Special Care Of Hamsters

Hamsters make really great pets, and for that reason, they've steadily gained popularity and appeal, ever since the capture of the first and best-known species, the "Golden Hamster" in the Syrian Desert in 1930. Most experts agree that just about all of the captive population of Syrian Hamsters are descended from that original litter.

As rodents, hamsters belong to the subfamily Cricetinae, which contains some 25 different species. So, indeed there is quite a variety to choose from, many of which will no doubt make a terrific companion pet, as the care of hamsters is certainly a joyful undertaking.

The best known of the hamster types, and most commonly kept as a pet, is the Syrian or Golden Hamster. Sometimes referred to as "fancy hamsters", the Syrians are also known as "teddy bear hamsters", "polar bear hamsters", "panda bear hamsters", "honey bear hamsters", "black bear hamsters", and "Dalmatian", all of which is a direct result of their particular coloration.

When buying a hamster, it's reassuring to know that they are particularly suited as a beginner pet, since the care of hamsters is a fairly easy endeavor. They typically have a temperament that is usually quite docile, dependent of course upon environment, genetics and the amount of interaction with humans. But, all in all, they're very friendly and become extremely tame when handled frequently. Additional "hamster facts" indicate they have relatively clean habits and are actually entertaining to watch as they do their daily work of storing food, working out on the exercise wheel and performing their housekeeping chores.

Mating hamsters can also provide a special experience if managed with care. And, when hamster babies have been handled with patience, tenderness and consistency they will generally remain highly docile and very rarely ever bite. It's only on those occasions when a hamster is suddenly startled or frightened that it will resort to biting. But, with care and gentle handling biting should never be an issue. A general consensus, among experts, claim the Black Bear and Golden Hamsters are among the easiest of the species to tame.

Dwarf hamsters are among the two dozen, or so, subfamilies and have gained tremendous popularity as a highly sought after pet. Preferred by some because of the smaller size, it's important to note that they still need a similar amount of maintenance as their larger cousins. However, their smaller size does make them a bit more fragile, skittish and quick to attempt an escape. It also demands a more secure cage or enclosure, as they can easily free themselves from environments designed to contain the larger Syrian variety. Among the most secure and specialized of homes, available now for the dwarf hamsters, is the tubular habitat, which is made of a type of heavy gauge plastic. Designed initially for the pet mice industry, the size of the plastic enclosures is perfectly suited for the miniature sized little dwarfs.

Exercise is important for any hamster, as they are naturally active little critters, so it's essential to provide them with the opportunity for physical activity. The most common appliance is the hamster wheel. Incredibly, there was at least one study that calculated the distance traveled, while running on the wheel, measured at five miles. It may surprise many to learn that the hamster is not actually nocturnal, being most active at night, but rather they are "crepuscular", which is a term used to describe some animals that are primarily active during twilight, that is at dawn and at dusk. This behavior is an instinctual pattern developed within the wild species to help avoid times when predators were most active. In the desert areas of their native habitat, it was also a way to avoid the intense heat of the afternoon sun.

Dwarf hamsters can surprisingly consume as much food as their larger Syrian cousins, primarily because of the need to support a much higher metabolism. It's important to always provide a continuous portion of fresh food, even though they are famous for taking food from their bowl and hiding or storing it within their nesting area. Equally important is a readily available supply of fresh water, which can most efficiently be provided via water bottle with a metal tip, which will prevent damage from chewing and potential leakage.

As members of the rodent family, the hamsters teeth will have that same characteristic of constantly growing and because of that, will need lots of toys made from a soft variety of wood, which can help them maintain that vitally important part of their anatomy. This will also ensure they avoid chewing on plastic toys and accessories, which could potentially cause injury when ingested.

As stated earlier, hamsters are instinctively clean animals and are certainly deserving of a tidy environment in which to exist, otherwise you may end up with sick hamsters, so it's incumbent upon any hamster caring owner to do their part and provide timely and consistent maintenance of the cage and its contents, as you'll surely guard against the majority of hamster illnesses. The most effective procedure is to, once a week, empty the hamsters cages of all the contents; wash everything with a mixture of very mild soap and warm water, rinsing everything very thoroughly; drying the cage, hamster toys and accessories completely before reassembly; and replace the hamsters bedding substrate with fresh material.

In closing, it's important to note that in a study ranking pets in a priority of most desired, the hamster came in at a solid number 3 position, just behind the dog and cat. They can be a great little pet, as witnessed by their extreme popularity and while they're not maintenance free, the joy and satisfaction of owning either a dwarf hamster or Syrian hamster, makes it all worthwhile, in your care of hamsters, throughout their lives of loving companionship.

For even more information and great resources, please visit Dwarf Hamster Care.

Copyright 2010 Walter Tekman. All rights reserved. Please feel free to share the entire contents of this article with your friends or post it on your site as long as it is left intact with all links unchanged, including this notice.