White albino hamsters with red eyes (description and photo)

The white albino hamster, with red or pinkish eyes, evokes ambiguous and contradictory feelings in people. But, despite its exotic and even frightening appearance, the hamster with red eyes, apart from its appearance, is practically no different from its other brethren.

Albino rat - care and maintenance

Grooming

Albino is a very clean animal.
But caring for the white fur coat will still be required. Here are some tips: Brush your pet regularly with a soft-bristled toothbrush. If the animal is worried during the procedure, the owner cuts off the handle of the brush to the base of the head; the appearance of yellowness on the fur is a cause for concern. The reason for a rat's uncleanliness lies in some disease

It is important to consult a veterinarian; regularly carry out wet, but not bath procedures. The pet's psyche will be disturbed due to bathing in a large basin

It is better to wipe the fur coat with a damp cotton pad. Be sure to dry the rat with a towel.

How to care for the claws of white rodents?

No labor-intensive care is required. Sick, elderly, or pets who have undergone surgery need help sharpening their claws. The tips are as follows:

• buy a nail clipper for rodents. If there is a cat living in the house, then you can borrow a tool from him;
• after each procedure, the device is thoroughly washed;
• To prevent the rat from breaking out of your hands and scratching it, you should stroke it and calm it down. Only then start trimming the claws.

How and what to feed an albino rat?

The food of white animals is no different from the diet of Pasyuks

It is important to adhere to the following recommendations:

• feed the rat twice a day. Increase the evening portion;
• The main food is dry food. Experienced owners claim that expensive food contains the necessary vitamins and components. For comparison, a cheap mixture consists of oats, while a more expensive mixture includes vegetables, dried meat and seafood;
• your pet needs protein. Dairy products, fresh fruits and vegetables are suitable;
• exclude sweets, smoked foods, pickled delicacies, fatty and fried foods, and various spices.

There are owners who prefer to treat the albino to fried potatoes with lard. Then they wonder why their pet got sick. To form a balanced diet, you should visit a doctor. Food should not only be tasty, but also healthy for such a weak body.

Setting up a cage for albino rats

The decorative albino rat feels free in a cage with lattice walls that provide air circulation. The distance between the rods should be 1.2-1.5 cm, but no more. For small rats, cages with a distance between the bars of no more than 1 cm are suitable.

The following tips will help you choose and arrange your pet’s house wisely:

the ideal cage is metal, without corrosion, with well-welded rods. The enamel surface will not peel off, and the animal will remain intact and healthy; purchase a tray made of durable plastic 10 cm high. The filler will not fly apart when the rat actively plays

Pay attention to the quality of the product: no stains, chips or cracks, no strong chemical smell; the preferred design dimensions for one or two pets are 60x40 cm;

males are kept in horizontal models with a wide tray, and females are kept in cages 60 cm high, equipped with several tiers; Wood shavings, compressed corn mixture, paper, but not newspaper, are excellent fillers; Choose a ball drinker with a metal spout. It is fixed on the back side of the structure, and the convenient spout is easy to insert through the grille;

pay attention to ceramic or hanging food bowls

Other models will not work - rats love to turn over, drag and chew bowls; equip a sleeping place in the form of a soft hanging hammock; arrange a house. Animals hide in it and rest; put a toilet. A good choice would be plastic or ceramic containers, which are conveniently placed in the corner;

maintain the distance between tiers. It should not exceed 15-20 cm, otherwise the pet will receive serious injuries.

Since albinos are too active and mobile animals, the owner is faced with the task of choosing toys and exercise equipment. You can install ladders, wooden pieces of pipes, metal springs, ropes, swings, and wooden toys. A treat wrapped in paper is placed in the holes of the toys. The pet will quickly cope with the packaging and get additional entertainment.

Claws and teeth

Hamsters must grind their teeth throughout their lives, otherwise they will grow and cause a lot of discomfort to the animal. To do this, you need to periodically feed the rodent solid food.

Small nail scissors are used to trim the claws. A file will not work; it may frighten the animal. White hamsters have light-colored claws, so they should be cut in good lighting so as not to miss and injure the animal. If you accidentally cause injury, wash the cage thoroughly to prevent the rodent from contracting an infection.

