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Hamster on tour

At least once, the hamsters are transported, ie when he is the breeder, pet store or even just pick up the neighbors. Hopefully it is not necessary, but also for the veterinarian is an essential transportation to and from. As the transport of small rodents, does not like to be as pleasant and short as possible be maintained.

For safe and convenient favorites just a box is recommended to use suitable and convenient transportation. These containers are available in almost any pet store. You can also create other things, such as plastic detergent bottles - of course, completely clean - a small wooden box (cigar box) or a simple tin can be used - that of all the tanks, in any case, the holes air! Extremely useful is to choose a container that is suitable for reuse because, as mentioned above, may be necessary for the hamster to the doctor to have. But even with cleaning the house may be small burrow umquartieren after a short time in transport boxes. In addition, other shipping containers such as cardboard, gnaws through very quickly or wet from the urine of animals. Especially if the transport takes a little longer and the carton is unattended, the animal may have escaped before coming home. If you are lucky you called agile rodents then, before disappearing from the bottom of the seat upholstery of the car. Otherwise, there are few opportunities to take the extreme values ​​without removing the seats. These actions must, of course, if necessary, take place only in a closed garage, otherwise the danger is very great that the animal disappears, never to return. 


Before the hamster is placed in the kennel floor must be one on the layer 5-10 cm thick, covered trash (used for cushioning and absorb droppings). It is also advisable little trash and a few grains of the regular diet, give the old house, in the container. In his first job in the new home, it is important that these familiar things of the shipping container, again with among people then hamsters used quickly to their new home.
Finally, note again that the transport route as short as possible and protect the transport container in direct sunlight, rain and wind. Also make sure that the package insured for longer trips (possibly in the hands of his co-driver) is protected against excessive shocks or falls.

Chinese hamster

These animals grow to between 7.5 and 9 cm in length and as adults can weigh 25-43 grams. They live two to three years on average. The Chinese hamster is often kept as a pet or (in the past) as a laboratory animal.
A Chinese hamster's body proportions, compared with those of other hamsters, appear "long and thin" and they have (for a hamster) a relatively long tail. Males have a relatively large scrotum, therefore females are generally kept as pets and males are used solely for breeding and research purposes. Chinese hamsters are not related to the social "dwarf" hamsters. The term "dwarf" is often used to refer solely to animals in the genus Phodopus, (the two types of Russian Dwarf Hamsters and Roborovskii Dwarf Hamsters).
The wild colour is black with brown lines above with a black stripe down the spine and a whitish belly. This coloration, combined with their lithe build and longer tail, makes them look "mousy" to some eyes and, in fact, they are members of the group called ratlike hamsters. Besides the wild colour, a well-known variation is the white-spotted Chinese hamster, which often is grayish white all over, with only a dark stripe on its back.
They have quiet temperaments and are easily handled; one of their endearing traits is that of clinging to a finger with all four paws, rather like a harvest mouse on a corn stalk. Chinese hamsters can be quite nervous as youngsters but, once they are tame, display an endearing calmness and gentleness of character.
In the past, Chinese hamsters were commonly used laboratory animals, until they were replaced by the common mouse and rat, which are easier to keep and breed; however, quite a few biotech drugs are still being produced by putting the gene for the protein into Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO cells), which then produce the protein.
Of note, some US states such as California regard the Chinese hamster as a pest, and as a result require a special permit to own, breed or sell.

There are only three known colour mutations found in Chinese hamsters, Normal/Wild type, dominant spot and Black Eyed White. Normal and Dominant spot are readily available in the pet trade throughout the United Kingdom (UK) whereas the Black Eyed Whites is extremely rare and there are just a handful owned by a couple of hobbyist breeders in the UK.
There is quite some confusion over the Latin name of the Chinese hamster and the closely related Chinese striped hamster. Some people consider the Chinese hamster (Cricetulus griseus) and the Chinese striped hamster (Cricetulus barabensis) different species, whereas others classify them as identical, the Chinese striped hamster as a subspecies of the Chinese hamster (in which case the Latin name of the Chinese striped hamster would be Cricetulus griseus barabensis) or the other way round (in which case the Latin name of the Chinese hamster would be Cricetulus barabensis griseus).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_hamster

Djungarian hamster

The Siberian hamster (Phodopus sungorus), also known as the "Russian Winter White dwarf hamster" is a species of hamster in the genus Phodopu. They are typically half the size of the better-known Golden Hamster/Syrian hamster, and therefore called a dwarf hamster along with all Phodopus species. Features include a typically thick dark grey dorsal stripe and furry feet. The tail is so short that it hardly shows when the hamster is sitting. As winter approaches and the days shorten, the Siberian hamster's dark fur is almost entirely replaced with white fur (hence the name). In the wild, this adaptation helps them evade predators in the snow-covered steppes of winter. In captivity this does not always happen. They are mainly found in Dzungaria, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Manchuria. The average lifespan of this species is 1½ to 2½ years.

