All about hamsters at home: what they eat, how long they live and their species. Hamsters: a description for children and adults Important information about the hamster

Funny and playful indoor hamsters require minimal care and maintenance, even for a schoolchild elementary grades the power to look after this tiny pet. On the given time domestic rodents have become widespread and are regarded by many as a good alternative to restless cats or dogs.

Keeping hamsters at home

Hamsters are freely sold in pet stores, markets, forums. There are no problems with houses for funny creatures, there are many options for how to independently equip a cage for a new pet. Under normal conditions, he will live next to the owners for several years, turning into a small member of the family. Before studying the question of how to keep a hamster at home, it is advisable to weigh all the advantages and disadvantages of the appearance of this original pet in the apartment.

Pros of breeding hamsters in an apartment:

1. These are extremely quiet animals, absolutely not interfering with their screams or squeaks of domestic inhabitants and neighbors.
2. The hamster is a non-aggressive and unforgettable creature.
3. If desired, rodents of any kind are easy to breed at home.
4. A cage or other device for the animal's habitation does not take up much space.
5. Hamsters in home care and maintenance are simple, novice hobbyists do not have to study special complex literature before buying pets.
6. Children who look after furry creatures develop faster and become independent.

The main difficulties in the question of how to keep hamsters at home:

1. To maintain cleanliness and eliminate sources unpleasant odors need constant cleaning of cells.
2. Free rodents often spoil the legs of furniture, wires, shoes, and other items. Hamsters require care and maintenance at home in cages or terrariums.
3. Even shy pets can bite with the wrong attitude.
4. Hamsters can hibernate during the winter months.

Glass jars or aquariums are suitable for animals as a temporary shelter. If you decide to keep your hamster at home, then it is best to buy a comfortable and inexpensive cage for him. Experienced amateurs recommend purchasing metal structures with horizontal rods and minimum dimensions of 50x30 cm. You cannot purchase cages with large lattice cells, tiny animals easily escape into the gap between the wire. “Hamsters - care and maintenance at home” is a serious topic that requires a systematic approach.

How to set up a hamster cage:

1. Rodents need two feeders for dry and wet food at the same time.
2. Be sure to install a comfortable drinking bowl for your little pets.
3. Hamsters need a mineral stone to sharpen their sharp teeth regularly.
4. The animals are happy to use their activity on a durable and beautiful running wheel.
5. Make recreational equipment strong and safe, with a solid surface, in order to avoid unwanted injuries to pets.
6. Sawdust, granular or compressed filler, helps to get rid of odors.

House for a hamster at home

Care and breeding of hamsters at home is best done in cages equipped with cozy houses. This device plays the role of decoration and a convenient shelter for shy pets. Do it yourself or buy it ready-made in retail chains, you can order a miniature apartment from amateurs who are engaged in the manufacture of artificial dwellings for rodents from different materials.

Types of hamster houses:

Hamster care at home

The basic rules for caring for a hamster are simple and easy to understand. There are a few nuances that need to be studied for a person who dreams of buying this miniature pet for home. They are associated with feeding the animal, bathing animals, their life rhythm, depending on the season. Lovers wishing to breed hamsters for sale must read the most important information about the life of newborn babies of this species without fail.

It is advisable to know for sure if children and other family members are allergic to rodent hair. Reconsider the layout of the living space to see if there is a free and accessible space for a cell in the apartment. Talk to the children if your heirs are eager to look after the tiny tenant or are negative about this prospect.

Rodents in nature have learned to survive by eating both grain food and animal products. They subconsciously bypass harmful plants or poisonous insects by the side, avoiding poisoning. In apartments, pet owners are tempted to give their crumbs pieces of dishes from the table in order to please their pet, which sometimes brings them irreparable harm. In the question of what you can feed hamsters at home, be careful, it is advisable to know exactly what products are prohibited for these animals.

Vegetable foods allowed for hamsters:

• ready-made dry rations for hamsters,
• sprouted grains of oats, wheat, other cereals,
• different types of nuts (hazelnuts, walnuts, peanuts),
• sunflower and pumpkin seeds,
• cherries, gooseberries, blueberries, other berries,
• pieces of vegetables processed in boiling water without salt,
• raw vegetables and fruits,
• peas in pods or grains,
• a small amount of rose hips and celery,
• Jerusalem artichoke fruits,
• dried fruits,
• branches of deciduous trees,
• greens.

Permitted products of animal origin:

• fermented milk products (cheese, cottage cheese, unsweetened yogurt) with a fat percentage of up to 1%,
• boiled chicken meat without spices,
• boiled eggs
• boiled low-fat fish,
• in rare cases, pieces of peeled shrimp,
• worms, insects bought in pet stores.

Household hamsters can easily tolerate care and maintenance at home, but for them there is an extensive list of prohibited foods:

• potato,
• fatty cheeses,
• ready-made bird feed,
• fresh bread,
• acorns,
• red beans
• brazil nuts,
• any spices,
• fresh milk,
• garlic with onions,
• cabbage causes gas in hamsters,
• muesli,
• fried food,
• tropical fruits,
• mushrooms,
• sweet cookies,
• wild-caught insects and bloodworms,
• tulip bulbs,
• chocolates,
• ice cream.

The hibernation of these pets looks like numbness, which novice amateurs often confuse with illness. The life of hamsters at home with the beginning of winter goes into an economical mode, the pets stop responding to stimuli. Several factors contribute to the transition to hibernation - a decrease in room temperature, a poor diet, and poor lighting. After being placed in a warm place, over time, the rodents wake up on their own, but it is not recommended to forcibly wake them up.

The content of hamsters at home during this period changes slightly, the cage is not cleaned for two weeks after giving birth, the temperature is maintained at 21 ° C. You cannot touch the offspring and disturb the nest after childbirth. A woman in labor is given a protein balanced diet rich in fats, babies start drinking water from 10-20 days of age. When self-nursing, the crumbs are fed from a pipette with a hamster milk substitute or powdered infant formula; in the second week, babies begin to look for food without assistance.

Hamsters for home keeping

There are several common species of these animals, slightly differing in the size and color of the coat. The smallest is the Roborovsky hamster with a body size of up to 6 cm, and an ordinary hamster will grow up to 30 cm long. Only 3-4 species are popular among amateurs, but there are up to 60 of them in nature. Correct care a hamster is needed, regardless of its origin.

With a black stripe along the ridge, they are popular and studied best of all, their backs are brownish-gray and ocher-gray in color. This species originates from the countries of Asia and Western Siberia, with good care the animals grow up to 10 cm in size. Dzungarian hamsters at home it is simple, they are kept in cages on sawdust, with daily cleaning of the nest, the smell is not audible. It is recommended to settle pets in pairs, to allow breeding from 3 months of age.

Initially, (golden) hamsters were bred for laboratories. Soon the amateurs liked the gentle reddish-sandy color animals up to 18 cm in size, they began to be intensively bred for home maintenance and care. They love temperatures around 22 ° C, and when they get cold they can become numb. In the question of how long Syrian hamsters live at home, these rodents do not differ from their brethren, delighting us with their company for an average of 2-3 years.

V natural environment there is no separate breed, they are a kind of common Syrian hamsters, differing from relatives in an incredibly beautiful fluffy fur coat different color... It is not uncommon when babies with smooth and fluffy hair appear in the litters of angora. Their back color is varied - white, gray, tortoiseshell, spotted, silver. For this hamster at home, care is simple without complex nuances.