Albino hamsters: care and maintenance at home

Caring for a white hamster is no more difficult than caring for a dark one. Like any other hamster, an albino is a loner by nature. To make his stay at home comfortable, follow the following rules for caring for your animal:

1. Do not put several animals in one cage. Pets must live separately from each other.
2. Do not leave the cage with the dwarf in the bright sun. It can burn the skin and cause blindness in the animal.
3. There should be no sources of sharp sounds near the pet. Loud noise causes stress in the dwarf, which causes him to lose his appetite, become restless and aggressive.
4. Place a house in the rodent's cage where it will rest during the daytime. Change the cage bedding as often as possible. Dirt can get into your pet's eyes and cause irritation. It is best to use corn filler or compressed sawdust.
5. Buy your animal items for an active lifestyle: toys, a running wheel, a small ladder. An albino needs a stone to grind down his incisors. The mineral is good for the health of the rodent, and its price is low.
6. Change the water in the drinking bowl daily and remove leftover food.
7. Don't bathe your rodent. Place a cup of sand in the cage so that the animal can clean its fur.

Caring for white hamsters, as well as their cost, is slightly different from the maintenance and price of ordinary hamsters.

List of necessary things for an animal

For a comfortable life for an albino hamster, the necessary minimum of things must be present in its cage, namely:

1. Bedding, which can be simple sawdust. The hamster will be able to move around somewhat, in addition, they are safe for health;
2. The hamster needs a house as a personal space where he can retire and hide from the light;
3. In order to wean your pet from using the toilet in a cage, you need to place a special container that can be easily purchased at a pet store;
4. Mineral stones will help your rodent grind his teeth easily. For such purposes, you can purchase a mineral type stone. If you have doubts about your choice, you can consult a sales consultant.

When purchasing equipment for rodents, it is important to remember that the cage must contain more than just the listed minimum. Rodents need exercise equipment to stay active. For such purposes, the following options for simulators for cells of different sizes are suitable:

• wheel;
• hammock or tunnel of varying complexity;
• snags and branches on which it will be convenient for the rodent to climb.

If the rhythm of life of the animal owner does not provide for a nighttime wakefulness, then it is not recommended to place a cage in the bedroom. Hamsters are active at night and their noise will disturb the owner's rest.

Experts recommend covering the bottom of the cage with granular filler. Cotton wool and sawdust are not suitable in this case; the rodent will get its paws stuck in them, which will complicate movement. If you use sawdust, it will scatter around the room from the cage. Care for this type of rodent must be of high quality and timely. Otherwise, the owner’s negligence can lead to illness in the animal.

For the same reason, you should try to monitor the quality of the water in the drinking bowl and change it in a timely manner. It is worth periodically changing the contents of the house. If the hamster’s food, which he carries there by nature, begins to rot there, then the animal may simply be poisoned.

Bathing pets in water is strictly prohibited. Their delicate bodies react negatively to sudden temperature changes. The natural behavior of rodents is facilitated by their natural wool cleaning skills. For a bath, some owners leave river sand filler in the cage.

Rules for caring for albino hamsters

Caring for snow-white hamsters is almost no different from caring for other rodents. But there are several features in their content that should be taken into account so that the pet feels calm and comfortable:

The animals have a white coat, so it is advisable to keep them in a separate cage. This is especially true for miniature albino jungarians, who often show aggression towards other rodents; The owner will have to frequently change the bedding in the pet’s home to prevent infection from entering the animal’s sensitive eyes; is also important when keeping these unusual animals. The cage should be spacious and equipped with a running wheel, shelves at different levels and a swing; Snow-white rodents love secluded places where they can hide from everyone. For example, the albino Syrian hamster needs a house in which it spends most of the daytime, escaping the light and sun; Hamsters with snow-white fur should not be bathed.

To make their coat look well-groomed, just put it in a cage; These animals are very shy, so it is necessary to protect them from noise and loud sounds. It doesn’t matter what breed your pet is, a miniature Djungarian hamster, or a fluffy snow-white Syrian, the main thing is to devote enough time and attention to your unusual pet, because each of them needs the love and care of the owner.

Albino red-eyed hamsters

Roborovsky hamsters are the smallest and most unusual

Syrian hamster: description, care and maintenance at home

Djungarian hamster (jungarik): care and maintenance at home

Royal hamster: myth or reality?

