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Post by devilspirit on May 18, 2003 0:20:17 GMT -5
SYRIAN ...live on their own, one to a cage ...mostly sleep during the day and are awake from early evening but can be trained to come out after school if you make this the time that you feed them. ...are very fast as babies ...are mostly easy to tame if you are patient and gentle ...make a good first hamster pet ....like attention and being handled (Picture and Information From Internet.)
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Post by devilspirit on May 18, 2003 0:21:56 GMT -5
Campbells Russian dwarf ...can be kept in pairs, either males, females or mixed pair which will produce babies ...come in different colours and patterns ...are very fast to pick up at first ...are better suited to a more experienced hamster keeper ...can be bad tempered and nip. This is due to temperament - a friendly Campbell makes a lovely pet. ...like attention and being handled (Picture And Information From "Net".)
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Post by devilspirit on May 18, 2003 0:23:03 GMT -5
Winter Whites Russian Dwarf ...can be kept in pairs, either males, females or a mixed pair which will produce babies. They can be more quarrelsome and a bully may appear making it necessary to split into separate cages. ...come in two colours - either sapphire or normal and one pattern - pearl ...can change colour to white when winter approaches (hence the name) ...are very fast to pick up at first until they are used to you ...are better suited to a more experienced hamster keeper ...do not often bite ...like attention and being handled (Picture And Information From "NET".)
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Post by devilspirit on May 18, 2003 0:24:03 GMT -5
Chinese ...can be kept in pairs, either male or female. Chinese hamsters can be quarrelsome and a bully may appear making it necessary to split into separate cages. Keeping a mixed pair can be worse as a pregnant female can really hurt her mate, so this is not recommended unless you really want to breed. ...come in one colour - normal, and one pattern - dominant spot ...are very fast to pick up at first until they are used to you ...can cling to your finger using their long toes ...do not often bite ...are shy at first but when they get to know you, they like attention and being handled (Pic & Infor From Internet.)
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Post by devilspirit on May 18, 2003 0:25:05 GMT -5
Roborovski ...are the smallest type of domesticated hamster ...can be kept in pairs either mixed if you want babies, male or female ...come in one colour ...are always very fast ...are better suited to a more experienced hamster keeper ...do not often bite ...can be difficult to handle because of the speed but some people have managed to tame them and say they make lovely pets (Pic & Information all from internet.)
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Post by ghost on May 18, 2003 12:07:07 GMT -5
About Feeding Hamsters >>
Feeding
Hamsters like to eat seeds, grains and nuts, vegetables, and a little fruit. Feed your hamster once a day, in the late afternoon or evening. Give a small handful of hamster mix and a small handful of vegetables.
If any is left uneaten, give less the next day. If all is eaten, try giving more, but first check to see if your hamster is hoarding in its cage.
Give a good variety of foods, but introduce any new food gradually.
You can buy hamster mix at a pet store, Walmart, etc. It is fortified so that it provides a hamster with a well-balanced diet of essential foods--grains, seeds, and nuts.
Both root and green vegetables should be given, always raw and washed well. Some vegetables that are good for your hammy are: broccoli turnips carrots chicory spinach cauliflower (outside leaves and stalk) parsley *cabbage *Brussels sprouts *lettuce (not iceberg lettuce)
* = small amounts only To make sure your hamster gets the vitamins it needs, you can buy vitamin drops for small animals at the pet store.
Never leave your hamster without fresh water to drink.
You can feed pieces of apple, pear, grape, and tomato, all in small amounts only. But remember that fruit decays quickly, so check that none is left uneaten in the cage for more than a day. Also remove any uneaten vegetables that your hamster stored so that they do not become moldy.
If you are going on vacation for more than three days, you can take your hamster with you, or arrange for a friend to feed it. For a shorter time, it's ok to leave enough food in the cage to last until you get back. Don't forget to fill up the water bottle!
~ Information gotten from internet.
Contributed by DevilSpirit.
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Post by ghost on May 18, 2003 12:08:57 GMT -5
About Choosing a Hamster >>
Choosing a Hamster
When you're thinking of getting a hamster, keep these things in mind:
Try to buy your hamster in the evening when it is more active. Earlier in the day, most of the hamsters will be asleep.
It is important to choose a healthy hamster. So, remember:
The hamster's body should be smooth and well-rounded. Its coat should be clean, particularly on the underside of its body. There should be no bare patches. Its ears should be clean on the inside, and if you're buying a young hamster, covered with hair on the outside. The hamster's eyes should be bright and clean.
You will probably want to buy your hamster when it is between four and seven weeks old because hamsters are easier to tame when they're young.
Male and female hamsters are equally good tempered and agreeable.
You can keep two hamsters in one cage depending on what kind of hamster you want to get. Dzungarian Dwarf hamsters, short dwarf hamsters, and Russian hamsters are all supposed to be pretty social, so you can keep two of one of those kinds together. But it is best if they are litter mates, have been together since birth, and are of the same sex. All other kinds of hamsters need to be kept separately because hamsters are territorial.
Ask the pet dealer what food the hamster has been eating, so you can give it the same. If you want to feed it something different, remember to change to other foods gradually.
The pet store will give you a cardboard box to take your hamster home in. But if your ride home lasts more than two hours the hamster may gnaw its way out. So you can take along a small plastic box. It must close securely and have air holes. Add bedding and a small amount of food to the bottom.
