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Pet Syrian, Teddy bear, Black bear Hamsters
Hamsters make delightful family pets. They sleep during the day
and become active in the evening, ideal for many family schedules.
Most hamsters, including Syrian hamsters, are solitary and must be
kept alone. Occasionally, dwarf hamsters may be social and prefer to
live in pairs or groups, however you should have an extra cage
available in case they need to be separated.
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Syrian Hamsters
aka Teddybear Hamster |
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Syrian Hamster
(Mesocricetus auratus)
Description
I've always thought they looked like little teddy bears, and maybe
that's where some of their nicknames have come from. Nicknames like
"Black bears", "Teddybears", etc. They're bodies our round and
plump, like potatoes, with short legs and almost no visible tail.
Diet
They can be maintained on a diet of rodent block or hamster mix, and
should get bits of fruit or veggies regularly.
Cheerios or wheat bread are also great treats, in small quantities.
Do NOT feed chocolate, garlic, onions, rabbit mix (that contains
antibiotic ingredients), raw kidney beans, or any processed sugars
(sweets, etc).
Hamsters may like an occasional mealworm or dog biscuit, so long as
there are no added dyes in the biscuits. But don't feed too many or
they will become overweight.
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 are better then bowls, as hamsters love to make large
nests, and may do so right next to the bowl, filling it with
bedding.
Ceramic or stoneware food dishes may work for keeping seeds or fresh
foods off the cage floor, but I think you'll discover that the
hamster will empty the dish into it's cheek pouches, then carry all
the food off to hide it in his "pantry".
Habitat
Syrians are solitary animals. Occasionally you may find a good
tempered one that will accept a permanent cage mate, but for the
majority they will need to be separated after eight to ten weeks of
age or fights might break out, leading to injuries and possibly
death.
A 10 gallon tank will house a hamster comfortably, or a litter of
weanlings temporarily.
All hamsters enjoy some form of entertainment while they are
restricted to their cages.
Wodent wheels, rope ladders, PVC pipe tunnels, and cardboard houses
to shred will keep your hamster from getting bored during the hours
when you are sleeping or can't be with it.
Bedding should be aspen, paper based, or hay. Try to avoid Cedar or
Pine.
Special needs
They make great pets for almost any age, so long as they are treated
gently. However you'll probably want to start with a baby that was
handled frequently from birth, so you don't have to spend so much
time in taming and have more time to spend playing with your
hamster.
If given regular attention they can become very friendly, sociable
pets.
Most hamsters are easy to handle once they learn to trust you. Allow
your new pet a few days to settle into its new home before picking
it up. Offering food from your hand helps to build confidence.
Regular exercise in a safe area outside the cage is important, but
wait for your hamster to wake up on its own, have a snack, and go to
the bathroom before you take it out of its cage. Never wake a
sleeping hamster as it may become irritable and bite.
Personality
Attitude - Nervous, flighty, quick to run if they feel danger
present
Tame-ability - Bad to poor, unless fostered onto tame domestic mouse
mothers as pinkies
Trainability - Poor
Activity level - High
Vocal - Not unless very frightened
Minimum owner's age - 12 (if supervised by an adult, and youth
understands that this is a 'look but don't touch' animal)
Reproduction
Lifespan 2-4 years
Maturity 4-5 weeks
Sexual maturity 4-6 months
Receptive 4 day cycle, in the evening. Females may become sterile
after about 14 months.
Gestation 16 days
Infants show color pigment at 4-6 days
Infants can be handled at 2 weeks, if mother is gentle
Infant eyes open at 3 weeks
Ready to wean at 4-5 weeks
Mutations
Many colors have been developed, but sadly, most of these are still
only to be found in the UK. Coat markings may include banded,
dominant spot, umbrous (darkening), and roan. Coat types include
longhair, shorthair, satin, hairless, and rex (curly)
Pet Status
Very common
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