Syrian Hamster Male

Hamsters are popular pets for children and adults alike. They are small rodents that typically live about two years and are usually best housed alone. Hamsters come in a variety of colours and breeds, and different breeds are known for distinctive traits.

Syrian hamsters come in several colour variations and go by different names, such as goldens, panda, and teddy bears. They are much larger than dwarf and Chinese hamsters and are the most commonly seen type of hamster.

Origin and History

Hamsters have evolved in several areas throughout the world, but many spend a significant amount of their lives underground in order to evade temperature extremes and predators. They’re well-adapted for underground life, with short, strong legs and compact bodies. Even though there are obvious similarities between the hamster species, there are also some strong differences, both in terms of history and anatomy.

It’s said that the original group of Syrian hamsters bred extensively in captivity were captured in the region around Mount Aleppo in Syria. After being sighted in the 1800s, many people had thought that this species was extinct until a mother was found with her babies in 1930. The group was brought into captivity, and it is from these individuals that most pet Syrian hamsters are descended today. Since 1930 their popularity has soared, and they are now amongst the most popular species of pet. They are born in a wide variety of colours, and as time has passed new coat variations have arisen too.

Diet and Needs

On top of a hamster food mix your pet will need a variety of proteins, fruits, and vegetables to keep them healthy and happy. Hamsters may pick and choose what they want to eat from seed mixtures and therefore will not receive a balanced diet.

But if you offer a pelleted diet instead of a seed mixture and supplement it with a variety of other safe foods, you will be providing your hamster with everything it needs to thrive. It is not commonly known that Syrian hamsters are naturally omnivorous and in the wild and will catch a variety of bugs and insects in their natural habitat.

Housing

There are many hamster cage options but some cages are definitely better than others. You may also have to consider that smaller hamster breeds have different cage needs than the larger Syrian varieties, since cage wire spacing can determine whether or not a hamster is able to escape. Choose a cage that has good ventilation, is easy to clean, has space for a hamster to run and explore, and won't allow your hamster to escape.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE: Fish tanks aren't good options for hamsters, since they lack proper ventilation.

Inside the hamster cage you'll need to provide soft and absorbent bedding, a water bottle, an exercise wheel, chew toys, a house, and food dish.

Exercise

Hamsters can walk up to 5.5 miles in a singular night so enough opportunity to have enough exercise. Provide a running wheel.

Maintenance

Hamsters need enough chew toys to keep their teeth cared for. Their cage will need cleaning around once a week. And you will need to regularly top up food and water, so it is regularly available.

Enrichment

Keep in mind that hamsters like and need to chew on items so wood, cardboard, plastic, and other items that can be chewed may not last very long inside the enclosure.

Hamsters need to be active and have enrichment. They also need chew toys to keep their teeth trimmed. There are a variety of hamster toys that are designed to be chewed so your hamster's teeth can be properly cared for, and an exercise wheel will allow a hamster to run as much as they want. Special balls can also be purchased to allow a hamster to run around safely outside its cage; cute houses and other climbable options are available to provide your hamster with ample exercise.

Common Health Problems

Hamsters are generally healthy, but like any animal they can occasionally develop health problems. The most common illnesses in hamsters usually affect their skin, digestive tract, or respiratory tract. An ill hamster doesn’t eat and is inactive. Its fur may be dirty or show hair loss. It may sneeze or wheeze or have a runny nose or eyes. A hamster with any of these signs should be taken to the vets immediately.

Common causes of skin diseases in hamsters are mite infestations and ringworm.

They can also develop allergies and skin infections. Certain types of bedding such as cedar can cause allergies or irritate the skin. Even if you’re not using cedar shavings, try changing the bedding you’re using to see if it helps solve the problem.

Hamsters can also develop abscesses from relatively small cuts or other injuries to the skin. An abscess is a pocket of infection beneath the skin that fills with pus. Suspect an abscess if the hamster has a firm, painful lump on its body or inside its mouth in the cheek pouch area. A vet must drain and flush the abscess and prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection.

Bacterial infections, stress and dietary issues are among the sources of digestive problems in hamsters.

Without proper care or access to chewing material, hamsters can develop dental problems. Hamster teeth grow throughout the animal’s life and must be worn down by chewing. If this doesn’t happen, the teeth can grow too long, causing abscesses.

Some teeth grow right through the roof of the mouth and into the nasal cavity. Hamsters with dental problems drool frequently and don’t eat much. The teeth must be trimmed by the veterinarian and the infection treated with antibiotics. Once a hamster develops dental problems, the teeth probably need to be trimmed regularly for the rest of the hamster’s life.

Temperament

Choosing a hamster that is easy to tame is another factor to consider. Young hamsters will be easier to train and hand-tame than older hamsters, who may have had bad experiences or have never interacted with humans. Hamsters can be tamed to be very friendly. However, their bites can be painful.

Younger hamsters are typically easier to hand-tame, but you can start by avoiding bites by making sure you don't scare it. Try not to wake your hamster up, and instead entice it to climb onto your hand on its own using a bit of food. This will allow you to gain your hamster's trust over time and hold your hamster while avoiding being bitten. Hamsters are not aggressive pets but if they are scared, they may bite.