Externally, Siberian hamsters look like Dzungars, but have a slightly lighter back color. In winter, their coat whitens noticeably, so they are often called Russian white dwarf hamsters. They live in the steppes of Tuva on flat and hilly terrain. Siberian hamsters are not demanding in care, their habits do not differ significantly from other species. These pets love to wash and brush their hair in a funny way, with the onset of cold weather they burrow into the litter.

Hamsters are members of the hamster family. These animals, living in the wild, are quite dangerous animals that appearance and the size is very different from cute domestic rodents.

All wild hamsters are close relatives, and therefore have a similar constitution and body structure. Rodents differ only in color and size. These characteristics directly depend on the habitat of the hamsters.

Animals that live in semi-deserts and deserts have yellow hair, sometimes sandy and ash shades. Inhabitants of forests and steppes got brown and gray color, which allows them to successfully camouflage among trees and bushes. The inhabitants of mountainous regions have black or brown wool. In nature, there are also pure white individuals. The coat of hamsters inhabiting areas with a harsh snowy climate turns white in the winter.

Interesting fact

In laboratories, scientists bred a breed of albino hamsters and heavily fluffy (Angora) rodents.

The family of hamsters includes rodents with a dense build and short limbs. Most wild hamsters have small eyes and rounded ears, an almost invisible tail. Along the back of rodents, there is a strip that has a darker shade than the main color of the coat. In almost all types of hamsters, the belly is lighter than the upper part of the body. Some animals have fur-covered legs - they belong to the Upland genus. On strong limbs there are firm claws, well adapted for digging holes and holes. On the muzzle of the hamsters there is a hard dark mustache.

Body length varies between 5-35 centimeters, tail - 0.7-10 centimeters. In some species, females are larger than males. These rodents can weigh up to 700 grams.

All hamsters have sharp and very strong teeth, well-developed cheek pouches - special muscle cavities for temporary storage of food and transfer of supplies to prepared storage places.

Interesting fact

Hamsters have only 4 front teeth, which have no roots. Strong teeth of rodents grow all their lives, animals constantly grind them on a stone.

Hamster distribution area

The habitat of hamsters is extensive. on the European continent, distributed in the southern and North America, found in Africa, live in central, southern and eastern parts Asia. These rodents settle mainly in arid regions - deserts and semi-deserts, in steppes and forest-steppe zones, even in mountainous areas. Hamsters can be found at an altitude of about 3000 meters above sea level. Often these animals also inhabit anthropogenic landscapes - parks, fields and vegetable gardens, orchards. Almost everywhere hamsters feel like masters.

What do hamsters eat?

Wild hamsters are inhabitants of the steppes and plains. Their natural diet includes legumes and cereal seeds - wheat, oats, peas, corn, and sunflowers. Also dry herbs, vegetables and fruits, roots, berries and nuts.

V wildlife rodents only eat well during the summer and warm autumn months. The rest of the time, the main food for hamsters is pre-prepared stocks, which the animals brought in cheek pouches to their underground storage facilities.

Some species of hamsters cannot get enough of only one plant food, they often eat carrion and insects.

Domestic hamsters are not as hardy as wild rodents, and therefore they cannot feed exclusively on grain from bags and natural reserves. Domesticated hamsters need a balanced diet. Veterinarians recommend buying fortified feed mixtures from pet stores. The daily norm of special food for young active individuals is 14 grams.

V summer period hamsters should be given plenty of vegetables, herbs, berries and fruits. Domestic animals will be happy to eat carrots, radishes, zucchini and cucumbers, broccoli, young peas. From greens, hamsters can be given lettuce, dill and parsley, clover, dandelion leaves. Rodents also like sweet fruits and berries - peaches, apricots, bananas, apples and pears, strawberries, blueberries and currants. You can feed your hamsters with walnuts, peeled peanuts, hazelnuts. No more than 3 times a week, the animals can be given popcorn without salt, dried fruits and biscuits for rodents as a special treat. Keep in mind, however, that treats should not replace your main feed.

Important!

Hamsters should not be fed milk and sour cream, white cabbage and red cabbage, potatoes, fruit seeds, citrus fruits and mushrooms should not be given. The body of domestic rodents does not tolerate sweet and fatty foods, flour products.

Domesticated hamsters need water. The liquid should be poured into a hanging drinker. Fresh water should be available every day.

Interesting fact

Since wild hamsters are inhabitants of deserts and steppes, in natural conditions they have very limited opportunities for drinking clean water. The body of these rodents is designed in such a way that they get the right amount of moisture every day from vegetables and other green food.

Hamster lifestyle

As inveterate individualists, in the wild, hamsters live alone. And only for the period of mating, females and males find themselves in the same burrow. During the mating season, the male protects the female's area from strangers. It is noteworthy that one male hamster can mate not with one female, but with several and at the same time protect the territorial interests of all his chosen ones.

Wild hamsters live in self-dug multi-chamber burrows. Their shelters have a huge number of different passages and turns, separate places for sleeping and resting, storing supplies, and a toilet near the burrow. Rodents dig holes up to 3 meters deep with many tunnels.

Hamsters are nocturnal. With the onset of darkness, the rodents leave their underground shelters and go in search of food. They are very responsible and thrifty animals that collect and store food in burrows. One wild hamster can stock up to 20 kilograms of grain, potatoes, carrots, peas in its shelter. All these supplies will be useful to rodents in winter time of the year. With the onset of the first frost, hamsters close the entrance to their shelter from the inside. In winter, representatives of the hamster family hibernate (not all species), but from time to time they wake up to refresh themselves. And only in spring, when young vegetation suitable for food appears, hamsters leave their burrows.

All hamsters, like other inhabitants of the dungeon, have poor eyesight, so rodents try not to leave the earthen burrows during the daytime. Hearing and scent of these animals are well developed.

In nature, hamsters do not live as long as domesticated rodents. In an environment uncontrolled by humans, it can be difficult for them to keep alive. Foxes, weasels and ferrets, rooks and herons are deadly enemies of wild hamsters.

Breeding hamsters

By smell, male hamsters find friends for themselves, of whom, as a rule, there are several. If a competitor is encountered on the way to the female, a fight occurs between the males. The weak hamster retreats, and the winner continues on his way. The active breeding season begins with the onset of April and ends in October, when the rodents are awake.

Depending on the species, the pregnancy of female hamsters lasts from 15 to 22 days. The first litter in the mating season is born in May. In one brood, from 1 to 20 small animals are born. Hamsters are very fertile, in one year they bring 2-4 litters.

Interesting fact

After fertilization, the male does not remain with the female. His mission is over and he does not take part in raising kids.

Cubs are born with closed eyes and receive their sight at about 10 days of life. After two weeks, the body of small hamsters is completely covered with hair. At this age, babies feed on mother's milk and eat greens. They grow very quickly and pretty soon they themselves are included in the process of replenishing the population.

Female hamsters are caring mothers. They take care of the offspring, but only until the young are able to take care of themselves on their own. At the age of 3 weeks, young individuals are already looking for a suitable territory for life.

Hamsters become sexually mature at 6-8 weeks. In the wild, they live from 1 to 4 years, in captivity they can live for about 5 years. Crows, rooks, herons carry the threat to young rodents.

Hamster conservation status

Most hamster species cause serious damage agriculture eating grains and legumes on farmland. Also, these rodents are a natural reservoir of various pathogens, pathogens of severe infectious diseases.

Some hamster skins are harvested. In addition, rodents from the hamster family are used as experimental animals for experiments in scientific centers and laboratories.

