They are often used to test treatments for various genetic diseases or cancers. Their small pink noses constantly twitch whilst their short stumpy legs allow them to be fast and agile when needed. Choose one with plenty of burrowing space, running space, and lots of room for extra hamster accessories. Therefore tunnels, tubes and bridges are great for them to run around in and on. To the unknowing eye, this little guy will send someone jumping, How does a hotdog-sized rodent from a Middle Eastern desert make its way into the homes of billions, Rats are becoming increasingly popular as pets, although they are still far outnumbered by cute hamsters. Fancy bear hamsters are friendly, curious and courageous, and enjoy wandering around, burrowing, and exploring their surroundings! Pre-packaged muesli or pellets bought from your local pet store offer a great source of nutrients and minerals for your hamster, however small quantities of fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs offer a great way to supplement their diet. You will, however, need to put in extra effort and care when you first bring home your teddy bear hamster as you will need to tame it and train it not to bite. Newborn pups reach sexual maturity in about 3-4 weeks. Hamsters are one of the cutest rodents that many of us are happy to keep as a pet. Caring for Teddy Fur You cannot prevent getting a hamster with predispositions, but you can be more careful to prevent your pet from getting a life-threatening illness. In fact, black bear hamsters also exist, and are another name for Syrian hamsters with black fur. Syrian hamster mothers are known to sometimes eat their own young if they perceive themselves to be in danger. When she's not writing she loves traveling, perusing used book stores, and hanging out with her other half. In fact, there are 26 species of wild hamster that run free in parts of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, including Mesocricetus auratus, the Syrian hamster, which comes from the region . Some breeds of hamster, like the Russian Dwarf, like to have company, and live well in pairs. It was found that males live an average of 577 days. Its a good opportunity for the kids to learn responsibility and love for animals. Before giving in to a weak moment of buying one, do your homework. Syrian hamsters also known as teddy bear or fancy hamster are great pets for new owners. A Data-Backed Answer, How To Tame A Hamster: 10 Safe And Proven Tips. Look for any soiled bedding and remove it from the cage. Just remember, however, that hamster are incredibly nimble and can move at quite a speed when they want too. Even the tamest hamster could be provoked into biting if they become anxious, stressed or are struggling whilst in your hands. Lack of handling (taming) results in an aggressive hamster that will bite. If the smell is a concern for you, then the man teddy bear hamster is really a better choice. Each teddy bear hamster is likely to be different, so there is no specific length of time that the taming process will take. Maintaining a clean cage may be the most important thing to prevent potentially fatal diseases, like wet tail. Children learn what they are taught. Theyre also known as fancy bear hamsters! However, hamsters are delicate and will bite when stressed or in pain. So, try not to surprise your hamster when you want to handle him. On our drive home, he was busy in the little cardboard carrier that he was traveling in. There is some debate on the safety of an operating ball. Have a question? The average lifespan of the Syrian hamster is 2-3 years as pets. I put clothes over his cage on 3 sides and the top, so he can only see out in front of his cage. Average lifespan is about 2 years, so at this point it's just down to his genetics and speculation. The hamster in the Guiness World Record book lived to an impressive 4.5 years old! In order to reduce any stressful situations, you should place a blanket over the cage, minimize interaction for at least two weeks and only spot clean where necessary. All hamsters like to retreat to a safe place and depending on the type of material hamster hideouts are made from they can priced anywhere between $5-$12. While tracking these furry friends in the wild is a tough task, some information has been found. They need to live with other hamsters to be healthy, whereas Syrian hamsters have to live alone to become healthy. with a lifespan of 2-3 years. This is because they are having their estrus cycle, in which they release a thin, whitish discharge and a scent that attracts male hamsters when it is time to mate. We will also can because more details about the teddy bear hamsters, including whether they like to live together or in solitary. Mikos Teddy Bear Hamster by Melbelle via Wikimedia Commons is licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en. Home teddy bear hamster lifespan and characteristics. A typical teddy bear hamster will need a layer of around 6inches and paper-based bedding is best. Hamster Quiz - Only The Top 1% Can Ace our Animal Quizzes. Syrian hamsters in the wild live much shorter lives than our domesticated pets. READY FOR NEW HOMES!! This is notably more than they can survive in the wild, which is about 1-2 years on average. The hair may be solid black, brown, gold, or dark grey. Wild teddy bear hamsters have been domesticated into wonderful little pets. When Alex isn't nerdily stalking the internet for science news, he enjoys tabletop RPGs and making really obscure TV references. If you are thinking of getting a teddy bear hamster for your next pet, then there are number of things you should know. As animals can sense anxiety and may feel scared themselves, we recommend taking them to a secure play area such as a playpen or bath. The care usuallytaker can control other environmental aspects. Syrian hamsters are undeniably cute on the outside. Other items that provide entertainment and enrichment are tubes, things to chew on, and small toys designed for hamsters. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you observe your hamster regularly you may notice that her secretions start to change, becoming thicker and more consistent, unlike the thin one during her regular cycle. Citrus (oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, etc. However, in captivity, they have been known to live longer, up to 3-4 years. Although your hamster will be fully capable of giving birth herself, you will need to be patient as it can take anything between 10 to 30 minutes between pups. Most hamsters can be tamed quickly with regular, gentle handling, but in order to build up complete trust, there are certain steps you should follow. Although most hamsters are rehomed before they hit sexual maturity, female hamsters are able to get pregnant from as early as 6-8 weeks old. Well, the answer varies quite a lot! Occasional treats from the pet store/vet. It is possible, but rare, for these animals to live as long as five years. How Long Do Syrian (Teddy Bear) Hamsters Live? We are a team of prolific hamster fans and pet enthusiasts, combing the web for up-to-date, fact-checked information on hamster