Newborn hamsters: how to properly care for babies, growth and development

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16.07.2018

One of the most important points when purchasing any pet is determining its age. The store can sell an adult animal under the guise of a young one, which will reduce its lifespan for its new owner. Since the estimated lifespan of a hamster is 2 years, you need to be sure of the animal you choose. In order not to be deceived and not to get into an awkward situation, the buyer himself must be able to recognize the age of the hamster.

It is very difficult to determine the age of a Djungarian hamster with absolute accuracy, even for a good specialist, so they always speak approximately. Typically there are three age stages: young, adult and old. In no case is it recommended to buy a baby younger than one month, since at this age it is still too small and will have to be fed manually with a pipette and at frequent intervals.

What determines the lifespan of hamsters?

Life expectancy is a multifactorial parameter, and taking into account the influence of each factor on this indicator can be quite problematic. In addition, there is a small group of factors influencing life expectancy, the role of which cannot be statistically accurately assessed.

For example, the presence of other pets in the house with which the dungarian may have a conflict, or the fact that the cage with the pet is located on a hill from which it can fall and break.

As an example, here is a list of groups of the most statistically significant parameters with an approximate breakdown of more specific factors that positively affect life expectancy:

• comfortable living conditions: the presence of a separate cage, sufficient space, proper bedding in it, the presence of toys, absence of noise and bright light, compliance with sanitary and hygienic conditions;
• proper nutrition: the presence of balanced food to which the hamster’s body has already adapted, the presence in the diet of wet food (carrots, zucchini, apricots, apples, bananas, etc.), meat components, vitamin and mineral supplements;
• physical activity: the presence of a wheel or labyrinths in the cage, the ability of the animal to leave the confines of its cage for research and games;
• health status: absence of congenital diseases, positive heredity, absence of injuries and injuries, adequate functioning of all organs and systems, correct course of metabolic processes in the body;
• characterological features: the presence of adequate reactions in response to stressful situations, the absence of aggression, apathy and melancholy, interest in exploring the surrounding space, a high degree of intellectual development;
• communication and communication: the owner has the opportunity to play and caress his pet, the opportunity to inform the owners by squeaking about problems (the cage is too dirty, lack of water or food, boredom, etc.), the opportunity, if necessary, to communicate with relatives and other non-aggressive pets.

This list is certainly incomplete, and there is not a single factor in it that would illustrate a negative impact on life expectancy (such as the presence of felines in the house). However, it is necessary to understand that this list can be continued almost endlessly, and every positive factor can be turned into a negative one.

For example, let’s assume that instead of a separate cage, our dzhungarik lives in a wooden box, also with a dozen brothers. So we get a factor that negatively affects life expectancy.

How long do Djungarian hamsters live on average?

After we roughly understand what factors influence the life expectancy of these animals, it’s time to find out the numbers themselves. It should be noted that the lifespan of these animals in the wild and at home is significantly different, which is not at all surprising, given their habitat.

In the wild of nature

The wild nature of Dzungaria (the territory between eastern Kazakhstan and northwestern China) is far from the most merciful place towards these crumbs. Here they are lurked at every step by their natural enemies - bears, owls, hawks, eagles, snakes and many others.

In addition, in winter they find themselves in climatic conditions that are extremely unfavorable for their body, which also does not contribute to a very long life.

In the wild, Djungarian hamsters live on average about 1–1.5 years, almost never crossing this threshold. It is worth noting that females, on average, live longer than males, but males lead a more frivolous life - they spend much more time playing with their brothers and searching for food for themselves, while females are forced to take care of feeding their offspring and protecting them from possible attacks from predators.

At home

Home conditions are a paradise for these animals; they do not need anything, they have no need to hide from predators and constantly search for shelter and food.

The only significant disadvantage of living at home for a dzhungarik is often the lack of communication with his brothers, which, however, is also more than compensated for if he is lucky enough to have a kind and sympathetic owner who does not mind spending time with him.

The average lifespan of a hamster of this species in captivity is 2–3 years. However, you must understand that this does not mean that your hamster will definitely live to that age, even if you shower it with the utmost love and care.

