Dzungarian hamster: description, feeding and care tips

Dzungarian hamsters are one of the most common breeds of cute furry animals. Often in everyday life such animals are affectionately called "dzhungariki", and it is they who often become the first pets of small children. The thing is that the cost of Dzungarian hamsters in zoological stores is quite low, and besides, rodents do not need specialized care measures.

If you are thinking about purchasing a Dzungarian hamster, then you should familiarize yourself with all the characteristics and characteristics of the animal. In our article you will learn about the conditions under which a rodent should be kept, how to feed and bathe it, and you will also be able to get acquainted with the reviews of those who have already managed to get a cute fluffy animal in their house.

First of all, let's look at the biological description of the hamsters of the Dzungarian species.

Dzungarian hamster is a breed of rodents that is tiny in size. So, the body length of the animal traditionally does not exceed 10 centimeters, and the weight of the animal is usually about 50 grams. The skin of the hamster is covered with thick hair, which can be of various colors. The most popular colors: gray, black and brown. The eyes of the animal have a convex shape, coal-black color and glossy shine.

Despite the fact that this rodent is a fairly common and popular pet, it can live in the wild. So, steppe and semi-steppe regions of Kazakhstan, Asia, and even Russia are the natural habitat of the dzungariki.

In this regard, it is worth noting that there is an external difference between those hamsters that live in nature and those that live in domestic ones. So, a natural mix of dzhungarika is a mixture of gray and brown colors with a bright black stripe on the back, passing along the spine. The belly is painted in a lighter tone, like the legs. Such coloring is intended, first of all, to ensure the safety of the hamster, because it allows him to disguise himself.

At home, hamsters live, the fur of which is painted in more aesthetic and eye-pleasing shades: tangerine, red, beige. One of the rarest is considered the hybrid color "pearl", it is almost impossible to meet.

The twin breed for Dzungarian hamsters is a breed called Campbell's hamster. Differences from this variety are in several characteristics:

• Dzungarian breed of rodents has a more dense, smooth and shiny coat;
• on its torso (regardless of the main color), the dzhungarik has several wide stripes on the sides and back;
• on the face of the animal of the Dzungarian type, a clearly defined rhombus can be found;
• Campbell's rodents have a waist;
• Campbell's animals are more aggressive and more difficult to make contact with a person (which is why it is believed that it is better to choose a dzhungarik as a pet).

Due to the fact that the Dzungarian hamsters are quite small in size and they do not grow up with age, it is very difficult to know how old they really are. However, there are several ways to determine the more or less accurate age of furry animals.

• The younger the hamster, the more active his lifestyle: animals sleep less, move more, and therefore eat more. Old animals, on the contrary, prefer to sleep, and eat quite a bit.
• On the ears of the old women, there is practically no hair, while the ears of young hamsters are completely covered with it.
• Young animals have transparent and shiny eyes. With age, they become cloudy.
• Just born hamsters do not have hair - they begin to become covered with hair only on the 5th day of life. After 2 weeks, the hair completely grows.
• Young hamsters aged 1 to 3 months (namely, such animals should be bought) weigh no more than 40-45 grams.

Rodents of the Dzungarian breed are rather picky in leaving and are content only with the basic conditions of detention. Therefore, even those who have never had a pet before can cope with such rodents, they are easily brought up by a primary school student.

In terms of nutrition, rodents of the Dzungarian breed are very picky. So, in nature, the basis of their diet is a variety of crops. This should be a starting point, taking care of the rodent that lives in your home. In general, it is believed that the best option will be a variety of cereal mixturesthat are sold in zoological stores. Moreover, it is important to give preference to those mixtures and combinations that are intended for dwarf hamsters.

In addition to such mixtures, animals can be fed with other foods. For example, dungars can be given vegetables, fruits and greens, as well as boiled chicken and low-fat cottage cheese. As a treat in pet stores, you can purchase a variety of products.

This is due to the rapid metabolism in these animals. It is worth considering this factor when buying feed:

• A sufficient amount of food should be purchased for the rodent so that it does not remain hungry;
• try to buy only the food that is produced by well-known manufacturers and is of high quality, because poor food can cause a large number of diseases.

Among other things, it is important to pay attention to the state of the hamster's oral cavity. In order for the rodent to grind its teeth, periodically buy special mineral stones for it.

The cage containing the rodent should never be empty. It must be equipped with the necessary elements for the hamster. First you need to install a special house. This is a design that will allow the animal to retire, to feel safe. Give preference to small-sized houses (about 10 centimeters in length). Choose houses without windows and those designs that do not have a bottom.

In addition, a running wheel is useful for your pet. In the wild, Dzungarian hamsters run several kilometers per day. That is why in order to maintain the animal’s health at the proper level, it needs constant movement and an active lifestyle.

The size of a running wheel, ideal for a dzhungarik, is about 16-18 centimeters in diameter. Do not buy running wheels with a crossbar. Also, when choosing this item, make sure the surface is reliable. If possible, the wheel should be covered with a fine mesh, thanks to which the paws of your furry pet will not get stuck in it.

As an entertainment, as well as in order to be able to move the rodent to a safe place while cleaning the cagecan be purchased special walking balls. This device will ensure the hamster’s safe movement around the room or apartment: firstly, the hamster will be safe, because it’s difficult to miss a walking ball (if he escaped without a ball, it will be quite difficult to catch in the apartment), and secondly , the animal will not be able to gnaw household items, wires, etc.

