Hamsters are sometimes considered a low upkeep, low worth children’ pet – one thing short-lived and simple that’s purchased for just a few {dollars} from a pet store. In reality, hamsters are advanced little creatures, with plenty of character, and a few fairly specialised wants. The outdated stereotype of a youngsters’s pet that isn’t an enormous deal doesn’t do these superior animals justice – or give them high quality of life. So, if you’re contemplating changing into a hamster proprietor, listed below are ten issues price understanding.
This text was co-written with Beri Instone, small rodent wrangler extraordinaire (and custodian of many hamsters)
There’s No Such Factor as “a Hamster”
Many individuals suppose “hamster” refers to 1 kind of animal. However there are 18 completely different species of hamster, of which 5 species and one hybrid are generally saved as pets:
- Syrian (Mesocricetus auratus)
- Roborovski (Phodopus roborovskii)
- Campbell’s (Phodopus campbelli)
- Winter White (Phodopus sungorus)
- Chinese language (Cricetulus barabensis, generally referred to as the striped dwarf hamster outdoors of the pet commerce)
- In captivity there may be additionally a Russian hybrid species, created by crossing P. cambelli and P. sungorus.
“Dwarf” hamsters are formally the three Phodopus species, however you’ll usually hear the time period used to imply any hamster that isn’t a Syrian. Nevertheless, it’s vital to know what species of hamster you might have because the care wants of every are completely different.
Many pet rodents, like rats and mice, belong to social species who must reside with others of their variety. Nevertheless, hamsters are a bit completely different and usually want to reside alone.
Of all the species, Russian hybrids are most probably to have the ability to reside fortunately as pairs, though solely as same-sex siblings, not unrelated adults. Even this isn’t straightforward or low cost to do, as every hamster nonetheless wants sufficient impartial house, and so they want duplicates of all assets in order that they’re not competing for a similar factor. Preserving a couple of hamster in a cage is greatest left to skilled house owners who can establish bullying. Beri has taken in a number of pairs of hamsters supposedly “glad residing collectively” who turned out to be nothing of the kind and needed to be instantly cut up up for his or her welfare.
Within the wild, hamsters reside alone, coming collectively solely to breed. In some species the male will assist with baby-rearing, however please don’t suppose breeding will permit your hamsters to reside collectively. Preserving women and men collectively will end in again to again litters which is absolutely dangerous for the well being of the mum.
Hamsters Aren’t Low cost Pets (and Are Undoubtedly Not Disposable)
Simply because hamsters are small furry issues simply purchased from a pet store doesn’t imply they’re low cost to maintain, or that they deserve much less respect or dedication than bigger animals.
In enthusiastic about the monetary dedication, it is very important issue within the following prices of preserving a hamster:
- sized cage and furnishings,
- high quality meals,
- and potential vet’s payments.
Hamsters can reside for 2-3 years so they’re additionally a medium-term dedication, not a fast experiment in pet-keeping that may be given away if a toddler will get bored – which is without doubt one of the commonest causes for hamsters being dumped or rehomed.
A Small Physique Doesn’t Imply a Small Cage
Hamsters could also be little, however they’re super-active. So, their cage wants to supply sufficient house for them to behave naturally and have stage of psychological and bodily stimulation. If they’re saved in a cage which is simply too small (and sadly this contains many pet store cages offered for hamsters) then they are going to be pressured, and extra more likely to endure from behavioural and well being issues.
The minimal steady uninterrupted footprint of cage needs to be 4000 sq. centimetres (620 sq. inches), which equates to 80 x 50 cm (31.5 x 20 inches) or an extended, thinner 4ft tank. We’re specifying steady as a result of many hamster cages are offered as modular programs of interconnected smaller areas – nonetheless from the hamster’s perspective, plenty of little areas don’t obtain the identical expertise as a single massive enclosure.
Hamster Balls Aren’t a Good Type of Train
Hamster balls are standard as a result of the hamster is totally enclosed whereas out the cage so unable to flee and disappear into furnishings or partitions. Nevertheless, whereas balls reply a human downside (stopping an escape), that doesn’t make them a pleasant expertise from the hamster’s perspective.
If we have a look at it from the angle of the hamster within the ball, we are able to see how unnatural the concept is. Hamsters wish to run round at their very own tempo, discover issues, sense obstacles with their whiskers, snuffle and odor. Shutting them in a plastic globe stops all of that.