Since hamsters are prolific animals, they manage to survive in the wild with a large number of enemies. However, two species of rodents - the Syrian hamster and Newton's hamster are now under threat of extinction. They are listed in the International Red Book.

People often have fluffy cute hamsters as pets. These animals do not need a lot of free space for life, they are not whimsical in food, they do not require special care and daily walks on fresh air... It is not difficult to contain, but they need care and attention.

The personal area for a small rodent (cage or aquarium) should be at least 50 × 40 × 40 centimeters in size. The bottom of the cage should be covered with special filler, sawdust, dry grass or torn paper. Also in the cage, you need to install a house, a drinker and a feeder, a wheel and labyrinths to entertain a pet hamster. The filler from the bottom of the cage should be cleaned once a week, and an individual drinker and feeder must be cleaned every day.

Interesting fact

By nature, hamsters are very cowardly. They try to move exclusively along the walls in case a suitable hole is found to hide in it. However, the reason for this behavior of rodents with short legs is not only a search for shelter. The wall serves as a protection for the hamsters. Even in a small open space, the animals are accessible from all sides, and near the wall they feel protected.

Optimal age to buy a pet hamster – 1-2 months. The animal is still young enough to be easily tamed, but already old enough for an independent life.

Important!

Veterinarians recommend buying hamsters in the evening. It is during this period that small rodents are most active, so by their behavior it will be possible to determine whether the animal is healthy or sick. The appearance of the hamster is also important - his coat should be dry, clean and without bald patches.

Wild hamsters are difficult to tame, so you should only buy domestic hamsters bred in captivity. By the way, it is irrational to choose several rodents at once. Different-sex hamsters will constantly bring offspring, and same-sex animals will fight.

Interesting fact

Male hamsters are more calm, gentle and docile in nature than females.

Hamster classification

The subfamily Cricetinae includes 19 species of hamsters, which belong to 7 genera:

• • • Genus Allocricetulus (Eversman's hamsters):
    • Mongolian hamster (Allocricetulus curtatus);
    • Eversman's hamster or Kazakh hamster (Allocricetulus eversmanni).
    • GenusCansumys:
    • Kan hamster (Cansumys canus).
  • • Genus Cricetulus (Gray hamsters):
    • The Chinese hamster (Cricetulus griseus) is a dwarf hamster, sometimes called a rat hamster;
    • Short-tailed hamster (Cricetulus alticola) - Tibetan dwarf;
    • Baraba hamster (Cricetulus barabensis) - striped dwarf hamster;
    • Tibetan hamster (Cricetulus kamensis);
    • Long-tailed hamster (Cricetulus longicaudatus) - long-tailed dwarf hamster;
    • The gray hamster (Cricetulus migratorius) is a migratory hamster, sometimes called the Armenian hamster;
    • Sokolov's hamster (Cricetulus sokolovi).
  • • GenusCricetus:
    • The common hamster (Cricetus cricetus) is a European hamster.
  • • Genus Mesocricetus (Medium hamsters):
    • Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) - this species is often called golden, such rodents are kept as pets;
    • Brandt's hamster (Mesocricetus brandti) - Turkish hamster;
    • Hamster Radde (Mesocricetus raddei) - Ciscaucasian hamster;
    • Newton's hamster (Mesocricetus newtoni) is a Romanian hamster.
  • • The genus Phodopus (Upland hamsters):
    • Dzungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus) - snow-white Russian hamster;
    • Campbell's dwarf hamster (Phodopus campbelli);
    • Roborovskiy hamster (Phodopus roborovskii).
  • • GenusTscherskia:
    • The rat hamster (Tscherskia triton) is a long-tailed hamster, also called the Korean hamster.

Mongolian hamster (Allocricetulus curtatus)

A rodent species from the genus Eversman's hamsters. Habitat - overgrown sands of Tuva and stony semi-deserts, these animals are found in Mongolia and China.

Mongolian hamsters grow up to 15 centimeters in length (tail is 1.5-2 centimeters). They are distinguished by a light shade of wool, the lower surface of the tail, paws and belly are white. There is no characteristic dark spot on the chest.

Hamsters are most active in the evening and at night. They feed mainly on small insects, herbs and seeds. In winter, they hibernate for a short time, wake up, then fall asleep again. The mating season begins in mid-spring and ends in early fall. The female Mongolian hamster brings 2-3 litters in one year, in which 5 to 14 cubs are born.

Eversman's hamster (Allocricetulus eversmanni)

Distributed in the central and northern parts of Kazakhstan, inhabits the Middle and Lower Trans-Volga regions, found in the south of the Trans-Urals. Inhabits the outskirts of plowed lands, territories of grass-wormwood steppes and salt licks. Tries to avoid areas with high levels of humidity.

Eversman's hamsters are small rodents, larger than mice. Their body length reaches 13-16 centimeters, the tail is about 2-3 centimeters. The species is named after the zoologist Eduard Eversman.

These animals have a pointed muzzle, short legs and a small tail, small rounded ears. On the soles of the limbs, digital tubercles are clearly visible. The tail, wide at the base, has a thick and very soft hairline. The color of the skin on the back ranges from black-brown to ash-sandy. The belly of Eversman's hamsters is white, a sharp contrast with the dark color of the fur on the sides is clearly visible. The bottom of the tail and paws are pure white, with a brown spot on the chest.

Hamsters of this species are nocturnal, becoming active at dusk. Simple shelters are dug, consisting of a main nesting chamber and a vertical, sometimes inclined passage. Often, Eversman's rodents use the burrows of other animals as housing. They feed on seeds and young shoots of cereals, tulip bulbs, insects and larvae.

The active breeding period lasts from April to September. In a year, the female gives 2-3 offspring, in which there are 4-5 small hamsters. Rodents usually hibernate in October.

The number of this species is low. Eversman's hamster is listed in the regional Red Data Books in several regions of Russia.

Kansk hamster (Cansumys canus)

The only member of the genus Cansumus. Distributed in the central part of China in the provinces of Sichuan, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Gansu. This type of a generally accepted name in Russian does not yet have. In several European languages, the species is called "Gansu".

The length of the body of rodents (together with the head) reaches 17 centimeters, the length of the tail is 7-10 centimeters. Kansk hamsters weigh about 100 grams. They have thick fur, thin paws, long claws are clearly visible on the front legs white... On the back of hamsters, gray color predominates, white spots are located at the base of the ears and on the cheeks. The belly of the animals is white, and the tip of the tail is also white. At the base of the tail there is a characteristic long hairline.

The lifestyle of hamsters of this species has been little studied. It is known that rodents live in deciduous forests in mountainous regions at an altitude of 1-1.5 kilometers above sea level. Kansk hamsters build their dwellings on the ground and in stones. They are active at night, especially in spring and summer. The animals feed on grass and leaves.

Cricetulus griseus)

Natural habitat - desert areas of Mongolia and North China. Hamsters live in burrows, where they spend almost the whole day. Small rodents leave their shelters only for a short time.

These animals grow up to 7.5-12 centimeters in length and weigh about 40 grams. Males are larger than females. In the wild, hamsters live for 2-3 years.

Rodents have a dark brown coat and a dark stripe on the back. They have small gray ears and black eyes.

Hamsters wake up at sunset, are active at night. They move very fast and can jump high. In addition, these animals climb beautifully, using their tail for balance. They feed on cereals and insects.

In many countries, Chinese hamsters are popular as pets, and this species is also often used for clinical research.

