Conditions and care for domestic Syrian hamsters

Syrian hamster: description

The Syrian hamster is the result of crossings of various species, and quite rare, wild hamsters. This animal was accidentally discovered at one time in Syria. Adult individuals are characterized by medium size.

Adult specimens grow to a maximum length of 13.5 cm, while their tail is only one and a half centimeters long. The maximum weight of adults is about 250 grams, with females being slightly larger than males. Despite this, Syrian hamsters have a short but strong body.

The animal's coat consists of soft and fairly thick fur, which is painted in golden tones. The characteristic habitats of these animals in nature are the areas adjacent to the city of Aleppo, as well as the eastern territories of Turkey.

Interesting fact! The front paws of this animal have four toes, and the hind paws are armed with five toes.

The muzzle is characterized by the presence of rounded shapes, and as for the ears, they are small, as is the tail, which is barely noticeable due to the rather thick coat. There are both long-haired and short-haired species.

How long do Syrian hamsters live?

As far as we know, regardless of their habitat, be it the natural environment or being in captivity, hamsters live no more than 3 years.

Under certain conditions, by providing the animal with balanced feed, you can extend the life of your pet, although only slightly.

Domestic hamsters. Funny Syrian hamster.

Method 1. Ideal habitat

1. Provide enough space. Your hamster may seem to sleep most of the time, but at dusk he becomes active and needs space to play. Provide as much space as you can! The hamster uses different parts of the cage for different activities and there should be sufficient distance between them.

So: cage dimensions: 30x30x50 cm. Bigger is better.

• Mesh cages and aquariums, plastic and glass, are also suitable. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages. A lattice cage provides more climbing space but takes longer to clean.
• Make sure that the bottom of the cage is deep enough, at least 3-5 cm, and take care of high-quality filler.

2. Make sure there are enough toys. Hamsters are active creatures who spend a lot of time having fun and playing. The wheel is necessary, but they alone cannot do it:

• Wooden twigs and other shaped toys are not only fun, they help maintain the proper shape of your teeth. The tree must be clean and safe.
• You can make toys yourself. For example, an empty cardboard box is both a play tunnel and a chew item.
• And if you fill a small box with special shavings, the hamster will happily dig around in it.
• Do not use cardboard with glue or paint residue.

3. Give the hamster a wheel. A win-win option for running and channeling energy into a peaceful direction. The wheel must be made of a smooth material, in no case from mesh! If your hamster gets stuck between the bars, it can injure its paw.

• Large wheels designed for rats are also suitable for hamsters.
• Another option that allows you to run for a long time is a special ball.
• Lure the hamster out of the cage by placing a ball at the entrance and pretending you don't care. Make sure the room is safe and there are no other animals.

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Care and maintenance of Syrian hamsters

Syrian hamsters are very popular both in our country and around the world. Most likely, this is due to the unpretentiousness of maintenance, the resistance of the hamsters’ immunity, as well as their attractive appearance.

How many hamsters to get

The peculiarities of keeping them are that these animals prefer to lead an isolated lifestyle, while becoming attached to a certain territory, which they fearlessly defend. You need to know this in order to decide on the number of animals you plan to have. Therefore, they cannot be kept even in pairs, not to mention entire groups of animals. At the same time, it should be noted that there is a type of social hamsters - these are Roborovsky hamsters, which can be kept in whole groups without any problems.

Selection and filling of the cage

Syrian hamsters are relatively large in size, so a small cage is not suitable for keeping such a pet. In addition, the size of the cage must be such that it can accommodate a wheel with various labyrinths, as well as other accessories.

The best option can be considered a cage with dimensions of 37x27 cm and a height of about 36 cm. If the cage has two floors, then this is even better, since it is more convenient and more comfortable for the animal.

Features of the cell include:

• It is not necessary that the cage have several floors, but the main thing is that its dimensions are optimal.
• Dimensions should not be less than 50x30 cm.
• If the cage is too small in size, the animal may suffer from lack of movement, which leads to obesity.
• The second floor should be located at least 30 cm from the bottom of the cage.
• The door dimensions should be optimal, but not small.
• The distance between the rods is no more than 1 cm.
• It is better to get a cage that has a solid tray rather than a mesh one.

The hamster's home should be equipped with a special wheel, which will act as a gymnastic apparatus, and the bottom should be filled with sawdust, which can absorb moisture, as well as foreign odors.

Important point! The more game elements there are in the cage, in the form of a wheel, various manholes, steps and ladders, the more active the pet will behave.

Do not cover the bottom of the cage with cotton wool or paper. An excellent play element for a hamster in his home is a wooden driftwood with a smooth surface.

Rules of care and hygiene

Keeping a pet hamster requires deep cleaning of the entire home once a week. To do this, the upper part of the cage is removed and any remaining food, as well as bedding, is removed. As a daily activity, it is advisable to carry out partial cleaning, replacing the remaining feed and bedding that has become unusable.