On the other hand, it is also possible that your pet will reach the age of 4 years. This is the maximum known recorded age of the jungarik.

What to feed a baby hamster

Newborns

If the cubs are left without a mother, or the female does not have milk, the owner can feed them. The task is not easy: small hamsters need to be fed every 1.5 hours. Use soy-based infant formula 0+, dissolving and heating according to instructions. Sometimes they take Royal Canin cat milk replacer.

Each baby is fed individually from a pipette or insulin syringe without a needle. To prevent the animal from choking, it is held in a column, and milk is poured in small portions. It is advisable to massage the tummy after each feeding, monitor the presence of stool, and keep it warm.

Most hamsters die if their mother does not feed them, even when the breeder makes every effort to preserve the offspring. The reasons are different - aspiration pneumonia when milk gets into the respiratory tract, infections (the mixture does not contain maternal antibodies and does not provide strong immunity).

Hamster feeding

Babies have a greater chance of survival if they manage to find an adoptive mother - a female who has recently given birth and has a small litter. The babies are rolled around in the hamster’s toilet corner, then mixed with the “native” hamsters.

Age 1-3 weeks

When artificially feeding offspring, the sooner the hamsters start eating themselves, the better. After just a few days, the milk mixture is mixed with ground grain feed and vegetable purees are given.

Vegetable puree for babies

At 1.5 weeks of age, small hamsters can eat solid food and their chances of survival increase dramatically. Sprouted wheat, oats, a boiled egg, grated carrots and other vegetables are placed in the feeder every day. From 2 weeks of age, small hamsters need to be fed every 4 hours (6 times a day). The mixture and ground food are mixed until a paste of creamy consistency is obtained.

For both dwarf and Syrian hamsters, when feeding young animals, you need to focus on the list of permitted products. If the babies are raised by their mother, she carries her food into the nest, so they learn what the adults eat.

From 3 weeks, the cubs are no longer fed from a syringe, but the mixture is poured into a bowl.

How to find out the age of a Djungarian hamster

There are several parameters, based on which you can more or less accurately determine the age of the animal that interests you. This is necessary, first of all, so that you are not deceived during the purchasing process by unscrupulous sellers, because if you buy an old hamster, you will get completely different indicators of activity, satisfaction with what is happening and life expectancy.

Let’s immediately make a reservation that it is difficult to find out exactly the age of a hamster even for specialists, so all divisions will be purely conditional - into old and young. Here are a few basic parameters, based on which you can roughly understand the age of the hamster:

• behavior: a young animal is always more active, while an old one prefers rest and tranquility. Old hamsters eat less, hardly leave their hiding places in cages, and almost never explore the world around them;
• hair on the ears: young hamsters have a magnificent, pleasant-to-touch white hair in the ear area, while older hamsters often have virtually no hair;
• eyes: if you see that the animal’s eyes are cloudy, cloudy or whitish, then this hamster is either old or sick. In any case, you shouldn't buy yourself like that;
• weight: perhaps the most reliable of all the previous parameters. If you weigh a young hamster up to 3 months old, its weight will not exceed 40 g, while older individuals weigh an order of magnitude more.

Signs of aging hamster: video

About the breed

Djungarians are very small hamsters. For example, they are almost two times smaller in size than the Syrian hamster. In nature, the growth of the Djungarian hamster can reach about 15 centimeters, but in captivity they rarely reach such sizes. Most often, the length of an adult does not exceed 10 centimeters. The maximum weight of this rodent is up to 45 grams.

The fur of the Djungarians is usually grayish in color with white patches; a wide dark stripe (most often dark gray) runs along the back. The standard color is brownish-gray with a white belly; gray-bluish, matte white and red-cream jungars are also found. In winter, after molting, hamsters become almost completely white.

The tail of the animal is very short, the feet of the paws are covered with hair, like other representatives of the genus of hairy-footed hamsters. In nature, Djungarian hamsters are found in Siberia, Kazakhstan, Manchuria and Mongolia.

How long can you keep a hamster?

Djungarians are animals that most often desperately need company, so leaving them alone with themselves for a long period of time is highly not recommended. This is also due to the fact that hamsters are incredible gluttons.

