Hamsters

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By peace | November 7, 2006

Hamsters originated in the Middle East and southeastern Europe. The word ‘rodent’ is derived from the latin word ‘rodere’ which means ‘to gnaw’ and the word ‘hamster’ comes from the German word ‘hamstern’ which means ‘to hoard’ or ‘to store’, referring to the hamsters tendency to collect food in its pouches.

A hamster is a small rodent. They are warm blooded mammals. They have sharp front teeth that continue to grow throughout their lifetime. They use these sharp teeth for gnawing. Hamsters are very nimble and have lots of energy. In the wild, a hamster can run as far as five miles (eight kilometers) in a single night. Hamsters have poor eyesight, but they do have a keen sense of hearing and smell. They use their whiskers to feel their way around objects.

Hamsters are nocturnal animals. This means that they sleeps during the day and are active at night. So they may make noise at night with their gnawing and rustling around their cage. An adult hamster weighs roughly 90 – 150 gm. They are small about 3-5 inches (mouse like) and can fit in the palm of your hand. They have a life expectancy of about 3 years.

Hamsters are solitary animals and only come together for mating. Golden hamsters have to be separated after mating, otherwise the female may kill the male. The gestation period of the common hamster is 19-20 days and is 15 days for the Golden. They will have 4-12 babies at a time. A mother hamster is very maternal, and, if danger threatens, she will carry her babies away, either by putting them into her cheek pouches or laying them across the toothless area of her jaws. By the time they are two weeks old their eyes are open and they have a thick coat of fur. Mother hamsters wean their babies at about 3-4 weeks of age and the babies should be separated from the mother shortly after that. A female hamster is capable of having 2-3 litters a year.

Wild hamsters hoard food when it is plentiful, in case of a shortage later. Hamsters have special enormous expandable cheek pouches, which they can stuff food and carry it back to a store in their burrow. They will hide a pile of food under the bedding and it it later at their own leisure. The instinct to hoard is still strong in a pet hamster. Hamsters can be fed hamster mix, rodent diet or rodent chow and fruits (introducing slowly to avoid diarrhea). Water should always be provided using a hanging bottle. So, although you will be there to feed it regularly, your hamster will also use its cheek pouches and store food behind its nest.

Hamsters do not require grooming, they take care of their own grooming needs. When hamsters are under stress they can get diarrhea, which is called “wet bottom”. Wet bottom is diarrhea, which looks almost like pee, shortly after they contract this they usually die.

There are many types of hamsters, but only a few types are kept as pets. The hamster is the most popular of the smaller rodents kept as a pet in many countries today. Unlike the mouse, a hamster is virtually tailless. The most popular variety of hamster, kept as pets and used in laboratories, are the golden (Syrian) hamsters. They come in cinnamon, cream and white. Goldens also come in the long haired variety called “teddy bear” hamsters.

Hamsters make good beginner pets, as they are fairly easy to care for. They often have docile temperaments and have relatively clean habits. Hamsters are friendly and when handled often, they become quite tame. They are delightful to watch as they go about their daily housekeeping, food storing and exercise on their wheel. Some will show acknowledgement of their owners eagerly looking for treats when approached.

A hamster who has not been handled enough while young may not be as friendly and may not wish to be held and may even bite. Where as a Hamster who has been handled frequently from a very young age usually remain docile and rarely bite. Those with docile temperaments and a history of not biting can simply be picked up by using one or both hands, and then held in both hands or in one hand holding it against the body. Be sure to pick a hamster with a good temperament. If you suddenly grab or startle the hamster, it may bite, and the bite may drawl blood.

Hamsters should be gently handled, scooping them up and cradling them in the palms of your hands. The more a hamster is gently handled the tamer it will become. Many hamsters develop untrustworthy personalities and begin to bite because they have been handled roughly or suddenly disturbed or awakened. Caution should be used when approaching a hamster who’s personality is unknown. You can wear gloves or gently wrap them in a small towel to pick them up. You can also encourage them into a plastic container to remove them from their cage. Hamsters who are known to bite and those with unknown personalities can also be picked up by the skin on the back of their neck.

Hamster temperaments vary from breed to breed and depending on where you buy your hamster. In a lot of cases the hamsters in the pet stores are mass produced without any thought to temperament or health. For this reason you may want to consider looking into a hamster breeder or digging deep as to find out the origins of the pet store hamster.

Hamsters are not as demanding of attention as a rabbit, guinea pig, or rat. If the hamster is a child’s pet, the child should be taught how to properly handle and care for the hamster. They also like to chew, so if your hamster is lost for a period of time, it may chew your carpet or furniture. They can also get stepped on and if you have a cat or a dog, a loose hamster can be in great danger. Hamsters cannot see very well and they are not as sure footed and steady on their feet as some other animals. They can very easily fall off of furniture or tables and can really get hurt.

When choosing a hamster, pay attention to its demeanor and condition. Avoid hamsters that are quiet or lethargic; hamsters should should be alert, curious, and active. Being nocturnal, this can be a bit hard to test during the day, but even during the day a hamster should respond (be careful, the first instinct of a hamster might be to nip if woken from a deep sleep). Picking your hamster out in the evening might be a good idea. The coat should be smooth and the eyes and nose free of discharge (wet or crusty). The hamster’s breathing should not be labored or noisy, and the coat should be clean, dry, and free of droppings. If you observe a hamster in the cage with diarrhea or respiratory problems, be very cautious since all the hamsters in that cage may have been exposed to an infectious disease.

The hamster may be stricken by colds, also by such kinds that otherwise hits humans. For that reason you should be careful about your own hygiene if you in case of cold should have to manage the hamster. If the hamster sneezes and its nose or eyes runs, the cage should be cleaned immediately. Polish the cage extra carefully and place it where it is warm and free from draught. In case the hamster doesn’t recover after a few days, a veterinarian should be contacted. A typical hamster disease is what in English is called “wet tail” with diarrhoea and apathy. This disease may, if nothing is done, lead to the death. Young hamsters should not be subject to an excess of sudden managing. Hamsters are sensitive to falling and may never be dropped by an upright standing person.

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