After general cleaning, disinfection measures are mandatory using safe substances, after which the cage is wiped dry with a cotton cloth or paper towel. In addition, all additional elements of the cage, including bowls and drinking bowls, require regular washing. Cleanliness is the key to your pet’s health.

What to feed your Syrian hamster

Proper keeping of rodents such as Syrian hamsters at home is to provide the animal with a balanced diet, including various treats.

The use of ready-made, purchased food rations can be considered an ideal option, since they contain a sufficient amount of nutrients that are so necessary for the normal functioning of hamsters. In this case, you need to ensure that the feed is given in no more than the required portions.

The feed should contain:

• Proteins – no more than 23 percent.
• Up to 6 percent fat.
• Within 10 percent fiber.

The hamster's main food products are solid grains in the form of wheat, oats and millet. If a pet has not finished eating and left food in the feeder, it must be removed immediately so that the pet cannot be poisoned by food that has become unusable.

It is important to know! Products such as citrus fruits, sunflower seeds (seeds), cabbage, chocolate and a number of other sweet products, including dairy and fermented milk products, with the exception of cheese, are contraindicated for feeding these animals.

As a rule, rodents' teeth grow throughout their lives, so it is necessary to create conditions for the animal to grind them down. To do this, the hamster is given branches of various fruit trees, such as apple and cherry, and also includes foods such as apples, carrots, persimmons, zucchini, turnips and raspberries in the diet.

Standards for keeping a Syrian hamster

Health and disease prevention

Pet hamsters may suffer from:

• For the appearance of abscesses.
• For dental problems.
• For obesity.
• For baldness.
• For inflammation of the “sacs”.
• On a “wet” tail.
• For herpes.
• For the spread of E. coli.
• For “false rabies” or Aujeszky's disease.
• For trichomoniasis.
• For conjunctivitis.

First of all, you should pay attention to the following symptoms:

• The appearance of sharp and unmotivated aggressiveness.
• The appearance of breathing problems.
• Complete apathy.
• Moisture fur and matted wool.
• The appearance of bald patches.
• The appearance of various wounds, swellings or ulcers.
• Loose or too dry stools that have an unusual color or unpleasant odor.

The owner should pay attention to the fact that the hamster is constantly trembling, and also to the fact that the pet is actively scratching its skin until wounds appear.

In any case, you should not self-medicate or try to establish a diagnosis yourself, which can only be done by a specialist. As a rule, many ailments manifest themselves due to poor care and maintenance, as well as the lack of a balanced diet. It is also necessary to pay attention to the conditions in which the cage is located, whether the room is well ventilated, and whether there are any drafts.

Reproduction and offspring

By the time of fertilization, the female must be at least 4 months old, and the male must be at least 3 months old. Successful mating is only possible if the female's estrus period is accurately determined, which occurs at intervals of 5 days. During this period, they take a female and a male and place them in a separate and very spacious cage.

After fertilization, the female carries her offspring for 18 days. After this period, from 4 to 15 small hamsters may be born. Before the birth process, the cage is thoroughly cleaned, the bedding is completely changed, and a sufficient amount of food is poured into the feeder.

After childbirth, especially in the first days, it is undesirable not to disturb the female and her offspring. After birth, small hamsters feed only on mother's milk for a month.

During the period of feeding the offspring, as well as during the period of feeding with milk, the female’s diet should be enriched with:

• Due to protein products.
• Using boiled egg yolk.
• Due to low-fat cottage cheese.
• Using boiled chicken meat.

After birth, in no case should the cubs be touched with your hands, otherwise the female will be able to eat all her offspring if she senses the presence of foreign odors.

In addition, during this period it is advisable to place the cage in a fairly dark place, ensuring complete peace for the female and offspring. You can start breeding hamsters after they have lived for one month and one week.

Diseases

In general, such an animal is in good health. With proper care, your pet will feel good.

An animal may become ill if:

• does not eat properly;
• sleeps on damp bedding;
• there are sharp objects in the cage;
• the humidity in the room is too high or low;
• it lacks movement.

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A healthy rodent has a dry nose, thick silky fur, a clean anus and eyes.

What are the most common diseases of Syrian hamsters? Now we list them:

• colds (sneezing, nasal discharge, chills);
• pneumonia;
• clogged or damaged cheek pouches;
• diarrhea;
• skin diseases;
• conjunctivitis;
• lymphocytic choriomeningitis (the main symptom is photophobia).

Always monitor your pet's health. The first symptoms of the disease may be the following:

• loose stools,
• manifestation of aggression;
• fur loss;
• the appearance of fleas;
• formation of wounds on the skin;
• difficulty (heavy) breathing;
• the appearance of ulcers on the skin;
• slightly damp wool to the touch;
• apathetic state of the animal.

Have you noticed any alarming symptoms? Go to the vet immediately!

Buying Syrian hamsters

Such an animal is sold in pet stores, through advertisements or on the market. At the same time, many who want to purchase a Central Asian hamster on the market should be warned, since there is no guarantee of purchasing a healthy animal.

