The Silver Fox hamster looks very similar to a cute little white rabbit when viewed from the back, with its fluffy white fur all over and its small and delicate appearance. As for the breeding and mating of Silver Fox hamsters, it can occur all year round.
Chinese name: 银狐仓鼠
Latin name: Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamster
Alias: Three-line, Jākāliyā
Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Cricetidae
Distribution area: Siberia
Silver Fox, like Three-line and Purple Hamsters, is also a relatively common breed among three-line hamsters and is not artificially cultivated, so Silver Fox has a strong physique and disease resistance. Due to its dominant white gene, it is often regarded as the first choice for gene optimization by rodent enthusiasts. Therefore, female Silver Foxes are very popular among rodent enthusiasts. Among the Silver Fox varieties, there are Three-line Silver Fox and Purple Hamster Silver Fox. Three-line Silver Fox is relatively less docile than Purple Hamster Silver Fox and has more and darker mixed colors, so Purple Hamster Silver Fox is more popular. However, as a breed-optimized female Silver Fox, it is best to choose Three-line Silver Fox, because the hidden Purple Hamster gene carried by Purple Hamster Silver Fox will greatly affect the color change of adult Pudding and Gold Fox, affecting the purity of their genes.
1. Male Silver Fox mates with female Silver Fox. However, in recent years, many rodent enthusiasts have proved with many examples that this statement is not very reliable, and very few people believe in this view now. As for those who strongly believe that only Silver Fox mating with Silver Fox can breed excellent Silver Foxes, this view is also not trustworthy.
2. Male Silver Fox mates with female Purple Hamster. This pairing has always been recognized as the best pairing. Although only ordinary varieties such as Silver Fox, Purple Hamster, and Three-line may be bred, Silver Foxes with Purple Hamster genes are extremely rare and desirable. Their bodies have almost no mixed hair and back lines. Moreover, the physique and disease resistance of female Purple Hamsters are also good, and they are very dedicated to breeding and produce mostly healthy offspring.
3. Male Silver Fox mates with female Gold Fox. Although the physique and disease resistance of female Gold Fox are not as good as those of female Silver Fox and female Purple Hamster, this pairing can still produce all common three-line varieties except for Milk Tea, so this pairing is acceptable. However, it is recommended that the Silver Fox in this pairing be a Three-line Silver Fox.
4. Male Silver Fox mates with female Pudding. The situation of this pairing is similar to that of male Silver Fox mating with female Gold Fox, but it is only recommended when the physique of the female Pudding is obviously good.
5. Male Silver Fox mates with female Milk Tea. When Milk Tea is paired with other breeds of three-line hamsters, it is basically equivalent to pairing Purple Hamster with other breeds. Considering the innate physique of female Milk Tea, it is also recommended only if the physique of the female Milk Tea is obviously good.
6. Male Silver Fox mates with female Three-line. If only considering the health of the offspring and not paying much attention to the breed, this pairing method is also very acceptable. This pairing can only breed Three-line Silver Fox and ordinary Three-line hamsters.
It is recommended for pet lovers to raise hamsters. The Silver Fox hamster has bright eyes like black grapes, a thick and short tail, and relatively short legs. If you feed them food, you can find that the Silver Fox hamster has an extremely cute appearance. The Silver Fox hamster does not require the owner to spend a lot of time managing it or take it for walks. Therefore, among small animals, the Silver Fox hamster is very popular among leisure enthusiasts.
Abscess
When hamsters fight, they may leave wounds that can become infected, leading to abscesses. You can squeeze out the abscess and apply medication, but this can be painful, so it is not recommended. The best way is to take it to the vet. The fundamental solution is to avoid keeping two hamsters together.
Cold/Pneumonia
If your hamster is wheezing, having difficulty breathing, or its eyes are not moving, you should take it to the vet immediately. Other symptoms to watch out for include sudden weight loss, runny nose, and excessive sleepiness, which could indicate a cold or pneumonia.
Tyzzer's Disease
Tyzzer's disease is a contagious disease among hamsters, caused by a specific bacterium, often resulting in death. Some hamsters do not show obvious symptoms before dying. Others may show minor signs such as lethargy, dirty fur, diarrhea, and dehydration. Hamsters are more prone to this disease in unclean environments and under significant stress. Fortunately, the probability of contracting this disease is greatly reduced for well-cared-for hamsters living in clean environments.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a common disease in Campbell hamsters. A hamster with diabetes will feel extremely thirsty and urinate frequently. The main treatment method is to change its diet. It should not be fed fruits, and the quantity of peas and corn in its food should be limited or eliminated. The veterinarian will give a precise diagnosis and provide advice on how to care for the hamster.
