Dwarf Hamster Care

Hamster Babies

2009-09-18T16:22:00.002+08:00

One can’t just take his eyes off hamster pups, as these tiny cute little animals will sure have your care. Baby hamsters are born without any hair and closely devoted to their mother. However you may have the desire to hold them, bare in mind that there's nothing you can do within two weeks period after delivery.

Important : Don't touch the babies! Your act might hurt the babies and change its scent therefore confuses the mother. She'll think that they're not hers, abandon them and worst she might even eat the babies. Don't cleaning up the cage within this period to avoid any stress to the mother. As none of the babies had opened their eyes yet, it's advisable to place them at the bottom of the cage.

You can hold them after the two weeks ‘important’ period but only for a brief period as not to disturb or stress the mom or babies. You can also clean up the cage and place fresh beddings in most of it. Remove just the soiled parts in the nest area and put a good portion of the old bedding in it. After it's cleaned up you can put the babies followed by the mother back in the nest .

They should figure out how the bottle works, once the babies eyes are opened (which should happen on the 11-12 days, but some take less/more). Put it lower and in an area where they often go, in order for them to reach it easily. You can give them pieces of cucumbers to prevent dehydration if they haven’t figured out how to use the bottle and you are worried about them not drinking enough. To avoid them from falling in and drown or catch a cold, don't put water in a bowl.

At three weeks, you can isolated the babies if you detect any fighting among them but if they seem young, less developed and not quite independent enough to leave mom just yet, let them stay together until they are four weeks old. They can be placed in new homes and play in new environment when they reach five weeks old, self-sufficient and have a healthy enhancement.

Dwarf Hamster

2009-09-15T00:00:00.001+08:00

They don't look like they're fighting. They look like they get along pretty well.

Are Baby Dwarf Hamsters Easy To Take Care Of?

2009-09-14T15:20:00.003+08:00

Dwarf Hamsters can give birth to around ten babies per litter after completing a gestational period that lasts 18-20 days. Typically, the standard litter size of a Dwarf Hamster is only 5 to 6 babies. Before you make the decision to breed Dwarf Hamsters, you must have everything well planned to deal with the litter when your hamster mother gives birth. It is recommended that owners conduct plenty of research about the breeding process so that they can raise the pups successfully, if you just let it happen you are in for a big shock, and you may endanger the litter.

For the first 10 days after their birth, baby Dwarf Hamsters must stay with their mother. You should not have any close contact with them whatsoever, if your scent gets on them the mother will kill them, it is also not advisable to transfer them to a different cage. After four days, the baby Dwarf Hamsters will have some color, and they will get their fur after seven days. When they are on their tenth day, the babies will begin to open their eyes, crawl and reach the water bottle. During this time you can start holding them for short periods of time. Sometimes mothers are over-protective of their little ones, so before grabbing them observe their mother's reaction first. Baby Dwarf Hamsters must be handled with exceptional care, because they are very restless and when you do not hold them properly they may possibly be injured by falling from your grip.

Once they are more than 10 days old you can start taming the babies by handling them more frequently, offer them treats of solid food as they start to eat regularly around the two week mark. You can give them servings of oats, oatmeal, wheat germ or small birdseeds. Once they are about three weeks old, the baby Dwarf Hamsters can eat fresh food with a mixture of lab blocks. Your pets will grow much faster and healthier when you feed them with small grains, something many experienced owners recommend. Slices of cucumber and red apple can also be included in your baby hamsters' diet to promote their growth.

Eventually when the babies are able to find other ways to feed themselves, their mother will nurse them less often. They will be completely weaned after four weeks. You should also transfer them, grouped by sex, to their corresponding cages, because leaving the male baby any longer with his mother will result in the mother getting pregnant again. If this happens, the babies should be removed from their original cage as their mother will give birth to another litter after 18 to 20 days. This is obviously going to leave you with a lot of new baby hamsters, so avoid unnecessary inbred pregnancy, and separate male and female babies, and be prepared with two other cages in advance.

Once they are transferred to their corresponding cages, be sure to clean their houses at least once a week. However, if you have more babies in one cage, you need to clean it frequently because a crowded cage can get dirtier faster. It is essential to check on the health of the baby hamsters on a regular basis. Ensure that they are all receiving enough food and water and they are not injured.

Hamster Care And Why Hamsters Make Great Pets

2009-09-13T22:04:00.001+08:00

Hamsters are one of the most popular pets in the world, and are absolutely the most popular pet from the rodent family. Hamsters make great pets for people of all ages because of their cleanliness and cuteness, and hamsters are also relatively inexpensive and easy to take care of. A hamster usually makes an ideal pet for children and helps teach responsibility. The average lifespan of a hamster is approximately 1-3 years, and for this reason some people claim that caring for a hamster is a good way for a child to eventually learn to cope with loss.

