All About White Hamsters

All pets require attention and care. There are animals that do not cause much trouble and, if properly handled, will delight their owners for a long time, for example, hamsters. They come in different breeds, and white hamsters with red eyes can please exotic lovers.

Wildlife is not very suitable for a snow-white hamster - an albino is vulnerable to predators. For breeders and breeders, this feature is of great interest. The coat and skin of albinos is devoid of coloring pigments. Due to the mutation, the color of the eyes of the animals is red: through the transparent iris (there is no melanin in it), a network of blood vessels is visible.

Albino hamsters are not a separate species, but they can belong to any breed. The most common ones are described below.

• Dzungarian hamster. His homeland is the steppes of Southwest Russia. Unpretentious and friendly individuals are ideal for home maintenance, they are among the most popular breed for breeders with children. With careful handling, they do not show aggression, quickly get used to the owners, are able to recognize them. However, they can be aggressive towards cell neighbors. Most active in the evening and at night.

• Campbell Hamster. This is a dwarf bore hamster native to the steppes of East and Central Asia.The duration of his life can reach 2 years. Campbell albinos are characterized by increased aggressiveness and often bite owners, sometimes you can approach them only with leather gloves. The content is unpretentious, suitable for breeders without small children.

• Siberian (white Russian dwarf) hamster. Sociable representatives of the breed easily find a common language with children. The length of their body reaches only 10 cm. These are silent animals, easily amenable to training.

• Syrian hamster. Widespread companion animals of this breed live from 2 to 4 years old, grow up to 15 cm. Obedient, easily tamed individuals. They only get along poorly with each other: even if there are no signs of aggression, animals experience stress when they do not live separately. These are social albinos - they require daily communication and become completely tame.

• Another interesting but rare breed is hamster "Roborovsky." These are incredibly fast moving individuals, social and very active. Their homeland is China and Mongolia. The smallest variety of albino hamsters is characterized by a body length of 5 cm. The breeder will need a cage with frequent rods and increased attention.

Mutations can make red-eyed white hamsters susceptible to skin diseases. Scab, lichen, papillomas, dermatophytosis are common ailments, the course and treatment of which should be monitored by a veterinarian.

Unusual eyes can become a weak point - an albino cannot be kept in direct sunlight to prevent blindness, eye diseases and damage to the retina. The skin of white hamsters is also vulnerable - even furry individuals are not safe from minor burns and should be able to hide from the sun and bright light. The hamster's cage should be located away from heating appliances and in a place protected from drafts, but with good air circulation.

Albinos need solid food to grind their teeth, which grow throughout life. You can buy special mineral stones. If the owner is confident in his skills, he can independently cut the claws of hamsters. They are also devoid of pigments and have a light color, so the procedure should be carried out with extreme caution.

The albino cell is the place where he will spend most of his life. It, like a person’s dwelling, should be divided into sectors. In his home, an albino will eat, retire and relax, go to the toilet and be active.

A fairly common option using newspapers and other paper is undesirable. Albinos tend to try the surrounding objects “by the tooth,” and printing ink will not be useful to them.

At the same time, white hamsters with red eyes may be allergic to wood dust, so the option of clean and soft napkins without dyes can be a way out of the situation. Hay is a good fit for bedding, which some hamsters even make with their delicacy.

A common and convenient option is sawdust (it is important to ensure that they do not have sharp chips and debris). They are not only not harmful to albino, but also absorb moisture and odors. Cleanliness in the cage is important, first of all, for the pet itself.Wood filler is one of the most popular and environmentally friendly options - it holds odors for up to two weeks.

Convenient, but expensive material - corn filler. It absorbs liquids as much as possible and maintains an excellent appearance.

Various fibrous materials for bedding are contraindicated - most often it is cotton wool and fabrics. They can get into the cheek pouches of the albino, begin to rot and lead to inflammation. Threads are often wound around the paws of hamsters - this can result in loss of limbs.

To prevent the albino from turning over a bowl of water, you can purchase a special drinker that attaches to the bars of the cage. The owner of the animal needs to carefully monitor its serviceability and filling.

These include all kinds of running wheels, ladders and swings. Albinos lead an active life at night. The less the owner has the opportunity to walk the hamster often, the more conditions for the release of energy should be provided in the cage. In this case, you need to monitor so that the albino paws do not get stuck between the rods or in the wheel.

In pet stores special houses are sold in which hamsters equip a sleeping place with the help of bedding. It is important to ensure that the hamster does not bite the house and does not try to swallow pieces of plastic or metal. Many hamsters enjoy relaxing in hammocks.

The owner of the albino should not worry too much about his diet: the white hamster will eat the same as his relatives. Ready-made feeds based on wheat, oats and other cereals, as well as sunflower and pumpkin seeds, corn, nuts, dried and fresh vegetables and fruits (carrots, beets, pears, raspberries, strawberries, zucchini, apples) are well suited. We should not forget about protein foods - albino gladly enjoy boiled (but not fried) chicken and fish, eggs and shrimp.

Food is given twice a day in accordance with the weight and activity of the rodent - it is necessary to observe and exclude overeating in order to avoid obesity. Hamsters can and should be given vitamins, buy stones with minerals for them.

Small sizes do not save animals from big problems. If they occur (lethargy, suspected infection, hair loss, refusal to eat and water, inability to cope with tooth growth) urgently need to contact a veterinarian.

See how to look after a hamster in the next video.