They will eat the food you put in the feeder for them until it runs out. In the section below you will find information about how long you can leave your pet without food and/or water.

Without food

According to the recommendations of hamster lovers, it is highly undesirable to leave them without food for longer than 2-3 days. If you intend to go somewhere for a longer period of time, try to find a person who would visit your pet.

You can also try to scatter food throughout the cage in different places and completely fill the feeder with it (so that the animal does not find it all at once) in an amount of 80% of the animal’s weight for each day. In addition, it is necessary to remember that hamsters have special skin pockets in the cheek area, where they can stuff excess food they eat, and then, as the need arises, remove it from there and eat it. This trick will allow the animal to hold out for another day, but then hunger will inevitably set in. Without a crumb of food at all, jungarians can survive for 7–10 days.

Without water

If the lack of food is quite unpleasant, but not at all critical for these animals, then a lack of water can have a fatal effect on the animals’ organisms. Despite the fact that they only drink about 5-7 ml of water per day, Djungarian hamsters absolutely cannot do without it for long periods of time.

Your pet, if you leave it without water, will live no longer than 2-3 days. Therefore, before a long departure, be sure to check the serviceability of the drinking bowl, just in case, put a spare one in the cage, and fill both with fresh, cool water.

So, we hope that this article answered all your questions regarding the life expectancy of Djungarian hamsters. Love your pets, carefully monitor their behavior, try to please them in every possible way, and then manifestations of well-deserved reciprocal love will not take long to arrive.

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Signs of pregnancy in a hamster

You can find out about pregnancy by changes in behavior:

• increased appetite;
• increasing food supplies;
• decline in activity;
• drowsiness;
• preparation and arrangement of the nest.

These signs appear 10-12 days after mating.

Appearance

You can also identify a pregnant animal by characteristic external changes:

• estrus stops;
• on the 7th day the belly begins to grow;
• nipples become pink and swollen;
• at 10 days the hamster sharply gains weight.

Visible signs of pregnancy in hamsters appear after about 10 days.

Instructions and tips for determining the age of hamsters

Only at first glance, the ability to determine the age of a Djungarian hamster or any other breed seems absolutely unrealistic. Experienced professionals have entire instructions on this matter, and first of all it is recommended to pay attention to the behavior of these furry animals. Young hamsters are characterized by constant active movement, games and chewing of food. If a hamster prefers to retire and sleep, then it is one of the older individuals.

Among the additional criteria for determining the age of a hamster, due attention should be paid to:

1. Condition of the animals' fur. We are talking about the presence of bald patches, the level of thickness of the coat and the brightness of the color. The thicker the animal's fur, the older it is. Young fluffies should not have bald patches, and also have a brighter, more saturated color.
2. Changes in the weight of hamsters. Consistent weight gain may indicate that hamsters are in the 12-15 week age group. As a rule, when the hamster reaches the age of four months, the animal's weight gain stops. It is during this period that the hamster becomes completely ready for mating. Individuals older than three to four months usually weigh about forty grams. You should not miss the opportunity to weigh the animal before purchasing it.
3. Hamster sizes. This criterion is recommended to be studied in the “spread out” position of the animal. If he takes about eight to nine centimeters in this position, then he is already at least three months old.
4. Appearance of the ears. It is noticed that at birth the inside of the ears is covered with white soft hairs. Over time, they thin out and disappear altogether.
5. Features of the development of the genital organs. It is a month after birth that furry pets enter the period of sexual activity. If the growth of the testes is observed in male hamsters, then in the beautiful representatives of this breed, genital fluid begins to appear with the release of a rather specific odor.

Based on the characteristics listed above, it is recommended to purchase these animals at the age of two to three weeks. Thus, with proper care and a balanced diet, the new pet will be able to delight its beloved household members with its presence longer.

By the way, do you know how to care for and feed a Syrian hamster? Look, it's interesting!

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Care and maintenance

The convenience of keeping a hamster and ease of care at home is the main factor in the popularity of these rodents. Pets do not need to be walked, they do not damage furniture, do not scatter fur, are unpretentious, and eat food in small quantities.