Djungarian hamsters are often found on the pet market, in Japan and Europe more so than in North America and indeed are rarely found in pet stores in Canada. Care is similar to that of the Campbell's Dwarf Hamster, although they are not as prone to diabetes. Djungarian hamsters make good pets for teens or adults, although they are not good with younger children unless that child is particularly sensible and supervised by adults when handling their pet. They are usually more friendly to humans than other hamsters, and are less likely to bite. Due to their poor eyesight, they are at risk for falling from a high surface or from a handler's hand. They should not be fed food containing sources of monosaccharides because of the risk of developing diabetes mellitus.

In general, dwarf hamsters have more of a family structure than the Syrian hamster. However, this may be a result of a frequent confusion of the Djungarian hamsters and the Campbell's hamsters. Current research suggests biparental care in Campbell's hamsters (Phodopus campbelli) but not in Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus). Some report that same-sex pairs and larger groups do not always get along well and frequent fighting may occur and be a great distress for them, or even lead to death. Most Djungarian hamster dwarf hamsters grow to 3 to 4" long. In the winter their fur turns almost completely white. They usually breed between April and September.

There are several phases (colorations) of Djungarian hamsters: their normal (dark brownish-grey colouring) or sapphire (blue-grey colouring). A white pattern called pearl (white with coloured hairs) sometimes exists in either phase, producing the normal pearl or sapphire pearl forms. However, these colours may be difficult to find, and the range of colours is much narrower than in the case of the Campbell's.
Djungarian hamsters, also called Siberian hamsters, come from the steppes of Siberia and Kazakhstan and possess an adaptation not seen in Campbells: they can moult into a white winter coat. This camouflages them against the snow and also gives them their name. This moulting is brought on by the amount of day light; if the hamster is kept in an environment with is mediated through the nocturnal secretion of melatonin, the hormone secreted by the pineal gland. Short day lengths also triggers the regression of the gonads in both male and females, and thus Winter Whites become infertile. Because Winter White hamsters show such photoperiodic and seasonal changes in physiology and various behaviours, it is also used as a research model system for studying seasonality and photoperiodism.

Of the five species kept commonly as pets, only the Campbells and Djungarian hamsters are able to interbreed and produce live offspring (hybrids). Hybrids are most often unknowingly produced through incorrect identification of the two similar species of hamsters.
Although hybrids make suitable pets, the breeding of hybrids can cause health and breathing problems, and also the widespread breeding and distribution of hybrids could threaten the existence of both pure species in captivity.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Djungarian_hamster





Roborovski hamster

Roborovskis (Phodopus roborovskii) or desert hamster are the smallest of all hamsters, averaging under an inch (2 cm) at birth, and (rarely) three inches (7.5 cm) during adulthood. Distinguishing characteristics of the Roborovskis are eyebrow-like white spots, and the lack of any dorsal stripe (found on the other members of the Phodopus genus). The average lifespan for the Roborovski hamster is three years, though this is dependent on living conditions (extremes being four years in captivity and two in the wild). Although claimed to be hypoallergenic, Roborovski hamsters have been associated with the development of asthma in previously asymptomatic owners.

Roborovski hamsters live in and around the Gobi Desert, throughout Mongolia's desert steppe and the adjacent territories of Kazakhstan, Russia (Tuva) and Northern China. Their efficient use of water makes them particularly suited to the steppe and desert regions they inhabit. Also they make very interesting house pets. They dig and live in burrows with steep tunnels that are as far as six (6) feet underground. In the wild, Roborovski hamsters are crepuscular, most active at dawn and dusk.
They are omnivorous, they primarily eat grains, vegetables, fruit, and plants but they will also eat meat and insects in small quantities. Roborovski hamsters remain underground in winter and survive in the season by stockpiling some food in warmer weather and storing it in special food chambers within their burrow system. They do not particularly take to eating the pellets found in most common retail hamster foods.

