All About Syrian Hamster

Among a large number of small animals that can be bred at home as pets, it is worth separately distinguishing hamsters. Today in pet stores you can find a large number of different breeds of this rodent. The Syrian hamster is especially popular as a decorative pet, which stands out for its good immunity and unpretentiousness in care.

Mesocricetus auratus or the Central Asian hamster is a furry rodent, better known to everyone under the name of the Syrian hamster. The individual belongs to the hamster family, stands out for its external attractiveness and intelligence, therefore it very often acts as a pet. This breed was bred by crossing two species of wild rodents that live in the East.

Animals were domesticated only at the end of the 19th century. Syrian hamsters stand out for their size, which significantly exceeds the similar parameters of decorative dwarf individuals. The body of an adult animal in length can reach 14-15 centimeters in the presence of a 1.5-centimeter tail. Its weight varies between 200-250 grams. It is noteworthy that this breed of the female has more males, while the males are characterized by stockiness in the body.

The animals are quite fluffy, their color can vary depending on the species, rodents with golden fur are most often found, but in pet stores you can see hamsters of white, black and even gray colors. It is worth noting the structural features of the forelimbs of the antero-Asian rodent - on the legs of the animal there are four full fingers. As for the hind legs, then on them you can observe five small fingers with claws.

The hamster looks pretty funny due to the rounded face and small ears. The features of the breed also include the fact that rodents can be not only long-haired, but also short-haired with a dense coat of wool on the body. In animals, large pupils, in addition, rodents have symmetrical buccal sacs, in which the animal prefers to store food supplies.

In the natural environment and in captivity, animals live approximately the same. As a rule, the life span of a golden hamster is 2-3 years. However, with home breeding, the life cycle of an individual will directly depend on the breeders and the living conditions of the pet. This breed is considered one of the best for breeding at home.

The difference from other breeds of decorative rodents is the need for settling animals in captivity alone. If even two individuals are kept together, it is likely that they will cause serious injuries to each other. Even if this does not happen, then rodents in the same cage may experience serious psychological discomfort from the constant presence of another animal nearby.

Without risk to health and psyche, animals can be kept in one cage until they reach one and a half months of age. Like most rodents, Asian hamsters are animals that lead an active lifestyle exclusively at night. In the afternoon, rodents usually sleep in their house.

The division into species in Syrian hamsters is based on the length of their fur. Today, individuals with the following characteristic external characteristics are found:

• long-haired;
• shorthaired rodents.

The first species is often called Angora, since animals have a similarity with cats of the same breed. It is believed that this species was obtained artificially, therefore, has a low immunity.

The fur coat of these animals can reach up to two centimeters in length, which requires special care from the breeder. The second species will be less demanding in terms of care, but even the fact that such animals are classified as shorthair does not reduce their decorative appeal. Also there are hairless Syrian rodents, which were the result of artificial selection. Animals without fur were bred for those breeders who are allergic to animal fur.

In addition, the classification of Central Asian rodents is based on their coat color.

• Golden hamster. These are individuals with a reddish or even rusty color of a fur coat, in which only blotches of another color can be present on the stomach. The ears of these animals are gray.

• Cream rodents. Unlike redheads, it is this coloring that is most in demand. The fur coat of the animal is monophonic, only on the stomach and ears, the presence of some other shade is allowed.

• White hamsters. In addition to the color of their fur, Syrian hamsters stand out with red pupils, as well as pink or gray ears. Such rodents are often called albinos.

• Gray rodents. The coat has a light smoky color, spots may be present on the abdomen. This animal sometimes has reddish spots around its eyes, which is considered the norm.

• Yellow hamsters. This category includes animals whose fur coat will have a color ranging from bright orange to yellow. This species of rodent was bred for decorative purposes with the help of humans.

• Hamsters with a honey coat. These are yellow-brown individuals that are capable of transmitting similar breed characteristics to not every cub. If the boy has such a color, then the males born from him will not receive such a coat color. As for the female honey, they will pass on their qualities to the entire brood of hamsters.