~ Information gotten from internet.
Contributed by Devilspirit.
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Post by ghost on May 18, 2003 12:14:29 GMT -5
Some Hamsters Fact File >> Well, once again, I'm sure hamsters are not uncommon to most of you out there... but i thot I'd include a hamster fact file along for those of you out there, who are keen in learning more about them... Name : Syrian or Golden Hamster; Chinese Hamster; Dwarf Hamster Scientific Name : Mesocricetus auratus; Cricetulus griseus; Phodopus speciesWeight : Syrian Hamster (124 - 182g); Chinese Hamster (43 - 50g), with females being heavier than males; Dwarf Hamster (28 - 43g) Compatibility : Not generally amenable with others of their kind and should be housed individually, with matings being carefully supervised. Dwarf Hamsters are the most social. Appeal : Attractive appearance. Popular with people of all ages. Some hamsters tend to bite so they are less suitable for younger children. Very popular in exhibition circles. Diet : Cereal based seed mixture augmented with fresh food in small amounts, preferably given on a daily basis. Complete diets are available in most pet shops. Health Problems : Can be vulnerable to tumours - especially dwarf hamsters - and to injuries caused by falls as a result of careless handling. Also various dietary problems. Breeding Tips : Females must always be introduced to the male's quarters, rather than vice versa, to reduce the likelihood of fighting. Pregnancy : Syrian Hamster 16-18 days; 21days for other species Typical Litter Size : Syrian Hamster 8-10 young; 3-7 young in other species Weaning : Typically about 22 days in all species Lifespan : 2 - 3 years Hope you all found this information useful to you! Contributed by Daniel.
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Post by ghost on May 18, 2003 12:19:24 GMT -5
Some Gerbils Fact Files >> Hi all, thot i'd include this in for people new at gerbils, a fact file... Name : Mongolian Gerbil Scientific Name : Meriones unguiculatusWeight : 70-100g, males usually heavier than females Compatibility : Highly social, and so should be kept in groups comprising of individuals of the same sex if breeding is not required Appeal : Lively, friendly, and odor-free. Relatively low maintenance requirements. Diet : Provide a gerbil food seed mix, available from most pet stores, or possibly a complete pelletized diet. Avoid offering sunflower seed in large quantities as it would give rise to obesity. Health Problems : Can be at risk from epileptic siezures. The tip of the tail can be damaged easily due to poor handling. Breeding Tips : Seperate the male when a litter is due, coz females can mate successfully again almost immediately after birth. Pregnancy : 24 days Typical litter size : 4-6 young Weaning : 21 - 25 days Lifespan : 4 - 5 years Hope this information is useful to all of you! Contributed by Daniel.
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Post by ghost on May 29, 2004 1:01:34 GMT -5
Understanding Your Hamsternodeadlines.com/ebay/images/ham321654.jpg [/img] If you hear your hamster make a noise, he is angry or frightened Hamsters get a bad rap for being grumpy and quick to bite. For the inexperienced, it's often true. Many first-time hamster owners suffer a nip on the finger for relatively minor infractions. But once you understand the basic tenets of your hamster¡¦s character ¡V including his solitary nature and his off-hours schedule ¡V you can begin to see why your hamster acts the way he does. Most important, you¡¦ll figure out what you need to do to accommodate his needs. Hamsters Are Nocturnal Hamsters sleep most of the day so that they can be up all night. Hamsters are naturally active during the night, and it is impossible to get them to switch their schedule to match yours. Anyone who tries to make his hamster play while he is resting is bound to encounter resistance. If you nudge your hamster while he¡¦s sleeping in his nest, he¡¦s likely to wake with a start. He probably will turn on his back with his teeth bared and tiny paws curled into combative fists even before he gets his squinty eyes open. Press the issue and he¡¦s likely to bite ¡V and no wonder, your hamster needs up to 14 hours of undisturbed sleep a day. His hostile reaction may be the only way to tell you he needs his rest. Hamsters Are TerritorialWild hamsters are native to the harsh deserts of the Middle East, where they fend for themselves in solitary burrows. The individual survival instinct is still very strong for hamsters. Your pet will treat any other hamster in his enclosure as a competitor, even though the resources necessary for survival ¡V food, water and shelter ¡V are plentiful in his domestic world. He will attack the intruder hamster, hissing and growling, and you will have to separate the two to save the intruder¡¦s life. Hamsters almost never make sounds unless they are attacking or being attacked. If you hear your hamster make a noise, he is angry or frightened.
Never get another hamster because you think your pet is lonely. Instead, make sure your hamster always has new toys to play with. Your hamster is likely to be very active, and a running wheel should not be his only outlet for excess energy. Like a child, a hamster loves new toys; and if you cycle your hamster¡¦s toys through his cage a few at a time, he will delight in them anew when you bring them back for a second or third run. Hamsters Respond to Soung & Smell A hamster¡¦s sense of smell and hearing are his two most developed senses. You may see your hamster rear up on his back legs like a bear and sniff the air. That¡¦s one of his ways of figuring out what¡¦s going on around him. Your hamster will come to know you by your scent, especially if you handle him daily. If you are having trouble picking up your new hamster, you may want to rub your hands on the bedding in his cage so that you disguise your scent with the familiar smell of his bedding. Likewise, if you want your hamster to be comfortable in a new cage, try putting some of the bedding from his old cage in the new enclosure. The familiar smell will help ease his transition.
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