Basic Hamster Information
What kind of hamster information should you have if you are thinking of bringing home a pet? Of course, you'll need to know what breed of hamster you want. You will need to know what kind of habitat to provide for them. And you'll need to know how to feed and take care of them. Here's a basic overview to help you get started.
First, you have to decide on what breed you want. Syrian hamsters, also known as golden hamsters, are the kind that is commonly found in children's classrooms. They are the largest of the pet hamsters, and they do best when they live by themselves instead of with other hamsters. They are large enough and docile enough that children can hold them and pet them, so they make good pets at home as well as at school.
The smaller breeds are called dwarf hamsters. The three most popular dwarf breeds for pets are Roborovski, Campbell's Russian and Winter White Russian. Roborovski dwarf hamsters are the smallest of these three.
All of the dwarf hamsters can live in colonies successfully if you take care to make sure the genders are separated. It is important not to allow accidental breeding, because the colonies could get overpopulated very quickly if that occurs. Female dwarf hamsters are in heat approximately every four days, gestation takes less than three weeks, and as many as 14 hamster pups can be born in each litter. So keeping the genders separated is an absolute must if you decide you want to keep colonies.
In the wild, hamsters are nocturnal and cover a lot of territory every night as they search for food. So they're used to running around in large spaces. But as pets in the home, they need to be confined to cages. It is important not to let them run around free, because they can wander into crevices, get lost, end up eating furniture or electrical wiring, or become prey for the family cat or dog.
So cages are necessary for their safety. But they won't get the exercise they need to stay healthy unless you furnish the cage with some appropriate toys. Hamster wheels are perfect for this. But make sure you get solid hamster wheels (without rungs) for dwarf hamsters because they are safer for their tiny legs and feet.
Hamsters eat a wide variety of foods in the wild. They eat seeds, grasses, grains, crickets, mealworms, vegetables and fruits. So the best diet you can provide for your hamsters is one that approximates their natural diet as closely as possible. Even though pet stores sell hamster "treats", you can save your money. Just use tiny portions of a food that they like. It's healthier for them than giving them hamster junk food, and they like it just a much.
