Tag: teddy bear hamster

Intro

The teddy bear hamster is a peculiar little rodent with huge cheek pouches and a short, stubby tail. The wild habitat of the teddy bear hamster is found throughout the Middle East and Southeastern Europe. In 1930, a litter of eight young teddy bear hamsters was brought to Palestine to be raised as research animals. Almost all domesticated teddy bear hamsters sold in the pet trade and for research are descended from three survivors of this litter. The teddy bear hamster was first introduced to the United States in 1938.

Since the domestication of the teddy bear hamster, several color and fur varieties have emerged through selective breeding. The three basic groups that exist today include the common “golden” teddy bear hamster, the colorful short-haired “fancy” teddy bear hamster, and the long-haired “teddy bear” teddy bear hamster. All three species are popular pets, and the research community generally uses the basic Golden Teddy Bear Hamster.

Occasionally, one may encounter other species of hamster, but these are less common than the teddy bear hamster. The smaller, dark brown Chinese Teddy Bear Hamster is commonly used in biomedical research and is sometimes obtained as a pet.

These teddy bear hamsters are small, dark brown in color, and have black stripes on their backs. The Armenian teddy bear hamster and the European teddy bear hamster are two other animals that are occasionally used for research, but are rarely kept as pets. The information here pertains specifically to the Syrian or Golden Teddy Bear Hamster, as they are by far the most popular.

Teddy Bear Hamster Diet

As with any pet, good quality food and clean fresh water must be available at all times. The precise nutritional needs of the teddy bear hamster have not been fully determined. In the wild, these animals feed on plants, seeds, fruits and insects. Current recommendations for captive feeding are pelleted rodent diets containing 15-20% protein. These rations are usually processed into dry blocks or pellets designed for rodents. Seed diets are also “formulated” and sold to teddy bear hamsters, but these diets should only be supplemented with basic rodent pellets. Seed diets contain a lot of fat and are prone to spoilage if not stored properly.

In addition, when eaten alone, these diets often lead to obesity and potential nutritional deficiencies, especially calcium. Other dietary supplements include sugar-free breakfast cereal, whole grain bread, pasta, cheese, cooked lean meats, fresh fruits and vegetables; all in moderation. Teddy bear hamsters eat about 12 grams of food per day and most of it at night. Teddy bear hamsters are like a bunch of little mice and often hide food in the corners of their cages to make it look as if they are eating much more than they actually are.

Water is easily provided in a water bottle fitted with a tinoper tube. This method also helps to keep the water free from contamination. Always make sure the pipe is positioned low enough for your pet to easily access it. Young teddy bear hamsters need special consideration to ensure that they are strong enough to both use the sippy tube and have access to it. The average teddy bear hamster drinks about 10 ml of water per 100 grams of body weight (average adult size). Although this amount is a small fraction of the total volume of the bottle, fresh water should be provided daily, not just when the bottle is emptied.

How to scratch a teddy bear hamster

Handled regularly from a young age, teddy bear hamsters usually remain docile and rarely bite. These naturally docile animals can be gently picked up and held close to the body with one or two hands. Be careful, even docile teddy bear hamsters may bite if surprised or suddenly awakened from sleep.

However, other teddy bear hamsters may not have received much attention and handling throughout their lives and therefore may be more worrisome and aggressive. Any animal whose personality is not fully understood must be treated with caution. The use of small towels or gloves can help keepers capture and restrain such pets.

Another method of capture involves luring the animal into a container (such as a can or tube), which can then be removed from the cage. Once removed from the cage, catching a teddy bear hamster can be inhibited by scratching a large amount of skin on the back of the neck. Because the skin is very loose, it is important to grab as much skin as possible using this method.

Cages for Teddy Bear Hamsters

Several types of cages are suitable for teddy bear hamsters. Many of these units come with cage “furniture” such as exercise wheels, tunnels and nest boxes as an added luxury. These accessories, along with sufficient nest depth in which to dig holes, are ideal for the mental health of your pet. The cage should be constructed with rounded corners to prevent chewing.

Teddy bear hamsters can easily chew wood, lightweight plastics and soft metals, so wire, stainless steel, durable plastics and glass are recommended as blocking materials. Beware that glass and plastic containers can greatly reduce ventilation and may cause problems with humidity, temperature, and odor concentration. These materials form suitable cages when at least one side of the enclosure is open for air circulation. Also, make sure the enclosure is escape proof, as these small rodents are known escape artists.

Teddy bear hamsters do well in sturdy bottom cages with deep mattresses and plenty of nesting material. Bedding must be clean, non-toxic, absorbent, dust free and easily accessible. Shredded paper or paper towels, wood shavings and processed corn cobs are preferred bedding. Make sure wood shavings and corn cobs are free of mold, mildew or other contamination before use. Cotton and shredded thin paper make excellent nesting materials.

Pet teddy bear hamsters are usually housed individually. Mature female teddy bear hamsters tend to be very aggressive toward each other and should not be housed together. Females are also larger and more aggressive than males, so males usually need to be separated immediately after breeding. When the men live together, they may fight, but tend to be less aggressive than the women.

