Anyone who has ever felt the joy of raising a dwarf hamster knows how great a pet hamster can be. If you are unfamiliar with dwarf hamsters and are considering adopting them, you will need some basic background information, including where they come from, how they were domesticated, and what you can sometimes expect from these friendly, furry little animals. They are called "pocket pets".
Hamster outdoors
Contrary to popular belief, dwarf hamsters are not the result of the more widespread Syrian or golden hamster selective breeding. They were wild animals that graze on their own. Dwarf hamsters are no longer seen in the wild, but wild hamsters are a nuisance to farmers on various continents.
These wild rodents - in fact, all hamsters, wild or domestic, are members of the rodent family and are widely condemned. Although wild and dwarf hamsters share a scientific classification and both belong to the rodent subfamily Cricetinae, they do not have much in common in appearance.
Also known as the Common hamster, this wild rodent has mottled black and brown fur and resembles a raccoon. They were common throughout Russia and Central Europe. Farmers, on the other hand, consider them pests (of course they like vegetables, seeds and grains) and their numbers are declining.
Wild hamster species can also be found in other parts of the globe. Hamsters can be found throughout Asia, Africa and Western Europe. Most of them live in dry or desert areas and spend most of their time underground in a network of tunnels and burrows.
From contempt to respect
So how did an animal previously considered a pest become such a desirable pet? British biologist George Waterhouse was the first to bring hamsters to the attention of the "modern" world in 1829. In Aleppo, Syria, he discovered a strange little rodent called Cricetus auratus. .
He brought them to England, where they quickly became popular pets. However, the popularity was short-lived, and the hamster was quickly forgotten. Then, in 1930, Israel Aharoni, a naturalist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, found a mother with 12 calves in the Syrian desert. His findings exposed the widespread belief among scientists that hamsters are extinct.
Hamsters, on the other hand, did not immediately regain their reputation as a popular pet. Raised as research animals. For many years, it stayed that way.
Four "dwarf" species
The Chinese hamster (though he is not toxicologically a dwarf), the Siberian or Winter White Russian, Campbell, and the Roborovsky are four species of hamsters commonly referred to as dwarf hamsters. Of course they are called dwarves for a reason. With the exception of the Roborovski, who is small on average, they are only about 4 inches long when fully grown. By comparison, Syrians are often eight inches long. Dwarf hamsters are relatively new to the pet store industry (and their popularity peaked in the 1990s), but zoologists have known them for over 100 years.
Physical characteristics of dwarf hamsters
Unfortunately, animal activists don't have as much information as they would like about the dwarf hamster's wild cousin. Untamed hamsters are natural oysters that spend most of their time underground, hiding in the cool shade of their oysters away from the scorching sun.
However, analyzing the morphological characteristics of animals can tell us a lot about their behavior and their natural environment. Dwarf hamsters are no exception. He needs to see in the dark as he can see in his big eyes. Because these species evolved in arid environments, they were most active at night when temperatures were low.
Because hamsters have poor eyesight, they rely heavily on whiskers or vibris as a "tactile sense" to aid in navigation. The ears are on the head, suggesting good hearing. His sense of smell is also quite developed.
A hamster's sense of smell is, believe it or not, very important to survival. He finds his instructions for food and drink. His nose also warns of approaching dangers, helps identify other animals, guides him back to the burrow, and alerts him when it is time to give birth.
He also produces odors. A hamster's smell glands are primarily used to attract the opposite sex by producing a musk-like liquid. It is also how he marks and perceives his realm.
Desire for speed
Dwarf hamsters are agile and fast. It was necessary because food was scarce in his home environment. He had to travel long distances in the wild, sometimes up to five miles each night, to get enough food, and then stored it in a basement room. Preserving what you find in food-scarce deserts is essential to life.
Dwarf hamsters store food in their mouths like squirrels. He does this using pockets on his cheeks. He stuffs these pockets with huge amounts of food, sometimes accounting for almost half of their total weight. That's how he moves nesting materials, as well as food, from one place to the next.
Although this trait is rarely useful in confined environments, it was essential for the survival of wild hamsters. This enabled him to harvest and store food during the winter when resources were scarce. The name hamster is derived from the German word "hamstern" meaning "to stock up".
Habitual behavior
If you have never had a dwarf hamster before, you should be aware of some common hamster habits your new pet will need to adapt to in order to live a long and healthy life.
To say that hamsters like to chew is an understatement. But it's not simply an unsettling habit. His physical health is at risk because his teeth do not stop growing. He has to constantly chew to keep them trimmed. If he doesn't give him enough safe chewing toys, he'll find something on his own. For hamsters, this can be very harmful or even dangerous.
Hamsters like to jump a lot, just like humans. In fact, the average hamster runs two to five miles every day. It is the result of the genetic makeup of their ancestors. However, some hamsters are known to be obsessed with these behaviors. They will run until they are exhausted. This usually happens when you don't give the hamster enough stimulation. In other words, he is bored.
This is something to consider when considering whether to buy a hamster or not. Can you keep your pet entertained enough not to get caught on the exercise wheels?
Most pet hamsters spend at least 23 hours per day in cages. To keep him from running constantly, he has to give him a variety of things to play and discover. Also, most importantly, make sure your pet gets at least one hour of out-of-cage play time each day. This not only keeps him physically active, but also stimulates him cognitively.
Of course, there is much more to caring for a dwarf hamster than simply learning about its history, environment, and habits, and there are some important considerations to consider before caring for a pet. Even if you decide you can live with your hamster's behavior, would everyone else in the house agree? Are all family members committed to fulfilling the duties that accompany having a pet?
Don't make the mistake of assuming that being small, fluffy, and adorable equates to minimal maintenance. You, and ideally your entire family, will have daily responsibilities for this pocket-sized companion, along with hours of fun and entertainment that your dwarf hamster will surely provide.