Hamsters are cute small pets that are loved by many. Often, parents allow these children to have a pet. There are a huge number of breeds and species of such animals. One of the most popular are Angora hamsters.
Description
The Angora hamster, like any other hamster, has some specific features that must be met before acquiring and having such a pet.
Appearance and habitat
The Angora hamster (the second name of the animal is the Syrian hamster) is a domestic animal, whose original homeland is Asia and America. In these countries, animals can be found in natural conditions. Free Angora hamsters prefer a temperate climate with plenty of vegetation.
The Angora hamster got its name due to its unusual appearance: due to the presence of shaggy long hair on its body, which can reach 2 cm in length in females and 6 cm in length in males. Thus, already in appearance it is easy to determine the sex of the animal.
This external characteristic of the animal resembles Angora cats. Therefore, the animal was given a similar name.
The color of Angora hamsters can be very diverse. It happens both monophonic and in the form of a combination of several colors: black, white, gray, beige, spotty.
In size, animals can reach 10 cm in length, and weight usually does not exceed 200 g. Pets do not have a tail.In addition, it is important to note that Angora hamsters are similar in appearance to guinea pigs in terms of their external characteristics. In this regard, animals are often confused with each other.
Nature and behavior
Angora hamsters are a fairly animal friendly species. That is why most often it is they who are brought in the houses where young children live. Syrian rodents respond well to training and are considered quite smart: they can be trained on the tray, as well as taught a variety of tricks.
If you start to train and train a hamster from a very young age, then subsequently he will easily carry out all the commands.
Do not be afraid to take the animal in your arms: getting used to the human company, the hamster will not bite and be aggressive towards others.
Life span
If we talk about specific indicators regarding the life expectancy of Angora hamsters, then there is no definite answer. If we talk about the average numbers, it is believed that representatives of this breed of animals live no more than 2 years. At the same time, it is important to note that in the case of careful and caring care, as well as subject to all necessary conditions of detention, you can extend the life of your pet at least 2 times (up to 4 years). An Angora breed hamster, which is recognized as a long-lived record holder, is an animal that has survived to the age of 7 years.
Of the characteristics that affect a hamster's lifespan, mention should be made of:
- conditions of his birth;
- quality and standard of living before purchase;
- method of transportation after purchase;
- diet;
- conditions of detention.
If you follow all the instructions of specialists and listen to the advice of veterinarians, then you can not only significantly extend the life of your pet, but also significantly improve the quality of its life.
Cell selection and arrangement
Obviously, keeping a pet is necessary in a special cage. You need to make sure that there is enough space in it for the normal life of the hamster, so do not get too small a cage. It’s also important to remember that the cage should be quite strong, because the Angora breed is much larger (and therefore stronger) than other types of hamsters.
Your pet may damage the bars of the cage or break the unreliable door and get out of its place of detention. In the event that the hamster manages to leave the cage, then inevitably negative consequences can occur: for example, the animal can gnaw the wiring. Therefore, preference should be given to products made of quality materials that have proven their reliability and durability.
Be sure to have a running wheel in the cage of your pet, because Angora hamsters need to move a lot. Remember that the running wheel, like all other components of the animal’s dwelling, must correspond to its size (taking into account the long hair).
Covering the bottom of the cell is recommended with a special granular, rather than ordinary sawdust filler. This is due to the fact that the sawdust will become entangled in the long hair of the hamster, it will have to be cleaned regularly, and small solid particles will create significant inconvenience to the animal.
Maintenance and care
An Angora hamster is fairly easy to maintain at home, as it does not require any specific approach to its maintenance. Thanks to such unpretentiousness and pickiness, this breed of hamsters has earned the love of many people. First of all, it is important to note that veterinarians and biologists forbid bathing a hamster. The thing is that the presence of an animal in water will lead to hypothermia, and subsequently - to various diseases of the pet.
In order to cleanse the hamster from various kinds of pollution, as well as conduct hygiene procedures for it, it is necessary to do sand baths rather than water ones. And the sand should be absolutely clean.It is best if you purchase it at a pet store and then go through a quartz process. In addition, in order to ensure a pleasant, neat and well-groomed appearance for your pet, you need to comb it regularly with a special comb.
An important element of maintenance and care is the systematic cleaning of the cell. It should be carried out at least once every 7 days (if necessary, you can clean more often). At the time of cleaning, the pet should be taken out of the cage and placed in another place. A walking ball, portable cage or even a simple glass jar will do.
The main hamster cage should be washed with warm water without using any chemically synthesized detergents. After the procedure, the hamster can be placed back into the cage. Remember that in the absence of regular cleaning, the cell (and subsequently the animal itself) will begin to emit an unpleasant odor and become a source of reproduction of various harmful bacteria that are dangerous not only for the hamster, but also for humans.
And also special attention deserves the diet of pets. It is believed that hamsters should eat cereal grains. However, this is not entirely true. In addition to cereals, vitamins should also be included in the diet of furry animals. To meet this need for hamsters in pet stores, special complex feeds are sold. In addition to food, hamsters can be given:
- vegetables: apples, pumpkin, salad;
- greens: dill, parsley;
- sunflower seeds;
- nuts.
Forbidden products include:
- cabbage;
- potatoes;
- garlic;
- bow;
- citrus.
Diet - 2 times a day. And also throughout the day you should regularly replenish the rodent's water supplies.
Syrian rodents are quite thermophilic animals. If the air temperature in the room where they are contained falls below 10 ° C, then the hamsters hibernate. To wake them up, it is enough to take the animal in its arms and warm it with its heat. That is why it is necessary to maintain a constant temperature regime. In the cold season, this can be done using ordinary household appliances: air conditioners, heaters, fireplaces.
It is important to note that Veterinarians do not prohibit keeping several hamsters in the same cage. However, remember that the size of the cell should allow each of them to function normally and maintain their vital functions at the proper level. And also keep in mind that it is impossible to contain several males in one cage. Otherwise, they will show signs of obvious aggression towards each other and even fight. The result of such collisions can be the death of one or both animals or, at least, serious injuries to animals.
Disease
Angora hamsters are prone to a large number of diseases. That is why it is important to carry out all nursing activities, which are quite simple. The most common ailments of Syrian rodents include:
- diarrhea - occurs in case of overeating raw vegetables;
- constipation - indicates a lack of fluid in the body;
- colds and flu - a variety of water procedures become a common cause of these ailments;
- infectious diseases;
- cystitis;
- lichen;
- inflammation of the buccal sacs - may occur due to damage with sharp objects.
If there are signs of disease, you should seek the help of a veterinarian.
Breeding
Females of Angora hamsters bear children quite quickly: in just 2 weeks. That is why (if you do not plan to breed animals) in one cage it is not recommended to contain animals of different sexes. Numerous offspring will appear very soon. From 4 to 18 new individuals can be added at a time. At the same time, it is worth knowing that females can eat offspring in whole or in part.
Of course, it is easiest to get offspring from young hamsters: animals are ready for reproduction from the age of 1.5 months. Moreover, you can pair hamsters not only one but also different breeds.Animals should be the same size if possible.
About what mistakes newcomers make in caring for an Angora hamster, see the video below.