Short-tailed hamster (Cricetulus alticola)

Lives high in the mountains of Tibet. Distribution area - South Asia (India, Nepal), China. It settles at an altitude of about 4000 meters above sea level. In China, it is found at an altitude of 5000 meters. This species lives in mountain meadows, steppes, coniferous forests.

The body length of rodents is 8-10 centimeters with a weight of 40 grams. The color of the fur is uniform, without spots, gray-yellow or brown.

Short-tailed hamsters are active at night, and sometimes during daylight hours. They feed on small insects and plant seeds. The breeding season lasts from mid-May to August, with the peak of babies born in June-July. One litter contains from 5 to 10 small hamsters, more often 7-8 individuals.

Baraba hamster (Cricetulus barabensis)

It is found in the forest-steppe zone and semi-deserts of Mongolia, in Western Siberia and Tuva, inhabits the Korean Peninsula and in the northeastern part of China. Usually this species inhabits semi-deserts and steppes, but these hamsters quickly adapt to changes in living conditions and can live on farmlands.

Baraba hamsters are most active in the first half of the day. Simple shelters with 2-3 entrances and exits are being dug for themselves. There are usually several cells in the hole - a sleeping place and pantries for storing supplies. Rodents cover the nesting chamber with grass. 4-5 animals can live in one hole. They feed on legumes and grain vegetables. Hibernation occurs in February-March. After hibernation, the mating season begins. Females bring from 2 to 5 broods per year, usually 6-7 babies in a litter (maybe up to 10 individuals).

Zoologists distinguish 4 subspecies baraba hamsters:

• • 1. Cricetulus barabensis barabensis Pallas

They are distinguished by a dark color of the top; a black stripe is clearly visible on the back. This subspecies is widespread in the West Siberian part of the range.

• • 1. Cricetulus barabensis tuvinicus Ishakova

They have light gray fur. Found in Altai and Northern Mongolia.

• • 1. Cricetulus barabensis ferrugineus Argiropulo

Hamsters, the color of which is dominated by dark tones with an admixture of red shades. They live on the Korean Peninsula.

• • 1. Cricetulus barabensis fumatus Thomas

The back color is dark with red tints. Such rodents live in the Amur region on the territory of Russia, they are found in Northeast China.

Tibetan hamster (Cricetulus kamensis)

It lives exclusively in the mountains in the West of China. It settles in high meadows and open steppes. This species is found at altitudes from 3000 to 4000 meters above sea level.

Tibetan dwarf hamsters grow up to 8-11 centimeters in length, the tail reaches 5-6 centimeters (45% of the body length). Rodent fur is distinguished by a dark gray tint, sometimes with black veins. The underside is grayish-white, there is a wave-like transition where two colors meet. The tail is covered with warm protective hairs, has a dark stripe at the top, the rest is white.

These animals are active both at night and during the day. Simple burrows are dug for themselves, which include a nesting chamber and places for storing food. They feed on seeds, crops, and tiny insects. The mating season lasts from May to August, 7-8 cubs are usually born at a time.

Gray hamster (Cricetulus migratorius)

Inhabits the territory of Eastern Europe, Russia and Central Asia. The distribution area stretches up to the western part of China. The southern edge of the range passes through Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan, Israel and Jordan, North India.

Previously, hamsters of this species inhabited only dry meadows, steppes and semi-deserts. Now rodents also live on farm land, in gardens, in private plots. Gray hamsters prefer to settle in arid areas, avoid areas with high humidity and forests.

These animals grow up to 9-13 centimeters long, their tail is small - about 2.5 centimeters. The coat on the back is gray, the belly and tail are light. The eyes of the rodents are large, the ears are small.

Gray hamsters lead a ground-underground lifestyle, like most mouse-like rodents. They dig rather simple burrows with several pantries for storing food. In the winter season, these animals are inactive, they can hibernate. Hamsters eat green parts of plants and seeds, and small invertebrates can feed themselves.

The female hamster brings droppings 2-3 times a year. Pregnancy lasts 20 days. 7-8 babies are born in one brood. After a few months, the young reach sexual maturity and give a new generation by the end of the first year of life.

Long-tailed hamster (Cricetulus longicaudatus)

Inhabits the mountain steppes of Tuva, Sayan, occurs in the South-West of Transbaikalia. Lives on rocky mountain slopes, as well as in rocks. He makes burrows for himself among the rocks under the stones, often uses the shelters of other animals.

Hamsters grow up to 9-12 centimeters in length, the tail reaches 5 centimeters (40% of the body length). The muzzle of the animals has a wedge-shaped shape, the rounded ears look rather large, the tail is covered with a short but warm pile. The color of the back in rodents is dark gray, in old individuals it is distinguished by a reddish tint. The belly is light gray and the tail is two-colored (top is gray, bottom is white). The limbs are silvery white. The ears are dark with a clear white border.

Long-tailed hamsters are active at night. In nature, they feed on plant foods - cereals, shrub seeds. A special treat is wild almonds. In small numbers, rodents eat beetles.

The period of active breeding starts in March-April. In one brood, 4-9 small hamsters are born.

Sokolov's hamster (Cricetulus sokolovi)

Inhabits sandy regions of Mongolia, occurs on the border of Mongolia and China.

Sokolov's hamster is a representative of the genus of gray hamsters. The species is named after the Russian zoologist Vladimir Sokolov. The body length of these small rodents varies between 7-12 centimeters, the length of the tail is about 2-3 centimeters. Gray coat prevails. A strip runs from the neck to the tail. On the belly, the fur has a light gray tint. The ears are gray with dark brown spots in the center.

This species has been little studied, accurate information breeding of these hamsters is not.

Common hamster (Cricetus cricetus)

The only species of the genus Cricetus is widespread in Eurasia. These rodents live in meadow-steppe, steppe and forest-steppe regions, and also inhabit farmlands at the borders of cereal fields and shrubs.

The common hamster is the largest member of the hamster family. Adult male rodents grow up to 27-35 centimeters in length, tail - from 4 to 8 centimeters. These animals weigh about 700 grams. Their tail is thick, thinning towards the end, covered with a short but hard hairline. The feet are wide, well-developed claws are visible on the toes. The coat of this type of hamsters is soft and thick. The color of the fur is contrasting (the back is reddish-brown, the belly is black). On the sides there are large light spots, usually separated by a patch of black hair. Rodents also have light spots behind the ears and on the sides of the head. Zoologists identify more than 10 subspecies of common hamsters.

The animals lead a twilight lifestyle. During the day they incubate in a complex and deep hole (rodents dig out shelters up to 8 meters in length, depth - up to 2 meters). They can occupy ready-made gopher burrows. A permanent dwelling usually has 4-5 exits to the surface, a separate sleeping place and several chambers for storing supplies. Ordinary hamsters lead a solitary lifestyle outside the season of active breeding, they show aggression towards their relatives. They feed on plant food, insects and larvae, small vertebrates. For the winter, they store about 10 kilograms of various plant foods.

In the period from April to October, the female feeds 2-3 broods, in which up to 10 (and sometimes 20) small rodents are born.

In natural conditions, hamsters live up to 4 years, in captivity - from 3 to 6 years. The common hamster is protected in the Netherlands, Poland and Ukraine, Belgium and France, in Germany and Belarus.

Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus)

In the wild, it is found in Syria (in the vicinity of the city of Aleppo) and Eastern Turkey. These hamsters live in self-dug deep burrows, which usually consist of several vertical passages (only one comes to the surface) and two chambers. The dwelling is located at a depth of about 2 meters.