• Tortoise animals. Individuals of different colors can be attributed to this type, the only condition is the presence of a pattern, stripes or spots on a fur coat. Sometimes it is possible to meet animals that have three primary colors of wool.

• Agouti hamsters. Such animals are distinguished by the uneven color of their coat. Color may vary from tips to roots.

There is a huge number of hamsters for hamsters, both for girls and boys. Among them, you can choose something creative and interesting. To solve this problem, you should be guided by the following tips:

• the nickname for the pet should be selected, coordinating the options with all family members in order to avoid disagreements;
• it is best to name the rodent so that its nickname can be easily pronounced and remembered even by the smallest members of the family;
• in the presence of several animals, it will be more correct to select nicknames for them if they radically differ in sound from each other.

In Central Asian rodents, it will be possible to reliably know the sex no earlier than a month after their birth. Determination of gender will be based on the location of the genitals and excretory organs on the body. As for males, they will have obvious signs of visually distinct testes in the tail region. In addition, in males, the genital organ will be removed by 1.5 centimeters from the openings that excrete vital products.

As for the females, their cesspool and genitals will be located almost close to each other. At the time of estrus in females, all organs will be moistened with mucus, as well as significantly increased in size, which will help determine their gender.

You can try to find out the sex of the animal by the presence of mammary glands, which is sometimes somewhat difficult in light of the presence of a large amount of hair on the stomach. For males, the norm is two pronounced nipples, when the female will have twice as many. By the totality of the above signs, it is easy to distinguish between a male and a female hamster.

Determining age is an important point, especially when buying a pet. Specialists conditionally divide rodents into three age groups:

• young - age less than one month;
• mature - from one to three months;
• old individuals.

Young animals stand out for their modest size; it is not recommended to buy such animals for breeders without experience, because the animals will need specific care. And also you should refuse to buy old hamsters, they can be identified by faded hair, phlegmatic behavior. Optimal for the purchase will be animals related to mature individuals.

The mass of the animal will help determine the age of the individual. So, animals aged one to three months will weigh in the region of 50-80 grams, old rodents gain weight up to 100-150 grams. However, this indicator can be quite arbitrary, since the weight of the animal depends on care, nutrition and activity.

Hamsters can be kept in aquariums or cages. The second option is more convenient and popular. It is important for the rodent to provide space and good bedding, as the natural need for the beast is digging holes. Paper, a special filler, wood shavings can act as a substrate in an animal’s house.. The main thing is that the raw materials are light and absorb liquid perfectly.

For animals, you will also need material to build a nest. Paper cuts do a good job of this.

Inside the house for the rodent will need to install a wheel. Unlike toys for dwarf hamsters, a Syrian will need a wheel with a diameter of at least 20 centimeters. As a rule, cages designed specifically for such pets already contain running wheels. In addition, the animals will be happy to spend time in a walking ball.

Water for the animal can be in a drinking bowl or in a bowl, containers with liquid should be washed regularly. If the water will stand in the bowl, then the container should be heavy so that the hamster does not turn it over. This nuance also applies to containers for animal feed.

Another important point regarding the maintenance of the pet is the presence in the cage of objects made of wood, about which hamsters can grind their teeth, growing with them throughout life.

In order for the Syrian hamster to live in captivity for as long as possible, he needs to provide high-quality and balanced nutrition. So, for feeding, you can use specialized feed mixtures consisting of grains, seeds and nuts. For pregnant females, you need to take care of the proper protein content in your daily diet.

Rodents can be given root vegetables, fruits and vegetables, but citrus, exotic fruits and overly acidic treats should be avoided. All food must be fresh, as hamsters love to store their food in nests as stocks. All additional products must be washed without fail, those pieces that have lain in the cage for more than a day should be discarded in order to prevent rodent poisoning. Syrian hamsters can be given once a week a boiled egg, cottage cheese, peanuts.