A greater approach of letting a hamster out their cage is in a supervised playpen. To cease escapes, the perimeters must be stable (not bars) and at the very least grownup knee peak. There additionally must be lots for the hamster to take action they’re much less tempted to attempt to escape via boredom.
Hamsters Prefer to Climb (as Properly as Burrow)
It’s a standard fable that as a result of most species of hamsters sleep beneath floor in advanced burrow programs, that’s their complete habitat. Truly, it’s simply the place they sleep and go to floor. You will need to present a deep substrate so a pet hamster can dig and tunnel, however their cage additionally wants to supply house for different actions, together with climbing.
Chinese language hamsters are one of the best at climbing. Their lengthy skinny physique form is extra mouse-like, and so they have inch-long tails that assist them steadiness. They get pleasure from climbing on thicker branches and ropes.
The second-best climbers are Syrians. They often can’t handle branches/ ropes as they don’t have the back-limb dexterity, however they love platforms at varied heights, slender steep ledges and tubes.
The least in a position climbers are the Russian hamsters and Robos, however even they may admire a species-appropriate structure together with issues like cabinets that aren’t totally horizontal to imitate hills. Different good climbing choices are linked ledges / staircase bridges to hop up and down, and better equipment within the substrate to clamber on as look-outs.
Identical to people, the extra practiced a hamster is at climbing, the extra they may do it and the extra agile they are going to be. Meaning a hamster who has no expertise of climbing received’t thrive in a fancy structure right away. As an alternative, they want mild introductions with straightforward layouts that may get more and more extra climby because the hamster develops their abilities. Growing climbing means, even in Russian hamsters, will assist them use all their muscle tissues and so cut back the chance of weight problems.
Hamsters Aren’t Nocturnal
Like rats and mice, hamsters are crepuscular – most lively round daybreak and nightfall. They are going to adapt their sleeping patterns to suit with their proprietor’s routines – however provided that they such as you. If a hamster is uncomfortable with folks, sad, or pressured, they may actively keep away from interactions. So, a hamster nobody ever sees is a hamster whose care must be reviewed.
If Hamsters Chunk, It’s for a Cause
Hamsters have a status for being aggressive and biting folks for no motive. Nevertheless, there may be all the time a justification from their perspective.
The most typical motive for hamsters to chunk is as a result of folks don’t know find out how to deal with them, or misinterpret their indicators. As with many animals, if their early warning indicators of discomfort or stress are ignored, hamsters will ramp up the aggression to flee a state of affairs that’s making them distressed.
Essentially the most frequent conditions wherein hamsters chunk are when folks attempt to choose them up, or prod them to wake them up. For the latter, no animal likes to be disturbed of their mattress – it’s their final protected house, and being woken up instantly offers them no time to evaluate the menace. For the previous, many hamsters can have had dangerous experiences being picked up previously and discover it scary. One of the best factor to do is encourage the hamster to come back to their cage door at time for you, and supply them with a protected space to stroll out the cage earlier than being picked up. That approach you aren’t intruding on them or the areas the place they really feel safe.
Pet Hamsters Don’t Are likely to Hibernate (and They Can’t Catch Your Chilly)
Some species of hamster do hibernate within the wild, however the actual particulars of when and why aren’t well-known. In captivity, hibernation isn’t one thing they should do. As an alternative, such a body-shutdown is their response to a state of affairs they could wrestle to outlive, corresponding to a sudden temperature change – and it’s not a protected state for them to be in as they’re unlikely to have had time to correctly put together for it. So, in case your hamster torpid, chilly or limp, don’t simply assume it’s hibernating, as a substitute take it to a vet!
Like all rodents, hamsters have delicate respiratory programs and choose up infections simply. Nevertheless, they don’t catch human viral colds. Like rats or mice, a hamster with a snotty nostril or a crackly chest most probably has a bacterial respiratory an infection and wishes vet therapy.
Hamsters Are Wonderful Pets – if You Put the Time in
Hamsters will be wonderful pets – Beri often has 2 or 3 hamster cages which can be 1 metre (3.28 ft) lengthy at anybody time! When you present sufficient house and species-appropriate enrichment then their personalities actually shine via and they’re each bit as particular person as rats. They’re actually enjoyable to simply sit and watch within the cage doing their very own factor, however additionally they get pleasure from human interplay that’s respectful of their species-type and life historical past. As with many animals, the extra you recognize about them, the extra rewarding the connection shall be.