Syrian hamsters weigh about 100-125 grams with a body length of 13-15 centimeters. Females of this species are larger than males. Due to the natural bright golden color of hamsters' fur, they are often called golden. Rodents have soft and thick hair, lighter on the belly. In addition, the animals have small black eyes and gray ears. Salient feature of this type - the presence of capacious cheek pouches for transporting food supplies.

Golden hamsters are active at night, during the day they sleep. Rodents live in an arid climate, they always keep one by one (with the exception of the mating season). Their burrows are marked with secretions of scent glands. They feed on nuts and seeds of plants, often eat various insects.

In late autumn, Syrian hamsters go into hibernation and wake up only in March-April. Long hibernation is replaced by a period of active reproduction. Pregnancy in females lasts 16 days, sometimes up to 20 days. In one brood, 12-15 (according to some sources up to 20) small rodents are born. In the wild, animals live up to 2 years, in captivity - about 3 years.

Just a few years ago, golden hamsters began to be bred for keeping at home. During this time, about 40 different breeds were bred, which differ in fur color, type of wool and patterns of white spots. The most popular are long-haired (Angora) and short-haired Syrian hamsters.

Hamster Brandt or Transcaucasian hamster (Mesocricetus brandti)

Lives in Turkey, found in Lebanon and Israel, in the eastern Ciscaucasia at an altitude of 300 meters to 2500 meters above sea level. This species is widespread mainly in the mountain steppes. Transcaucasian hamsters settle on the slopes of gentle hills and gullies in places where cereal vegetation predominates, as well as in the fields.

These small rodents from the hamster family are named after the famous German zoologist Johann Brandt. Animals grow up to 18 centimeters (tail 2-3 centimeters) and weigh about 200 grams. Hamsters have soft hair, especially thick on the tail. The belly is gray-brown, there is a black spot on the chest between the forepaws. The head has a reddish-yellow tint, the chin is light, the paws are white with bare soles.

Brandt's hamster is nocturnal, always keeping one by one. Digs horizontal burrows with one exit to the surface. It feeds on seeds and tubers of plants, grain crops. It stores a lot of food in the burrow for the winter. Hibernates in December, awakens in March-April. During hibernation, wakes up to eat. Lives in the wild for about 2 years.

Hamster Radde(Mesocricetus raddei)

Inhabits the steppe zone of the Ciscaucasia, foothills and mountain steppes of the North Caucasus, inhabits the territory of Georgia. Rodents settle in dense grass close to springs, in thickets of weeds, on the outskirts of gardens and fields.

The specific name was given in honor of the Russian geographer and naturalist Gustav Radde. The body length of hamsters is approximately 25-28 centimeters, the tail is 1.5 centimeters. The coat has a brownish brown color, the underside of the body is dark gray or black. On the sides of the neck, on both sides, there are 2 black stripes, between which light spots are visible. The paws and nose are reddish.

Radde's hamsters are active at night. For themselves, they dig deep holes with one, less often with several exits. At a depth of about 1 meter, the burrow branches into separate chambers - a storeroom for supplies, a sleeping place. In winter, rodents hibernate. They feed on peas, clover, and various root crops.

Hamsters Radde are highly fertile. On flat terrain, females give birth to offspring 4 times a year, in mountainous regions - 2 times. This type of hamster is harmful to agriculture. These wild rodents destroy vegetation, the size of damaged areas by one animal reaches 50 square meters.

Hamsters Radde are carriers of tularemia, a dangerous infectious disease.

Hamster Newton(Mesocricetus newtoni)

The species is named after the British zoologist Alfred Newton. These hamsters are common in the north of Bulgaria, in Romania, on the territory along the right bank of the lower reaches of the Danube. Newton's hamsters choose dry places, rocky forest-steppes, steppe meadows, grain fields, vineyards for life.

The body length of rodents reaches 15-17 centimeters, of which 1.5-2 centimeters is the tail. The animals weigh 120-150 grams. The fur is gray-brown in color, with a black stripe running from the head to the middle of the back. The underside of the body is yellowish-gray, the chest and throat are dark brown or black.

Newton's hamster leads a predominantly solitary lifestyle, showing maximum activity at dusk and at night. Digs shelters with multiple entrances and cameras - a separate bedroom and storage room. This type of hamsters is omnivorous. Rodents feed on green parts herbaceous plants, fruits and seeds, small invertebrates.

Start mating season falls in April, breeding continues until the end of November. Pregnancy in females lasts 20 days. In a year, rodents bring 2 litters, in which there are from 6 to 16 babies. The lifespan of Newton's hamsters is 2-3 years.

(Phodopus sungorus)

In the wild, it lives in semi-deserts and dry steppe zones of Central and Central Asia, in the western part of Siberia, in Kazakhstan. Inhabits wormwood and grass steppes without shrubs, less often - zones with semi-fixed sands and cultivated lands.

Rodents weigh 40-65 grams, grow up to 10 centimeters in length. Their muzzle is pointed, the ears are small, the soles of the limbs are covered with thick wool. The color on the back is brown-gray, the belly is light, along the line of the ridge there is a narrow strip of black. In winter, the fur becomes almost white.

Dzungarian hamsters become active at nightfall. Dig shelters with multiple passages and a nesting chamber. For the winter period, they prepare stocks of seeds of agricultural crops, they do not hibernate. The diet includes green parts and seeds of plants, and the animals also eat insects.

The mating season is from March to September. During this time, the female manages to hatch 3-4 broods, in which there are 6-8 cubs. The young grows up quickly, hamsters from the first brood are able to reproduce as early as 4 months. These rodents live for 2-3 years.

Dzungarian hamsters are easy to tame and actively breed in captivity. They are popular as lovable pets in Europe and Asia, slightly less in the United States.

DwarfCampbell's hamster(Phodopus campbelli)

Distributed in the north of China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Russia. In the wild, it lives in steppe zones, semi-deserts and deserts. Rodents of this species live in pairs or groups with a leader.

These hamsters are named after Charles William Campbell, a member of the British consular service in China. The length of their body (including the head) varies in the range of 7.5-10.5 centimeters, the tail of the animals is short - 0.4-1.5 centimeters, the weight is about 25 grams. The head has a rounded shape, the muzzle is short. Wild hamsters have dark gray fur with shades Brown color, there is a dark stripe on the back. The fur on the belly is gray, the soles of the limbs are covered with white hair. Campbell's pet hamsters come in a variety of colors, from white to black. Fur color does not depend on the season.

Dwarf rodents are nocturnal. They dig holes up to 1 meter deep with several entrances (usually 4-6), a pantry for food supplies and a nesting chamber. Gerbil burrows are sometimes used. Feed on seeds different plants and nocturnal insects. They do not hibernate in the winter season.

The breeding season begins in April and ends at the end of October. Pregnancy of female dwarf hamsters lasts about 20 days. In one year, rodents bring 3-4 litters, in which there are from 4 to 9 small hamsters. Cubs develop very quickly, and already at 16-20 days of life they become completely independent. Sometimes males take part in caring for the offspring. At the time when the female leaves the babies, the male brings them food.

Campbell's hamsters are kept as pets. Hamster breeders claim that they are more difficult to tame than any other species.

(Phodopus roborovskii)

Distributed in Mongolia, also lives in the adjacent regions of Russia and China. Inhabits sandy deserts overgrown with caragana.