Generally, cages and accessories should be thoroughly cleaned once or twice a week. An exception to this schedule is when newborn babies are present, waiting until they are at least two weeks old to disturb the cage. Other factors that may require more frequent cleaning are the number of teddy bear hamsters in the cage, the type of bedding provided, and the design and size of the cage. Clean floors and walls weekly with soap and water. Change bedding weekly.

Cages should be sanitized with hot water and a non-toxic disinfectant or detergent, then rinsed thoroughly. Wash and sanitize water bottles and food daily. Most of the time just hot water and a mild detergent, followed by a rinse, will do the trick.

Bleaching kills most of the major pathogens that teddy bear hamsters will produce or come in contact with, so for a more thorough cleaning, occasionally wipe with a solution of 1 part bleach in 10 parts waters, let sit for 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Water bottles and bowls can be soaked in a bleach solution for 15-30 minutes, but must be rinsed out before use. Detergents are sold at pet stores and can be used, but most are not as effective as bleach for deep cleaning.

Teddy bear hamster Emotions

Compared to dogs and cats, teddy bear hamsters are less likely to communicate with their owners. However, if you observe them carefully every day, you can still understand their emotions. Moreover, teddy bear hamsters can express their emotions, so watch these actions and messages carefully to understand their emotions.

Tidying up

When teddy bear hamsters groom their body hair, they are in a relaxed state. Otherwise, it is a state where the teddy bear hamster’s own flavor disappears after the owner strokes the teddy bear hamster and wants to apply the flavor to its body again. Teddy bear hamsters love their own flavor.

Turning over

When the owner’s hand reaches inside the cage, the teddy bear hamster will turn over. This is because the teddy bear hamster is startled when the hand is pushed in, or because it finds it annoying. The teddy bear hamster has almost no weapon against the enemy, so it will roll over and resist with all four legs. At this time, just go over slowly and reassure the teddy bear hamster. Especially when the teddy bear hamster is sleeping, don’t scare the teddy bear hamster.

Rolling up in a circle

You can tell this is the teddy bear hamster’s sleeping position by looking at it, so keep your voice down. However, they will also roll up when they are not in good health, so be careful. When the weather is cold, the teddy bear hamster will roll up, so it is trying to keep warm.

Teddy bear hamsters are nocturnal animals that like to sleep during the day and come out at night, so don’t wake them up when they are sleeping! Four-week-old teddy bear hamsters are adults. Unlike rats, they have a short tail, or even no tail at all. The most interesting thing about teddy bear hamsters is that they know how to hide their food in the sides of their gills and spit it out only when they are in a safe place.

Medical attention

Whenever your teddy bear hamster is not feeling well, please don’t panic and try to minimize the time it takes to get your teddy bear hamster to the doctor. Precautions to be taken when the mother teddy bear hamster is in labor:

1. During the mother’s pregnancy, remember to keep the teddy bear hamster in a separate cage from the male teddy bear hamster. The male teddy bear hamster may eat the baby teddy bear hamster.
2. Please help the mother teddy bear hamster to have a good body tonic, the birth is very hurtful, you can use flamen, nutritional cream, nutritional water, small dried fish, bread worms, etc., so that the mother teddy bear hamster can increase the nutrition.
3. Please try not to change the items and cushions in the mother teddy bear hamster’s cage when the baby teddy bear hamster is full moon. It is easy to scare the mother teddy bear hamster and cause her not to nurse her baby or to reclaim (eat the baby teddy bear hamster). Please do not touch the baby teddy bear hamster before it reaches the full moon!
4. After the baby teddy bear hamster reaches one month old, it can leave the mother teddy bear hamster after its fur grows and its eyes are opened and it is weaned, at this time, you can try to touch the baby teddy bear hamster!
5. It is best to wait until the baby hamster is a month old before feeding it breadworms, which have shells. At this time, the baby’s digestive system is not yet complete, please do not feed breadworms, as it is easy to get indigestion.
6. Remember to pick up the roller during the teddy bear hamster mom’s pregnancy. Sometimes teddy bear hamster moms will neglect breastfeeding in order to play with the roller.

Self-examination of the teddy bear hamster’s body

Teeth

Teddy bear hamster’s incisors are constantly growing, and sometimes the teeth are too long, which can prevent them from eating. At this time, you can cut the teeth by yourself, please use the small animal teeth cutting utensil, if you are afraid to do so, you can bring it to the doctor to cut the teeth.

Aroma Gland

Male teddy bear hamsters only have, in the middle of the abdomen, there is a yellow grain, that is the scent gland, when the male teddy bear hamster is in heat, the smell here will be particularly heavy. Sometimes the scent glands may accumulate too much, so please remember to use hydrogen peroxide mixed with saline at a ratio of 1:10 to help them wipe it off! If there is too much, please take them to the veterinary hospital and ask the doctor to clean it.

Eyes

If your teddy bear hamster’s eyes are healthy, they should be bright and shiny. If they are red, oily, or have eye droppings, you should pay attention to them and bring them to a veterinarian.