Cage and equipment

Hamster cages are made of metal mesh. The height of the pet's home can be any; the area must be at least 750 cm2. You can purchase a two-level cage in which the tiers are connected by a tunnel or staircase.

You need to be especially careful when choosing a design for domestic dwarf hamsters. The rods should be spaced at a distance of up to 0.8 cm. If the gap is larger, the pet may leave the cage and run away.

It is advisable to choose a model that has plastic sides and a pull-out tray. This will prevent the filler from spilling out of the cage and will simplify the cleaning process. The cage door must be closed tightly.

To equip your hamster's home you will need the following accessories:

• Drinker and feeder
• Sand bath
• Holiday house
• Wheel for entertainment and training muscles and joints
• Plastic toilet
• Toys

The bottom of the cage is covered with bedding. For this purpose, special wood and paper fillers are used. They do not contain toxic components and absorb odors.

Hygiene

The hamster does not require regular water treatments. These animals provide their fur with good care. To clean it in natural conditions, rodents use sand.

Therefore, a bath with this material is installed in the cage. If your pet is contaminated with a substance that cannot be licked off, you need to remove it with a damp cotton pad.

The mandatory list of rules for caring for a hamster includes regular cleaning of the cage. This will prevent the appearance of strong unpleasant odors.

Hamsters are clean animals; a dirty cage can cause nervousness.

It is not difficult to tame this animal, but you need to exercise it regularly. A tamed hamster should be given attention every day and picked up. The easiest way to establish communication is with Dzungarian and Syrian individuals.

Taming

You cannot begin taming in the first days of a pet’s appearance in the house. During this period, the animal is in a state of stress; it is necessary to let it get used to the new conditions.

At the first stage of taming, you need to treat your pet with treats. To do this, go to the cage and push the food through the bars. Gradually, the hamster will understand that there is no danger and will take the treat confidently, without fear.

Now you can move on to the next step. You need to put a treat in your palm and open the cage door. Now you need to wait until the pet comes out, approaches the food and takes it. At first, the rodent will take the treat into the cage, then eat it while sitting on the palm.

Breeding

The difficulty of breeding hamsters lies in the fact that most species of these rodents prefer solitude and do not get along with their relatives. Such pets are kept separately; the female is placed with the male only during the period of estrus.

It is observed every 5 days, lasting from 12 to 24 hours. You need to carefully monitor the female and choose the most favorable time. From the beginning of estrus, 4 to 6 hours should pass.

There are several signs by which you can determine the onset of estrus:

• In the vulva area, the fur becomes damp.
• The female takes the position in which mating takes place.
• If you stroke her back, she raises her butt and bends.

The meeting takes place either in the male’s cage or in a neutral zone.

Immediately after mating, which lasts less than a minute, the pets should be separated to prevent a fight, which is sure to begin after the heat.

Do you need neighbors?

Almost all types of hamsters do not tolerate neighbors and must be kept separately. The exception is the dwarf hamsters of Taylor and Roborovsky. These animals can live in groups and families.

Getting used to the new home

Moving into a new environment causes serious stress for hamsters. In order to minimize negative factors, the pet should be left alone for several days.

He will gradually get used to it and explore his new home. When the stress passes, the animal will feel confident, its appetite will be restored, and the desire to have fun in the running wheel will appear.

Water treatments and nail trimming

The animal does not need water treatments. But if your pet gets dirty, you need to wash it using a special shampoo, rinse off the product and pat dry with a towel.

Many breeds of hamsters do not require trimming their claws; they cope with this problem themselves. But if your pet’s gait has changed, he clings to uneven surfaces on the floor or surrounding objects, this procedure should be carried out.

To trim claws, special nail clippers are used, which can be purchased at a pet store. Nail scissors with rounded tips will also work. Before cutting, the tool must be treated with alcohol.

Methods for estimating age

Even an experienced ratologist cannot determine the exact age of a rodent. Therefore, the methods presented in the article make it possible to determine the age of a hamster approximately, with errors. All animals can be divided into 3 categories according to age.

• Young.
• Mature.
• Old ones.

Hamsters less than 1 month old cannot eat on their own. The baby will have to be fed from a pipette, with intervals of 2-3 hours between feedings. If you are not sure that you will successfully cope with this task, it is best to refrain from purchasing.