Since animals lead a nocturnal life and are naturally shy, after acquiring them, they need to be trained to a new place gradually, not to make noise near the cage, and not to expose the animal for show. From the stress, rodents bite and even faint.

You need to spend some time daily with the hamster so that the fearful pet gets used to its owner. If the animal is sleeping, then it is not recommended to wake him, and you should not forcibly pull the hamster out of the nest.

Hamster houses do not smell if they are regularly cleaned. As a rule, hygiene measures are recommended at least once every 2-3 days. Syrian hamsters are not allowed to swim in the water, and height differences on the surface where the rodent is walking should be avoided. Having fallen from a height, he can inflict serious injuries on himself.

A male Asian Hamster reaches puberty by three months, and the female must be at least four months old. For fertilization to occur, she must have estrus, which occurs at intervals of 5-7 days. To mate selected rodents are planted in a separate cage. After which the bearing of the offspring occurs. Pregnancy lasts 18 days.

In one individual, 4 to 15 hamsters are born.For the successful course of childbirth, the female needs to provide a clean litter, as well as excess food. In the first few days after the birth of the animals, the mother with the offspring is recommended not to disturb. For newborns, the main nutrition in the first month will be breast milk. Hamsters should not be touched, because in the presence of extraneous odors on the cubs, the female will eat them. Upon reaching the kids one month and seven days, they can be transplanted into a separate cage.

So that the animal is not afraid of its owner and calmly walks into his hands, it will be necessary to gradually tame the animal. To do this, be guided by the following recommendations:

• contact with a person should occur several times a day, but for a short time (a quarter of an hour will be enough);
• a newly acquired rodent should not be picked up immediately, as the animal will be under stress; it will take him several days to get used to the new environment;
• familiarity with the hands is better to transfer to the evening, when the animal will be full of strength, which will help to eliminate bites.

Accustoming to contact with a person should be regular. It is important to study the animal’s lifestyle, be sure to talk to him in a low voice, pronouncing his nickname. After that, you need to lower your palm into the cage, placing a treat for the hamster on it.

You can’t catch an animal, you should wait until the rodent shows interest on its own. This may require several attempts, in between, you can treat the rodent with a treat through the bars. When the hamster makes contact and sits safely on the palm of his hand, you can lift him out of the cage, maybe he will jump from the palm for the first time. Therefore, attempts at taming should continue a little later.

Unfortunately, Syrian hamsters in captivity can suffer from some ailments. Among them, it is worth highlighting the following most common:

• obesity associated with an improper diet and the absence of toys for physical activity in the cell;
• dental problems arising due to the fact that the animal has nowhere to grind growing teeth;
• E. coli, which was infected with the animal through poor food or unwashed food.

Signs of poor health of the Syrian hamster will be changes in its behavior. He can become aggressive and restless or, conversely, too passive. The animal may have bald patches on the fur coat, sores, tremors, and itching. Self-medication is strictly prohibited.

Syrian hamsters, unlike their relatives, with proper training and taming, can establish fairly close contact with the owner and even fall asleep with him. And also it is worth noting the well-developed intelligence of the animal, thanks to which it will respond to its nickname. Of all the breeds of hamsters, it is these rodents that are famous for their flexible and cheerful disposition.

In addition, individuals accustomed to family members will become very affectionate to the person, not perceiving him as a threat. However, small animals can become depressed if kept in a too small cage. Syrian hamsters should have a cage size at least one square meter at a height of 30-40 centimeters.

According to the responses of breeders of Central Asian rodents, it can be noted that the animals in the house show themselves as friendly and cheerful, which allows them to be kept in families where there are small children. However, care and attention for the pet should be metered, because continuous contact with a person can provoke aggression from the animal, as well as stresswhich adversely affects his life expectancy.

See how to keep a Syrian hamster in the next video.