They also unfortunately don't live very long, with an average lifespan of two to three years. What they lack in size they make up for in energy. That, combined with their small size, means they're not good pets for children because they can be tougher to handle. They also need relatively big cages or aquariums, because they can slip through the bars of some cages to expend their nearly-endless energy. The Campbell's Russian dwarf hamster is one of the two species of Russian dwarf hamsters, and one of the most common hamsters found in pet stores.
As their name implies, they stay pretty small, with an average length of 3. They have an average life expectancy of two years. They require a bit more socialization to make good pets, though they will sometimes nip if they feel threatened, and they might be a little too small and jumpy for kids to handle. The Winter White dwarf is the second of the two Russian dwarf hamster species. Their name comes from the fact that their fur, which is usually dark gray, turns white in the winter.
The color change is part of a defense mechanism they developed in the wild to protect them from predators who would otherwise be able to easily spot them on the winter snow. They make lovable and very active pets. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. All of the Best Chocolate Advent Calendars. Hamsters are nocturnal. In the wild, they come out mainly at night or during twilight to help them steer clear of predators.
This may make a hamster your ideal pet, especially if you and your family are out during the daytime. Read more: Hamster care guide: how to look after a hamster. Syrian hamsters are the most popular type of pet hamster. Syrian hamsters like to live alone. Read more: Hamster diet guide: which foods can hamsters eat?
Size: 10cm Lifespan: 1. Note: Keeping two hamsters of different genders in the same cage is not recommended. Size: cm Lifespan: 1. As the second-smallest type of hamster, the Winter White Dwarf hamster is even more difficult to handle than their counterparts. Some may tolerate other hamsters, others may not. For more help and guidance on keeping hamsters, have a chat with your local vet.
Size: 5cm Lifespan: These creatures are not only adorable but fast, curious and sociable. Due to their tiny size, a Roborovski Dwarf hamster may not be the best choice for younger children. For more help and advice on the different species of hamsters and which one would be best suited to you and your lifestyle, have a chat with your local vet.
Find your nearest vet using our Find a Vet page, or speak to a vet online using Online Vets. We use cookies on our website to make it easier for you to use. This includes conditions that their eyes may suffer.
Closed hamster eyes are also called sticky eyes, which is a common problem in most hamsters. This happens when the hamster secretes fluids from its eyes whenever it is sleeping so that the eyes stay moist.
However, the fluid may end up drying up and hardening around the eyes of the hamster preventing it from opening them. Sticky eye is a really common problem that hamsters often go through because it is simply one of the inconveniences that come with one of their natural bodily functions.
That is why you should know more about sticky eye so that you would be able to help your pet the next time it suffers from this condition.
Table of Contents What causes a sticky eye in hamsters? How to treat sticky eye in hamsters? Hold the hamster gently2. Go get a cotton swab or a Q tip and wet it with lukewarm water3. Preventing sticky eyeCan sticky eye kill a hamster? What causes a sticky eye in hamsters? At a lot of points in your life, you may have yawned whenever you were so sleepy and your eyes began releasing fluids that will eventually dry up around your eyes and harden.
This is also common early in the morning upon waking up when the fluids that your eyes released while you were sleeping had dried up to form some sort of sand-like sediments around your eyes.
Hence, that is where the sandman concept comes from. While you may have experienced this as a human, animals also go through a similar experience as well. Yes, this includes your pet hamsters and a lot of other animals as the sandman of the animal world also tends to visit them while they are sleeping. However, the difference here when it comes to you and your hamster is that it can be a bit more serious when it comes to your pocket-sized pet.
When a hamster is sleeping, its eyes need to secrete a fluid that is meant to keep their eyes moist because dry eyes can eventually lead to serious health conditions. But the fluids secreted by their eyes will eventually dry up and harden around the eyes. Sticky eye is much more common in hamsters that are a bit older because of how they need their eyes to secrete more fluid.
However, even younger hamsters may also end up suffering from this condition as well. As such, it is one of the most common problems that hamsters face on a regular basis.