Here are the signs that will help you determine your age.

Behavioral differences

Old and young animals behave differently. The elderly animal is inactive and sleeps a lot. The appetite of old people is much worse than that of young hamsters.

Sexually mature animals are active and do not suffer from lack of appetite. Males can organize “tournaments” to gain the favor of females. The females are busy arranging nests.

The young animal is very active and brings a lot of joy to children with its funny behavior to all family members. The animal's appetite is excellent. Immediately after waking up, he eats and then begins to run around the cage, actively exploring the territory. Kids love to climb the bars of the cage. From the outside it looks touching, but is fraught with injury. Hamsters are gentle animals.

Hair in the ear area

In older animals it is almost completely absent. The ears of young rodents are covered with thin light fur.

Eyes

It is easy to estimate the age of a Syrian hamster or dwarf by the appearance of its eyes. Dull, dull eyes indicate an elderly animal that will not live long. Young animals in good health have shiny eyes. Given good care, such an animal will live, adjusted for the hamster's age, for quite a long time.

Wool

The first signs of hair growth in newborn hamsters appear on days 5-6. The final formation of fur occurs at approximately 2 weeks. The presence of bald patches does not necessarily mean that the rodent is sick. Sometimes these are signs of molting and evidence that the animal is no more than 1 month old. Old people have rough fur. The fur of young hamsters is delicate and soft. Animals arrive at pet stores at one month of age and have short fur. Long hair indicates that the animal is already an adult.

Weight

You can estimate the age of a Djungarian hamster by its mass. During the first 3 months of life, the weight of the animal does not exceed 40 grams. Therefore, before purchasing a pet, you need to weigh it. The ideal age for purchase is from 1 to 3 months. It is advisable to buy rodents from 1 to 12 months.

Females actively gain weight up to 4 months of age. Only when the weight stabilizes (that is, by 4 months), the female is ready to mate and give birth to offspring.

Dark spots

Pigmented seals on the inside of the animal's thighs are a sign of an adult. These spots do not cause any harm to the health of the animal.

Lifespan

How long a hamster will live in a family depends on what kind of animal you bought, young or old. In addition to the initial age of acquisition, life expectancy is influenced by such factors.

1. View.
2. Features of genetics.
3. Living conditions before purchase and quality of care for the animal after purchase.
4. Diet quality.

With good care, the dwarf will live about 3 years. The life expectancy of Syrians is 2-3 years. Under natural conditions, rodents live almost half as long due to various dangers (colds, attacks by predators, etc.). Until the age of one month, Djungarians and Syrians do not differ in weight. Only after one month of age do Syrian hamsters begin to gain weight at a faster rate than their counterparts. The average weight of an adult animal is 115 g.

What types exist

The subfamily of hamsters is quite numerous. Zoology divides animals into 7 genera, which in turn include 19 species. The most popular varieties are described below.

Syrian

Sometimes it can be called Western Asian. The animal is no longer found in the wild and is exclusively a domestic animal. The entire vast population is the direct offspring of one pregnant female, who, by a happy coincidence, was found in 1930.

The ancestors of the animals were found in abundance in Turkey and in the desert regions of Syria.

The animal is relatively large for its family. An adult grows up to 13-15 cm and weighs about 200-300 g. It differs from its relatives in its stocky body on short legs, a small rounded muzzle, a very short tail and a bright golden color.

By nature, the animal is sociable, flexible, and easily gets along with people.

Campbell's Hamster

The animal has a great external resemblance to the Dzungarian breed, but is much inferior to its representatives in size. The weight of an adult rarely reaches 50 grams.

The lifespan of the animal is relatively short - about 2 years. In nature, the main population of Campbell's hamsters lives in the border areas between China and Russia.

The color is sand or amber. Sometimes the coat is darker at the roots, lighter at the tips. The fur grows at an angle to the surface of the skin, so it may look somewhat untidy, as if in tufts.

It is well suited for home keeping, but you should be understanding of the complex nature of the animal. If he lives alone, a small aquarium will be enough for him. For a large family, in order to avoid conflict situations, it is worthwhile to provide a more spacious home.