Short-haired types of Syrian hamsters can cost around 300 rubles maximum, while long-haired types are more expensive and will have to pay up to 600 rubles for them.

Buying a Hamster New Pet Syrian Hamster First Day | Elli Di Pets

How to avoid stress?

Why avoid it at all? When a pet is stressed, its behavior changes unpredictably. He may stop eating, may behave aggressively or, conversely, indifferently. Caring for a Syrian under stress becomes very difficult.

We have already listed the main stress factors, let’s summarize them:

Hamsters are solitary animals; they unite only during mating. Remember this, and do not try to “make friends” of the Syrian with other hamsters and other pets.

It is also worth gradually accustoming the golden handsome man to your hands. The Syrian is the most peaceful type of hamster, but even among them there are quarrelsome characters. There is no point in rushing things and expecting mutual love from the first days.

Read more about taming and other training on our website.

That's how stressed I am... Don't hurt the rodent!

Owner reviews

Syrian hamsters are characterized by having a sociable and friendly character, so they prefer to be in constant contact with their owner.

Such a pet requires constant care, as well as unobtrusive love, since excessive attention can lead the animal to stress, and subsequently to the manifestation of a number of ailments that are difficult to deal with.

Important point! According to many experienced owners, it is enough for Syrian hamsters if you handle them no more than 3 times a day, for 15 minutes, no more.

These animals, despite their mobility and curiosity, are mainly active in the dark. It follows from this that it is better to choose evening hours to communicate with your pet.

Syrian hamsters, due to their ease of care and maintenance, are very popular. They are typically one of the first pets children encounter. Since this animal does not require special care and maintenance, and its character is quite friendly and flexible, all family members and especially children quickly become attached to this pet.

Walks

Walking is a must-have pastime for the Syrian hamster. But to do this, first of all, you must ensure the animal’s complete safety. To do this, it is recommended to purchase a special walking ball, and also closely monitor your pet.

This is necessary primarily in order to eliminate the following unpleasant situations:

• while walking around the apartment, a hamster can pick up various infections from street dust;
• You should not leave your hamster alone with other pets, as this may pose a threat;
• a rodent can simply be crushed without noticing it on the floor;
• a hamster can chew the wire, which will lead to an electric shock, and even a slight voltage can be fatal to your pet;
• a rodent can climb high and fall, since these animals are completely devoid of fear of heights;
• a hamster can pick up something that is inedible or poisonous to it, which can also cause death.

For walks, it is recommended to purchase a special walking ball

To avoid such unpleasant and irreparable consequences when letting your rodent out for a walk, you should constantly monitor it closely.

What do they eat?

The diet of hamsters living in the natural environment and at home is significantly different.

In the natural environment

The main food of rodents in the wild are cereals and legumes. If this food is not enough, the animals eat vegetables and green shoots of plants.

In the absence of their usual food, hamsters can feed on worms and insects. Representatives of large species can hunt frogs and even snakes.

At home

Owners need to know everything about the diet of hamsters so that feeding is complete. Pet stores offer special food containing all the ingredients necessary for life and normal functioning of organs and systems.

You can include natural food in your pet’s menu. Rodents happily eat grains, nuts, seeds, and raisins. They also have their favorite vegetables, which include carrots, beets, zucchini, and cucumbers.

Reproduction

Have you decided to start breeding Syrian hamsters? Think carefully. Caring for pregnant women and babies is expensive both in terms of time and money. But it’s difficult to expect returns - the animals breed so profusely that sometimes it’s not even possible to give them away for free, let alone sell them. Have you changed your mind yet? Well, then let's start with choosing individuals for mating.

Buy Syrian hamsters that are around the same age. Definitely in different places - one seller has hamsters, most likely from the same litter; Due to inbreeding, there is a high probability of genetic diseases in the offspring.

Don't trust what the seller says about the gender of the animals. Check it yourself.

To sell overdue goods, they will tell you anything. Check the animals yourself for sexual characteristics. Especially for this, we have written detailed instructions for determining gender https://zoonrav.ru/homyaki/razmnozhenie/kak-opredelit-pol.

Hamsters are ready to mate at the age of 4-6 months. Until this time, keep them separate (remember the nature of the animals - there will be fights). As soon as the female goes into heat, try to mate. This should be done in a separate cage or on the male’s territory. After mating, seat them back.

Pregnancy lasts 15-19 days, depending on the number of offspring. A week before giving birth, stop playing with the female, only add food, water and an increased amount of bedding to create a large nest.

No care is required during childbirth, everything will happen quietly. Add an extra food bowl and water bottle to the cage. Do not touch hamsters until they are 2 weeks old. Also stop caring for the cage during this time.

After 3-4 weeks, the sex of the offspring can be determined and placed in different cages according to gender - boys and girls need to be cared for separately. Animals should be given into the wrong hands no earlier than 35 days after birth.

Read more detailed information about mating and breeding of Syrian hamsters in a separate article on our website.

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