All about hamsters: how to take care of hamsters?

The hamsters are among the most popular pets. Most of the time they are purchased as the first pet for children, to learn responsibilities and familiarize themselves with the world of animals. However, some people forget the true nature of hamsters and their specific needs as special species.

How does it go with these hamsters? Are they already fit for children for a few years?

Hamster – Rase hamster

There are some breeds of hamsters, those recommended for apartments can be divided into Syrian hamsters and dwarf hamsters, among which we distinguish:

• Jungle hamster
• Chinese hamster
• Manciurian hamster
• Nano hamster (Roboorovski)

Syrian hamsters

They are the largest of the genre of domestic hamsters and also the most peaceful. They reach a body weight up to 150 GE a size up to 20 cm. They are available in many colors and in different types of fur – with short hair, pre -loot to long hair.

Dwarf hamsters

They are significantly smaller, their body weight should not exceed 50 g. The length of their body is about 10 cm. The lowest is the hamster nano (Roboorovski)which has a body length of only 5 cm.

Regardless of the breed, hamsters are very sensitive and delicate animals. You have to be careful not to step on your feet or hang them. It is very easy to hurt hamsters with such small dimensions. When you decide to buy a hamster, it is worth looking for a good veterinarian specialized in the treatment of small mammals.

The price of a hamster depends on the region, but above all on the species. The cheapest hamsters can cost only a few she and the most expensive up to 100 she. To these are added the cost of purchasing all the equipment and products necessary to guarantee the well -being of the hamsters. When you buy a hamster, pay attention to the quality of the shop or to the place that sells them. Poor growth hamsters can get sick more often, in particular genetic diseases, and can also have a predisposition to certain diseases.

Nature of the hamsters – How are the hamsters?

The hamsters are very independent animals. Their beautiful look can be misleading because they are very ferocious mammals. I conduct a nightlife and, as soon as he obscures, download his energy. They are very curious and lively and love to explore new places, walk and dig a lot. Yes, hamsters like to dig. All of these make pets rather noisy at night. During the day, on the other hand, they need a lot of peace and rest, they sleep mainly and only occasionally wake up to have lunch.

The hamsters live between two and four years. Over time, they get used to contacting humans, but they are usually not very affectionate animals. Rather, they are far from hugs and kisses, they only tolerate that they are kept in the arms or be together next to each other. When setting up a connection with a hamster, it will easily ask for prizes and will be comforted. Like all animals, hamsters feel emotions, like fear. They can present their fear through mild whistles or nervous whispers.

It is absolutely important to remember that the hamster is an individualistic and lonely animal. A single hamster can be kept in a cage. Trying to combine some animals in a cage is associated with enormous stress and aggression for them. And it doesn’t matter the sex of the hamsters or even the size of the cage, the unattended hamsters can hurt or bite each other!

Cante Cage

The hamsters, despite their small size, need a relatively large space to live happily. These small mammals can go up to 9 km per day! Therefore, the greater the cage, the better it is. However, consider the width of the bars, so that it cannot cross them. The optimal width is about 0.5 cm.

For dwarf hamsters, the minimum size of the cage is 60×40 cm, while for larger Syrians, the cage should not be less than 80×50 cm. The height of the hamster cage is no longer so important; They are not animals that move in height and a fall from height can cause serious injuries to them. However, before purchasing a cage, it is worth considering that the cage bed linen must reach up to 15 cm. If an aquarium or terrarium is chosen, it should not be covered with glass. The hamster must have good circulation and access to fresh air.

The hamster cage should sit in a quiet place, far from the air currents or too much sunlight.

In a hamster cage, the furniture is very important. The hamsters are lively and curious animals, so all types of accessories and gadgets are welcome. The basic accessories for a hamster cage are a bowl, a buyer and a house. Additional accessories, you can opt for a wheel, toys, tunnels, sandy trays.

Bed linen for hamsters

The litter must be delicate for the legs, without chips or sharp parts. A waste Of course, preferably wooden, which will absorb the smells well and will not become too dusty. Pellets are not recommended as a substrate for the hamster cage. The litter can be mixed with hay in one side of the cage to make it more attractive, for nests and snacks. Remember that hamsters love to dig and create tunnels, so don’t scratch the bed. Its height can reach 15 cm or more. The litterie should be modified regularly, if necessary, and completely changed every 2 months when the cage must be completely washed and disinfected.

It is recommended to wash the equipment and toys every six months.

Hamster drum

It is a very loved toy and they like to use. It is important to choose the wheel well, because a wheel that does not fit well can cause the curvature of the spine, the walkways of walking or the damage at the foot of the hamsters. Its lowest diameter is 20 cm, which is valid for the dwarf hamsters and for Syrian hamsters and other larger hamsters, the minimum size is 28 cm. Plastic or wood rollers are available. The wooden rollers are the most peaceful, but cleaning should be considered.

The most important thing is that the wheel you choose has no objectives or a front in construction. Only a complete mode of rotation and filling will guarantee the safety of the hamster and the lack of filling in the front will prevent the hamster from being blocked or crushed.

Home and toys

The hamsters love all types of varieties in their cage. They treat the house like shelter and often build a nest. Ideally, the box should not have a lower part built, to allow hamsters to dig and arrange the box according to their tastes. The house must be easy to clean. Plastic or wooden houses are the most recommended, allowing them to chew and immediately use their teeth.

Most of the hamster cage accessories can be made by you. Using paper rolls, coconuts, disinfected egg packages, etc. It is also a good idea to pour strips of paper and place the cardboard boxes in the cage. Remember that hamsters like to chew anything, so it is good to make sure that the equipment you offer is safe for your pet.

Toys, a popular toy is the special ball for hamsters, which should offer them physical exercises. However, they are not suitable for the needs of hamsters: they are very noisy, suffocating and heated. The hamsters don’t really know what it is and usually try to run inside. These toys are also dangerous and can prove fatal if a hamster falls on the stairs, for example.

Even the most prepared cage for hamsters is unlikely that it is sufficient. At least once a few days and preferably, every day, it is advisable to leave the hamster in a safe area. The best solution would be a special farmer, with a restricted distribution of bars, so that the hamster cannot escape. You can try to make such a fence alone or carefully surround a separate area of ​​the room and let the animal go out there. So it is necessary to provide all the holes, cables and holes so that they cannot escape.

What do the hamsters eat?

Many types of food for ready -made hamsters are available. The base of the diet should be a full food, with natural and fresh supplements or products as a supplement. The diet of a hamster should consist mainly of dry herbs, herbs and flowers, cereals, fruit and vegetables. Wheat is not recommended. Fruit with woody and oily peel should only be a small percentage of the mixture. One or twice a week, hamsters should receive dry animal proteins, in the form of crickets or flour worms. This will allow the hamster body to develop and work properly.

From products grown in the house, carrots, cucumbers and apples, you can from time to time sunflower seeds in the shell. It is also a good idea to give hamsters fresh plants: lion tooth or clover.

Like other mammals, hamsters don’t last long without food and water. They should always have fresh water and drinking at hand. The hamsters don’t eat much a day, so if we put enough food in the bowls, in addition to a little scattered and hidden food, for example in toys, they can easily manage when we leave for two days.

The water should therefore be paid much more into a depression or even installed two. Water is essential for life and dehydration has fatal consequences.

The hamsters are not pretentious animals. They take care of their cleaning alone, they don’t need to be combed, not even their bathroom is allowed.

They need a lot of understanding and patience, a delicate contact with people.

Regularity in cleaning the cage, responsibility, observation of animal life and understanding for another being more delicate: these are things that children Certainly I can learn them from hamsters.

Karolina łuszczyk