It is worth choosing a place that is bright, but without direct sunlight or drafts. Campbell's hamsters breed from early spring to early autumn. Pregnancy in animals lasts 2-3 weeks, 3-4 blind, naked cubs are born.

Djungarian hamster

One of the most popular types of hamsters for home keeping. Among its relatives it has average dimensions - about 10 cm in length. The animal received its name from Dzungaria, a geographical region on the border of China and Kazakhstan.

A dark stripe running along the back from the base of the tail to the top of the head, where it turns into a triangle descending to the nose, will help to identify this representative of the fauna. The hamster's base color is predominantly smoky gray, with areas of white. Less common are jungaricas with pearl, bluish and red tints.

Roborovsky's hamster

This species comes from Asian deserts, from the territory of China and Mongolia. Small populations of animals are found in Russia, near the Chinese borders. It received its name in honor of the famous Russian naturalist V.I. Roborovsky.

The animal is miniature. The length of the body from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail rarely exceeds 5 cm. Weight corresponds to height - no more than 25 grams. Black beady eyes are slightly convex, rounded ears stand high on the head. The snow-white brow ridges create a semblance of a mask on the muzzle.

The hind legs are longer and stronger than the front ones, which gives the animal good jumping ability. It is naturally sandy in color, but breeders have managed to breed individuals with a different coat color.

It should be borne in mind that hamsters with a color that is rare for the breed often have poor health and are more susceptible to disease.

Roborovsky hamsters are extremely active; if kept at home, they will need a lot of living space.

Chinese hamster

In appearance, the animal is more reminiscent of a mouse, having a relatively long tail and suitable dimensions: body length is about 9-12 cm, weight – 35-45 grams. The hamster's coat is smooth, short, brownish-brown on top, light beige on the belly. A dark stripe, characteristic of many hamsters, runs along the back.

Chinese babies are extremely good-natured animals. They easily find a common language with the owner and relatives. Animals of different sexes can be kept together.

They show good activity not only at night, but also during the day, which is not typical for the hamster family.

Human and hamster years: how to compare

Now let's talk about how to compare the ages of a hamster and a human. If we take the life expectancy of a human to be 60-70 years, and a hamster’s to be 2-3 years, we will get the following ratio.

• A six-month-old hamster can be equated to a 12-year-old teenager.
• A one-year-old animal is a sexually mature adult.
• From the age of 1.5 years the animal enters the aging phase.

You can extend the life of your pet hamster if you take good care of it. Follow the recommendations of experts, and the animal will delight you for a long time and will become a real long-lived hamster.

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To what age do they grow?

After a short pregnancy, on approximately day 18, the female rodent gives birth to offspring. Newborn babies are covered in pink, hairless skin. Their eyes and ear canals are closed. The weight of puppies depends on the breed and size of the litter, but on average the weight of a newly born animal is no more than 3-5 grams.

Newborn hamster.

Despite the fact that in the first two weeks you should not disturb the female who has given birth, you need to inspect the litter without touching the puppies with your hands. If there are motionless cubs with blue skin, then most likely they are dead. They need to be removed with a paper napkin or toilet paper.

Actively feeding on mother's milk, the cubs quickly grow and change. Within three to four days the skin turns pale. The body is covered with sparse fluff.

On the fifth or sixth day, the ear canals open and the rodent begins to hear sounds. By day 12, the animal’s weight doubles, and its body becomes overgrown with fur. The still blind cubs begin to get out of the nest and move actively.

Why does a hamster eat its babies?

On day 14, the young rodent's eyes open. By one month, the animal’s weight is approximately half the weight of an adult. Animals grow up to 5-6 months. Six-month-old individuals are completely mature and mature animals and their growth ends. At 18–20 months, aging begins and body weight may decrease.

When can you handle newborn hamsters?

During the first two weeks after the birth of the offspring, it is not recommended to stick your hand into the cage, even to leave food. Cleaning the cage is prohibited. Touching newborn hamsters means putting their lives at risk .

The female can eat the cubs by smelling someone else's scent.

