Understanding Your Hamster

Here are a couple of interesting snippets from another hamster website that will help some of you who were asking me for info on these things...

What should I do if my hamster exhibits strange symptoms?

If your hamster is doing anything out of the ordinary that worries you - coughing, wheezing, shaking, developing sores or callouses, walking weird, or any other abnormal behavior - SEE A VET IMMEDIATELY. When your hamster is awake, it should look alert, not apathetic. Anus should not be smeared with droppings. (This is a sign of possible diarrhoea.) Eyes should be clear, without signs of secretion. Heavy or noisy breathing may indicate disease. There should be no sores or bald spots.

Why does my hamster sleep all day?

Your hamster is nocturnal.

My hamster is having babies! What should I do?

Calm down, it is perfectly natural. Keep your hamster well-nourished. Added protein (possibly in the form of insects) might be a good idea. It has been suggested that one of the reasons hamsters eat their young is because they need the protein from them after birth. To reduce the likelihood of the babies being devoured by their parents, separate the father from them as soon as possible, and when you deem it safe, separate the mother from 'em. You should be aware that the time you separate the father from them varies from species to species. Case in point: The Syrian/Golden hamsters should only be together for mating, whereas dwarf hamsters can be kept together because they mate for life... I have been given these figures... they are all for the Golden Hamster, but are probably pretty close to any other breed of hamster: Puberty: 4-5 weeks Optimum beginning breeding age: males: 10-12 weeks females: 8-9 weeks Estrus: Every 3-4 days Gestation period: 16-18 days Litter size: 6-8 Birth weight: 1/14 to 1/8 oz Weaning age: 3-4 weeks

How can I interpret the hamster's body language?

Body Language: Convulsive movement, as well as sudden continual face washing, signifies fright. Defensive raising of both front paws can be observed in males that have been unexpectedly attacked by females and have no way of escaping. Puffing up the cheeks and showing the abdominal regions are to be construed as a threat. Lying motionless on the back shows resistance and fear. Stiff-legged walking of a young animal, with its tail stiffly stretched up and its hindquarters turned toward the adult hamster, denotes fear and submission . This can also often be observed in vanquished adult hamsters. Stretching and yawning with half-closed eyes is an expression of cosiness and inner peace.

Do hamsters make noise?

Hamsters are among the quietest creatures there are - usually the only sound you'll here from them is the squeaking of their wheels. Hamsters do vocalize from time to time. They squeak - this is a mating call. They scream - when they are in distress. They cough/sneeze - when they are sick.

Do hamsters hibernate?

Sort of. Technically it's not hibernation, but they will slow down their body functions (they become "torpid") if the room temperature of the room they are in gets unusually low, but shouldn't just go into hibernation because it's the winter season. If your hamster reaches this state, be sure not to disturb them. Let them come out of it naturally. Golden hamsters become sluggish at 59F and torpid at 50F. Dwarf hamsters are less active at low temperatures.

Do hamsters get lonely?

Not the way we get lonely, no. Many people will argue that hamsters will appreciate having a companion of the opposite sex to live with, but I don't think that hamsters will really mind too much if they are left by themselves. Hamsters will harm each other if they are together. Males and females can be together for mating, but not much longer than that without risking some sort of fight. Females hardly ever get along with other females, but you MIGHT be able to successfully raise two male hamsters together if you get them from the same litter and raise them together from as close to their birth as possible.

We have two hamsters living together from the same litter. Our female, has begun to chew tufts of her fur out and she has mated with the male. Is this a sign that she could be pregnant and begining to nest? Should we separate the two?

Definitely seperate the two hamsters. Generally, hamsters are solitary animals so let's keep it that way. One other thing that should be known is that the female hamster is MORE aggressive then the male. That's why when even mating a pair, it should be done in the males' cage rather than the females' (possibility that she would kill the male). About her pulling out tufts of her fur, it sounds like she is being stressed out from living in the same cage quarters as the male does. So seperate the two so that the female will not continue to do this strange behaviour and to prevent further unexpected in-breeding to occur.

Information and advice contained in this section is for your consideration only. Please consult your veterinarian before implementing treatment for your pet .

http://www.giveusahome.co.uk/database/hamsterfaq.htm