This representative of the genus of fur-legged hamsters is named after the Russian naturalist, explorer of Central Asia, Vsevolod Roborovsky. Hamsters of this species are one of the smallest. Adults grow up to 4-5 centimeters in length and weigh no more than 30 grams. Their tail is very short, practically does not protrude from the wool. The color of the fur on the back is sandy-golden, the legs and belly are white. Small light spots are visible above the eyes, the ears are black with a white edging, there is no characteristic stripe on the back.

Roborovsky hamsters live in shallow sandy burrows with 1-2 passages and a separate nesting chamber. They are active mainly at night and in the evening. The breeding season is between May and September. The female brings litters 3-4 times a year, in one litter from 3 to 9 cubs are born. Gestation lasts approximately 20 days, small hamsters become independent 25 days after birth.

Today Roborovsky hamsters are popular as pets. They can be kept in a group in the same aquarium.

Rat hamster(Tscherskia triton)

The only representative of the genus of rat-like hamsters inhabits the northeastern part of China, is widespread on the Korean Peninsula, and is found in Russia (in the Amur Region, Primorsky Territory, the Jewish Autonomous Region). It is one of several rodent species that seriously harm China's agriculture.

The body of a rat-like hamster reaches a length of 18-25 centimeters, the tail grows up to 7-10 centimeters. These animals weigh 100-200 grams. Their wool is soft, gray-brown color prevails, lighter on the belly. The tail is one-color, dark brown, sometimes with a light spot at the end. The feet are white, the soles are covered with hair.

In China, rodents live in arid plains, in Russia, hamsters have chosen swampy plains overgrown with bushes, as well as river valleys. These animals dig complex deep burrows with horizontal and vertical passages, a capacious chamber for storing supplies. Rodents feed mainly on seeds and acorns, crops, plant leaves, less often on insects and bird eggs.

Rat hamsters are nocturnal; in autumn and spring they are also active during the day. They do not hibernate for the winter period, but they also do not appear on the surface from the earthen hole. The breeding season is in May-August, during which time the female hamster manages to feed 3 growing broods. In one litter, many animals are born - from 8 to 10 small hamsters, but there are also 20. In nature, rodents live for about a year.

These hamsters are used as experimental animals in scientific laboratories.

Before you bring your pet into the apartment, you need to study as much information as possible about hamsters. You should know everything about their body structure, daily routine, breeding cycles. The character of small hamsters, their abilities and phobias is of no small importance. This information about hamsters will help you better understand the furry, speed up the adaptation process in a new home and make friends faster with a new family member.

Structural features

Domestic hamsters are tiny mammals that humans domesticated centuries ago. Their body, covered with thick fur, consists of a head, a very short neck and a torso with limbs and a small tail.

Head structure

On the muzzle of a hamster, you can conventionally depict a triangle. The lower top is a miniature nose, cute antennae spread out from it in different directions, which help the animal to receive information from the outside world (pressure, air velocity, etc.). Above the nose on the left and right there are radiant black eyes, and even higher - rounded ears upright. By the way, hamsters see rather poorly, but they hear perfectly, so even not very loud sounds can frighten them.

A characteristic feature of these pets is their teeth. Hamsters have only 16 of them, with 2 long incisors located below and above, which continue to grow throughout life, like other animals from the Rodents order. Hamsters have to gnaw something every day in order to grind down their front teeth, otherwise their mouth will simply not close and the animal will die.

Hamster cheeks are especially worthy of admiration. In them, a thrifty fluffy hides the food that he did not eat. In cheek pouches, the homa carries food from the bowl to the house. In the Dzungariks, they are relatively small, and in the Syrians, they are quite spacious, they fit up to 20 g of grains! The mucous membrane of the cheek pouches is very delicate, therefore, if you feed the hamster with coarse food, the cheek can swell.

Torso structure

The body of small rodents is rounded, it is covered with thick wool. By its appearance, one can judge the health of a pet. The Dzungarians have a coat of medium length, but the Syrian breed has 2 subspecies. There are ordinary Syrians with short hair and Angora - very beautiful hamsters with long curls.

The tail in representatives of most breeds is short, sometimes it is not even noticeable. And under it, on the abdominal side of the body, there are the organs of excretion and reproduction, and on the sides there 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 internal organs for a mammal, but the work of the heart is of particular interest. On average, it beats at 300 beats per minute and wears out quickly. Therefore, small rodents do not live long: a 3-year-old animal is already considered old. Respiratory rate depends on activity in this moment time. A sleeping homa takes about 35 breaths per minute, and during physical exercise or severe stress - 120!

The structure of their legs is also interesting. Many people don't know how many toes a hamster has.

• there are only 4 toes on the forelegs, the fifth does not develop, but can be seen as a small rudiment;
• there are five toes on the hind legs.

Hamsters' fingers are very tenacious, ending in claws, which should be periodically trimmed if the hamster does not nibble them on his own.

Now you've got an idea of ​​what hamsters look like. The body plan is common to all breeds, which cannot be said about the size and weight of animals.

Weight and size

In order to monitor your pet's health, you will need information about how much your hamster weighs. The sizes of these animals vary greatly depending on the breed. Let's consider several varieties in ascending order of their sizes.

1. Roborovsky's dwarf hamster. The maximum growth of the animal is 4-5 cm with the tail.
2. Long-tailed. The total length of the body is 10 cm, with 6 of them making up the tail.
3. Taylor. A miniature animal with a body length of 7-8 cm.
4. Dzungarik. Another dwarf breed, the size of these fluffs is up to 10 cm with the tail.
5. The Campbell hamster is a larger breed, the size of individual individuals reaches 12 cm.
6. 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.
7. Radde. A large animal up to 28 cm tall. Strong, voracious. As a pet, it is rare, but in nature it thrives.

Weight differs from breed to breed. So, tiny Taylors weigh on average 8 g, healthy Dzhungariki - 30 g, and well-fed Syrians reach a weight of 150 g. At birth, dwarf rodents weigh only 1 g, and Syrians weigh from 2 to 4 g (depending on the number of hamsters in the litter).

In the photo, the owners weigh their Campbell hamster:

Features of the diet

Homas are omnivorous by nature: 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, strictly dose their amount, because these pets sometimes get sick diabetes mellitus, 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 curd.

Reproduction and development of babies

All hamsters are "early maturing" pets, their puberty comes in 1-2 months. On females, this is almost not reflected externally, but in boys, testicles begin to protrude. Sometimes they are of such size that you are simply amazed!

Despite early sexual development in hamsters, care must be taken to ensure that they do not engage in sexual activity 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, within a week, the female is able to become pregnant again;
• one married couple can bring up to 10 offspring per year!
• 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 after a week from the moment of birth they crawl all over the cage in search of tasty seeds. At 2 weeks, their eyes are already opening, fluff appears on the body. And when the animals are one month old, they are already completely independent.

Babies can be tamed after they open their eyes. Hamsters adapt faster to human interaction than adult hamsters. They are also more trainable.

Children of hamsters are shown in the photo:

Cognitive features

It is difficult for rodents to come up with a general description of their mental capabilities. It all depends on the breed, conditions of detention, the age at which the animal was accustomed to the hands. Of great importance is the frequency of communication with the owner and the types of games that were offered to the pet.

You will be interested to know what kind of memory these pussies have. Scientists have proven that cheeks are able to remember events, which is reflected in their behavior in a certain situation. For example, some homas perform the ritual of greeting the owner: they come to the edge of the cage and quietly squeak or rub their paws. At the same time, having noticed a stranger, the same animal hides in the house.

A good memory is also evidenced by the fact that rodents eventually begin to respond to their name. Just choose a short nickname and repeat it more often.

