Hamsters are funny animals that parents often acquire for their children, dreaming of a pet. These small animals are distinguished by breed, color and appearance. Consider what black hamsters are and how to properly care for them.
general information
The black hamster should have a uniform color, without the content of interspersed with a different color. The only exception is the white paws, the so-called socks. In nature, such individuals can be found extremely rarely, since this is not even a breed, but the result of a cross between a female and a black male.
Is it possible to bring such a beast at home? Theoretically yes, but in practice problems may arise. To obtain black offspring, a male and a female of black color and one breed are needed. Failure to do so may result in the death of the mother and babies. If we are talking about dwarf breeds, it is permissible to cross the jungarik and campbell between each other.
The most common representatives of black color are found among the Syrian and Dzungarian breeds. Consider the main features of each of them in more detail.
Syrian
The primary habitat of hamsters was, as the name implies, Syria. It was from there that they were brought to Europe. In addition, the animal can comfortably in the wild live in some areas of Turkey and Georgia. In winter, they hibernate before the onset of heat.
Under natural conditions, this animal can grow up to 13.5 centimeters in length, while keeping the house they can reach 20 centimeters, which makes them the largest breed in this regard. Hamsters have a very short tail, which does not even strike the eye during visual inspection. This is the main distinguishing feature. Rodents are very clean, they require minimal care, which explains the large number of fans of this breed.
On the front legs of the animals 4 fingers each, on the hind legs - 5. The most common color is golden. However, you can find hamsters of white, beige and chocolate shade.
Black rodents have an elegant appearance and are much less common. They are owners of soft and thick fur, which is very pleasant to the touch. Another rare color among Syrian hamsters is black and white. Such individuals can also be rarely found among representatives of this breed; they are obtained by crossing a black animal with a white one.
Rodents are characterized by a calm disposition, they are not at all stupid and can obey the owner. Children especially love Syrian hamsters. In addition, animals are unpretentious and not often exposed to various diseases. The main thing they need is clean and fresh water, enough food and the ability to engage in outdoor games.
Dzungarian
Enough cute little animals that grow 10 centimeters in length, and their weight can be a maximum of 50 grams. Most often they have a light brown color and a characteristic dark strip on the back. However, sometimes you can meet representatives of this breed of black color, not only at home, but also in the wild. Breeders learned how to get different colors of dzhungariki.
These kids are completely tame, in extremely rare cases they are able to show aggression and require love and care. Hamsters are afraid of sudden movements and loud sounds, they are easy to scare. Hibernation in relation to this breed is irrelevant.
Animals prefer to play mainly in the evening and at night, and sleep in the daytime.
Care and maintenance
Despite the color difference, black hamsters do not require any special maintenance and care. In this case, the main attention should be paid to the breed.
For example, Dzungarian animals do not require too large cages due to their small size. A standard or ordinary aquarium is quite suitable for them. However, when choosing the second option, it should be borne in mind that the walls of the aquarium should be no more than 40 centimeters in height with a length of 100 centimeters. If this condition is not met, there is a risk of air circulation disturbance, and humidity and stuffiness will not benefit the kids. Besides, Fresh food spoils much faster, which can threaten animals with poisoning.
If the owner of the jungar picks the cage for the future pet, he must take into account that the animal has a very small size and can easily crawl between too wide rods. The distance between them should be minimal.
For a Syrian hamster, a cage of more than medium size is suitable. He himself can be quite large, and space is necessary for animals of this species.
As for the location, in this case, you will also need to observe some conditions. The animals will be uncomfortable near the batteries and heaters, near air conditioners, on the windowsill. Direct sunlight can cause heat stroke in pets. They are also very sensitive to drafts, they should be avoided as much as possible.
Recommended temperature is a minimum of +20 degrees. If the house has other pets, you need to maximize the peace and safety of hamsters. In addition, it should be borne in mind that these rodents are nocturnal animals, and in the bedroom they can interfere with their games and movements in the dark.
How to equip a home?
Hamsters need shelter. Therefore, you should definitely place a house in the cage where they can hide. You also need to take care of the presence of feeders and drinking bowls. Mineral stone will allow to grind teeth in time.It is also useful to plant animals with fruit tree branches.
The animal is very active. It is necessary to establish tunnels and a wheel for him, then the animals will not be bored. As for litter, sawdust that can absorb moisture and odor is ideal. Despite the fact that the animal is unpretentious to the conditions of detention, it will need care.
The cage must be cleaned regularly, water changed and feed added.
What to feed?
Owners of a black fur coat eat the same food as other hamsters. They are very fond of beans and grains. A special balanced feed will be a great option.
Hamsters, like other animals, need vitamins and nutrients. They enjoy eating vegetables and fruits, but not too sour. Products must be washed beforehand to prevent infection. Exotic fruits should be discarded. Also, citrus fruits can cause complications.
Be sure to add protein food to the diet. Low-fat cottage cheese, fish and meat are very useful for animals. Grapes and raisins can be attributed to the category of treats, however, varieties in which there are no seeds should be selected. Dried fruits will be a great addition to the main diet.
Do not feed hamsters from your own table. In some cases, human food can even become dangerous for their delicate stomachs. Do not give rodents a variety of sweets, salty foods or foods with lots of spices. Onions, sorrel and garlic are also prohibited.
How many animals live?
If it was decided to get a black hamster, it must be borne in mind that his life expectancy depends not only on the breed, but also on how competently the owners will look after him. In natural conditions, on average they live about 2 years. This is due to the fact that larger animals often hunt rodents.
At home, provided that the owners look after the animal and do everything necessary for its active growth and development, the hamster can live 3-4 years.
However, this happens when stressful situations are excluded as much as possible, and the rodent's health is closely monitored.
Disease
Dzungarian hamsters - animals are quite tender. The Syrian breed is more resistant to the development of various diseases. There can be many causes of diseases, mainly the skin of animals, their stomach and respiratory organs. Some diseases can be transmitted genetically. However, in the first place - viruses and pathogenic bacteria.
Infectious diseases can occur due to improper conditions of detention. Cleanliness in the cage and the house is one of the most important conditions for the health of pets. Do not leave spoiled products to the hamster. Milk, meat and fish should be given exclusively after heat treatment, and not in raw form.
Improper nutrition in general often becomes the cause of rodent diseases, as their metabolism is impaired. Dzungarian hamsters often suffer from diabetes. In addition, we must not forget that hamsters are very active. And this means that they need to be closely monitored, because the animal can fall and be seriously injured.
What symptoms should alert the host? First of all, a decrease in activity, a manifestation of aggression and a change in weight. Also, the animal may lose its appetite. If discharge of their eyes appears, wool begins to fall out actively, you should immediately seek help from a veterinarian.
Animals are very negatively affected by nervous shocks. Even cleaning the cage should be carried out at a time when the hamster is not inside.
Sharp movements and loud sounds in the immediate vicinity of the animal should be avoided.
Why does the hamster bite?
If the animal has bitten the owner, there may be a lot of reasons. Of course, in some cases this indicates his aggressive mood. However, there are many other factors.
First of all, with the help of teeth, rodents study the world around them. In addition, it can smell like food or something else tasty. The hamster can bite the owner from fear or pain, for example, in the case when they unsuccessfully try to pick it up. Also, animals need to constantly grind their teeth, and they can use the owner’s hand for this if there are no more suitable objects in their habitat.
The main thing is not to scold the kids. Most often they bite for some reason. Gentle treatment and comfortable conditions are the best way to get in touch with your pet.
About what features of black hamsters exist, see the next video.
