for himself. After cleaning the cage, supplies must be returned there so that the pet does not get nervous and does not think: “Who took my favorite good.” If you clean the pantry completely, the animals change its place.
- Game Zone. Hamsters are very active animals, they need to move a lot, because they put additional equipment in a cage: a wheel, a ladder. If there is a lot of space, you can buy a special labyrinth for rodents, on which they can crawl.
To keep the cell clean, it should be cleaned once a week. It is advisable to clean the toilet seat daily, then there will not be an unpleasant smell in the apartment. Once a month, the hamster’s home is disinfected. In addition to the cage, you can buy a special carrying container for rodents. It is convenient to transport the animal in it, carry it to the veterinarian. During the cleaning of the house it can be transplanted there for a while.
Diet rules
The basis of the hamster's diet should be cereals. It is best to give ready-made mixes for rodents purchased at a pet store. If this is not possible, the animal should be fed oatmeal, buckwheat, crackers. You can add pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, walnuts to the menu, but these products should not be basic. It is imperative to observe whether hamsters love certain foods. Tastes in animals can be very different.
Be sure to include in the diet for the hamster juicy feed: grass, vegetables and fruits. Of the herbs, clover, yarrow, plantain, and dandelion are best suited. From vegetables - pumpkin, carrot, potato in small quantities. Of fruits - an apple, a pear without seeds. Sometimes you can treat your pet with berries. It is undesirable to give him beets, white cabbage, plums: from such products an upset stomach can occur. The debatable question is whether it is possible to feed the animal with cucumbers, zucchini, watermelons. Many say that these vegetables and fruits are harmful to this type of rodent, therefore it is better not to experiment. Onions, garlic, citrus fruits are contraindicated in animals.
It is also necessary to include protein food in the hamster's menu. Especially great need for proteins in pregnant and lactating females. 1-2 times a week give cottage cheese, low-fat chicken meat, kefir, sour milk. In addition, the pet should be given fish oil, vitamins A, E and D. They are added to food 2-3 times a week. Buying vitamins is better at a veterinary pharmacy or specialty store. The rodent does not interfere with the mineral or salt stone in the cage.
There is a myth that hamsters do not drink water. This is not true, the rodents need little fluid, but there must always be fresh water in the cage. A pet needs to drink about 50 ml of fluid per day. It is best to equip an automatic drinker so that it does not contaminate a regular bowl with sawdust. The dishes should be iron or ceramic, so that the rodent does not eat it.
It’s good to put tree branches in the cage. It will not only be a healthy treat. In rodents, the incisors grow all their lives, they must grind them from time to time. Wood is best suited for this. The animal also sharpens claws on a tree. If the claws grow too long, they can be trimmed.
How to choose a hamster
When everything is ready for your pet, you have decided which pedigree hamsters will live with you, it's time to go pick it in a pet store. In order for the animal to live at your place for a long time, you need to choose it correctly. First think about whether you will buy a male or female. Males are more active, tolerate loneliness perfectly, but can be a little aggressive. The females are calmer, but they may behave inadequately during estrus, and it happens often. To distinguish between a male and a female, it is necessary to look at the animal under the tail. The distance between the genitals and the anus in the male is approximately 1-1.5 cm, in the female - 3 mm.
As for the breed, it is best for beginners to choose a Syrian hamster. He is well adapted to life at home, unpretentious and quite tenacious. If you want to keep several animals in the same cage, the Rombowsky hamster or Taylor is perfect for you. It is more difficult to tame the Dzungar breed, therefore children are not advised to buy it.
When choosing a hamster, you must make sure that he is healthy. The hair of the animal should shine, be clean and soft. The eyes of a healthy hamster also shine like a bead, there are no wires on it, no secretions in the corners. During the day, hamsters often sleep, but the animal becomes active, begins to run around the cage, if woken up, it eats well. Signs of hamster disease may include:
- Panting, shortness of breath
- Wet, shredded wool
- Apathy or vice versa, causeless aggression
- Bald patches and sores on the body
- Dirty and wet hair near the anus, indicating that the animal has diarrhea
- Dull color of the eye, discharge from the corners
- Nasal discharge
If at least one sign of the disease is detected, do not buy the animal. Such a hamster will live very little at home. In addition, some rodent diseases are dangerous for humans. Therefore, take a large animal into the house in no case.
How to tame a hamster
Of course, a hamster is not a dog or a cat. Make him a loyal friend who will respond to the nickname and everywhere follow the owner, will not succeed. But to accustom him to his hands, so that he does not frighten you, is quite possible. To do this, you need:
- Talk to your pet in a soft and soft voice.
- Take it carefully on the handles, under the front paws
- First let the animal sniff his hand and only then pull it out of the cage, you can try to feed it with your hand
- Do not try to pull the hamster when he is scared.
- It is better to stroke a pet with a finger, very gently and accurately.