breeds, care, and products. However, they also will become submissive following a social defeat by another hamster as a form of learned helplessness. They have a stout, stocky body with little tails that are barely visible underneath their fur. There are several different species of hamsters, but the most common "Hamsters are small, rodent-like mammals that belong to the subfamily Cricetinae. You might also wonder what you can do to prolong your hamsters life. Below is a list of teddy bear hamster equipment to help you budget. A significant difference between both species is their appearance. Can Guinea Pigs Eat Tomatoes Or Is This Fruit Bad For Them? In the wild, hamsters dig deep underground burrows to live and breed. Hi, this is quite normal, moving from the pet shop to your home can be a very stressful experience for your hamster. If your hamster has spent time with a male hamster in the same cage, then there is a chance that the two will have mated. Syrian, Teddy Bear, and Golden are all interchangeably used to describe this type of hamster breed. The tail of Teddy Bear hamsters may be hidden behind their long hair. They generally cost around $2. Hamster Wet Tail How To Spot It And What To Do Hamsters Hibernate? Clean the water dish and meals bowl weekly. Syrian hamsters are the biggest of all hamster species, and there will be significant size changes between the newborn hamster you got from the pet store and the adult hamster in your cage. Syrian hamsters - the largest hamster, and the most common one found in pet shops. There is a world record for the longest living hamster. George Robert Waterhouse named and presented this hamster to the London Zoological Society as a new species. If you want to have more than one hamster, you should consider getting dwarf breed hamsters. Im in the San Diego area and am trying to find a local breeder so that I can buy a Syrian hampster that has been handled. Syrian Hamsters are small rodents about the size of an adult human hand - The adult size ranges from 5 - 7 inches in length. If the female is not introduced when she is in season, potentially fatal fighting will ensue. He is napping in his hut in his new habitat as I type this. I am pleased to say that Oscar has over-delivered on his hamster potential and we couldnt imagine life with him. However, if they become scared or startled, they might react by biting. Distinctive spots of yellow, cinnamon, orange, Bedding (cedar and pine shavings should never be used), Reasonably quiet, warm room 64-79 degrees (F) (17-26 C), Placed on a solid surface such as a sturdy table, counter, or stand, On a surface where it can tip over or fall. If your child wants a pet it can interact with, a Syrian hamster or teddy bear hamster is perfect. We will talk about the differences between these hamsters and their lifespans. In the wild, these hamsters come out during the day, whereas pet hamsters are nocturnal. Hamster habitat. Persistence (and a fair amount of bribery) will pay off and within a matter of weeks (if not months), your anxious, furry ninja will end up being one cuddly, happy teddy bear hamster. 20. Pre-made pellet and seed mix from a pet store gives plenty of variety and is very nutritious. A zoologist named Israel Aharoni captured teddy bear hamsters in Aleppo, Syria, in 1930. A teddy bear hamster should live without any hamster roommates, or they will be very stressed. A hamster must have a running wheel for exercise. They will also eat their own feces to extract any nutrients they might not have initially absorbed. If you still have outstanding questions or require further information on caring for your hamster, please refer to the blogs on our website. It is important not to rush into the taming process. This might seem contrary to what you see in pet stores because they might have several Syrian hamsters together in one cage. Testosterone and estrogen played key roles in determining how long males and female hamsters live. Of course, this pet isnt just for kids, and makes a great companion for adults too. It is therefore important that we preserve the lives of our pet hamsters for as long as possible. As teddy bear hamsters can grow to around 5-7 inches, you need to have a cage large enough for it to live and scamper around in. Whats your favorite thing about this little pet? Individual hamsters can live a short or long life depending on their lifestyle, diet and care. When you use a well balanced store-bought food, that should make up 90 percent of your pets diet. Teddy Bear Hamster Characteristics and Traits. Some of the information on this page is incorrect. In the wild, the average Syrian hamster lifespan is between 2-3 years. A running ball is another exercise option that is more intense and fun than the running wheel. Slightly warmer or cooler than this range is also acceptable. Thank you for reading! If youre looking for a starter pet, the fancy bear hamster is a great choice, because it prefers to live on its own. You have entered an incorrect email address! Syrian Hamsters are small rodents about the size of an adult human hand - The adult size ranges from 5 - 7 inches in length. You may also use treats to allow your hamster to gain trust. Daily interaction with a new hamster is a must. Teddy hamsters are also lovingly referred to as teddy bear hamsters. Teddy bear hamsters are territorial and will fight with any cage-mates, sometimes to the death. Technically, hamsters are not true hibernators, as they only go into such a state for periods (torpors) of 10-20 days, not for an extended period of time. There are other genetic predispositions that you will not know when you buy your hamster. The golden hamster or Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) is a rodent belonging to the hamster subfamily, . Accessories will also require extra room within the cage. Their coats might be of solid colour or a combination of colours, and bellies are mostly white. Several factors contribute to the hamsters lifespan. Especially for children who have school in the day, or adults who work outside of the home. How long do hamsters live? Males seem to outlive females on average, which is unusual in the animal world. After being bred in Jerusalem, members of the subsequent breeding colony were exported to the US where they becamepopular house pets. They have a stocky, barrel shaped body with little stubby tails that are almost completely hidden beneath their long fur. Im scared hes terrified of me. With time, they will allow you to pet them and play with them. The oldest cub lived to be eight years old. Domestic hamsters do not require sand baths because they are not exposed to the elements of the wild. Once your hamster feels happy enough to come towards you on their own accord, try to coerce them into a container so that you can take them someone safe and enclosed to hold them. I just adopted Mr. Bodhi Lucas P. today. Little animals should never be left at the mercy of children who have no impulse control orsense of the consequences of their actions. A normal litter for a teddy bear hamster will contain between 6 to 8 pups. 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