Currently there are 3 confirmed variations of Roborovski hamsters; the agouti (a natural grayish-brown with white underside and "eyebrows"), a mutation producing a white-faced hamster also known as the "husky" and they also found a white spotted variation.

The gender of a roborovski is determined as such: Female openings are very close together and may even look like just one opening, while male openings are further apart. Males usually have a visible scent gland near the navel, above the two openings appearing as a yellow stain.
Roborovski hamsters may reach sexual maturity as early as 5 weeks but usually do not breed until the year after they were born, usually early spring. It is advised when keeping them as pets that females should not be mated until they are closer to 4 months of age, males usually reach sexual maturity at 3 months. The gestation period of Roborovski hamsters is usually 20-22 days but can be up to 30 according to some sources. As the birth day grows closer the female will become more aggressive towards the male and often banish him from the nest till after the birth. It has been known that the female roborovski hamster can bite an owner if she is handled when she is heavily pregnant. Litters are usually small, being typically of 4-6 pups, though larger litters have been reported of up to 10. If the male is still around the female shortly after her birth he will attempt to mate with her again.

Roborovski hamsters, being fast, agile, and naturally timid or shy, are generally recommended as "look but don't touch" pets. Loud noises may agitate the hamster. As they rarely bite, Roborovski hamsters may make good pets for owners who enjoy interactive play (in which the hamster explores his or her owner). This may also provide time for taming the Roborovski. Roborovski hamsters, being very sociable, are fun to watch. As light may sometimes disturb them, it is recommended that red lights be used to allow an owner to view the hamsters without disturbing them due to the fact that Roborovski hamsters are unable to see red light.
Roborovski hamsters are not known to be climbers, unlike other hamsters. Instead, they prefer to tunnel and run. Roborovski hamsters are known to sleep in their wheels, especially in wheels with banked edges.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roborovski_hamster

Campbell's dwarf hamster

Campbell's Russian dwarf hamster (Phodopus campbelli) is a species of dwarf hamster. It was discovered by W.C. Campbell in 1902 in Tuva, an area that has historically been geographically linked with both China and Russia. The Campbell's dwarf is also native to the steppes and semi-arid areas of Central Asia, the Altay mountains, and the provinces of Heilungkiang and Hebei in Northeastern China.
This hamster is sometimes referred mistakenly to as the Djungarian hamster (or Dzungarian hamster), or simply Russian, and often labeled as a Winter white Russian dwarf hamster. (See Winter White/Campbell's Dwarf Hybrids below.) In Tuva the species is called Pouched in the Tuvan language, referring to the well-known physical characteristic of most hamsters. There has been some debate over the classification of Campbell's dwarf and its closely related cousin, the Winter White, but now the two species are usually classified as Phodopus campbelli and P. sungorus, respectively. It has been claimed that the Campbell's hamster is less friendly in temperament (to humans) than the winter white and is consequently more likely to bite or nip.
The average lifespan of the Campbell's dwarf hamster is 1½ to 2 years, although they can live longer. 

In the steppes of eastern and central Asia, the Campbell's dwarf enjoys digging burrows which may extend up to three feet underground. These burrows are commonly lined with scavenged sheep's wool and dry grasses; the burrows maintain an average temperature of 62 degrees Fahrenheit (16°C). Natural predators include various owls, foxes, falcons, and weasels.
In captivity as pets, the use of heavily scented wood-based cage litter such as cedar can lead to itching, sneezing and even severe allergic reaction and should never be used. Cat litter should never be used since it contains chemicals that will be deadly to hamsters. Paper-based beddings are encouraged, with aspen shavings usually now being regarded as the only safe wood-based choice.

Commercial "fluffy" beddings, usually made of cotton or similar material, have come under some controversy as possibly being damaging to stomach or intestines if swallowed and can also get caught around the limbs of the pups causing deformity and even death. While paper-based or aspen bedding is used to give the hamster burrowing opportunities while providing odor control, plain toilet tissue is frequently recommended as a nesting material to be used in addition to the "ground cover" of bedding.

Multiple owners find that the use of bathing sand is helpful. Chinchilla bathing sand can be found in most pet stores, although chinchilla dust may cause sneezing and respiratory problems. Campbell's dwarves seem to particularly like cleaning themselves with sand, as the grains remove dirt and oil from the coat.

