How old do Syrian hamsters have to be?
The Syrian hamster is a popular small pet. They come in a variety of colors, and live up to 3 years old. Syrian hamsters are best kept on their own, rather than in pairs or groups. They need plenty of space, and handling from a young age.
Is the Syrian hamster extinct in the wild?
The Syrian hamster was thought to be extinct in the wild as no sightings had been made of wild Syrian hamsters since the 1980’s. However expeditions in 1997 and 1999 found some wild Syrian hamsters. 19 were caught and now form the nucleus of a captive breeding programme in Germany. The wild Syrian hamster is currently classified as endangered.
Is it possible to tame a Syrian hamster?
Syrian hamsters are also among the most docile of hamsters and actually enjoy being held once they’ve been tamed. They will take some time to tame, but will rarely bite throughout the process. One big mistake many new owners make is that they don’t get a big enough enclosure for their hamsters. Hamsters just love to run and play!
What happens if you leave your hand in a Syrian hamster cage?
Leaving your hand in your Syrian hamster’s cage could negatively affect his emotional and physical health. Your hand’s presence could increase your hamster’s stress level. Instead of eventually coming to your hand and accepting treats, he will probably just run and hide.
The Syrian hamster was thought to be extinct in the wild as no sightings had been made of wild Syrian hamsters since the 1980’s. However expeditions in 1997 and 1999 found some wild Syrian hamsters. 19 were caught and now form the nucleus of a captive breeding programme in Germany. The wild Syrian hamster is currently classified as endangered.
What kind of day does a Syrian hamster have?
Syrian hamsters are crepuscular and nocturnal which means they are active at dawn and dusk and asleep at most times during the day, although they do wake up occasionally to eat and drink. It is at night time that Syrian hamsters go foraging for food and they can cover as much as eight miles over the course of a single evening.
What happens if you pick up a Syrian hamster?
Like all animals, Syrian hamsters may bite or nibble you when they are picked up. They don’t necessarily mean to hurt you. If you feed your hamster anything by hand, it may mistake your fingers for food at times! They can bite if you have picked them up in a way that hurts them, or even if they are scared or shocked.
How did the Syrian hamster get its name?
Hamsters have large eyes and small tulip shaped ears. The original wild color of the hamster is golden brown hence their name as the ‘Golden Hamster.’ The most notable characteristic of the Syrian hamster is its ability to store food in two cheek pouches.
Do you need a hamster wheel for a Syrian hamster?
However, if you can’t afford this or don’t have the space needed, every hamster, Syrian and dwarf hamster breeds alike, should have a hamster wheel to provide for an additional source of exercise. The Golden Hamster is the traditional Syrian breed of hamster.
Can a Syrian hamster be put in one container?
This includes whether they mix in one container different breeds, various ages, different sexes or even similar sexes. Syrian hamsters cannot be put together unless they are still unweaned puppies since this breed is highly solitary.
When do Syrian hamsters sleep and when do they wake up?
Syrian hamsters are nocturnal, which means that they sleep during the day and are active during the night. They usually wake up in the evening. You shouldn’t keep them in your bedroom because they could wake you up while they are active. Some hamsters are able to adapt to their owner’s schedule.
How old do Syrian hamsters have to be to breed?
Your local pet shop or garden centre will often have a good selection of toys for you to choose from. Syrian hamsters are able to breed at the age of 4 weeks. The male pups should be removed from their mothers and sisters by this age. The female Syrian comes into season every 4 days.
What’s the best way to mate a Syrian hamster?
To mate the hamsters place the male and female Syrian in a neutral space – such as a cardboard box- or in the male’s cage. NEVER put the male in the female’s cage – she will attack him, and possibly cause serious injury. If the female is “standing” leave them together for about 20 minutes.
Can you keep a dwarf hamster with a Syrian hamster?
Dwarf hamster breeds are the exception and can be housed together. In addition to only keeping one hamster per cage, except during the two exceptions above, it’s important to note that in the wild, in the night hours a Syrian will come out of hiding and run around for miles in search of food or a compatible mate.
What kind of hair does a Syrian hamster have?
The tail is short and hardly visible on long-haired breeds. Colors come in: gold, brown black, gray and everything in between. Patterns come in: calico, stripes (bands), spots and variegated. Coats: short hair, long hair (or fluffy), satin (shiny), rex (curly). In it’s natural habitat, the Syrian hamster lives a solitary life.
Like all animals, Syrian hamsters may bite or nibble you when they are picked up. They don’t necessarily mean to hurt you. If you feed your hamster anything by hand, it may mistake your fingers for food at times! They can bite if you have picked them up in a way that hurts them, or even if they are scared or shocked.
Which is easier to hold a dwarf hamster or a Syrian hamster?
Syrian hamsters are larger than dwarf hamsters and are therefore easier to hold. Start holding your hamster when he is young. The younger he is when he becomes comfortable with being held, the easier it will be to train him when he is older. It may take a while before your hamster is comfortable with being held.
How old are hamsters when they slow down?
As with humans, some hamsters live a very active life even in their old age, and some quiet down for the last 30 years of their life. For example my Teddy is a Syrian male, and he was born mid-July 2017. At the time I’m writing this he’s a year and half old, and he has slowed down, and plays less.
How long does it take a Syrian hamster to give birth?
