The Syrian hamster, also known as the Golden hamster, is one of the easier pet rodents to care for. Syrian hamsters are generally well-behaved when they are first kept as pets, but whether or not they will bite people depends on their individual personality, just like dogs. Not all Teddy bears or Bichons have good temperaments and won't bite people.
The Dwarf Winter White Russian hamster, also known as the Djungarian hamster, is one of the easiest and friendliest hamsters to raise among small hamsters. It is slightly smaller than the Roborovski hamster and has shorter fur. There are common varieties such as the wild color, Silver Fox, and Pudding.
Chinese Name: 三线仓鼠
Common Names: 加卡利亚仓鼠小灰霸, 小银狐, 小紫王
English Name: Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamster, Djungarian Hamster
Latin Name: Phodopussungorissungoris
Reproduction Method: Viviparous
Sexual Maturity Cycle: Male 6-8 weeks / Female 4-8 weeks
Gestation Period: 18-25 days
Number of Offspring per Litter: 1-10
Birth Weight: Approximately 2g
Weaning Period: 20-25 days
Lifespan: 1.5-2 years
Geographic Distribution: Eastern Kazakhstan, Southwest Siberia in the former Soviet Union
1. Skin Allergies: When you find your hamster sneezing, watery eyes, red spots on their feet, flaky skin, and hair loss, they may have skin allergies. It could be an allergic reaction to their food or bedding; you should switch to a simple hamster food and remove the old bedding. It is recommended to use aspen shavings as bedding, as it will not cause allergic reactions in hamsters. 1.Skin Allergies: When you find your hamster sneezing, watery eyes, red spots on their feet, flaky skin, and hair loss, they may have skin allergies. It could be an allergic reaction to their food or bedding; you should switch to a simple hamster food and remove the old bedding. It is recommended to use aspen shavings as bedding, as it will not cause allergic reactions in hamsters.
2. Cold and Flu: Like humans, hamsters can also catch a cold. Sudden temperature drops and placing them in drafty areas can cause hamsters to catch a cold. If your hamster shows symptoms such as fatigue, nasal congestion, and shivering, it has caught a cold. You should not ignore this, as it can lead to pneumonia in hamsters. Provide it with some warm supplies, such as shredded cloth. You can also use a heat lamp for 30 minutes and give your hamster a little honey and warm milk. If the condition does not improve, consult a veterinarian.
3. Diarrhea and Constipation: Feeding watery vegetables or sudden changes in diet can cause hamsters to have diarrhea. If you find the bedding excessively wet, it is likely suffering from diarrhea. Switching to some dry food can be helpful. If not, you can give it activated charcoal dissolved in water for ingestion. Only after it recovers, gradually add vegetables. For constipation, you can feed it olive oil and petroleum jelly. Other diseases can be avoided through good daily care.
In order to ensure the healthy growth of Syrian hamsters, the arrangement of their living environment is one aspect, while a healthy diet is also very important, especially water. Do not give Syrian hamsters tap water out of laziness. It is best to use boiled cold water and change the drinking water every two to three days.
Please choose branded feed, such as Vitakraft or Versele-Laga. Do not use feed of unknown origin, which may be cheap but the ingredients are unclear. Please use 5001, 5010, and dental snacks.
1. Edible food:
- Clearwater, carrots, pumpkin (green or yellow vegetables are preferred), sunflower seeds, peanuts, walnuts, pine nuts (do not give too many, 2 nuts per week is best), apples, strawberries, cherries, bananas, grapes (do not give too many due to high sugar content).
- Chicken feed, carrier pigeon feed, bird feed, wheat, corn, millet, etc.
2. Plant types:
- Clover, dandelion, kudzu, and plantain.
3. Animal protein:
- Beef, chicken, boiled egg whites, yogurt, mealworms, pet fish food, and sheep milk.
4. Harmful food:
- Fruits: almonds, plums, loquats, peaches, nectarines, apple seeds (may cause heart paralysis, gastrointestinal disorders, and breathing difficulties).
- Vegetables: onions, scallion leaves (can damage blood composition), garlic, ginger, leeks, celery (too stimulating), tomato and potato leaves and stems.
- Plants: narcissus, tulip, morning glory, rhododendron, orchid, sweet flag, hyacinth, ferns, peace lily, hydrangea, campanula, lamb's ear, and alyssum.
- Others: human snacks, biscuits, chocolates, coffee (these two foods can cause heart paralysis), alcohol, milk.
Supplementary series:
1. Mealworms: very high in protein, a heavenly product among supplements. Do not feed too much in one day.
2. Small fish flakes: calcium and animal protein, can be ground into powder for older hamsters to consume.
3. Nutritional paste: available for purchase, with deep-sea fish oil and cherry flavors, such as 8in1.
4. Nutritional water: available in the market, price ranging from 100 to 150.
5. Glucose water: glucose can be bought at a pharmacy, mix with water in a 1:10 ratio and feed. Can increase appetite.
6. Baby puree: available in supermarkets, feed about 0.5cc at a time, please refrigerate after opening.
7. Small animal milk powder: most stores that sell hamster supplies have it. Mix one packet with 10cc of water. If the hamster drinks very little, please adjust the dosage. It needs to be consumed immediately.
Diet precautions:
Do not feed hamsters human food that is high in salt or heavily seasoned, as it will increase their physical burden. Please seal the feed and snacks in an airtight container, it can be refrigerated. Discard any food that breeds worms or ants. Do not feed too much vegetables and fruits at once, as it may cause diarrhea and death. Most vegetables and fruits contain pesticides, so please wash and dry them with clean water before feeding.
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