Species
Syrian Hamsters - Syrians are solitary animals and must be kept alone and never introduced to others, these are the largest species of domesticated hamster, usually advised for beginners as they are generally easier to handle due to their size, also known as Teddy Bear hamsters and other pet store names such as Panda bear and Golden hamsters. There are many different colours and coats available, some being long haired and others short haired too.
{Syrians}
{Campbell, Winter White, Russian Dwarf, Robo and Chinese}
Campbell - Campbell hamsters can be kept in pairs or groups providing there is enough space for them, they are from the same litter, have always been together and are of the same gender, they should have at least one of each of everything per hamster and to keep an eye on them as they may begin to fight and will need splitting up, unfortunately once split you cannot reintroduce.
Winter White - Winter White hamsters can be kept in pairs or groups providing there is enough space for them, they are from the same litter, have always been together and are of the same gender, they should have at least one of each of everything per hamster and to keep an eye on them as they may begin to fight and will need splitting up, unfortunately once split you cannot reintroduce. They are given the name Winter white as during the winter their coat will turn much lighter and in the summer months they will go a much darker brown or grey colour. You are often given papers if they are a true Winter white species.
Hybrid/Russian Dwarf - Hybrid hamsters are a cross between Winter whites and Campbell's we call them Russian Dwarf hamsters in most places, they can be kept in pairs or groups providing there is enough space for them, they are from the same litter, have always been together and are of the same gender, they should have at least one of each of everything per hamster and to keep an eye on them as they may begin to fight and will need splitting up, unfortunately once split you cannot reintroduce.
Roborovski - Roborovski hamsters, also known as Robos, can be kept in pairs or groups providing there is enough space for them, they are from the same litter, have always been together and are of the same gender, they should have at least one of each of everything per hamster and to keep an eye on them as they may begin to fight and will need splitting up, unfortunately once split you cannot reintroduce. They are super cute, the smallest of the species and fast little creatures.
The whiter the Robo the more prone they seem to be to neurological disorders, which can be devastating, which is usually down to genetics but can be brought on by poor environment.
Chinese - Chinese hamsters are solitary animals and must be kept alone and never introduced to others, they are mouse like hamsters as they have a longer tail than other hamster species but stunning creatures, but hard to come by in the UK.
Life Span
Most hamsters live around 2-3 years.
Gender
Male and female hamsters aren't much different to care for, they all have their own individual personalities.
Females do go into heat every 4 days for a couple of hours which can leave them smelling a little more, but I personally have not smelt much difference and found females to be a lot more lively and adventurous.
Male Syrians also have large male area which can be a third of their bodies, so it is quite easy to tell the difference when a male and female hamster has reached maturity, ladies will have nipples on the underside of them. You may also notice some spots on your male hamsters, these are nothing to worry about and are their scent glands, Syrians have their scent glands one on each side of their hips, some are more visible than others and can become greasy if overactive. Male Campbell, Winter White, Russian Dwarf, Robos and Chinese hamsters have a scent gland on their tummy/underside, almost like a high up navel/belly button.
When it comes to long haired Syrians, girls will have a slight skirt and a couple of tufts, where as a boy will tend to have a big skirt and a large amount of hair on their back end.
Females do go into heat every 4 days for a couple of hours which can leave them smelling a little more, but I personally have not smelt much difference and found females to be a lot more lively and adventurous.
Male Syrians also have large male area which can be a third of their bodies, so it is quite easy to tell the difference when a male and female hamster has reached maturity, ladies will have nipples on the underside of them. You may also notice some spots on your male hamsters, these are nothing to worry about and are their scent glands, Syrians have their scent glands one on each side of their hips, some are more visible than others and can become greasy if overactive. Male Campbell, Winter White, Russian Dwarf, Robos and Chinese hamsters have a scent gland on their tummy/underside, almost like a high up navel/belly button.
When it comes to long haired Syrians, girls will have a slight skirt and a couple of tufts, where as a boy will tend to have a big skirt and a large amount of hair on their back end.
Photo of hamsters credit: Sadie-Elloise Garnett (Syrian 2), Danielle Sommerville (Syrian 3),
Dow Kengradomying (Campbell), Harry Williams (Winter White), Georgia Smith (Syrian 1&4 and Russian Dwarf), Crystal Shaw (Robo), Bethany Anne Hinton (Chinese)
No comments:
Post a Comment