You should not pay too much attention to the animal in the early days, let the hamster get used to the situation and calm down. After all, he has a new habitat causes great stress. Also, do not disturb the hamster during the day when he is sleeping. From the first days in the cage should be enough food. If the rodent is full, it feels much better. Little funny animals love treats very much. You can treat them to an apple, dried fruits, dry inedible cookies. Then they will more readily go to the pens and quickly get used to the new house.
Hamster breeding
Breeding small rodents can be an interesting hobby. Syrian hamsters breed best at home. You can get offspring from the Dzungar hamsters of Taylor. Hamster puberty occurs at 3 months. Female estrus occurs every 4-5 days. At this time, she begins to bend the back, raise the tail, it becomes very turbulent. In order for the hamsters to mate, it is best to place them on neutral territory or plant the female on the male. Together, animals need to be kept for 1-2 days.
Pregnancy in a female lasts 2.5-3 weeks. At this time, you need to increase the amount of protein in the diet to ensure the normal development of the fruit. They give boiled egg protein, cottage cheese, kefir, yogurt, boiled chicken breast. Before giving birth, the female’s house should be moved to a quiet and peaceful place. In no case can a male live in a cage at this time, he can kill offspring. The only exceptions are some species, for example, Campbell.
Cubs of domestic and wild hamsters are born naked and blind. Their hair or clothing begins to grow at the end of the first week, and the eyes open at the end of the second. All this time, babies eat exclusively breast milk. The female may become a little aggressive while feeding the offspring. Therefore, do not bother her too much, pick her up.
Closer to the third week, small hamsters begin to eat grain and succulent feed. After another 1-1.5 weeks, they can be separated from the mother. Distribute animals in 1.5-2 months. Females who give birth for the first time may have problems feeding their babies, sometimes they refuse babies, abandon them or eat them. If this happened in the first 2 weeks, posterity is unlikely to be saved. It is not recommended for the first time to mate a female who is more than 9 months old. Also, hamsters older than 1.5 years are not allowed to reproduce.
Before buying a small animal, carefully read its description, life features, care and maintenance. If you will properly care for your pets and keep him, he will live in your house for up to 3 years.
A hamster is a small, dense rodent that takes root well at home. Therefore, in Russia it is one of the most popular pets. From the article you can find out how many hamsters live, what breeds are there, how to care for a little animal, how to feed a hamster at home, as well as other interesting facts about hamsters.
What types of hamsters are there? Photo and title
There are both types of hamsters that are quite familiar to us, and very rare and unusual ones. Each of them has its own distinctive features of appearance and habits. Here are the most common and interesting breeds of hamsters:
Dzungarian hamster
Perhaps the most popular home look. They are small, but not quite crumbs - the length of the body is about 10 cm. In the middle of the back from the back of the head to the base of the tail there is a pronounced dark streak. At the top of the head, it turns into a triangle, going down to the nose. The rest of the fur is smoky gray with small white patches. There are specimens of other colors - with a bluish, pearl or red tint. Dzhungariki require careful care. If you don’t tidy up the cage in time, then a very unpleasant odor, spreading with ammonia, will spread throughout the apartment. Therefore, ideally, house cleaning should be done daily.
Taken from Wikipredia.com 
In the people, this animal is also called "karibysh". The peculiarity of this breed of hamsters is that he almost never digs minks himself, but takes them from other rodents like gophers. Having taken possession of housing, karbysh adds to it a couple of extra entrances and exits and separate "rooms" for the toilet, sleep and storage of supplies. The result can be a real tangled labyrinth up to eight meters long.
The field hamster is quite aggressive towards everyone who potentially encroaches on his place of residence. He will fight for his territory literally to death, no matter what size the enemy is - often animals attack even large dogs or people. The teeth of the animal are very sharp and grow throughout life, grinding down as the field hamster gnaws at something. Before attacking, he often rises on his hind legs, clicks his teeth and makes menacing sounds.
The size of hamsters of this breed can vary from 5 to 37 cm, if you do not take into account the length of the tail, and weight - from 45 to 700 grams. They have rather large ears of a round shape, the legs are always white. Thick hair, combined with the undercoat, allows the animal to survive the frosty winter. But, in addition to frost, the animal has many enemies among the animal world - from rooks to foxes. Farmers are also opposed to them, whose crops the animal can greatly damage.
From October to February, the field hamster is in hibernation, slowing down all metabolic processes. When heat arrives, it does not immediately emerge from the hole, but first it eats up all the supplies left over from the autumn. By that time, the mating period is just beginning, during which this wild hamster is very active.
Posted by: Adams Moran The most common representative of the species. Its average body length is 35 cm, and the body ends with a plump strong tail 5 cm long. The ears are short and dark, the tummy is also dark, but the upper body is usually golden. An ordinary hamster lives in the steppe and meadow zones of Europe, rarely rising above 1.5 km above sea level.