Sometimes there are talented hamsters that are perfectly amenable to training. This phenomenon is based not only on the good memory of rodents, but also on their natural curiosity. If you put a treat at the end of the maze, the homa will definitely find it. The 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 disturbed in the morning or in the afternoon, but in the evening you can start training.

The nature of rodents and their habits

Of course, the character of a furry friend depends on the attitude of the owners towards him and on the conditions of detention. But each breed has its own distinctive characteristics. For example, the Dzungariki are a little wild and vulnerable, the Syrians are good-natured and calm, and the Radde hamster is a very headstrong beast that can sometimes show aggression.

Habits are similar in all rodents, regardless of breed. They love:

• gnaw on everything - the bars of the cage, your house, toys, etc. If the homa is suddenly lost in the apartment, then do not be surprised to find gnawed wires;
• bury yourself in the litter and hide in the house;
• run away at the first opportunity;
• make food supplies. If you notice that the bowl of your fluffy miracle is emptying too quickly, this does not mean that the cheekstick has eaten everything, for sure he has hidden most of the food somewhere;
• run in the wheel. Especially this desire is exacerbated in a fluffy in the evenings and at night.

In order for the animal to satisfy its need to gnaw, there must be a special whetstone or at least twigs in its cage, otherwise the homa will begin to sharpen his teeth on his toys. Sometimes a pet has a desire to taste its own owners. Remember that he doesn't want to hurt you, he just knows the world in this way. Even if your pet has bitten you painfully, you should not punish him and shout, because he can get scared and offended. Hamsters have other fears, which we will discuss in more detail.

Hamster phobias

Feelings of fear and constant stress can significantly shorten the life of an animal. We know all about hamster fears and we want to tell you what these tiny creatures are afraid of.

Here is a list of hamster phobias:

1. Small rodents are afraid of humans. It is quite logical, because people are so big and noisy, and pussies are small and defenseless. This fear can only be overcome by careful treatment of the animal, long-term and unobtrusive domestication.
2. Water. Most hamsters do not like to swim, as water is a stranger to them. 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 must still be limited).
3. Wind. Small rodents are very afraid of drafts, they try to hide from them in a shelter. And rightly so! After all, getting cold in the wind for such crumbs is a common thing.
4. Bright light. Fuzzies are nocturnal animals and it is very difficult to remake them. It is only natural that they try to get away from the bright rays of the sun or lamp. Therefore, the cage should be located where direct sunlight does not penetrate.
5. Noise. The biggest fear of babies, because they hear very well. Ultrasound is generally destructive for them, rodents do not tolerate it. With prolonged exposure, animals become aggressive, shout, rush to the cage and to their owners. At an unexpected sound, they get scared, cover their eyes and ears with their paws, try to curl up into a ball.
6. 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 from childhood to accustom the homa to a friendly cat (but you shouldn't leave them alone anyway)!

Here is a photo of a scared hamster:

By the way, hamsters do not have an innate fear of heights. Therefore, he can safely jump down from the top tier of the cage or from your shoulder. Animals begin to be afraid only after falls, then they associate height with a feeling of pain. But remember that these furry pets have poor eyesight: they cannot always correctly estimate the height.

Pussies also don't like some smells. Not that they are afraid of them, they just dislike the aromas of garlic, mint and citrus.

They also do not like carelessness. In no case should you touch the hamster's sacrum or take it by the scruff. The homa may become enraged at such treatment. Also, do not disturb the animal while sleeping and eating.

Thus, hamsters are very cute and interesting pets, but rather vulnerable and shy. But if you treat your fluffy treasure well, feed it correctly, take care of it, talk affectionately and leave it alone in 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!

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 pet rodents and are often the very first pets in families with small children. It is easy and simple to take care of them, and they also love active games, which attracts the attention of little owners. To find out interesting details about animals and about that, read a fascinating story about hamsters for children!

Both pets and di which rodents have a very small body. Some of them grow up to 5 cm, others up to 15 cm, and the largest varieties 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 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 hairless rodents. The ears of the animals are small and neat, and the eyes resemble dark round beads. The coat of rodents is most often gray, brown on the back and snow-white on the belly and neck.

Hamsters always make edible supplies behind their cheeks, where there are special ones, where a lot of delicious grains can fit. Natural thriftiness has made such sacs one of the most developed parts of the body of hamsters. For example, a large animal that has grown to 30 cm can fit 50 g or a whole handful of seeds. Thanks to such bags, the animals can transfer food obtained during the hunt to the mink or make supplies in their cage, dragging treats to secluded places.

In order not to confuse a hamster and a 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 large cheeks as a hamster, then you should pay attention to the size. Remember that your hamster will always be larger than its closest relative. The color of their fur coats will also help to distinguish the animals: mice are only gray or white, and hamsters wear sandy, brown, gray-white or black fur, which most often happens with specks.

Where and how do hamsters live

In nature, rodents are common in many European countries, South Africa and in the Far East. They live in steppes, deserts and fields, building deep burrows for themselves. Their underground houses have three compartments. In one, they equip a pantry, where they put all the harvested grains. In another, they rest and sleep in winter when the time comes for hibernation... It is during this period that 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 enters the burrow.

Every day, in search of food, the animals have to travel very long distances, which a person can only overcome in a two-hour journey by car. The peculiarity of an active lifestyle is also passed on to pets who live in cozy and spacious cages. They will also make edible supplies and constantly move around the house. For a hamster to live comfortably in a cage, he will need a treadmill in which he can run a lot, keep fit and be healthy.

What is the character of hamsters

Domestic rodents are sociable, calm and docile in nature. They enjoy spending time in the company of children, but do not really like it when they are often taken on handles or disturbed during sleep. If you accidentally wake up a sleeping rodent, it can get very frightened and, therefore, you need to communicate with the animals carefully and try not to scare the small animal.

And if you come across a wild hamster, in no case try to catch it, pet it, or feed it with delicious food. The nature of rodents living in open nature is not at all so kind and trusting, because the animals have to take care of their safety. Having seen a person, a hamster can mistake him for a predator that 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 will have to settle them in different cages and put them away from each other. Only in this case the pets will feel calm and please with friendliness.

How to feed your hamster

You can treat your pet different grains. For example, wheat or oats. Sometimes you can feed a rodent

These fluffy little rodents are among the most popular pets.

Hamsters have won a lasting place in the homes and hearts of caring owners thanks to their unpretentiousness, friendliness and ingenuity. But despite all their advantages and popularity, the decision to settle a new fluffy pet in your house must be approached with all responsibility.

Buy or not buy?

The first thing you need to pay attention to is that family members are not allergic to animal hair or litter fillers. Second, but no less important, is the choice of a place for the cage of the future pet. Hamsters equally dislike drafts, too warm or cold air, dampness. They have no place in a smoky room, on the floor or windowsill. It is important to remember that these are living beings and they have the right to demand a decent attitude towards themselves.

Among other indisputable advantages of keeping hamsters are their low cost, ease of care, which does not require special skills. The small amount of food a hamster needs for a full life will not affect the family budget in any way, and his cage will not take up much space in the apartment.

What is the best age to buy?

Unlike other pets, hamsters do not live long - an average of one and a half to three and a half years. If you do decide to have a new pet, it is better to purchase it at the age of no more than two months. Young hamsters quickly get used to the new environment, they are easier to educate, and it is easier to train them to use the litter box.

Which one to choose - a male or a female?

