Check it out here. All of the manuals are created for non-expert animal parents and potential animal adopters and are written by a trainer, breeder, veterinarian, or other animal specialist. It includes SO much great info that will absolutely help you be confident in your decision to either adopt or not to adopt a dwarf. Plus, it has loads of cute hamster pictures. Buy it here. Author Sarah Yee does a good job talking about taming different species of hamsters, and because different species have different personalities and respond to different training techniques, I found this incredibly helpful.
The book covers different ways to approach taming and provides a helpful daily schedule to master handling your hamster. So, these are some of my favorites on hamsters.
They all do a good job educating at any level. However, the change does not occur in animals bred in captivity because pets receive enough indoor artificial light that hinders the recognition of shorter winter days.
Unlike all other Phodopus hamsters, the Roborovski hamsters do not have a dorsal stripe. Since they are the smallest among the Phodopus , they usually are the fastest and, therefore, most difficult to handle.
You can quickly identify Cricetulus griseus or Chinese hamsters by their uncommonly long tail all other hamster varieties have stubby tails. Primarily active during night time, Chinese hamsters stay awake for short periods in between naps during the day.
Chinese hamsters belong to the group of rat-like hamsters because of their color and longer tails. In fact, they are usually mistaken for a mouse. Sometimes regarded as a pest or an exotic animal, the Chinese hamster may require special permits to own , breed, or sell in some US states. Hailing from arid areas from Northern Syria to Southern Turkey, Syrian hamsters are the largest, growing up to eight inches long. As suggested by its common names, these three species come from desert regions in Northern China, Siberia and Kazakhstan, and Mongolia.
The smallest among all the common types is the Roborovski hamster, growing only up to about two inches. Most hamsters are territorial and intolerant of each other, so they should be alone in their cages. Although there is no guarantee, the dwarf hamster species can tolerate same-gender companions if introduced together at an early age.
Female hamsters tend to be aggressive against males after mating, usually ending up with the male dying. Keep your hamsters stress-free by putting enough nesting boxes for resting and scattering feeding and drinking spots to give them multiple food sources.
Naming your pet hamster is a big decision! Here are a few classics:. Cage size is important, but you also need to provide plenty of toys and exercise opportunities to keep your pet busy — this is called enrichment. There are a few different types of hamster cage and each have their own benefits. These are the most common cages used to keep dwarf hamsters.
Their popularity is thanks to ease of cleaning, durability and cost. Most wired cages will have multiple levels for your hamster to explore.
More and more dwarf hamster owners are switching to aquariums thanks to their versatility. They are also much more escape-proof and allow you to watch your pet without the intrusion of metal bars. A new aquarium will take a hit on your wallet and cleaning out one of these tasks is a lot harder than your traditional wire-top cage.
These dwarf hamster cages are packed with toys and can provide lots of stimulation for your pet. These habitats are boredom killers, creating an interesting environment for your pet. Many hamster owners would argue that these cages are just to small and they have a point. This is a question most new hamster owners ask and the truth is bigger is always better.
Remember, hamsters are curious animals and they like to explore. A larger cage like this will offer more possibilities for toys and exercise while housing multiple dwarf hamsters comfortably. Tip: Placing two food bowls in your cage can help avoid aggression when keeping two or more dwarf hamsters together.
Your best bet would be to keep your hamster in a quiet area of your home and interact with your pet a little each day. Hamsters do have sensitive ears so try to avoid loud noises when possible. Regular cleaning keep your pet healthy and ensure a hygienic living environment is provided. Weekly cleaning also gives you chance to interact with your dwarf hamster some more and provide it with some much needed exercise.
If you need to go longer without performing a full clean you can keep hygiene up by spot cleaning. Simply replace any dirty bedding usually the corners of the cage and dirty cage accessories to maintain a healthy environment.
Choosing a good dwarf hamster bedding is essential for your pets happiness. This is definitely a good, low cost option. Some hamster owners still use sawdust in their cages.
Sawdust is a very dusty material and it can have a negative impact on your pets breathing and overall health. Aspen wood shavings are a much safer option. There are also branded bedding materials available, the most popular being CareFresh.
These are purpose made materials just for small pets. Just be aware that those benefits do come at a price. Always go for the best quality that you can afford. Read our full guide on hamster bedding. Enrichment is an important part of hamster keeping. You need to keep your dwarf hamster active and mentally engaged throughout his life.
The best way to do this is by investing in some fun dwarf hamster toys! Watching your dwarf hamster play with its toys is probably the best part of hamster keeping.
Try and pick up some toys that keep your pet active such as climbing frames, burrowing nests and anything similar. Of course, a good hamster wheel is very important too, more on that later. Choosing the best dwarf hamster diet for your pet is extremely important. Dwarf hamsters are very prone to diabetes so low-sugar foods are the way to go. In the wild, dwarf hamsters will regularly eat fruits, nuts, grains, seeds and insects.
As mentioned, dwarf hamsters are very vulnerable to diabetes so be careful with the amount of treats you provide. Treats can be used as a means to reward your pet for good behaviour and speed up the taming process. Feel free to use a combination of insects, fresh fruit and your standard packaged treats.
Here are some great dwarf hamster treats available online:. Hamsters can take care of themselves! The best thing you can do is provide a clean, healthy environment as well as good diet and exercise opportunities.
There is one thing you can do to help a dwarf hamster clean… buy a sand bath! Sand baths are very small bath-like objects which contain pet-friendly bathing sand purchased separately in shops. Lots of people provide their Chinchillas with a sand bath but hamsters love bathing too!
Your dwarf hamster will climb into the bath and spin around in the sand, cleaning its fur or dirt and other particles. Taming and handling a dwarf hamster takes time. With the right care, your hamsters will become very tame and easy to handle. They key is to work with your hamster a little each day to successfully tame your pet. Taming a Robo definitely takes more time and is more suited to an experienced dwarf hamster keeper.
Give the animal time to settle into the new environment and regularly talk to your hamster so it becomes familiar with your voice. After a few days to a week, start offering treats to your hamster by hand and lightly stroke the animal when possible. Predators will often attach a hamster from above in the wild which is why they can become scared or flighty when you attempt this in captivity. Instead, scoop your dwarf hamster from underneath its body.
It goes without saying, but do not squeeze or drop a dwarf hamster from a height. Poor handling techniques will either scare a small hamster or cause it to feel threatened and therefore inflict a bite.
0コメント