The animal diet includes various parts of herbs and other plants. In the fall, mainly seeds and tubers are used, the same is true for winter stocks. Amazingly, this small animal can speak up to 15 kg of food. Most often, “peas” gather peas, corn, selected cereal grains, potatoes, millet, and lupins. The storerooms are always in order, even seeds of different varieties are stored separately from each other.
Posted by Aichi Kiperman
Two to three times a year, mainly at the end of spring, an ordinary hamster breeds. Usually each litter brings from ten to twenty small animals. Three weeks after birth, they can already switch to adult plant foods, as well as some of the animal foods (insects). In October, the rodent lays down on hibernation, but it does not sleep continuously, sometimes it can wake up and have a bite when it is -20C outside.
An ordinary hamster is included in the list of animals protected by the Berne Convention, founded by the Council of Europe in 1976, and it is also listed in the Red Book of the Lipetsk Region. Often this species is kept at home in a cage as pets. He can live well at home, but here you should consider some nuances. First of all, it's hibernation. Also, an ordinary hamster can significantly damage furniture and wires with its teeth, and in an adult show unexplained aggression. However, the animal quickly forgets offenses and becomes peaceful again. It can even be trained, and also it reproduces well in captivity.
Author: Misha Fisenko This breed is mainly distributed in Central Asia and on both American continents.
The coloring of the hamster fits perfectly habitat animal habitat. But the Angora hamster can have absolutely any color. In the middle of the XIX century, these hamsters began to be bred in captivity, soon breeders managed to breed individuals with long hair, the shade of which ranged from silver to black. So today, anyone who wants to buy an Angora hamster will be given the widest choice.
In many sources, the concepts of "Angora hamster" and "Syrian" are often confused, arguing that this is one and the same. But in fact, Angora is only a variety of Syrian, having only a sandy shade of fur.
Caring for animals of this breed is not much different from caring for other hamsters, they also need a clean, comfortable cage, good food and water. But cares are added to maintain the coat in good condition, otherwise it will quickly become dirty, fall off and look unsightly. Nevertheless, you can’t bathe the animal, it is dangerous for him. Give him a bath of sand, where the Angora hamster will clean his fur on his own. But do not forget to regularly comb the hair with a comb, preventing the occurrence of spools.
Posted by: Meshu Kitler As for food, it should be borne in mind - Angoriki bred at home, which means they are more picky about the diet than wild relatives. Its basis is cereals that saturate the body with fiber, and the addition is nuts, vegetables and fruits, rich in vegetable protein. Angora hamster can gladly gobble up flax, millet, tomatoes, pumpkin. Of seasonal fruits, it is allowed to give him pears, apples, grapes. Of the other products - sour milk, boiled chicken. The main thing is not to overdo it with unusual food and, of course, all products should be perfectly fresh.
This animal belongs to dwarf hamsters; It was discovered in 1904 on the border between Russia and China. Outwardly, Campbell's hamster may look like a dzungarik, which is why they are often confused. It has a pleasant amber or sandy shade of fur and a dark stripe along the back. There is no wool on the paws, and even this species does not change the coat for winter. This species of hamsters lives less than others - an average of 2 years.
There are two main types of color that the Campbell hamster can possess. The first is agouti, when the upper part of the coat may look a little darker, the closer to the roots, and on the sides there are lines that separate the back from the tummy. The second is self, when there are no stripes on the back and sides, the color is almost uniform, with the exception of minor spots on the chest or abdomen. The hair of a hamster grows unevenly in appearance, as if in shreds, because it is directed at an angle.
Author: Maria Shepova Campbell's hamster is so tiny that its weight hardly reaches 50 grams, and its height is up to 10 cm. He has a rather complicated character, care should be taken not to get a bite with sharp teeth. Due to its size, a small aquarium can be adapted to the life of a rodent. However, if you have a whole family of hamsters, then they need a lot of space - otherwise there will be constant fights. The cage or aquarium should stand in a fully lit place, but the window sill will not work for this - the animal will be tormented by drafts and direct sunlight, and also under the window there is usually a hot battery.
Campbell's hamster breeds for six months, from March to September. Pregnancy lasts for 2-3 weeks, after which the female can give birth to 3-4 cubs. Kids will be furred on the fifth day, and their eyes will be opened on the tenth.
This is another dwarf breed that will surely fall in love with those who dream of a small pet. This species comes from Asian deserts, in particular Mongolia and China. AT Russian Federation in the wild, it can also be found in mountainous regions near the Asian borders.
This is one of the smallest hamsters in the world - its length from the nose to the tip of the tail rarely exceeds 5 centimeters and its weight is 25 grams. Round ears set high on the head, eyes slightly convex. The view is characterized by snow-white eyebrow arches resembling a mask. The hamster can jump quite briskly due to the fact that the front legs are shorter than the hind legs.