The choice of the sex of a hamster entirely depends on the preferences of its future owners, however, if only one hamster plans to settle in your house, then experts recommend purchasing a male. The procedure for determining the sex of a hamster is quite simple - you need to gently place it on your palm or take it by the scruff of the neck and look at the distance between the genital organ and the anus. In females, this distance is very small - no more than three millimeters, and in males - up to one and a half centimeters.

Cell selection

A cage with vertical or horizontal rods is the most suitable and comfortable habitat for a hamster. Its size depends on the breed of hamsters. For dwarf - Dzungarian and Roborovskih - the height and width are about 30 cm, length - 50 cm.For golden, or Syrian, hamsters it is better to choose a larger cage - 40 cm wide and 40 cm long, about 60 cm long.

Unlike the Syrian, the Dzungarian and Roborovski hamsters are indifferent to climbing twigs and other acrobatic tricks, so plastic cages (dunes) are quite suitable for them. In no case should you settle hamsters in tall and narrow aquariums - bacteria multiply very quickly here, high humidity and almost no access to fresh air.

Cell interior

In order for your pet to feel happy and healthy, it needs not only to be fed, but also to be entertained. Golden hamsters cannot do without climbing devices - various decorative twigs, tubes, labyrinths, obstacles that create several tiers in the cage at once. Here, the presence of a wheel with transverse crossbars is required; it can be fixed to the wall or installed on the floor of the cage.

Sawdust of medium size, pressed or mixed with shavings, as well as fine sifted sand for dwarf rocks, are most often used as bedding. All types of textile or paper bedding, including newspapers, cotton wool, rags, are categorically excluded.

An important place in a hamster's dwelling is a house for sleeping and resting, here he will be able to store valuable things for him. The house should be spacious enough and comfortable, preferably attached to the wall. Its design should provide easy access for cleaning and ventilation.

After purchasing a cage and placing a hamster in it, immediately install a toilet in it with a special filler that absorbs odor and moisture. It is necessary to train a hamster to walk on a tray from an early age, otherwise it will be very difficult to retrain it, and often impossible. The filler must be replaced once a week.

You can purchase a feeder at the store or make your own, taking into account the size of your pet. On average, the size of the feeder ranges from three to ten centimeters, with a height of about one and a half centimeters.

As a drinker, you can use a small container - about 50 milliliters. This volume will fully satisfy the daily water requirement of the hamster. The water in the drinker should be changed daily, and it is also very important to ensure that there are no wet sawdust around the container.

We buy only healthy hamsters

When choosing a hamster, it is very important to make sure that your future pet is healthy. Visual inspection and observation of his behavior will be enough to make sure he is okay. So, a hamster is healthy if:

• he has a shiny, thick skin, with no signs of hair loss. Scars spoil the appearance of the animal, but do not indicate its poor health.
• his eyes are clear, clean and shiny.
• there is no discharge from the nose, the nose itself is healthy and clean.
• the fur around the anus is clean, with no signs of diarrhea or inflammation.

A hamster that has just been awakened should not show excessive anxiety or, conversely, apathy. Both options speak of the stressful state of the animal, which can subsequently result in high vulnerability and disease. Only Roborovsky hamsters are distinguished by increased fussiness in any circumstances.

Do you need neighbors?

Your hamster will be very painful if someone else lives in his cage. Therefore, there should be as many cages as you plan to have hamsters.

Getting used to a new home

To make your new guest more comfortable in new conditions for him, give him a few days to leisurely explore his home. When the initial stress has passed, innate curiosity will take over, and the hamster will begin to study his cage with interest, feeling more and more confident.

If it becomes necessary to take the animal, for example, to a veterinarian, for this it is not at all necessary to take the whole cage with you - it is enough to purchase a small carrier for rodents. Subsequently, it will come in handy during the general cleaning of the cage. Alternatively, a well-ventilated cardboard box can be used.

How to handle a hamster?

It takes patience and some time to gain the hamster's trust. However, all the efforts spent on this will pay off completely - communication with your pet will bring you only joy. What can and cannot be done when handling hamsters?

It is forbidden:

• make sudden movements or swing your arms next to the hamster;
• picking up a newly woken up or sleeping hamster;
• corner or cover with palms;
• screaming loudly next to the cage;
• leave on high surfaces - he does not distinguish between distances and will surely fall down;
• grab the scruff with a rough movement.

Can:

• talk to an animal in a soft, calm voice;
• taking it in your arms, do it slowly and carefully, clasping it under the front legs;
• touch the hamster only with clean hands and give him the opportunity to first sniff his hand - this way he will quickly get used to your smell;
• give him a chance to calm down if he is scared.

What to do if bitten by a hamster?

Hamsters are harmless, but very sensitive and shy creatures. Therefore, sometimes there is a risk of being bitten, but not out of malice, but in self-defense. In addition, if your hand smells like food, the hamster may simply mistake it for a delicious treat. What if you get bitten?

First, keep calm and not punish the animal - he did this not out of malice. Carefully put it in the cage and treat the bite site with brilliant green, alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, and stick the plaster. If your hamster is healthy, then no dangerous consequences from the bite will not.

What and how to feed hamsters?

The main food for hamsters is hard grains such as wheat, oats, millet. They also love to gnaw seeds and nuts, but these delicacies cannot be made their main food, it is better to leave them as a dessert. The hamsters satisfy the need for liquid and vitamins at the expense of juicy vegetables and fruits - apples, carrots, pears, celery, cucumbers, beets, corn. Garlic, onions, citrus fruits and cabbage should be eliminated from their diet. Sometimes a hamster can be pampered with sweet berries in small quantities - strawberries, raspberries, grapes.

Feeding takes place twice a day - in the morning and in the evening. To determine your pet's serving size and taste preferences, just watch it for a while. And do not forget to put him a drinker with clean water every day.

Water treatments and nail trimming

Hamsters do not like to swim, so you should only resort to water treatments as needed. For bathing, a special rodent shampoo is best, after which the fur should be blotted with a soft towel. If the room is cool and you are worried that it will freeze, you can dry it slightly with a hairdryer, a weak stream of warm air.

The grown claws are carefully cut off with a special nail clipper or nail tweezers.

Breeding hamsters

Hamsters are allowed to mate after both partners are three months old.

On average, hamsters have a gestation period of two and a half to three weeks.

For about three more weeks, the babies born will feed on mother's milk. During this period, it is advisable to add a small amount of protein to the female's diet - a hard-boiled egg, a piece of cheese or boiled chicken. Before giving birth, it is better to move the cage with the expectant mother to a calm, low-light place.

If the female is young and became a mother for the first time, she can abandon her cubs and even eat them. Unfortunately, if this happened before the babies reached at least ten days of age, then it will not be possible to save them. After 3.5 - 4 weeks, the cubs are deposited, settling in separate cells. They should not be allowed to be with their mother for more than five weeks.

Newborn hamsters are bald, deaf and blind. For the first few days, their main food is mother's milk, then they gradually move to small grains. At the end of the first week, their hair begins to grow, at the end of the second, their eyes open. Within a month, they have already fully mastered the world around them.

After the offspring are born, the male should not be in the same cage with the female - he will not harm the babies and even help in caring for them, but it is very likely that the female will become pregnant again, and this can be dangerous to her health.

Signs of disease in hamsters

You can determine if your pet is sick by the following signs:

• wet fur and heavy breathing;
• increased aggressiveness or apathy;
• hair loss or sores on the skin;
• chills, frequent stools (runny or dry);
• the presence of blood-sucking insects - lice, fleas.