No matter how much curiosity there is, there is no need to pick up or stroke babies. Sometimes droppings are weighed for scientific purposes, or a dropped baby needs to be returned to the nest. Then the animal is taken not with the hand, but with a spoon or other suitable object. If you still need to pick it up, you need to use latex gloves and dump the baby in the toilet corner before returning it to the mother.

Babies begin to get used to being handled at the age when they can already survive without the care of a female, that is, no earlier than 2 weeks. In order not to count down the days until the moment when you can meet the hamsters, you need to focus on opening your eyes (do not touch blind children).

The age of 14-21 days is the optimal time for the first acquaintance.

How to find out how many days or years old a hamster is

Given the short lifespan, the exact age of the rodent is important. Some species features will help determine it. Let's look at how to determine the age of a Djungarian hamster, as well as Syrian and other breeds.

Dzungariki

• 12 days - the body is not completely covered with hair, the eyes are closed;
• 15 days - eyes are open, the body is completely covered with hair, including the ears;
• 30 days - the animal is actively moving, interested in adult food;
• 50 days - body weight increases, the animal is very active;
• 90 days - weight is approximately 25 - 30 grams, the end of active growth;
• 180 days - body weight may increase to 40 - 60 grams;
• 18 months - the aging process begins. The wool loses its brightness, softness and thickness. Weight can be reduced by 10 - 20%.
• 24 months - vital functions fade away, the animal sleeps more than moves.

Djungarians rarely live longer than two to two and a half years.

Syrian or golden hamster

Syrian hamster.
The main development cycles coincide with the previous type. The difference is body weight. Newborn rodents of this species can weigh 50% more than dwarfs.

At the age of 6 months, body weight is about 140 g. The fur of a young rodent is soft, thick and bright. In the third year of life it becomes rare and tough.

With good care it can live more than 4 years.

All about Syrian hamsters.

Other breeds

The general stages of development of hamsters depend little on species. The main difference is the weight of an adult animal at 6 months:

• Roborovsky hamster 25 - 40 g;
• Chinese hamster 50 g;
• Siberian hamster 50 g.

How long does pregnancy last

The gestation period depends not only on the type of hamster, but also on the number of cubs in the womb. Larger species of hamsters have a shorter gestation period. Also, the more fetuses, the earlier the birth will occur.

In Syrian hamsters

The gestation period for Syrians is 16-20 days. The number of cubs is from 6 to 12, but there may be more.

In Djungarian hamsters

Among the Djungarians, pregnancy lasts a little longer than among the Syrians, 18-21 days. The number of cubs is from 4 to 8 pieces.

Other dwarf breeds of hamsters will have the same timing. The smaller the hamster, the longer the pregnancy lasts.

Rodent age in relation to humans

To make it clear to hamster owners what to expect from an animal of a given age, let’s compare it with human development.

Age tables according to human standards

From the table we can conclude that the active period of life in hamsters begins at 15 days and lasts up to 24 months.

Age of puberty and reproduction

A happy family.
Starting from the age of 7-8 weeks, hamsters can produce offspring. And although at this age animals can mate and begin to reproduce, you should not plan mating at a young age. It is advisable to wait until the animal matures and gains body weight.

The best age to get your first litter is 3-4 months. It is desirable that by the time of mating the female’s weight is at least 2/3 of the weight of an adult animal.

Females are prone to cannibalism. If she eats all the litter without exception, then such an animal is excluded from breeding.

How to tame a hamster?

Other breeds

When purchasing a hamster of any breed, you can generally rely on the above points when determining their age. The exception is such a parameter as weight. It may differ for different breeds. And factors such as behavior, fur, ears and eyes are the same for all species.

IMPORTANT! It is worth paying attention to the following factors when choosing a hamster:

• if the hamster is more than 3 months old, it will weigh more than 40 grams;
• females increase in weight up to 4 months, after which she becomes an adult and her weight does not change, which indicates her readiness to mate;
• if the animal is more than 3 months old, its length will be at least 8 centimeters;
• young individuals are always playful and active, constantly eating, males start fights and attract females to their attention, and older animals behave calmly and stay away from everyone else.

