Domestic Syrian hamster: photo
The Syrian hamster is a small rodent, which is also popularly called the golden hamster because of the beautiful coat color. However, the color can be not only gold, but also gray, silver, brown, white, black, etc. Syrians are considered long-livers among hamsters. They live 2,5–3 years, and with proper care, even 4 years.
First of all, you need to organize a suitable house for your pet. For this, either a cage with a deep base and metal rods, or a spacious glass aquarium is suitable. The minimum size of the house is 30 × 40 cm, the height is 30 cm.
The Syrian hamster is an unpretentious pet.
For hamsters with short hair, you can use sawdust as a bedding, but it will not work for long-haired hamsters – it will get tangled in the fur. For them, it is better to choose a natural wood filler. Also, you need to put material in the aquarium from which the pet will build a nest for itself – paper, straw, hay. Place a feeder, a water trough and a wheel in the house so that an active animal can stretch its legs.
Feeding the Syrian hamster
Domesticated Syrian hamsters are picky about their diet. Many foods are suitable for feeding them:
- Grain feed is the basis of the diet.
- Crispy vegetables and fruits are healthy foods for your hamster as they erode constantly growing teeth.
- Soft vegetables and fruits like pumpkin, raspberries, turnips, persimmons and others should also be given so that the pet gets as many vitamins and minerals as possible.
- Leguminous herbs like clover and alfalfa are a real delicacy for hamsters. Try to spot such herbs on the street at least occasionally.
- Sometimes the pet needs to be given a little white bread, cereals, pasta and other flour products, milk.
- Also, occasionally, your pet should be offered some boiled meat.
- Water must always be present in the cage.
You need to feed the animal strictly twice a day – in the morning and in the evening. Determine how much to feed him at one time, and stick to that amount. Otherwise, the hamster will begin to stuff his cheeks with food and hide it in the cage.
In no case should you give citrus fruits, any nuts and oils, fish oil, lard, cabbage, sunflower seeds, yogurt, kefir and chocolate. Any of these foods can negatively affect your pet’s health.
As you can see, keeping such an animal is not difficult at all. From the photo of a Syrian hamster, you can appreciate how cute and funny pet it is. It will become a good friend for children and adults.