Like many hamsters from the desert, this breed has a sandy shade of hair, but many other colors were also derived through genetic mutations. But, it should be borne in mind that animals with an unusual color are much weaker in health. In general, these hamsters are very active, they are constantly in motion, literally for a second they do not sit still. Moreover, they almost never bite, having a peaceful disposition. But it’s unlikely that Roborovsky’s hamster will allow him to calmly hold himself in his arms and strok while watching TV - this is not his character. The animal can get scared and get very stressed.
Despite their tiny size, hamsters of this breed need a spacious cage, where they will have plenty of space to run and climb. And the more “tenants” in the cage, the larger should be its size. It is best to adapt an aquarium made of glass or acrylic with a wall height of at least 20 cm to keep the animal. True, glass can fog up. So you can consider another option made of plastic. It is unlikely that a cage with rods is suitable - a nimble rodent can seep even through very small holes.
Posted by: Kasandra Nikson 
It differs from its relatives in that it is awake during the day, giving the opportunity to fully communicate with him. He hails from the desert and steppe places of Asia and Western Siberia. In the wild, this hamster per day can run through vast territories in search of food and mink. The appearance of the animal is noteworthy - it has large shiny eyes of black or reddish color. The coat is smoky and very soft.
In the period of winter or autumn, the fur of the animal begins to lighten - therefore, it was also given another name, Russian whitening.
Posted by: Nikolay Stepanich 
Taken from wikipedia.com Enemies of hamsters in the wild
Under natural conditions, animals are in mortal danger everywhere. The greatest threats are:
- birds (especially predators such as owls and kites)
- wild cats (lynx, tiger, depending on habitat
- foxes
What do hamsters eat and eat?
In the wild, these animals are rodents, which implies that hamsters eat mostly grains. Also, they are always not averse to feasting on the tender young shoots of plants, for example, bamboo. In addition to cereal crops, the animal loves vegetables (potatoes, pumpkin, beets, carrots) and can even harm garden plantings. In order not to lack protein, the animals also periodically eat small creatures - insects, worms, and even snakes. The rice hamster eats fish with pleasure, the remains of which remain from the dinner of other animals. Webbed is often eaten by mollusks and crustaceans. Drowsy - cannot resist avocados and figs.
How to feed a hamster at home?
At home, today there is no need to independently choose a diet for the animal, specialized feeds are sold. They are already ready for a balanced combination of vitamins, as well as trace elements. It is made up not at random, but in accordance with the nutrition of animals in the wild.
It’s important not only what hamsters eat, but how exactly they eat it. On the box with the finished food, usually the dosage and the desired diet are also indicated. However, the animal itself can determine the ideal regimen for itself. Most often, animals eat the food they eat at night, crunching it all over the house, and only accumulate reserves during the day. Ideally, the rodent should be provided with fresh healthy food at the same time before bedtime.
What else can you feed your pet at home? As a treat, and to diversify the diet, it is allowed to offer him beets, lettuce leaves, tomatoes, grass (for example, dandelions), pumpkin, zucchini, cucumber, and also carrots.
Source: Unknown Hamster Care
The maintenance and care of the hamster at home is a simple process, but requires certain knowledge and attentiveness. You can determine whether your animal feels good by signs such as shiny hair without bald spots, clean nose and eyes, even breathing, and the absence of digestive upsets. Since the pet usually sleeps most of the day, it is better to evaluate its behavior in the late afternoon, during the period of activity.
Caring for a hamster and keeping it at home always starts with choosing a good cage. They are plastic and trellised. Plastic, reminiscent of containers, are most convenient for dwarf hamsters (Roborovsky, Campbell, and also dzhungariki). But trellised are perfect for golden (or Syrian) rocks. The main thing is that the rods of the cage are placed horizontally so that the animal can climb along the walls. The gap between the rods also depends on the particular species - for a golden one, a distance of 1 centimeter is permissible, for smaller species - less.
If the distance between the bars of the cage is incorrect, the animal may unsuccessfully stick its head between them and die from suffocation.
The next step in caring for an animal at home is to properly equip its “apartment”. It begins with the choice of litter - the rodent comfort and the time that you will spend on cleaning the cage will depend on this. It is advisable not to use newsprint as a litter, otherwise the pet may be poisoned by printing toner. In addition, such paper does not absorb liquid and odors well. However, the same applies to plain paper or cotton. Vata in the cage is also not recommended because small paws of the animal may become entangled in it.
Fillers such as sawdust, hay or wood shavings are best suited. But on the finished wooden granules, some animals have an allergy. The best option for filling the cell is recognized as corn (crushed ears, in which few grains remain). It is very light and pleasant for the animal. Such a filler costs more than others, but it keeps the smell up to ten days.
Put two feeders in a cage - one will serve for soft food like fruits, the other for hard and dry. And for water it is better to purchase a special drinker, change the contents every day.
Source: Google Images 
Source: Google Images Caring for a hamster at home will not do without providing him with physical activity. To do this, you need to equip the cage with a wheel, and also buy a ball for the hamster and other accessories (slides, ladders). The wheel should be solid, with transverse protrusions. Then it will be convenient for the animal to put paws on it.
