Hamsters are very popular pets among Russian children. Each child at least once asked parents to buy him a hamster. Many mothers and fathers often try to dissuade their child from this venture, because such animals cause a lot of trouble - they need careful care. Other parents, without hesitation, go to the nearest pet store and buy the rodent they like.
However, this decision is more important than it seems at first glance. Before buying, you always need to delve into the nuances and find out the features of a future family member.
The most popular species of hamsters is the Syrian as well as the Dzungarian rodent. How they differ from each other, and which of them is best suited for a child, can be found in this article.
Comparison
Dzungarian hamster is a very friendly and sociable creature. Those who prefer this species will have to devote a lot of time to the hamster. Some people start it as an addition to the interior, as it is quite cute and looks beautiful. At the same time, the owners practically do not interact with their pet. But this is wrong, since such an attitude negatively affects the hamster and can even shorten its lifespan.
By the way, despite their sociability, such individuals do not live in packs. But they show almost no aggression towards their relatives.
The average life expectancy of a Dzungarian hamster is three years. He can live up to four years with proper care, but no more.
As mentioned above, such a rodent looks very cute. It does not exceed the size of an ordinary mouse in size, but weighs about 40 g. It has a spherical body, dark gray hair with a long dark stripe on the back and a light tummy.In winter, its color brightens, and the strip becomes almost invisible.
Its characteristic external difference is large round eyes. It is also worth noting that the cheek pouches are quite large for such a small body.
The forelegs of the Dzungarian hamsters are very developed and close to human hands. For this reason, the rodent actively uses them during meals. It's funny to watch him gnaw food, holding it with his small paws.
Many parents choose this particular species, because such an animal needs less care. These hamsters do not cause much trouble because of their size, while they eat less.
However, the unpleasant smell from them is stronger. These hamsters are very nimble and active, although they almost always sleep during the day. Their main vital activity takes place in the evening and at night.
Syrian individuals are almost twice as large as their counterparts. Their length can reach 17 cm, and weight varies from 150 to 200 g. These hamsters can be compared with rats in size, but their tail is not so long. By the way, females are usually larger than males.
Being large rodents, they like space, so for such a hamster you will have to purchase a large cage. It must have a wheel in it, since the hamster needs to splash out the stored energy somewhere. At night, he is able to run several kilometers.
It is not easy to describe the appearance of the Syrian hamster, as individuals can differ from each other and have many different colors. They can also be fluffy or smooth-haired.
Syrian hamsters feed on the same food as the Dzungar hamsters. However, they consume much more food. In general, because of their size, they require more care, so you will have to clean the cage more often. However, this hamster will be a great friend for a child, because he is absolutely harmless, friendly and quickly gets used to people.
A Syrian hamster can learn a lot, for example, go to the tray and respond to his name. But he will have to be trained every day. He needs constant attention and communication, otherwise the pet may run wild. This rodent also loves freedom - several times a week it should be released from the cage. So that he does not get lost somewhere in the apartment, you should buy him a running ball for hamsters.
The difference between these two varieties, first of all, is in size and appearance.
If the Dzungarian variant has mainly dark gray colors, then Syrian hamsters are more diverse and differ in reddish or golden hues. For this, they were even called golden hamsters.
The body length of the Dzungarian hamsters even with a tail does not exceed 10 cm. Accordingly, the Syrians are almost twice as large as they are, and weigh even more. Knowing this, a person will never confuse one breed with another.
Syrian hamsters live longer than Dzungar hamsters - their life expectancy ranges from two to six years.
Although the Syrian hamsters are quite active, the Dzungarian brothers are more brisk and energetic. However, the former quickly get used to human hands, while the latter are difficult to train. But the life of the Dzungarian individuals is sometimes just interesting and fun to watch.
Anyway will have to follow the diet of your pet, as junk food can harm him. Although Syrian hamsters are omnivores, do not abuse it. But with the Dzungarian individuals it is worth being more attentive, since this species is prone to diabetes. For this reason, do not overfeed them with sweets or fruits.
For most parents who want to please their child, the most important criterion is a bad smell from a rodent, which can spread throughout the apartment. Syrian hamsters are considered less problematic in this regard. Dzungarian, despite their size, are more odorous. But it is worth noting that females do not smell so much as males.
If it was decided to buy two hamsters at once, then they will have to be kept separately. Rodents do not get along well with each other and often conflict. However, Dzungarian hamsters are more loyal to their brothers and in most cases live peacefully.
In the end, one cannot say that one breed is better than another - any chosen pet will bring a lot of joy. The only question is what the new family expects from him.
What hamster to get?
It all depends on the preferences of the child. Of great importance is the age of the children - you should not buy a small Dzungarian hamster for a preschool child, because he can easily crush the fragile body of the animal by playing with them. In addition, some especially wild individuals have the habit of biting.
But the larger Syrian hamster can be safely held and stroked. Thanks to this, children like them more. And do not worry that the child will be bitten - the Syrian individuals are completely non-aggressive towards people.
If parents know that their child is not very responsible and they do not have much time to care for a hamster, then you should choose the Dzungarian, since he is more independent and will be able to take care of himself, even if the household forget to clean him or feed him.
Now, knowing all the main differences between the two breeds, we can draw our own conclusion which of them fits best into the family. But before buying, you need to seriously discuss this with your child and explain to him how much responsibility lies with him.
Care
Whatever hamster parents choose, he will need attention and proper care. First of all, you need to provide your pet with favorable living conditions. The cage should be spacious, but pay attention to the gaps between the rods were not too wide, otherwise the most agile rodents will be able to escape from their homes.
Also, do not forget about the basic devices that must be present in each cell, for example, a drinker with a retractable limiter, which gives out as much water as necessary. You need to make sure that the animal understands how it works. Water, by the way, should always be fresh, so you need to change it once or twice a day.
Also, the hamster needs to be properly fed. The main food for him is a special dry food. But sometimes you need to pamper it with fruits, vegetables and herbs. It is necessary to ensure that the rodent's nutrition is balanced.
By the way, hamsters are afraid of water, therefore it is forbidden to bathe them. For these purposes, special sand should be purchased in which the animal can clean its coat.
It is worth remembering that hamsters are used to stay awake at night, which means that during the day they should never be woken up, as this can become a serious shock for them.
The conditions in which the pet lives directly affect its lifespan. Like any other pet, hamsters are quite troublesome regardless of their breed. But it is worth giving them your love and attention, and they will become full members of the family.
A funny video about the differences between the two breeds of hamsters in the performance of young video bloggers can be seen below.
