Types of hamsters suitable for domestic maintenance

Wild species of hamsters in nature live in the steppe zones of Eastern Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Hamsters are nocturnal animals: they dig under the ground long, ramified passages with living chambers, in which they spend the whole day. On the surface, they go out at night to get their own food.

Most of these animals, including domestic species of hamsters, have cheek pouches in which they carry food. They are quite roomy: for example, for example, a Syrian hamster can stuff a cheek for food, the total weight of which exceeds half its own weight! Hamsters are accustomed to making reserves: in nature they store the food collected in a hole in the cheek pouches in living cells. These rodents feed on plants, nuts, various seeds.

The most common variety of hamsters kept at home is the so-called Syrian, which is also golden. It is somewhat larger than other decorative species of hamsters. This animal must be kept in a separate cage: Syrian hamsters do not like to share their territory with anyone. The rest of the hamsters, suitable for living in dwellings - dwarfish - are more communicative and get along well both in pairs and in colonies. At the same time, they show aggression towards their masters much more often than Syrian ones. Among the dwarf species are Djungar hamster, Campbell's hamster , Chinese and Roborovsky's hamster.

Syrian hamsters are more suitable for families with children. They are contact and well-tamed. This species lends itself to elementary training: for example, a Syrian hamster can be taught to run out to the owner for his nickname. He easily gets used to cope with his needs in a special toilet for hamsters. Syrian hamsters can be as one-color (cream, white, black, ivory, chocolate, etc.), and have a mixed color - wool with a different color at the base and at the tips. In addition to color, there are also different suits: there are spotty, bordered, tortoiseshell, chubby Syrian hamsters. Their types differ in the length of the wool, as well as in its type or texture (satin coat - short, shiny, "rex" - wool slightly longer, slightly curly). Very beautiful and lovely long-haired Syrian hamsters, the so-called Angora. Care for them, in addition to feeding and cleaning the cage, should include regular combing of the wool - otherwise it falls into dirty clods.

Dzhungar hamsters are the most peaceful and sociable kind of dwarfish. Outwardly they are very nice and attractive: they remind small little balls with black pearly eyes. These hamsters are animals that are sociable: they need to be given daily attention. Most of the "jungariks" have a natural color - dark gray, with a light tummy. Along the ridge of such a hamster stretches a dark strip, and on the head there is a rhombus darker than the rest of the wool, the colors. Outwardly, Campbell's hamsters look like them, which have fur of a brownish-gray hue. This type of dwarf hamsters - the most aggressive and poorly tamed, but behind the habits of these animals is very interesting to observe.

Hamster Roborovsky - the tiniest species of these pets. Its length is only 4-5 cm, for this reason to contain hamsters Roborovsky can only be in terrariums. These kids spend most of the day awake and are in motion (other types of hamsters are active at night, which can cause some inconvenience when they are kept). Roborovsky hamsters do not bite, and children can calmly take them in hand, however their excessive mobility can cause slipping out of hands and falling from height. This hamster has a sand color, a characteristic feature of it are white "eyebrows" and abdomen. In our country, this species is still not widely spread, as it is quite difficult to breed: even from a couple who live together for several years, it is difficult to get offspring.

Having studied different types of hamsters, one can choose for himself exactly that animal, which will suit him more than others. Before you get this tiny pet, it is advisable to study the special literature to get acquainted with the rules of its content and create the most comfortable conditions for a hamster.