Cages should have at least 3 square feet (0.28 m2) of space per hamster, with one additional square foot per extra hamster. Wire, tube, and bin cages can be used. Campbell's hamsters may have difficulty climbing up big tubes due to their small size.
Breeding Dwarf Russian Hamsters is much simpler than breeding Syrian Hamsters as they will live together in mixed sex pairs or groups and breed naturally. Pairs or groups are best established at a young age as introducing older hamsters can often result in fighting. Males will naturally mate with the females if kept together and when in season the female will allow the male to mount her. He will thrust a few times before dismounting and washing himself and then often will remount and mate again. The male will usually mate with the female several times. Not all unproven males will get a female pregnant after the first mating and some males may need to mate several times before a successful pregnancy occurs. The actual mating may not always be observed.

The gestation period of Dwarf Russian Hamsters is 18–21 days and if mating was observed then the time of the expected arrival of the litter can be roughly calculated. If mating was not observed then it is often not possible to know tell when the litter is expected. Many females do not appear pregnant until a couple of days before the birth but an increased aggressiveness of the female towards her mate, colony hamsters or humans is often an indication of pregnancy. The female will often banish the male or other hamsters from the nest a couple of days before pregnancy and/or after the birth. Therefore as soon as it is noticed the female is pregnant, it is best to clean the cage.
Females usually give birth during the evening, night or early morning but sometimes give birth during the day. The female is active right up to the moment of birth. Before giving birth to each baby, she tightens her abdominal muscles two or three times, then sits up and crouches over as she gives birth to a single baby within a couple of minutes. A placenta, which looks like a small red blood sac, may be released after the birth of each baby and this is normally eaten by the mother as it is a good source of protein. Babies are born at approximately 10-minute intervals and the mother may be active between each birth. Therefore babies may be born around the cage but the mother will usually collect them all up and place them in the nest when birthing is complete. After the female has given birth, there are often spots of blood on the bedding or around the cage. This is caused by the passing of the placentas and is normal and nothing to be alarmed about. Severe bleeding from the female, though, should be cause for alarm. The pups are born naked, blind and deaf, weighing only 3 grams. If the hamsters are to be dark-eyed, the eyes can be seen under the skin but if they are to be red-eyed, the eyes cannot be seen at birth. They are born with teeth which allow them to suckle. Their skin is transparent and, when they are fed, milk can even be seen in the stomach. 

Social aspects
Unlike other hamster species, especially the Syrian hamsters, the male may play an active role in birth and rearing. He may assist the female in pulling pups from the birth canal, cleaning them, and ensuring the new mother has enough to eat. He may also guard them while the female is away from the nest. Since the pair is likely to mate again quickly, the male should be separated from the female before birth unless more pups are desired and the female is fit enough for a repeat pregnancy.
Like other hamsters, the Campbell's Russian dwarf will eat its young in certain emergency (or perceived emergency) situations, such as a protein deficiency in the mother or a threat toward the young. "Threat" may include anything from a predator (including a re-introduced father) to a habitat that the parent hamster does not believe will provide adequate size, covering, food, or water for its new inhabitants.
Unlike Syrian hamsters, Campbell's dwarfs are sociable and may be kept in colonies. If the hamsters are introduced at a young age, generally younger than eight weeks, they will often happily coexist in same- or mixed-sex groups. (Note that mixed-sex groups should be avoided as hamsters are lively breeders.) Contrary to some claims, the hamsters do not have to be related to live together peacefully. Some Campbell's dwarfs live together for long periods of time, such as over a year, only to eventually and unexpectedly end up fighting to the point of requiring separation. Pet owners should plan for the possibility of providing additional accommodations should this occur.
Campbell's dwarfs are crepuscular, meaning that they are most active at dawn and at dusk.

Diet


Diabetes is becoming a common problem in Campbell's hamsters and is an inherited problem. Unless an individual hamster's ancestry is known to be free of the illness, a Campbell's dwarf should not be fed any sugary foods (including fruit, corn, peas, carrots, yogurt drops, and some mass-manufactured "treats.")
Like all hamsters, Campbell's dwarfs are rodents and therefore must gnaw regularly to keep the incisors from growing into the skin of the mouth and causing health problems. Some pet owners provide dog biscuits to assist with this. Wooden chew toys should be used with care as splinters may injure the hamster. Teeth should be examined regularly to ensure they are not growing unchecked.
In the wild, Campbell's dwarfs consume a variety of grains, seeds, and vegetables. For the pet hamster, commercial seed mixes and food pellets are available and should be augmented with occasional fresh vegetables. Care should be taken in selecting a seed mix that does not include harmful foods, some of which are suitable for other rodents (including other types of hamsters). The following items should be avoided:
  • kidney beans
  • onions
  • garlic
  • potato tops
  • raw potatoes
  • rhubarb
  • rhubarb leaves
  • tomato leaves
  • anything sweet unless diabetes has been ruled out