At what age is it better to buy

When choosing a hamster as a pet, it is better to choose a young animal that no longer needs mother's milk.

The best age to purchase is between 1 and 3 months. It is not worth giving away a hamster at an earlier age. For breeding work, a six-month-old hamster is purchased. You should not buy an animal older than 10 - 12 months.

If the breeder gives you the right to choose, then buy an active, energetic animal with shiny, clear eyes and thick fur.

Hairless ears, lethargic behavior, dull and rough fur are all signs of old age. If hamsters are cute as pets, you shouldn't give them up because of their short lifespan.

Even in its short life, an active, cute animal will be able to win the heart of its owner. If there is a child in the house, then it is advisable to tell him in advance about the transience of a hamster’s life.

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Diseases and their prevention

Common diseases of hamsters include:

• Overgrown teeth. They injure the lower part of the jaw and cause pain. It is necessary to regularly provide solid food and place objects in the cage that the pet can grind its fangs on. If they have outgrown, you should contact your veterinarian.
• Hair loss, baldness. Occurs when there is a deficiency of minerals, vitamins or due to stress. To restore balance, you need to include a special complex in your diet.
• Obesity. This is the result of low physical activity. The problem can be prevented by installing various attractions on which the animal will have fun. You should pay close attention to your diet, avoid overeating, and do not give human food.
• Diarrhea. Appears with a sudden change in diet or stress. In this case, there is a lack of appetite, aggression, and there may be bleeding. It is necessary to consult a doctor who will prescribe treatment.
• Inflammation of the tissues of the cheek pouches. Occurs when injured by sharp objects or food gets stuck. At the veterinary clinic, the bags are cleaned and treated with antibacterial drugs.
• Abscesses on paw pads. The cause of their appearance is unknown; your pet can be rid of them by treating them with fish oil or zinc ointment.

Your pet may get colds due to being in a draft. The main symptom is fever. You should know that the body temperature of a healthy hamster is 37.5-38.5 degrees.

Methods for determining the age of a rodent

There are several methods to determine the age of a hamster. Various factors are taken into account.

Behavior . Young individuals behave much more actively, continuously moving around the cage, playing and chewing food. Old hamsters prefer to sleep more; they have practically no desire for active activity.

Wool. The first noticeable color in hamsters begins to appear approximately on the fifth day after their birth, and after two weeks the skin is completely covered with hair, and the color of young individuals is brighter. If you see that the rodent’s fur has not fully grown and in some places you can see bald patches - congratulations, you have a young hamster in front of you.

Ears. In young representatives of the hamster family, the inside of the ears is covered with thin white hairs, which disappear over time, and by old age there may not be any left at all.

Eyes. Brightly shining eyes indicate that the rodent is in good physical shape and can be safely purchased. If its eyes are cloudy, most likely the animal is sick and will soon die.

Sexual activity in these rodents begins at four weeks. Its presence or absence can also help determine the age of the hamster. In females, it manifests itself in the form of secretion of genital fluid from the genitals; in males, the growth of the testes begins.

Weight . If the hamster is over three months old, most likely it will weigh more than 40 grams. You can weigh it before purchasing. It is also worth paying attention to the baby’s body length: up to twelve weeks it should not exceed eight centimeters.

It is a common statement that the age of an animal can be determined by the appearance of its teeth. In fact, this is not so: the shape and color of the teeth of these animals are always approximately the same.

Baby care

Caring for babies comes down to two simple rules:

1. Don't disturb their home. The new mother is very jealous of attempts to examine her offspring. In stressful situations, females may abandon their babies, stop feeding them milk, and even eat them. It is best to not pay attention to the cage with the hamsters at all for the first weeks, and when changing food and water, act as quickly as possible, quietly and without sudden movements.
2. Don't touch the babies. By touching small hamsters, you interrupt the smell of their mother with your own, thereby you can provoke the female to show aggression towards her offspring. By the way, in the first two weeks after birth, cleaning the cage is also prohibited.

The cage should contain chopped vegetables, cereals and clean water in the drinking bowl. From the age of one week, small hamsters will begin to explore their home and find new food, which will make them more independent.

Read more - how to breed hamsters at home and how hamsters give birth.