What types of hamsters are there: breeds and varieties

Since ancient times, we have fallen in love with these little furry creatures. Each hamster is beautiful in its own way. Both adults and children, without exception, love these animals, and they are an excellent gift for a child. But are there really Albino hamsters

?
We answer yes! And we’ll talk about what breeds of hamsters are Albinos
, how long these creatures live, and how to care for them at home. Let's start with the characteristics of a furry baby.

Description of an albino hamster

Albino hamsters

have their color due to the lack of pigment, which is not very good in the wild, since with such a bright color it is difficult to hide from predators.
These hamsters are no different from ordinary hamsters, except for their white fur and red (pinkish) eyes. White representatives are Djungarian hamsters, Syrian and Campbell's hamsters. When breeding offspring, breeders know in advance what the animals will be like, so they easily breed Albinos.
But this is only for us the unusualness of the animal’s fur, in nature it is a weakness from birth.
Perhaps, Albinos
differ only in their more aggressive character; the content is all the same. Syrians are larger in size and have a specific smell, so they need to be bathed and their cage cleaned much more often.

How long do albino hamsters live?

Lifespan of an Albino Hamster

depends on the breed. For example, the Djungarian hamster lives from 2 to 4 years, the Syrian hamster 3 years, and the Campbell hamster 2 years.

Origin of the name of the breed

The paradox is that there is no breed called the Royal Hamster. Under this name “hides” the Syrian hamster with a special coloring that is worthy of being called a royal robe.

In the wild, these animals do not have such long and fluffy fur. The “domesticated” long-haired hamster with a golden tint is the result of the painstaking work of breeders, who had to carry out a long selection of representatives of the hamster family in order to obtain such beauty.

If we add to this advantage the fact that the Syrian breed is the largest among domestic hamsters, its incredible popularity becomes clear.

The Royal (Syrian) hamster has another “folk” name - Angora. This is how they emphasize its feature - long fluffy hair, like that of an Angora goat. The length of the thick pile reaches 10 cm.

Females are larger than males and can reach 17 cm in length. The animal has a short fluffy tail and neat ears.

Description of the rat

Experienced rat breeders recommend that you first study, at least in general terms, information regarding the albino breed before going to the pet store for a new pet.

Appearance

The body parameters of albino rats are slightly smaller than those of the standard breed. The weight of an adult male is 400-500 g. While females weigh a little less - 300-400 grams. In addition to the pure white coat, the characteristic features of representatives of this breed are:

• strong build, oval body shape;
• small eyes and ears;
• long whiskers;
• elongated face, sharp nose;
• long scaly tail covered with sparse short hairs.

Character and behavior

Despite their mysterious appearance, albino rats are very sociable and good-natured animals. Snow-white fluffies are absolutely not prone to aggression, they do not get into fights or altercations with their cage neighbors. Rodents also build trusting relationships with humans. It won't take much time to tame a new pet.

In addition, albino rats have high mental abilities. From the first days they get used to their nickname, are amenable to training, and feel the mood of the owner. They are also able to express their emotions. For example, they scream in alarm, signaling the approach of danger, or squeak contentedly with pleasure while in the owner’s arms.

What to feed?

The owner of an albino should not worry too much about his diet: a white hamster will eat the same things as his relatives. Ready-made foods based on wheat, oats and other grains are well suited, as well as sunflower and pumpkin seeds, corn, nuts, dried and fresh vegetables and fruits (carrots, beets, pears, raspberries, strawberries, peas, zucchini, apples). We must not forget about protein foods - an albino will happily enjoy boiled (but not fried) chicken and fish, eggs and shrimp.

Food is given twice a day in accordance with the weight and activity of the rodent - this must be monitored and overeating should be avoided to avoid obesity. Hamsters can and should be given vitamins and bought stones with minerals.

Small sizes do not save animals from big problems. If they occur (lethargy, suspicion of infection, hair loss, refusal of food and water, inability to independently cope with the growth of teeth), it is necessary to urgently contact a veterinarian.

To learn how to care for a hamster, watch the following video.

Nutrition

What can you feed a hamster? They give him:

• carrot;
• zucchini;
• pumpkin;
• beets;
• bananas;
• peas;
• sunflower seeds;
• durum pears;
• raspberries;
• boiled fish;
• chicken's meat;
• cottage cheese;
• eggs;
• greenery.

