TaxonomyClick below to explore the taxonomy of the Syrian Hamster.
The Golden HamsterThe Golden Hamster (or Syrian Hamster) is the type of hamster most commonly kept as pets. They were discovered in 1839 in Syria; however, they were unable to be successfully bred in captivity during this time. In 1930 a professor found a mother and her litter that he brought back to Jerusalem for further study. This litter was successfully bred, and they are considered to be the ancestors of all Syrian hamsters kept in captivity aside from the few that travelers have brought back with them. Originally they were used for research due to their temperment, lack of disease, and quick reproductive cycles and were eventually shipped to labs all over the world. They first arrived in the US as lab animals in 1939. They quickly became part of the pet trade in the US in 1945 and quickly gained popularity.
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Dwarf HamstersDuring the 1970s the dwarf hamsters (genus Phodopus) on the seen. They are more social than Syrian hamsters; however, their higher energy makes them impractical for small children to handle. Read more from the link below!
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Appearance & BehaviorSyrian Hamsters have a distinct appearance and are easily identifiable. Please read below to learn more about how they behave, and what they look like.
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Teddy Bear HamsterThe Teddy Bear hamster (AKA Angora Hamster) is a popular pet due to their fluffy hair. Read below to learn more about the Teddy Bear Hamster and its needs.
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THINK!
Hamsters can communicate in ultrasonic ranges that humans and many other animals cannot hear. Why do you think this is advantageous for hamsters?
If I had to sum up a hamsters... |
Crepuscular vs. Nocturnal |
Disclaimer: I am not trying to teach you do this with your hamster, and instead I am trying to educate you on why you should not try this. |
The term nocturnal has been used to describe Hamsters and their high activity at night. This term is actually inaccurate. Nocturnal is used both because they were originally believed to be nocturnal, and because the term is more familiar to the average person. Hamsters are actually crepuscular, because they are most active at twilight (dusk and dawn).
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HousingRead the article below to learn more about your hamster's habitat needs.
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FeedingRead the article below to learn more about your hamster's dietary needs.
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Health
The typical lifespan of a hamster is 1.5-2 years.
During this time it is important to provide your hamster with proper care in order to ensure their health by following the various details already given to you on this page. We will explore a few health problems common to hamsters. Diabetes is very common in dwarf hamsters. While not as prevalent in Syrian hamsters, it is still possible for them to get if they are not properly fed. Diabetes is essentially high blood sugar due to an improper diet. It can be fatal if not properly managed. Click below to learn about Wet Tail Disease in Hamsters. |
Cute Cuddly Hamster or Raging Cannibal |
Another problem you will encounter with hamsters is....wait for it...cannibalism! Yes, hamsters have some pretty cannibalistic tendencies. But the more you know about how to prevent them, the less likely you are to encounter times of cannibalism.
Scenario 1: Female not ready to mate and not removed When mating a male and female you always place the female in the male's space. If she is ready to mate she will allow the male to do his thing. However, if she is not ready she will attack the male. This is why you must watch over them during matings to ensure the safety of the male. When she attacks you will need to immediately removed the male as she can kill him and will eat him. Scenario 2: Female is done mating and not removed. Same thing goes for when she is done mating. We hear about this time and time again in the animal kingdom about females killing males after matings have occurred. She is simply indicating that she is done in the most obvious way possible...by killing and eating the male. So if you are particularly attached to the male hamster I suggest you remove him before things get bloody. Scenario 3: Mom just had babies and has poor nutrition. Hamsters are quite selfish individuals. Nutrition requirements change for females during pregnancy and lactation. If you do not adjust their food to reflect the new requirements you will leave the mom in bad health. So clearly the best way to recover these nutrients is by killing and eating her babies. Hey...survival of the fittest! Scenario 4: Mom feels like babies are weak or in danger and commits a mercy kill Alot of animals do this for their young. If they feel like their babies are too sick to survive or are in danger they will kill them in the most humane way possible so they get a better death. HOWEVER, it does not take much for a momma hamster to feel like her young are threatened. For instance, simply your presence in the same room is enough to warrant a mercy kill. Scenario 5: Fighting occurs which leads to death and cannibalism Okay so basically anytime a fight leads to a death the winner will eat the obvious loser. I guess it's their way of celebrating their win or maybe it sends a message to the other hamsters to not mess with them. Either way your cute cuddly hamster has some pretty gruesome tendencies. |