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Black-bellied hamster
The fur is light brown on the back, white on the sides and black on
the belly (hence the name black-bellied hamster). There is a wide
range of variation, however, including both albino and melanistic
animals. The small tail is mostly hairless. Cricetus has cheek
pouches.
Reproduction
The breeding season in Cricetus lasts from April to August. It is
not clear if males are driven away by females after mating or if the
pair remains together to raise the offspring. Females normally have
two litters of 4-12 young per year, though captive animals are
capable of reproducing every month. Gestation is 18-20 days long and
birth weight is usually about 7 grams. Young are weaned at 3 weeks
and attain adult size at 8 weeks. Female are sexually mature at 43
days.
Behavior
Cricetus is a solitary, burrowing rodent. Burrow size is age and
season dependent. Summer and fall burrows have tunnels constructed
in a single plane, usually about 50 cm below the surface. In winter
burrows can be as deep as 2 meters and have extra space for the
large (90 kg) winter store of cereals and agricultural crops.
Cricetus hibernates in the winter, although it wakes every 5-7 days
to eat stored food. Activity is crepuscular during the spring,
summer and fall. When it must swim, the common hamster inflates its
cheek pouches with air for increased buoyancy. During large
population movements indiuced by food shortages, common hamsters can
cross large rivers.
Food Habits
The diet is diverse and includes grains, beans, lentils, roots,
green parts of plants, insect larvae and frogs. In captivity they
should be offered a complete diet of rodent lab blocks, and rat or mouse
mix, with bits of fruit or veggies regularly. Cheerios or wheat
bread are great treats, in small quantities. Do NOT feed chocolate,
fried foods, salted foods, candy or junk food! They may enjoy
crickets and mealworms if they are captive bred, never feed wild
insects as they may carry parasites. Vitamins, like Nutri-Cal are a good addition to their diet, and added calcium
during nursing and growth due to demands on their systems at those
times, but take care not to overdo it. Water bottles should be used
to proved constant, clean water. Ceramic or stoneware food dishes
work well for keeping seeds or fresh foods off the floor, and a wire
mesh hopper that allows them to eat the lab blocks through without
extra waste.
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