The rodent will use all this diversity in the cage mainly at night, and during the day it will rest in its mink. A special house can serve as a mink, but sometimes the animal prefers to make a home for itself, collecting aside filler or bedding.
It is worth telling more about such a device as a ball for a hamster. This is an excellent simulator that will not let the animal get bored. Ready-made balls are sold in stores, and you can also make the device yourself. Its purpose is to allow the animal to move freely around the apartment, without risking being crushed, caught by a cat or stuck somewhere. The ball for the hamster will fit especially well in a large apartment or house.
The easiest way to make this accessory is from a regular plastic bottle. Due to its lightness, it will hamper the hamster's movement. In addition, holes for ventilation can be made in it. Actually, no other manipulations are required - the ball for the hamster is ready for use.
You can also take not a bottle, but a plastic ice-cream bucket (the main thing is to be transparent). The bucket must be thoroughly washed and wiped, then make small holes in the bottom or lid of the container. Now you can put the hamster in and close the lid. In a similar way, you can make a ball for a hamster from any container. In stores, dozens of different beautiful and convenient options are sold.
How to determine the gender of a hamster?
This information can be important if you are holding several animals at once and do not plan to breed them. To find out what gender the animal is not very difficult. To do this, you need to examine him, but you can’t do this abruptly so that he does not get stress. Calm the animal, treat it with something tasty. Gently grab the animal in its arms and hold it against the fold of skin between the shoulder blades, but do not pull.
Inspect the back. In males, pronounced sexual characteristics are noticeable, while in females they are not. It is possible to determine sex and simply by the size of the animal - males are usually much larger than females. The second also expressed nipples in the abdomen. Determining the gender of a newborn animal is somewhat more difficult. This can be done between the anal and urinary openings. For girls, this distance is usually less than for boys.
Breeding hamsters
Animals become sexually mature very early, within a month from birth. But, provided that you are not in a hurry with the breeding, it is better to let the animal grow up to five months. It is necessary to happen on the territory that does not belong to any of the pair of hamsters, so they will be more comfortable. This is best done in the late afternoon.
Within a week after the event, if the female was able to become pregnant, her nipples will swell, and in 2-3 weeks babies will be born. It is important that the male must be separated from the pregnant and lactating female, he can even eat cubs, and the female becomes overly aggressive, protecting children.
After giving birth, you should not disturb the female and touch her for two weeks. You don’t even need to clean the cage. The main thing is to provide it with a sufficient amount of tasty and wholesome food. It is usually possible to plant baby animals from the mother at the age of a month.
Each potential owner is interested in the question of how many hamsters live at home. The answer is not disappointing - only 2-3 years, and this is with perfect care. If the care is bad, then the period is even shorter. Therefore, you should be very careful about the state of health of the domestic animal. Even a common allergy or a cold can lead to irreparable consequences. According to statistics, only 1 in 1 000 000 lives up to the age of five years, but here it is quite possible to reach 3.5 years at home.
It is logical that the question of how long a hamster lives is of interest to those who start this animal for the first time. An inexperienced owner, even having studied a lot of subject literature, has a hamster with a maximum life of 2.5 years. In this you can find your own pluses. He will not be thrown out into the street like a bored toy, because he simply will not have time to get bored. And after his death, there is always the opportunity to have another one.
What factors depend on how many hamsters live at home? First of all, this is a diet. Healthy nutritious nutrition, which includes a whole complex of vitamins, significantly prolong the life of your pet. Therefore, it is very important than to feed a hamster at home. No less important is the choice of a hamster cell, as well as the filler in it. It is important that it is equipped safely and that the filler does not cause an allergic reaction. Of course, the cell needs to be cleaned in a timely manner, at least once a week, using only safe means with a minimum amount of different chemistry.
Author: Anastasia Kozlova Further, the animal must have room to splash out its physical activity. No wonder they say that movement is life. In the wild, hamsters can run up to ten kilometers per day. Also, the animal should be able to nibble something, otherwise its fangs will not grind and grow to uncomfortable sizes.
How many years hamsters live depends largely on their freedom of movement. The rodent needs to be released more often for a walk around the apartment, and it is advisable to use a special ball for this. The cage should be equipped with a running wheel, in which the hamster will wind several kilometers per night.
But how many years have hamsters lived in the wild? Unfortunately, under such conditions, they are prone to attack by predators. As much as possible in nature, this animal can live up to two years, at the end of life, its vision and reaction deteriorate, making it even more vulnerable.
Most often, there are such diseases of hamsters as:
- Abscesses on the pads of the legs. The reasons for their occurrence are still not discovered by veterinarians. Zinc ointment or regular fish oil will help you cope with such an unpleasant problem. Lay the animal on its side or on the back and gently grease the damaged areas, applying a lot of funds to the affected areas. Regeneration of the skin can last up to 5-6 months.