There are many different kinds of hamsters, but the one most frequently kept as a pet is the cute Syrian hamster breed. Syrian hamsters are the largest kind of hamster, and they can be found in a lot of pretty different colors, in long-haired or short-haired variety. The long-haired Syrian hamster is sometimes called a Teddy Bear hamster. A full-grown Syrian hamster usually grows to about four to six inches long. An important thing to know about Syrian hamsters is that you should never keep more than one per cage, because if two Syrian hamsters are forced to share the same space, they will most likely fight and can seriously hurt each other. The next most popular hamsters are Dwarf hamsters, which only grow to three to four inches in length, hence the name Dwarf hamsters. These cute little guys can be kept together with other Dwarf hamsters and they will usually get along just fine.

Before you make your mind up to buy a hamster as a pet, you should buy all the supplies you need, such as a hamster cage, water bottle, food, bedding and toys. You can find and buy any of the stuff you need to prepare for a new pet hamster by searching online; I think that is how you'll find the best deals on pet supplies. Get your hamsters house set up and ready beforehand, so the hamster can relax and immediately begin to make his or herself at home in the new surroundings. There are all kinds of different styles of hamster cages to choose from, you just need to make sure whichever hamster cage you choose has a wheel for the hamster to exercise on. Also, try not to get a wire exercise wheel, because they can injure a hamster if the hamsters leg falls through the wires, so it's best to find a solid plastic hamster wheel if possible. Try not to place the hamster cage in direct sunlight, and don't let your hamster get too cold or hot.

After you have everything set up, you are ready to buy a pet hamster from a pet shop or from a hamster breeder. The hamster itself will probably be rather reasonably priced, and you already have the hamster cage and other supplies set up and waiting for your hamster, so you shouldn't have to spend much money at the pet store. Try to make sure that wherever you decide to buy your hamster that the hamsters appear to be clean and well taken care of. Don't be afraid to ask questions about the hamsters. Ask how old the hamsters are and try to get a young one. You probably don't want to bring home a pregnant hamster either, because then you might end up with more than you bargained for!

Last but certainly not least, although hamsters are good at taking care of grooming themselves, you need to make sure to clean your hamster's home regularly. This is very important to your hamster's health. It only takes about 10-15 minutes to do. If you follow these simple hamster care procedure and do your research online by reading as much information as you can, your hamster will love you for it and you will be a better pet owner to your hamster.

Dwarf Hamster Care

2009-09-12T16:50:00.000+08:00

The Dwarf Hamster is affectionately called a Pocket Pet, a term used for companion animals so small, they can fit in your pocket! These small animals are originally native to the exotic and desert areas of Northern China, Manchuria, Mongolia and Siberia, understandably why they are referred to as Desert Hamsters.

There are several different species of Dwarf hamsters and they all make wonderful pets. Each species is unique in appearance, size, temperament and personality. Four of the most popular types are: 1. Roborovskii hamster 2. Djungarian hamster 3. Siberian hamster 4. Chinese hamster

Although they are smaller then their Syrian cousins, they require the same amount of care.

Dwarf hamsters are often more delicate, skittish, and quicker to make an escape. Because of their small size, it allows them to squeeze into small cracks and spaces and therefore require a secure enclosure. Hamsters make their homes in tunnels that they dig themselves in the sand and dirt of their native homelands.

In the home environment, Dwarfs can thrive in the plastic tubular habitats that are readily available at most pet supply stores. Because of their tiny size, hamster habitats are often too big for the Dwarf Hamster to climb and maneuver around in properly.

Luckily, they now make tubular habitats that are built on a smaller scale and custom for mice. This types of enclosures is better suited for the dwarf hamsters. Another alternative is a 10-20 gallon tank which they can habit well in. When looking at cages, often the wires are too far apart making for an easy escape.

The Dwarf Hamsters are naturally very active creatures and having a wheel specifically made for their size is important. One study found that a hamster can run up to five miles on their wheels! Opportunity to exercise on their wheels is very important.

To satisfy their borrowing instincts a dust free and absorbent substrate like wood shavings placed on the bottom of their cage. Never use wood shaving that are pine or cedar based as this can lead to respiratory problems for the Dwarf Hamster.

Their cage should be completely emptied, cleaned and substrate replaced weekly. Hamster are big nesters and enjoy making nest out of their substrates. You can give them some additional nest material like tissues, paper towels, cotton and shredded paper. A small box would be appreciated as they are often shy and would provide additional privacy.

Dwarf hamsters eat as much as the larger Syrian hamster because of their high metabolism. They eat different types of pellets, seeds, dried fruits and vegetables. A regular and fresh supply of food and water is required.

As hamsters teeth never stop growing it is important also to provide chewing toys. Preferably soft wooden toys, as plastic toys can become rough, broken and could injure them.

The joy of owning a dwarf hamster far out weighs the maintenance and effort that needs to be put into the care of these amazing creatures.