Poop

Your teddy bear hamster’s poop should be a little hard, the size of a grain of rice, black and odorless. Sometimes it may turn green or red, so don’t be too nervous. Think back to your teddy bear hamster’s diet to see if there is any green or red color in the diet, and if there is, green color is normal. If there is any green or red color in the teddy bear hamster’s diet, it is normal for the stool to be green in color. If the stool is soft or has a foul odor, please send it to the doctor as soon as possible.

Cheek sacs

Sometimes it is necessary to check if the food in the cheek pouches has been eaten, if not, please do not give any more food. If the food in the cheek pouches spoils and becomes smelly, it may lead to buccal pouch infection. Regularly check the cheek pouches for the odor of rotting food and help him to remove the food from the pouches by rinsing the pouches with saline mixed with water at a ratio of 1:3 and inserting a feeding syringe into the pouches.

Hair Color

Teddy bear hamster’s fur is usually soft and shiny. If there is any hair loss, please note if it is an allergy and bring it to the doctor for examination as soon as possible.

Body Temperature

A teddy bear hamster’s body temperature is usually slightly higher than ours when touched by hand, but it does not feel obvious. If it is obvious that the teddy bear hamster’s body temperature is too high, please send it to the hospital immediately, as it is very likely to be a precursor of heat stroke!

For decades, many families have enjoyed hamsters as pets. These furry creatures are easily recognizable because of their sturdy bodies, fluffy ears, short tails and full cheek pouches. Hamsters are both mischievous and intelligent, making them a favorite among pet parents. There are more than 20 varieties of hamsters, ranging from dwarf to standard, that are kept as pets. The most popular pet hamster is the teddy bear hamster. This breed is also known as the Syrian Hamster or Golden Hamster. As a pet, the teddy bear hamster has so many advantages. For example, they have low space requirements, are effortless to feed, and cost very little in time to care for. Not only do those little guys look cute and act funny, but each one has a unique personality. Think they’re hard to interact with? Come on, there is no such thing as a hamster that doesn’t know how to play, there are just owners who lack creativity.

Appearance of Teddy Bear Hamster

Teddy bear hamsters are characterized by their golden yellow fur and white- or cream-colored bellies. Other color variations include cinnamon, flecks (patches of two colors), and cream. Their fur is thick and usually shorter compared to some dwarf hamster species. The lifespan of a teddy bear hamster is usually 2-3 years. They are a larger pet hamster, up to 6-7 inches in length and 90-140 grams in weight. Larger teddy bear hamsters are great for parents and children to watch. They are usually friendly with people and will warm up your family with time and gentle contact. Teddy bear hamsters prefer to live alone and pair off without a group, so they are best kept alone.

Gentle and Docile Nature

The teddy bear hamster is a docile and active animal. It usually likes to sleep, but does not like sunlight and most have the habit of living alone. The Teddy Bear Hamster has poor eyesight and owners should avoid placing it in high places to prevent it from falling. It has a sensitive sense of smell and hearing, so excessive noise should be avoided so as not to adversely affect the teddy bear hamster. The character of different species of hamsters varies greatly. Roughly after getting close to the owner, or after being tamed, the character becomes calm during the process of getting along, but the hamster is afraid of life, loves to clean, but does not love to drink water, does not love the sun, and likes to stay in the nest. Most hamsters are solitary animals and will attack each other in the event of a fight over a territorial intruder, food competitor, or mate.

Low Maintenance and Easy Care

Teddy bear hamster is an herbivore, owners can feed some melon seeds and other food on a daily basis. It can enhance the relationship with the teddy bear hamster. If the teddy bear hamster appears to leap around after eating the food, it may not be full, and you can add a little more food appropriately. But you need to be careful not to feed the teddy bear hamster food such as chocolate, which may cause it to get sick.

In addition, the owner does not need to think about giving them a bath, this point is different from the usual breeding cats and dogs, because the hamster has the habit of self-cleaning. Owners can also buy some bath sand, they will go to roll in it to clean themselves.

Interacting with a teddy bear hamster

Hamsters are adorable pets that exhibit a number of interactive behaviors to communicate and play with their owners. When you open the teddy bear hamster cage or enter their activity area, the teddy bear hamster may look around curiously, and then intend to run next to you or around your feet.

Sometimes they will touch your hand or forehead with their little nose to detect and show you trust. They also like to be held, but this takes some getting used to. As Teddy Bear Hamsters have a keen sense of smell, they will try to sniff your fingers or clothes and recognize who you are by smell. And they love to chase, they are also very smart and can learn to play simple games such as rolling a ball, racing and so on. Although they can’t talk, squeaking, squeaking, emitting smells or body language are their way of communicating, and you need to pay attention to their language and behavior.

Interacting and communicating with our teddy bear hamsters is a fun and inspiring process. The process of interacting with your hamster is made better by building trust, creating a warm and cozy environment, and providing them with adequate food, water, and activity. Also, listening to their language, observing their posture and expressions, and by rewarding good behavior and respecting their wishes are all key tips for communicating with your hamster. Let’s build a good bond with my pet and bring more joy and happiness to our pets.