In fact, most sticky eye cases can be remedied at home even if you are not an expert in handling hamsters. All you have to do is to follow these simple steps: 1. Go get a cotton swab or a Q tip and wet it with lukewarm water Find a cotton swab or a Q tip in your home and wet it with lukewarm water. As such, what we need to do here is to use the Q tip or the washcloth to gently wipe away the crusted substances. The moisture from the wet Q tip or cloth will soften the dried up substance to make it easier for you to wipe it off the eyes of your hamster.
Gently break the substance down until it is easier and easier for you to wipe it away. In some cases, holding the Q tip or washcloth on the eyes of your hamster may already be enough for the substance to soften up to the point that the hamster will be able to open its eyes again. Trust us when we say that some hamsters are too afraid to open their eyes thinking that the dried-up substance is still there. In such a case, what you need to do is to gently pull the eyelids apart using your fingers.
However, if you are finding it difficult to do this or if the hamster is resisting, stop right there. Go get another Q tip or washcloth and repeat the same process over and over again because there might be some stubborn dried up fluids that you probably missed the first time around.
This allows you to prevent the buildup of any dried up fluid. However, if the problem still persists or if your hamster is quite prone to this condition, you may have to bring it to a vet so that your hamster can get checked for any other possible reason why it is getting sticky eyes more often than most other hamsters. Can sticky eye kill a hamster? Another good news about hamster sticky eye is that it is not fatal or even very harmful to the hamster on a regular basis.
In some cases, your hamster may even find itself bumping into objects due to their impaired eyesight. Read more So read on here to find out more, starting with the basics. Table of Contents Do hamsters have good hearing? Yes, hamsters have very good hearing. Hearing is actually one of the main ways hamsters navigate their habitat, and avoid predators. A sudden movement will scare the hamster, while a sudden noise will be investigated and learned. How wild hamsters use their hearing to survive In the wild hamsters are hunted by almost every creature possible.
Hamsters sleep for much of the day, when most of their predators are out and hunting. Once evening sets in, hammies wake up, and perk their ears up. This trait has been passed down to your pet hamster too. Your hammy will learn every sound in the house A pet hamster is still very much like a wild hamster. Aside from variations in the colors, pet hamsters have largely the same personalities they had as wild hamsters. You can find out more about how hammies came to be pets, and where they all come from, right here.
For example my Teddy a Syrian male, golden used to stop and listen for everything when he was young. We have an air freshener that goes off on auto, that was mind-blowing for him. Over time he calmed down and learned every sound in the house, and those usually around the house as well. Our neighbors, a door closing somewhere, someone speaking outside, a dog barking, and so on.
As they age, hamsters become more accustomed to all the sounds and smells of their home. My Teddy took almost a year to relax, and not stare at me when I open the fridge. The ears, but the fur as well. So no stark lines or patches of color. When he was a baby he was all cream, and had a bit of white on his belly and paws. Once he started coming close to the 3 month mark when hamsters become adults he started getting all of his markings.
Which included darker, grey ears, and a few grey markings on his forehead, and shoulders. This can apply to all hamster breeds, since they only become adults around the 3 month mark. Only when they become old, will there be any other changes. So for example hammies can have their ears folded, in several situations. If he just woke up, his ears will be folded, and you will notice he moves slowly, eyes half open, fur a bit ruffled.
No one looks great in the morning. This fear can be dangerous, depending on the hamster. Some hamsters flee, some fight. Those who fight get their folded ears mistaken for a sign of aggression. The hammy is a very clean animal, in fact, and he can clean his own ears just fine. He has to, in order to be able to use them properly.
But sometimes, infections happen, or a parasite, or even an injury. Make sure you isolate the sick hamster from the other hamsters, since most of these conditions are contagious. Whatever the case, sometimes you will have to help your little friend. Ear infection An ear infection can come about in many ways, even if the cage is clean. An ear infection is bad, but treatable. It does require you to reach a veterinarian, though.
The vet will prescribe a round of antibiotics for your hammy. He might keep your friend for a couple of days, or he might give you the medicine to administer at home.
It depends on the vet and how bad the infection is. Ear tumor Ear tumors can grow in older hamsters, and will require surgery. The tumors usually grow very fast, and will send you to the vet a few times in the same week.
Take pictures of it every few hours, to compare the growth. Know that tumors can be both under and on the skin, so you might have to pick up the hammy and feel him.
