(In the name of God)

H a m s t e r

___Introduction

Warm blooded mammal in the rodent family. Nocturnal, up at night, sleeps during the day. 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.

___Origin

Hamsters originated in the Middle East and southeastern Europe. The word 'hamster' comes from the German word 'hamstern' which means 'to save' or 'to store', referring to the hamsters behave to collect food in its pouches.

___Size

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.

___HOW LONG DO HAMSTERS LIVE ?

Hamsters live for 1-3 years and sometimes longer with an average lifespan of about 2 years.

___HOW ARE HAMSTERS KEPT ?

Should hamsters be kept in groups or single ?

Hamsters usually prefer to be alone and they often don't mix well with other animals - even members of their own species. Adult hamsters of the same sex will often fight ferociously if they are kept together. So males and females should only be put together when they are being mated and they should be separated immediately afterwards.

*Housing :A hamster will be happy in it's home if it :

Is dry

is clean

Allows in day light during the day

Is dark during the night

Has a private, calm area for sleeping and storing food. This can be a screened off area within the house - or a separate box.

Has a separate area for use as a toilet

Has an exercise area.

It has no materials that will easily splinter when gnawed.

___Food

Hamesters are omnivorous it means that they eat both meat and plants

___Pregnancy

Hamsters are pregnant (called the gestation period) for 15-21 days (longest in Chinese Hamsters) and they usually have a litter of 4-7 babies

___Environmental temperature and humidity

Textbooks recommend that hamsters be kept at a room temperature of between 18o-21o C (65o - 70o F). Textbooks recommend that hamsters be kept at 40% - 60% relative humidity.

___HAMSTER LANGUAGE

*Grooming: When a hamster grooms itself, it will start washing its feet, hands and fur. Grooming means that the hamster is feeling secure and happy.

*Yawning and stretching: When the hamster yawns and stretches itself, it means that the hamster is feeling happy and comfortable.

*Listening: A hamster will stand tall on its back legs with ears up. It means that the hamster is listening to something that captured its attention

*Hamster biting cage bars: It means that the hamster wants your attention. This usually happens during the evening / night

*Hamster biting your hands: Wash your hands after handling any food - the hamster might smell your hands and think that it is food

 

                      By: Sina shadfar

               Intern of veterinary doctorate