Glaucoma
Winter White hamsters are more prone to glaucoma. There is no complete cure for this condition, but the vet can prescribe eye drops to alleviate the hamster's discomfort.
Cheek Pouch Problem
The cheek pouches, used by hamsters to store and transport food, can be punctured, blocked, or bitten. Symptoms include the inability to expel the stored food and the inability to turn the pouch inside out (one cheek pouch should be everted). If you notice these symptoms, take it to the vet immediately.
Generally, avoid feeding hamsters high-protein foods to prevent cheek pouch problems. High-protein foods, if kept in the pouch, can easily rot and cause the aforementioned symptoms.
Silver Fox Hamster Breeding Knowledge
The Silver Fox hamster is becoming more and more popular due to its unique appearance, lively nature, and cute white fur, which makes it look like a small white rabbit from behind. Its small and delicate appearance also allows it to be kept as a pet without taking up much space. Therefore, it has a high ornamental value and is currently a trendy pet. Before keeping this hamster, it is important to familiarize yourself with its basic habits.
If your Silver Fox hamster used to live with other hamsters in a pet shop, it may have a bad temper and be wary and hostile towards other creatures due to constant fights. It is recommended to spend time with the hamster according to a schedule in order to eliminate its hostility.
Since the teeth of Silver Fox hamsters continuously grow, it is necessary to provide them with chew sticks to grind down their overgrown teeth. Many hamsters will find other ways to grind their teeth, so there is no need to worry if they do not use the chew stones/sticks you provide.
Hiding in dark places is an instinct for them as they feel safe in darkness. However, when hamsters have been accustomed to human company for a long time, their alertness decreases and they will also change their wild instincts, being able to sleep soundly anywhere.
You can provide water using a water dispenser installed at a height that is easy for the hamster to drink from. In the summer, you can let the hamster play in water, but avoid making the cage too wet. Hamsters have a habit of defecating in a specific place, so you can place a litter box where it usually goes and put urine or feces inside to make it smell bad. The hamster will then use that as a toilet. However, if it doesn't use the litter box, do not force it and just make sure to clean the cage regularly.
Silver Fox Hamster Feeding Tips
The Silver Fox hamster is an omnivorous animal and generally not picky about food when it is healthy. Hamsters have the habit of storing food in their cheeks and will slowly taste the stored food when alone.
You can feed the Silver Fox hamster yellow-green vegetables such as pumpkin, cabbage, and lettuce; root vegetables, legumes, fruits, wild grasses, and seeds. There is also special hamster feed available. However, even when mainly feeding with pellets, it is important to provide some vegetables and fruits as well. As a source of protein, you can feed it boiled eggs, cooked dried fish, cooked chicken, cheese, and tofu.
It is important to regularly change the water. Clean the food bowl and water dispenser daily and replace them with fresh food and water. Also, change the bedding. Check the nest box and leave some fruits or solid feedings in the area where the hamster hoards food. Change the bedding on the cage floor once a week and clean the cage and disinfect it 1-2 times a month.
When feeding legumes, be sure to do so in moderation, as overfeeding legumes can cause bloating in hamsters. When feeding flaxseeds, peanuts, sunflower seeds, or mealworms, be cautious and feed them in small quantities, as excessive feeding may cause the hamster to get too hot.
The body of the hamster is also covered with thick and dense fur. Although the hamster often cleans its fur, it is not perfect due to various factors. Therefore, the keeper also needs to regularly comb and clean the hamster's fur. Because the hamster is small in size, the method for combing and cleaning the fur is very simple for the keeper. As long as the keeper can spare some time, they can complete the grooming work for the small pet hamster.
Strictly speaking, as long as the keeper has time, they can comb the hamster's fur every day. However, if the owner is busy, they can comb it once every 1-2 weeks. But during the spring and autumn seasons when the hamster sheds its fur, it still needs to be groomed frequently. The tools for grooming the hamster's fur are also simple, such as a toothbrush, towel, and a properly sized comb.
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