Still, I found at least one example of a Dwarf type that needed a surgery for an ear tumor, and survived. No worries, the hamster is safe and he made a full recovery. Ear mites This can be tricky to tell with black hamsters, or those with very dark ears. Your hamster is probably scratching himself furiously. Bring the hamster to the vet immediately, so he can give your friend the proper treatment. The treatment can extend over a few weeks, but your hamster will be fine.
This is a case you should bring your hamster to the veterinarian for a treatment. Excessive scratching can lead to more than just ear loss, it can develop an even worse problem.
So make sure you speak to your vet, to possibly get a treatment for your hamster. Another reason for fur loss, but not necessarily around the ear, can be ringworm.
Which is a fungal infection that gives the hamster bald spots, with dry itchy skin. This too can be treats by a veterinarian. A word from Teddy I hope you found out how to take care of our ears here. I know us hammies look like the most adorable creatures, but we do get sick sometimes, and we need your help. If you want to know more about us hamsters, be sure to check the articles below, so you get all the info you need to help us have a great life with you I know I made some mistakes when I got my Teddy his first cage.
My Teddy is a fully grown Syrian hamster, but I will also cover the cage requirements for dwarf hamsters as well. Table of Contents So how do you choose the best cage for a syrian or dwarf hamster? Or, when it ships to you. Even if you see your friend as the smallest ball of fur, he will still need plenty of room to roam and explore.
Cage size for Syrian hamsters The best size cage for your Syrian hamster would be a minimum of 24 x 12 inches, and about 12 inches tall. The height of the cage is not very important, because hamsters need more actual floor space than levels. Of course, you can get your hammy a cage with a few levels, aside from the ground floor. This is actually what my Teddy has. He has a combination of plastic and wire cage, with 2 attachable levels. I left the highest level out of the cage, so I can fit his 8.
Syrian hamsters are always housed alone. They are very territorial and will not share anything with another hamster, even a litter mate. Cage size for Dwarf hamsters The best size for a dwarf hamster is 18 x 10 inches, and a 12 inch height. That is for one dwarf hamster.
You can house dwarf hamsters together, but not too many. You can find combination cages like plastic and wire cages , but not very often. Wire cages for hamsters The most common kind of hamster cage, and the one you will find in a pet shop most of the time. This kind of cage is made up of a plastic bottom, usually about the height of your palm. The attachable wire walls, which are actually most of the cage itself.
Although, the most important part is the bottom bit. That is where your hamster will live, walk, eat, sleep, and poo.
The wire of the cage is just how far he can go. But the floor space is the most relevant part of your cage, to be honest. The thing is, hamsters are very curious, and will stick their faces everywhere and will try chewing everything. So, for Syrian hamsters a maximum wire space should be 0.
And for dwarf hamsters, a maximum of 0. The problems is that most of the cages your will find in a pet shop have the wiring too far apart. It has the added benefit of an extra level, which hamsters will love.
My Teddy loves to hide under the home level, and yours is probably no different. You can check out the listing on Amazon here. Plastic cages for hamsters These can be plastic bins that you can drill some holes in, and put a wire mesh in place of a lid. Or you can even find plastic cages at a pet shop, designed for your hamster. These are see-through, and are the second most common type of hamster cages.
You can give your friend a lot of digging space and a whole bunch of bedding to roam around in. The plastic is usually too soft and blurry, even if it can be drilled to get some air holes for your hamster. When it comes to basic, important hamster accessories like the cage or the wheel or exercise ball, or even the water bottle, I suggest you get a professional one.
A good plastic hamster cage recommendation This is actually the cage I have for my Teddy. It has 2 levels, and they provide a lot of room for your hamster. My Teddy is a solitary adult Syrian hamster, But this would be alright for 2 dwarf hamsters as well. The best thing about this cage is that it comes with the tube attachments, which can actually fit an adult Syrian hamster inside easily.
This is an easy to clean and assemble cage, with a great combo between plastic and metal cage advantages. I removed the highest level so I can fit 9 inch wheel inside. Glass tanks for hamsters A third and final option would be to keep your hammy in a glass tank. This is a great option if you have a lot of space in your home, and can place la large glass tank somewhere. There are some special precautions, though.
Glass keeps cold for longer, so make sure you keep the tank in a definitely warm room. A glass tank might keep them colder if not properly maintained. This is just a precaution. A recommendation on glass tanks for hamsters You can find a good glass tank here.