- Anomalies with teeth. Excessively grown teeth will cause the animal pain and discomfort. Make sure that the animal always has something to chew, and in its diet - a sufficient amount of solid food. You can recognize the onset of the disease by the increased flow of saliva due to the fact that the jaws of the animal are not tightly closed. The teeth should be treated by a specialist, do not try to shorten them at home in any way.
- Obesity. In the wild, the hamster moves almost all the time awake. Small physical activity and weight gain provoke heart problems. In the cage of the animal there should be a large number of various attractions, and for moving outside a ball for a hamster is suitable. Also, do not overfeed the animal or feed it with human food.
- Baldness. Outwardly, this disease can resemble lichen. Moreover, only an experienced veterinarian can distinguish them in the early stages by analysis. Animal baldness often occurs due to a lack of vitamins and minerals. In this case, it is worth introducing any vitamin complex into his diet. If baldness occurs due to stress, then try not to make noise near the animal’s cage and not to excite it. Vitamins will also not be superfluous in this case.
- Inflammation of the cheek pouches. Such a disease can happen if the remnants of food are constantly stuck in them or if a sharp object has wounded. In this situation, too, only the veterinarian will be able to properly unscrew these bags to examine them and make a diagnosis. After that, he will take out all the excess with special devices and treat the mucosa with antibacterial agents.
- Wet tail. Do not pay attention to this name - the disease is not at all in this. This is a serious indigestion with frequent diarrhea due to stress or a sudden change in diet. In addition to loose stools, the animal may experience bleeding, lack of appetite, and aggressiveness. To cure the disease, it is necessary to give the animal electrolytes at home to avoid dehydration. Your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics. If you have several animals at once, you need to separate the healthy from the sick, otherwise the epidemic will begin. During the illness, do not give fruits and other juicy foods, leaving mainly rice and hay, and replace the water with a weak infusion of chamomile.
- Lymphocytic choriomeningitis. Unfortunately, this infection cannot be cured, therefore, if the veterinarian has made such a diagnosis, then the hamster is euthanized. The primary symptoms of the disease are fever, weakness, heavy breathing. The infection is often carried by mice, so you need to make sure that they do not have access to the pet's cage.
This disease can be dangerous for people! Therefore, wash your hands thoroughly after each contact with or care for an infected animal.
The common cold is a zooanthroponic disease. This means that an animal can become infected from a person, just like a person from an animal.
- Although the animal is a herbivore rodent, all sorts of insects can be included in its diet. This gives the body an extra protein.
- In North America, forest hamsters act like magpies — they carry shiny things into their minks. But in the place of the stolen thing almost always leave a pebble or twig, as if exchanging. But in fact, everything is simpler - the animal simply throws what was carried in order to grasp the sparkling thing.
- Cheek pouches can accommodate the amount of food that makes up one fifth of the weight of the animal.
- Hamsters are born already with teeth, which continue to grow all their lives, grinding away with biting. The teeth of guinea pigs are also arranged.
- The animals are smart enough. They are amenable to training, and also usually easily remember their name and the faces of the household.
- Most of the domestic golden hamsters come from one female, which gave birth to twelve cubs in 1930.
- If you translate the age of these animals to human, then one year equals 25 human years.
- During long dashes, animals mark their way with the help of odorous glands.
- The animal does not see very well, besides it does not distinguish colors, but on the other hand, it has perfectly developed sense of smell and hearing.
- In dwarf hamsters, this feature was noticed - the female can hold the birth of a new litter while feeding the previous one, this happens both at home and in the wild.
- In science, cells extracted from the ovaries of Chinese hamsters are used in the production of many drugs for serious diseases, in particular multiple sclerosis and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
- In Vietnam, keeping these animals at home is prohibited by law because they carry infectious diseases.
- Newton's hamster and the Syrian are listed in the Red Book, they are on the verge of extinction in the wild.
- Food reserves can reach 90 kg. Like squirrels, hamsters store significantly more than they can eat
- As a rule, in each large branched hole only one animal lives.
- Hamsters swim well - they adapted to take air into cheek pouches, it turns out something like a float.
- The name of the animal originates from the ancient Avestan dialect and translates roughly as "an enemy pressing in the ground" because of the habit of animals they will plant plant stems in the ground to get food.
Before you bring a pet into the apartment, you need to study as much information as possible about hamsters. You should know everything about the structure of their body, daily routine, and reproduction cycles. Equally important is the nature of small hamsters, their abilities and phobias. This information about hamsters will help you better understand fluffy, speed up the process of adaptation in a new house and make friends with a new family member faster.
Structural features
Domestic hamsters are tiny mammals that humans domesticated several centuries ago. Their body, covered with thick wool, consists of a head, a very short neck and trunk with limbs and a small tail.
Head structure
On the face of the hamster, you can arbitrarily depict a triangle. The lower peak is a tiny nose, a cute antennae diverges from it in different directions, which help the animal to get information from the outside world (pressure, air velocity, etc.). Above the nose, on the left and on the right are radiant black eyes, and even higher - rounded ears protruding. By the way, hamsters see pretty badly, but they hear perfectly, so even not very loud sounds can scare them.