Other health issues

Campbell's hamsters have extremely poor eyesight and even worse depth perception. Cataracts can be common in older hamsters. To compensate for this disability, the hamster has many scent glands, which are located on the face, behind the ears, on the cheek pouches, and on the belly near the rectum and genitals. Many pet owners observe that the hamster may groom itself when in an unfamiliar location. This is done to scent the feet, creating a trail which enables the hamster to find its way back to the burrow. This behavior may also be used to revisit a location with plentiful food. These scent trails may persist for up to eight days.
In addition to diabetes, hamsters can develop tumors (both benign and malignant), as well as glaucoma. It is possible to remove benign and malignant tumors with surgery. Glaucoma is possible to treat with eye drops containing Dorzolamide 2% or Travoprost ophthalmic solution.
The "starter pet" reputation of hamsters may cause some to dismiss the idea of veterinary care. Although many pet hamsters live their entire lives without needing to visit a veterinarian, prospective hamster owners should remember this possible expense when considering the dwarf hamster for a pet.

Colors and markings
Campbell's hamsters are born with one of four coat types: normal, satin, wavy and rex. The normal coat is short and flat. The satin coat is shiny and gives the appearance of being wet or greasy and the gene enhances the fur's color and gives it lift. The wavy coat is slightly long and wavy; the whiskers are curly when young and, although the coat moults out to a normal coat, the curly whiskers remain through adulthood. The rex coat is a soft, short coat which is curled so as to be "lifted" from the body and the whiskers are curly. The rex coat is often sparse and remains curled even in adult hamsters.

Campbell's dwarfs are available in six basic colors plus many variations thereof. All are marked by a dark stripe down their back, the colour of which varies depending on the shade of their fur.
Basic colors include:
  • agouti (the normal grey brown wild color with white belly and black eyes)
  • argente (cinnamon or sandy with white belly and red eyes)
  • black eyed argente (dull brownish orange with white belly and black eyes)
  • albino (white with red eyes)
  • opal (blue grey with white belly and black eyes)
  • black (black all over with black eyes)
Marking types include:
  • mottled (irregular white patches or spots – also called banded, spotted, or collared, if the mottling is confined to the neck)
  • ruby-eyed mottled (mottled with ruby eyes which usually appear black)
  • platinum (white hairs mingled in the coat ranging from a few to almost total coverage – sometimes incorrectly called pearl)
Not all white hamsters with red/pink eyes are albino. Some are so heavily mottled or tinged with platinum that they will appear to be white. Hamsters carrying the black gene (almost half of all variations) are prone to "silvering"; in extreme cases the eventual result is an almost white hamster.
When two ruby-eyed mottled hamsters are bred, approximately 25% of the litter are born lacking teeth and eyes; these pups, called "eyeless toothless," generally do not live past weaning. Whether a mottled hamster has ruby eyes (which often appear black) can be difficult to determine; pointing a flashlight at the hamster in the dark may reveal the hint of ruby. Furthermore, some mottling may be too small to be noticed, or the mottling may be misidentified as platinum markings, and in these cases two ruby-eyed mottleds may accidentally be bred, resulting in the ill-fated pups.
Combining the different mutations has produced new colors, including blue, blue fawn, lilac fawn, beige, chocolate, champagne, dove, and others. Contrary to some claims, the different colors and markings of hamsters do not indicate personality differences. Most breeders attempt to predict personality by closely examining the bloodline and any neurological diseases the hamster's ancestors displaye

Winter white/Campbell's dwarf hybrids
Of the five species of hamsters usually kept as pets, only the Winter White and Campbell's dwarfs are able to interbreed and produce live offspring (hybrids). Hybrids are most often unknowingly produced through incorrect identification of the two similar species of hamsters, such as mislabeling at a pet store.
Unfortunately, the number of hybrids is increasing, leading to a rise in health problems (such as the emergence of diabetes in the Winter White and glaucoma in the Campbell's Russian) and a decrease of pure species in captivity. Breeding of hybrids is discouraged, and the amount of accidental hybrid breeding and its repercussions underscores the cautions of casual breeding already expressed above.