Best to get one, just to be sure, though. The cleaning and washing and drying will be a longer process than the other cage types, but you can see your hamster clearly. You can check out the listing on Amazon for this glass tank here. This is where he will eat, sleep, poop, run around, and just live out his entire life.
It needs to be a safe place for your hamster. Hamsters are escape artists. Hamsters are busy things, people to see, things to do. So they will try their teeth on everything, including the cage. Whichever kind you have, you must first place the hamster s somewhere else. So use an exercise ball, or transport cage, to keep the hamster while you clean he cage. How to place a hamster in a temporary holding If you can hold your hamster, then scoop him up and place him in his exercise ball or transport cage.
He only has to stay there until you clean his cage. Remove any and all toys and home and food bowls from the cage, until you only have the bedding. The cages are very simple, open the latches on the cage usually on the side and remove the top. Use a rubber glove, and throw away the parts that need to be thrown away. Keep a bit of the old bedding and nesting material, for your hamster to feel more familiar. How to clean wire or plastic cages for hamsters As for the cage itself, it will need only hot water and a bit of soap.
Small quantities of soap, since hamsters are very sensitive to smell. You can scrub the sides of the cage, or wipe them down, your choice. You can also bring the cage parts into the shower and give them a good cleaning there, just make sure your pat them dry with paper towels and especially the lower part. In his hideout, place the bits of the old nesting material, and some new nesting material in the cage. He will take it out anyway, and bring it back in as he thinks fit.
My Teddy got quite annoyed when he found his hideout full of ripped up paper towel not the way he left it. Cleaning a glass tank for hamsters The bedding and toys need to be removed the same way as the wire or plastic cages.
But the last bits of bedding will require something like a vacuum cleaner, to make sure you get absolutely everything out. The cleaning and washing part is done with hot water and a small amount of soap, but will need more rinsing with a moist clean cloth. If you want to be extra sure there are no hidden water droplets in the corner, use a blow dryer. Even if the glass tank is a glass one, do now use window washing liquid on it.
The alcohol and strong smell will be harmful for the hamster, just stick to hot water. Multiple levels or one ground level? This is entirely up to you, and the hamster will enjoy both. The thing is that hamsters need a lot of leg room, because they run and climb and explore new places.
This will take up a lot of actual floor space in your home. So, it depends on your home as well. If you choose a multi-level cage, you do give your hamster more room, and he will use the higher levels as well. He will hangout mostly around his hideout, so make sure you put that somewhere he will not fall far from.
For example my Teddy has a multiple level cage. I took out the last level so I can fit his wheel inside, but Teddy uses all the space he has.
When I gave him the extra level, he used that one too. A word of caution though. My Teddy is also plain silly and just forgets he has a nice ramp set up from his upper level to the ground level. He often just climbs up instead of using that ramp. So if you get your hamster a multi-level cage, make sure your give the levels lots of bedding. The airflow of the cage is important for your hamster As with every living being, air is important. Stale air will give your hamster a lot of health issues, including lung problems, possible colds, and suffocation in extreme cases.
To make sure your hamster gets lots of air, a wire cage is best. But with the plastic cage the air quality is often a problem. However a glass tank is often expensive. So what should you do?
Take a look at your budget, see which kind of cage you can provide your hamster and still be okay. Place that in a corner, hidden from sight or at least under a bendy bridge or something similar.
Hamsters will choose a very hidden and safe spot to build their nest, so put their hideout there. For example my Teddy often uses the most hidden corner of his cage to eat, under the upper level and blocked by paper tubes and bedding. To find out more about what kind of hideout is best for your hamster, as well as which kind of bedding is safe for him, check out my article. The wheel can be anywhere in the cage, but make sure it fits into your cage. A standing wheel can be placed anywhere. You can find my article on what kind of exercise wheel your hamster needs, according to his size as well.
Hamsters usually choose a corner to pee in, usually the farthest away from their hideout. So, in that particular corner I put Teddy a sand bath. It acts as a litter box, and it keeps smell down to a minimum. You can use an old hideout, with a removable lid, or even special sand containers. Your choice, as long as you put something there to contain the sand. Other toys, like the chew toys and climb toys you can find out more about here. Hamsters are sensitive, and do notice and wake up when you move their cage.