A characteristic feature of these pets is their teeth. Hamsters have only 16 of them, with 2 long incisors located below and below, which continue to grow throughout life, as in other animals from the Rodent order. Hamsters must bite something every day to grind their front teeth, otherwise their mouth simply will not close and the animal will die.
Hamster cheeks deserve special admiration. In them, a thirsty puffer hides the food that he did not eat. In the cheek pouches, the homa transfers food from the bowl to the house. In the Dzhungariks they are relatively small, and among the Syrians - they are quite spacious, up to 20 grams of seeds fit in them! The mucous membranes of the cheek pouches are very tender, so if you feed the hamster with rough food, the cheek can swell.
Body structure
The body of small rodents is rounded, it is covered with thick hair. By its appearance, one can judge the health of a pet. Dzhungariks have medium-length fur, but the Syrian breed has 2 subspecies. There are ordinary Syrians with short hair and Angora - very beautiful hamsters with long curls.
The tail of the representatives of most breeds is short, sometimes it is not even noticeable. And under it on the abdominal side of the body are the organs of excretion and reproduction, and on the sides are special odorous glands in the form of dark dots, with the help of which the male marks the territory.
Hamsters have a standard set of internal organs for a mammal, but heart function is of particular interest. On average, it beats at a frequency of 300 beats per minute and wears out quickly. Therefore, small rodents do not live long: a 3-year-old animal is already considered old. The frequency of respiratory movements depends on the activity at a given time. A sleeping homa makes about 35 breaths per minute, and during physical exercises or severe stress - 120!
The structure of their legs is also interesting. Many do not know how many fingers a hamster has.
- on the front paws only 4 fingers, the fifth does not develop, but can be noticeable in the form of a small vestigial;
- there are five on the hind legs of the fingers.
Fingers in hamsters are very tenacious, ending in claws, which should be cut periodically if the homa does not nibble them on their own.
Now you get an idea of \u200b\u200bhow hamsters look. The body structure plan is common to all breeds, which cannot be said about the size and weight of the animals.
Weight and size
In order to monitor the health of the pet, you will need information about how much the hamster weighs. The sizes of these animals vary greatly depending on the breed. Consider several varieties in increasing order of size.
- Dwarf hamster Roborovsky. The maximum growth of the animal is 4-5 cm along with the tail.
- Longtail. The total length of the body is 10 cm, and 6 of them make up the tail.
- Taylor Miniature animal with a body length of 7-8 cm.
- Dzhungarik. Another dwarf breed, the size of these pussies up to 10 cm with a tail.
- Campbell's hamster is a larger breed, the size of individual individuals reaches 12 cm.
- Syrian (aka royal, golden). A fairly large animal with a peach color. Depending on the conditions of detention, the body length reaches from 12 to 18 cm.
- Radde. Large beast up to 28 cm tall. Strong, voracious. As a pet, it is found infrequently, and in nature it flourishes.
The weight of different breeds is also different. So, tiny Taylors weigh an average of 8 g, healthy dzhungariki - 30 g, and well-fed Syrians weigh 150 g. At birth, dwarf rodents weigh only 1 g, and Syrians from 2 to 4 g (depending on the number of hamsters in the litter).
In the photo, the owners weigh their Campbell hamster:
Diet features
By their nature, homa are omnivorous: they eat both plant and animal food. They can be fed with fresh herbs and dry hay, grains, nuts and unsweetened fruits. But with dried fruits, you should be careful to strictly dose their amount, because these pets sometimes suffer from diabetes, especially representatives of dwarf breeds.
You can diversify the diet of your furry with boiled fish or meat, sometimes give the animal egg white and low-fat cottage cheese.
Reproduction and development of babies
All hamsters are "precocious" pets, their puberty occurs in 1-2 months. On females, this is almost not reflected externally, but in the boys testicles begin to appear. Sometimes they are of such size that you are simply amazed!
Despite the early sexual development of hamsters, you must ensure that they do not begin sex life too early. This is especially harmful for females for whom pregnancy can end in death during childbirth. The optimal age for pregnancy is 4-5 months.
Here are some interesting facts about breeding domestic hamsters:
- pregnancy lasts about 3 weeks;
- after giving birth a week later, the female is able to become pregnant again;
- per year, one married couple can bring up to 10 offspring!
- the number of hamsters in one litter can be from 4 to 15.
Newborn hamsters look very touching and defenseless. They are tiny, bald, with closed eyes. The first days of the hamster do not leave the nest, but within a week from the moment of birth crawl throughout the cage in search of delicious seeds. At 2 weeks, their eyes already open, a fluff appears on the body. And when the animals turn one month old, they are already completely independent.
Taming the kids can be done after they open their eyes. Hamsters adapt faster to communicating with humans than adult hamsters. They are also more amenable to training.