In a nutshell: Pregnancy lasts for 16-17 days in Syrian hamsters. The female gives birth to 5-15 babies, known as hamster pups. The pups are born blind and naked but quickly grow to become energetic young hamsters which need to be separated from the mother once they turn four weeks old.
How old do Syrian hamsters have to be to fight?
While dwarfs mature later than Syrians, they can start breeding as early as 5 weeks old. At 50 days old, both male and female Syrian hamsters will begin to fight hamsters of the same gender, so they need to live solo from the age of 10 weeks at the latest.
When do Syrian hamsters start to eat solid food?
Hamsters begin to eat solid food between 7 and 10 days old, and Syrians are fully weaned between 3 and 4 weeks old, while dwarfs wean by 3 weeks. A nursing hamster is less than a month old.
The Syrian hamster is a popular small pet. They come in a variety of colors, and live up to 3 years old. Syrian hamsters are best kept on their own, rather than in pairs or groups. They need plenty of space, and handling from a young age.
What kind of personality does a Syrian hamster have?
Although they are solitary and territorial, , Syrian hamsters also have lively personalities and can be fun to observe and play with. Holding your Syrian hamster is a great way to interact with him, but you need to make sure you hold him properly. Let your hamster get used to his environment.
Can a 18 month old hamster have a bloated belly?
Thanks for an excellent question Melissa. As you likely know, any hamster older than 18 months is considered very old. What this means is that there is a high chance that what is happening with Buddy is very serious. There are a few possible reasons for a hamster to have a bloated belly. Unfortunately they are all quite serious.
What’s the average life span of a Syrian hamster?
Before buying any pet, it is a good idea to have an idea of their life span. You can expect an average healthy hamster to have a life expectancy from 2 to 3 years. In the wild, they tend to have shorter lives. The oldest Syrian Hamster on record lived to the ripe age of 6 and a half.
Where did the Syrian hamster originally come from?
The Syrian or golden hamster is native to southeast Europe and Asia Minor (northwest Syria). In 1930, a female and her litter were obtained in Syria and brought to Israel, and, from this family, the domesticated hamster was developed. Syrian hamsters were brought to the United States in 1938.
How can you tell if a Syrian hamster is happy?
There are different signs to judge the happiness of your Syrian hamster. You have to note if your hamster is feeling well or not. You have to perform this act daily for the betterment of the hamster. The hamster can be sad and happy with the help of the daily matters of the owner and hamster. The owner and hamster are needed to collaborate.
How old do Syrian hamsters have to be to be kept in a pet shop?
It can be very confusing to see Syrian hamsters housed together in a pet shop or at a breeder’s establishment and to then be told that they must be kept on their own. However, the Syrian hamsters sold in pet shops or kept together in a breeder’s cage are youngsters under 8 weeks of age.
Which is bigger a Syrian hamster or a golden hamster?
However, captive breeding programs are well-established, and captive-bred golden hamsters are often kept as small house pets. Syrian hamsters are larger than many of the dwarf hamsters kept as pocket pets (up to five times larger), and weigh about the same as a sugar glider, though the wild European hamster exceeds Syrian hamsters in size.
What’s the average life span of a Chinese hamster?
Here are general lifespans for the five common types of hamsters available as pets, according to The Hamster House: 1 Chinese hamster: 1.5 to 2 years 2 Winter White Russian dwarf hamster: 1.5 to 2 years 3 Campbell’s dwarf hamster: 2 years 4 Syrian hamster: 2 to 2.5 years 5 Roborovski hamster: 3 to 3.5 years More …
How much does a Syrian hamster need space to live?
If it is a Syrian hamster, its cage needs to be at least 360 square inches of floor space or more (12 inches by 30 inches). But if it’s a Chinese hamster, or any of the dwarf breeds, it needs 288 square inches or more (12 inches by 24 inches, or 1 foot by 2 feet).
How long are Syrian hamsters meant to live for?
You can expect an average healthy hamster to have a life expectancy from 2 to 3 years . In the wild, they tend to have shorter lives. The oldest Syrian Hamster on record lived to the ripe age of 6 and a half. Many factors affect a hamsters life span, they include;
What do hamsters have the longest life span?
Of course, this is just an average. Some hamsters will live for this amount of time, some hamsters will live for longer, and some hamsters will, unfortunately, have shorter lives. The longest hamster lived for 4.5 years , according to Guinness World Records.
What is the longest living hamster?
Syrian hamsters , also called golden or teddy bear hamsters, live about 24 to 36 months, and the Roborovski hamster takes the award for the hamster with the longest life span at anywhere from 2 to 3.5 years.
Is the hamster wheel too small for a Syrian hamster?
If your hamster wheel is too small, then your hamster may neglect it, as it won’t fit inside it properly – adult Syrian hamsters require a wheel that is at least twenty centimeters wide.
Do you need to exercise a Syrian hamster?
It’s worth noting here, that Syrian hamsters do need a lot of exercise. Obviously, this is quite hard when they’re in a cage. But, there are some ways around this.
If your hamster wheel is too small, then your hamster may neglect it, as it won’t fit inside it properly – adult Syrian hamsters require a wheel that is at least twenty centimeters wide.
It’s worth noting here, that Syrian hamsters do need a lot of exercise. Obviously, this is quite hard when they’re in a cage. But, there are some ways around this.