During the day when he sleeps he is in our bedroom, and I never move him. If you have a room for the hamster alone, then you can probably get him a glass tank not taking the budget into account since it will stay in one place. The room you keep your hamster in needs to be free of drafts, with an even temperature. Do not place the cage in direct sunlight, or near a heat source. When this does happen, make sure you do not grab the cage by the top part, at all.
Even if it has a nice handle to hold, do not trust it. Most of those are poorly build and will not hold that weight. Do not hold the wiring, since your fingers can become stuck, and the hamster will possibly chew them as well. If possible, try not to bump the cage into the wall or drop it.
Even more important, if the hamster is still inside the cage. In these situations use a transport cage for the hamster, and empty the large cage to hold it in an way you can see in front of you.
When picking up the cage, pick it up by the lowest part of the bottom. This is easier on your back, and safe for the hamster as well.
A word from Teddy I hope you have a clear idea of what kind of home us hamsters need now. Us Syrian hamsters need larger cages, and dwarf hamsters can do with smaller ones, but always add more space for each new hamster.
For example my dwarf brothers and sisters can be housed together, in same sex pairs. If you want to know more about hamsters in general, you can check out the articles below. We know that dogs bark for many reasons, cry when they want something, and growl when they are aggressive, but not many people know what sounds hamsters make. The most common noises that hamsters make are squeals, screams, and squeaks, but they can also hiss and grind their teeth. However, we do have a general idea of what might be going on with your hamster when it makes certain sounds.
If your hamster is grinding its teeth, it means that your hamster is probably irritated and wants you to leave it alone. They usually scream because they are afraid of something, and the scream is loud and distressing. The most common sound all hamsters make is squeaking. Here are 12 reasons why your hamster might be squeaking, which will help you understand your hamster better.
Table of Contents 1. Your hamster is happy2. Your hamster is afraid3. Your hamster needs something4. Your hamster is talking to other hamsters5. Your hamster recognizes something7. Your hamster is aggressive8.
Your hamster is trying to be dominant9. Your hamster is trapped or in danger Your hamster wants to breed Your hamster is giving birth Your hamster is injured 1. Your hamster is happy Hamsters sometimes squeak when they are happy.
For example, hamsters are known to squeak when they get a treat, or when you pet them. If you have more than just one hamster, your hamsters could squeak because they are happy to see each other, or just because they are playing. You can tell that your hamster is squeaking because it is happy if you see it stretch or yawn while squeaking. If your hamster is new, socialization will make it calm down.
When you get a hamster for the first time, it might be hard to figure out on your own how to tame it. The first thing you should do when you bring a hamster home is to let it adjust. Try giving it a week before you handle it. A good place would be a study if you work from home or a bedroom. You will have to take the time to get to know your hamster and learn how it communicates. You will notice that your hamster has become more comfortable once it leaves its cage on its own.
Do not handle your hamster before it leaves the cage on its own, you will just make it more afraid of you. You should talk to your hamster, but not too loudly, so it gets used to your voice.
You might feel awkward talking to your hamster, so try reading it a book, or if you have kids, read them a goodnight story with the hamster present in the room. You can convince your hamster to trust you by offering it a lot of treats. Start by offering them through the bars or at the edge of the cage. After a while, you will be able to place your hand inside the cage and put the treat on your hand. Instead, let it get interested and explore your hand.
The first time you do this, the hamster will probably only place one paw on your hand. The more you do it, the more your hamster will trust you, and eventually, it will climb into your hand to get the treat. When your hamster trusts your enough to get to your hand, you can try to take it into your hand. If you notice that your hamster wants to get away, let it go. Your hamster will probably do this the first few times, but after a while, it will realize that your hands are safe. How long it will take for your hamster to let you pick it up depends on its personality and age.
Some hamsters might let you pick them up as soon as they come into your home, while others need a month or longer to fully relax and trust you. Make sure you pick it up safely. The best way to do so is to cup your hand and put the hamster in it and place the other hand on its back so that it feels safe. The first few times you pick up your hamster, make sure there is a soft surface beneath you in case it jumps out of your hand.
As time passes, the hamster will become more comfortable with you and trust you more, and it will walk over your hands and arms.
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