Children of hamsters are depicted in the photo:
Cognitive features
It is difficult for rodents to make a general description of their mental capabilities. It all depends on the breed, the conditions of detention, the age at which the animal was accustomed to hands. Of great importance is the frequency of communication with the owner and the types of games that were offered to the pet.
It will be interesting for you to find out what kind of memory these pussies have. Scientists have proven that the cheeks are able to remember events, which affects their behavior in a particular situation. For example, some Homs perform a ritual of greeting the owner: they approach the edge of the cage and quietly squeak or rub their paws. At the same time, having noticed a stranger, this same animal is hiding in a house.
A good memory is also evidenced by the fact that rodents eventually begin to respond to their name. Only the nickname must be picked up short and repeat it more often.
Sometimes there are talented hamsters that are very amenable to training. This phenomenon is based not only on the good memory of rodents, but also on their natural curiosity. If you put yummy at the end of the maze, the homa will surely find it. Next time he will overcome the same path even faster, which proves the ability of these pets to learn.
In order for the learning process to go well, you should choose the right time for classes. Animals with a twilight lifestyle do not like to be bothered in the morning or afternoon, but in the evening you can start training.
The nature of rodents and their habits
Of course, the nature of the furry friend depends on the attitude of the owners and the conditions of detention. But each breed has its own distinctive features. For example, the dzhungariki are a little wild and vulnerable, the Syrians are good-natured and calm, and the hamster Radde is a very masterful beast, which can sometimes be aggressive.
The habits are similar in all rodents, regardless of breed. They love:
- bite everything in a row - bars of a cage, your house, toys, etc. If the homa suddenly gets lost in the apartment, then do not be surprised to find broken wires;
- dig into the litter and hide in the house;
- run away as soon as possible;
- make food supplies. If you notice that the bowl in your fluffy miracle is emptying too quickly, this does not mean that the chekestik has eaten everything, he must have hidden somewhere most of the food;
- run in the wheel. Especially this desire is aggravated by the furry in the evenings and at night.
In order for the animal to satisfy its need to nibble, in its cage there must be a special grindstone or at least twigs, otherwise the homa will begin to sharpen his teeth on his toys. Sometimes a pet has a desire to try for a tooth of their own owners. Remember that he doesn’t want to hurt you, he just knows the world in this way. Even if the pet bit you painfully, you should not punish and scream, because it can be scared and offended. Hamsters have other fears, which we will talk about in more detail.
Hamster phobia
Feeling of fear and constant stress can significantly reduce the life of the animal. We know everything about hamster fears and want to tell you what these tiny creatures are afraid of.
Here is a list of hamster phobias:
- Small rodents are afraid of humans. It is logical, because people are so big and noisy, and pussies are small and defenseless. This fear can only be overcome by caring for the animal, prolonged and unobtrusive domestication.
- Water. Most hamsters do not like to swim, because the water for them is a strange element. They instinctively feel that they can drown. In addition, a poorly dried animal can catch a cold. But there are exceptions: there are pets who willingly take a bath (but at the same time their contact with water should still be limited).
- Wind. Small rodents are very afraid of drafts, they try to hide from them in the shelter. And they’re doing it right! Indeed, to catch a cold in the wind for such crumbs is a common thing.
- Bright light. Fluffies are nocturnal animals and it is very difficult to remake them. It is only natural that they try to flee away from the bright rays of the sun or lamp. Therefore, the cell should stand where direct sunlight does not penetrate.
- Noise. The biggest fear of babies, because they hear very well. Ultrasound is generally fatal to them; rodents cannot tolerate it. With prolonged exposure, the animals become aggressive, scream, throw themselves at the cage and at their owners. With an unexpected sound, they get scared, close their eyes and ears with their paws, try to curl up into a ball.
- Predators It is only natural that small creatures are afraid of cats, dogs, chinchillas and other large animals. This fear is innate in them, but it can be overcome if you accustom a homa to a friendly cat from childhood (but still you should not leave them alone)!
Here is a photo of a hamster that got scared:
By the way, hamsters do not have an inborn fear of heights. Therefore, it can calmly sigan down from the upper tier of the cell or from your shoulder. The animals begin to be afraid only after the falls, then their height is associated with a feeling of pain. But remember that the vision in these furry pets is not so hot: they can not always correctly assess the height.
Fluffies still don't like some smells. It’s not that they were afraid of them, they simply dislike the aromas of garlic, mint and citrus.
They do not like careless attitude. In no case should you touch the sacrum of the hamster or take it by the scruff. From such treatment, the homa may become furious. Also, do not disturb the animal during sleep and eating.
Thus, hamsters are very cute and interesting pets, but quite vulnerable and shy. But if you treat your furry treasure well, feed it properly, take care of it, talk affectionately and leave it alone on time, then the animal will quickly get used to you and begin to trust. Protect your pet from noise and bad weather - and he will live a short but happy life!