Syrian hamster

The golden hamster or Syrian hamster, Mesocricetus auratus, is a very well-known member of the rodent subfamily Cricetinae, the hamsters. In the wild they are now considered vulnerable. Their numbers have been in decline due to loss of habitat (caused by agriculture) and deliberate destruction by humans. However, they are popular as pets and scientific research animals. Adults grow from 5 to 7 inches (13 to 18 cm) in length, and will usually have a lifespan of 2 to 3 years, but can live up to 5 years. The golden hamster is a crepuscular animal. Hamsters sleep during the day in the deepest part of their burrow to avoid predators. They tend to wake up just after sunset, late at night and at dawn, which leads some to falsely describe them as nocturnal. 
Like most members of the subfamily, the golden hamster has expandable cheek pouches, which extend from its cheeks to its shoulders. In the wild, hamsters are larder hoarders; they use their cheek pouches to transport food to their burrows. Their name in the local Arabic dialect where they were found translates to "mister saddlebags" due to the amount of storage space in their cheek pouches. If food is plentiful, they store it in large amounts—it has been reported that 25 kilograms (55 lb) of grain was found in the burrow of a single hamster. 
Sexually mature female hamsters come into season every four days. Golden hamsters have the shortest gestation period in any known placental mammal at only 16 days. Gestation has been known to last up to 18 days but this is rare and almost always includes complications. They can produce large litters of 20 or more young, although the average litter size is between 8 to 10 pups. If a mother hamster is inexperienced or feels threatened, she may abandon or even eat her pups. A female hamster will come into season almost immediately after giving birth, and can become pregnant despite already having a litter. This puts a lot of stress on the mother's body and often results in very weak and undernourished young.

A mother with her two babies, which are less than 1 week old.
Hamsters are very territorial and may attack others. Exceptions do occur, usually when a female and male come together when the female is in heat, and even so the female may attack the male after mating. Even brothers and sisters, once mature, may attack one another. In captivity, babies are separated from their mother and by gender after 4 weeks as they sexually mature at 4–5 weeks old. Same sex groups of siblings can stay with each other until they're approximately 8 weeks old, at which point they will begin to become territorial and will fight with each other.
Infanticide is not uncommon with female golden hamsters. They will eat their dead young in the wild to prevent predators detecting them. Some females, however, have been known to kill and eat healthy young, usually as a result of the pups interacting with humans as any foreign scent is treated as a threat.
Golden hamsters mark their burrow with secretions from special scent glands on their hips. Male hamsters in particular lick their body near the glands, creating damp spots on the fur, then drag their sides along objects to mark their territory. Females will often use bodily secretions and feces.


Discovery
Golden hamsters originate from Syria and were found in 1839 by British zoologist George Robert Waterhouse. Their natural condition is a dry, hot desert climate. The widespread notion that the name 'Hamster' derives from the German for 'hoarding (food)' is wrong: rather, the German verb hamstern derives from the name of the animal, owing to their respective behavior. 'Hamster' probably derives from the proto-slavic chomẽstar (compare also with Russian 'хомячок', 'hohmyachok' or Polish 'chomik').
Waterhouse's original specimen was a female hamster—he named it Cricetus auratus or the "golden hamster". The skin of the specimen is kept at the British Museum of Natural History.
In 1930, Israel Aharoni, a zoologist and professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, captured a mother hamster and her litter of pups in Aleppo, Syria. The hamsters were bred in Jerusalem as laboratory animals. Some escaped from the cage through a hole in the floor, and most of the wild golden hamsters in Israel today are believed to be descended from this litter.
Descendants of the captive hamsters were shipped to Britain in 1931, where they came under the care of the Wellcome Bureau of Scientific Research. They bred well and two more pair were given to the Zoological Society of London in 1932. The descendants of these were passed on to private breeders in 1937. A separate stock of hamsters was exported from Syria to the USA in 1971, but it appears that none of today's North American pets are descended from these (at least in the female line), because recent mitochondrial DNA studies have established that all domestic golden hamsters are descended from one female – probably the one captured in 1930 in Syria.
Since the species was named, the genus Cricetus has been subdivided and this species (together with several others) was separated into the genus Mesocricetus, leading to the currently accepted scientific name for the golden hamster of Mesocricetus auratus.