It is important to remember that each jungler needs its own separate cage, so you should not keep several hamsters in one. This is due to the fact that even in the wild, these rodents do not gather in groups, but live separately.

Despite the fact that the size of the animals of this breed is quite small, you should select a cage that will have the maximum possible size. So, the best option is a cell with dimensions of 50x30 centimeters.

Today in the markets, in supermarkets, as well as in specialized zoological stores, you can find a large number of modern and unusual cells. One of the latest fashion trends are cells that have several floors (tiers). For dzhungariki such cells should not be chosen. It is better to give preference to the fact that they have a more traditional design.

When choosing a cell, among other things, it is important to pay attention to its reliability. So, experts advise you to buy the wrong cells that are equipped with a trellised structure and a plastic pallet, and those that are closed and endowed with plastic inserts (the so-called "dunes").

After you have purchased the cage, a layer of special filler for hamsters should be poured at its bottom, which can be purchased at any pet store. It is best to give preference to corn or cellulose species. It will also be useful to place a small amount of dry paper towels or napkins - in the future they will become building materials to create a hamster nest.

Dzungarian hamsters are very sensitive to the state of the environment.That is why they should be constantly kept clean and carefully monitor the hygiene conditions in which the animal lives.

It’s worth saying right away that washing jungariks in water is highly undesirable. The thing is that fluffy animals are very sensitive to temperature conditions, including water temperature. Even a slight temperature mismatch (literally 1 or 2 degrees) can adversely affect the animal’s health status.

Despite the fact that water procedures are contraindicated, cleaning the hamster is still necessary. To begin with, it should be noted that, being naturally tidy, hamsters themselves clean their fur. In this way, you only need to do regular cell cleaning. This should be done once a week using odorless water and cleaning products - for example, laundry soap is suitable.

However, there are situations when a pet is quite dirty and not able to cope with pollution on its own. In such cases, he needs help.

To do this, you can use sterile and thoroughly disinfected sand specially designed for cleaning (it is bought at pet stores and then subjected to quartzization). The second option, which is suitable for the implementation of hygiene procedures in relation to the dzhungarik, is the use of cotton pads and wet wipes. But despite the fact that such procedures are almost harmless to the hamster, they should not be carried out daily.

As you know, the best treatment is prevention. That is why it is important to keep the hamster’s cage clean. Clean up food debris, bowel movements and other contaminants in a timely manner.

The fact is that animals themselves do not emit any aromas. If you feel odors, then most likely you need to pay attention to the hygienic condition of rodent cells.

To begin with, it is worth saying that rodents of the Dzungarian breed breed well in captivity at home. That is why they are often chosen by rodent breeders.

It is believed that for breeding, the female and the male must be constantly kept in the same cage, but this is not entirely true. Veterinarians and experienced breeders recommend combining heterosexual animals only for the period of crossing. This must be done in order to avoid mutual aggression over the division of the cell.

The mating process can be carried out at 1 or 2 months of the life of the animal. If possible, you should wait even up to 3 months - so the female who gave birth to the babies will be able to fully take care of their cubs.

Often the mating procedure takes place at night, and females give birth to 17-21 days of pregnancy. At one time, from 2 to 9 babies can be born. During pregnancy, special attention should be paid to the nutrition of the female - you will need to introduce more greens, fruits and vegetables into the diet.

Due to the high prevalence of Dzungarian hamsters, it may seem that a lot is known about these animals, and that they have been fully examined by scientists. Nevertheless, there are facts concerning rodents of this breed, which are little known to the general public.

• In the wild, Dzungar hamsters do not live in packs, but individually.
• In order to survive, the dzungariki build themselves a hole that has at least 5 entrances and several branches.
• This type of hamster is very mobile. In search of food for 1 day, the animal can run several kilometers.
• The animals got their name in honor of the northwestern province of China - Dzungaria.

In general, it is worth noting that the reviews of the owners of the dzhungariks are very mixed: some are completely delighted with the purchase of this animal, while others, on the contrary, regret their reckless purchase and show dissatisfaction with this breed.

Among the negative comments you can find a fairly large number of complaints about the fact that animals constantly squeak, especially in the dark, due to the nocturnal lifestyle of animals. This behavioral trait can disrupt your sleep, as well as the sleep of your children.

The second large category of negative comments informs us that the animal, as well as the fruits of its vital activity, have a rather persistent and unpleasant odor. Even with regular and systematic cleaning, it can manifest itself, which negatively affects the condition of households (owners of hamsters report that their head can often hurt from the smell).

Rodents of the Dzungarian breed are quite active and sneaky, therefore they should not be let out of the cage. Otherwise, they will run away and hide in such a way that later you will not be able to find them.

However, there is a wide variety of positive reviews. First of all, an aesthetically attractive appearance is noted. Many people who were previously afraid of rodents literally fall in love with small fluffy dzungariki. Parents say that such hamsters can be a good friend to your child, who has long been asking to get a pet. They will accustom the child to responsibility. Breeders also respond well to dzhungars - hamsters breed fairly quickly and intensively (which can be a minus for an ordinary person).

Thus, we are convinced that Dzungarian hamsters are very ambiguous pets that have both positive and negative characteristics. When buying a rodent, it is important to remember that now you are responsible for it, so if you definitely decided to get a pet, then familiarize yourself with its behavioral characteristics in advance, and also learn the rules of maintenance and care.

All the pros and cons of the content of the Dzungarian hamster, see the video below.