Hamster as Pet
Golden hamsters are popular as house pets due to their docile, inquisitive nature and small size. However, these animals have some special requirements that must be met in order for them to be happy and healthy. Although some people mistakenly think of them as a pet for young children, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommends hamsters as pets only for people 10 years or older and the child should be supervised by an adult.
Most hamsters in American and British pet stores are golden hamsters. Originally, golden hamsters came in just one color — the mixture of brown, black, and gold which gave them their "golden" name — but they have since developed a myriad of color and pattern mutations such as cream, white, blonde, cinnamon, tortoiseshell, black,three different shades of gray, dominant spot, banded, dilute, just to name a few. In pet stores today you will see them labeled many different ways, according to coat, color, and pattern. Often, you will see pet stores mark up the price tag and tell you that the hamster is a compleletely different "breed" just to make profit. The Humane Society of the United States states there is no such thing as a habitat that is too big for a hamster. The hamster will spend the majority of its time in the cage, so it should be as big as possible, safe, comfortable and interesting. Golden hamsters are energetic and need space to exercise.

Syrian hamster housing and bedding
Hamster cageSyrian hamsters can be kept in traditional wired cages or aquarium type cages. Wired cages have the advantages that they have bars which the hamsters like to climb and they are well ventilated although, this can lead to a mess around these cages. Aquarium type cages can be made of  plastic or glass, these are tidier in use as material cannot spill out around them, however ventilation can be a problem and they can overheat in the summer.
Hamster bedding material can be hay, paper derived products or some types of dust free wood shaving, these should be used with care as allergies can occur and they can cause breathing difficulties.  Syrian hamsters usually restrict their excretions to one place in their cage and with some training they can be encouraged to use small litter trays.


Hamster tips for beginners


Hamsters are very commonly bought by first-time pet owners.  This is because they are easy to handle and care for.  However, there are still things that a hamster owner needs to be aware of.  Caring for hamsters is just as important as it is for a different pet.


Tip 1: Read the books!
When buying a hamster for the first time, especially if you have never owned a pet before, buy a hamster care guide book.  They are filled with basic information regarding cages, food and health matters without getting complicated and technical.



Tip 2: Which hamster?
When buying a hamster it is important to know that only dwarf breeds can be kept together.  Syrian and Golden hamsters will fight to the death if they live together.  It is also important to know that dwarf hamsters take much more care than the bigger breeds.  Syrian and Golden hamsters are more suitable for beginners.


Tip 3: Escape artists
All hamsters are escape artists, but the dwarf breeds more so.  This is why bigger breeds are better for beginners, as you have more variety when it comes to choosing cages, toys and foods.  Hamsters can flatten their bodies, so with a dwarf breed it is essential that you buy a plastic cage.  However, with larger breeds they are unlikely to be able to squeeze through the bars.


Tip 4: Handling
Handling is essential with hamsters.  Those that do not get regular human contact quickly learn to bite and hamsters can give nasty bites!  As soon as your new pet has settled into their home (give it a day or two), place your hand inside the cage, but do not grab at the hamster.  They will come and sniff your fingers, but eventually over time they will sit on your hand and learn that you are their friend.  Please note, NEVER pick up a hamster when they are asleep.  Frightened or startled hamsters will bite.


Tip 5: Noisy creatures
Some people buy hamsters thinking that they are quiet and sedate animals.  This is totally untrue!  Hamsters are generally nocturnal creatures, meaning they like to come out at night.  It is this time when they will insist on playing with their squeaky wheel, causing disruption to anyone trying to sleep in that room!  Hamsters do also ‘talk’.  They have different squeaks and grunts for each emotion.  Hissing and growling is quite common in angry, agitated and frightened hamsters, whilst gentle squeaking is usually noticeable when they are searching out food.


Tip 6: Hoarders
Hamsters hoard, it’s as simple as that.  They will stuff food into their pouches and bury it away for a later date.  Uneaten food will then go stale and begin to rot, especially as they tend to hide it in their nests, which get very warm.  Search through the cage on a daily basis to remove any uneaten food.


Tip 7: Health
The most common disease seen in hamsters is wet tail, a disease that is usually fatal to hamsters.  Signs include smelly diarrhea and a wet tail (hence the name).  It is important that if these signs are seen that the hamster is taken to the vets immediately for treatment.
Hopefully these tips will help you to keep your hamster happy and healthy.



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