Pet stores sell ready-made food mixtures enriched with vitamins. The rodent is fed twice a day - morning and evening.

Features of care and maintenance

The white albino hamster is an unpretentious rodent that easily adapts to different conditions. He spends most of his life in a cage. Therefore, it should be spacious enough and freely accommodate everything that is needed for the comfort of the animal.

The cage must contain a house, a heavy feeder, a tray, a mineral stone, a drinking bowl, a swing, ladders and running wheels.

The floor in the home of a white rodent with red eyes can be covered with hay, sawdust or corn filler. It is highly undesirable to use bedding made from fibrous materials such as cotton wool and fabrics. Their particles can get into the cheek pouches of a white hamster and provoke inflammation.

It is not recommended to lay newspapers on the floor of the cage. The printing ink on them is harmful to an albino hamster.

The home of a white rodent with red eyes must be kept clean. The litter is changed as needed. The tray and bowls are cleaned daily. Feeders and drinking bowls of an albino hamster are washed without the use of household chemicals. Instead, use baking soda or tooth powder.

Red-eyed albino hamsters do not need full baths. To keep their white coat clean, you can use special sand that does not contain talc. They buy it at a pet store and put it in the bath. Half-hour sand baths are given to an albino 1-2 times a week.

A white hamster with red eyes can be fed the same as its ordinary counterparts. The following may be included in an albino diet:

• purchased and homemade grain mixtures;
• nuts;
• vegetables;
• fruits;
• eggs;
• cottage cheese;
• greenery;
• shrimps;
• boiled chicken and fish.

Mushrooms, citrus fruits, sweets, white cabbage, onions, garlic, spicy and salty foods are contraindicated for albino hamsters with red eyes.

Interesting Facts

Albino hamsters are amazing creatures with a lot of interesting things associated with them:

1. White rodents with red eyes were bred as a result of long-term selection. To obtain them, specialists purposefully selected and crossed individuals with impaired pigmentation.
2. The first albino hamsters had poor health and serious behavioral problems. After many years of selection, breeders managed to obtain white rodents with strong immunity and a non-aggressive character.
3. Albino hamsters are quite timid. They move close to walls and cannot tolerate sudden loud sounds.

Albino hamsters are cute rodents with completely white fur and red eyes. They are born to representatives of any breed. Owners of a dazzling white coat need careful care and, under favorable conditions, will delight their owners for a long time with their funny antics.

Dzungarian (aka Sungur)

Yes, this is not a typo - the Dzungarian hamster and the Sungur hamster are the same breed. In common people, the pet is called a dzhungarik after the name of the region in China, its natural habitat. Sungurik - from the scientific name Phodopus sungorus.

Other erroneous names for dwarf hamsters are Siberian hamster and Russian dwarf. Such breeds of pets do not exist in the classification; if they are trying to sell you a Siberian or Russian at an inflated price, find another seller.

Sungursky is a dwarf species, grows up to 10 cm in length and gains a weight of 45-65 grams. The “feet” on the paws are covered with hair. The color on the back is dark, on the belly it is almost white. A characteristic difference is a clearly defined thin dark stripe along the ridge.

The “standard” back color is brown or dark gray. But there are decorative colors:

• Sapphire (gray with a bluish tint);
• Pearl (snow-white);
• Tangerine (similar in color to the golden Syrian).

The Dzhungarik changes its coat color depending on the time of year (lighter in winter), but this rarely happens at home.

The character is perhaps the friendliest among all hamsters. Djungarians often like to be stroked on their backs and bellies; they willingly fall asleep in your arms.

Lives in captivity for an average of 3 years, but with proper care, 4 are possible.

You can house opposite-sex pairs (just keep in mind that they will reproduce quickly and actively). It is better not to keep same-sex Dzungarians together; they do not get along well.

The tiny size leaves an imprint on the maintenance and feeding of the baby. Read about care in detail in this material.

What breeds are white in color?

We have already figured out that snow-white fur is not fundamental in any of the hamster breeds. But thanks to the miracles of selection, white hamsters were bred in the following systematic units:

1. Syrians. These are not completely white hamsters, their fur is slightly yellowish. Long-haired Syrians - Angora hamsters - can also have whitish fur. Such pets are distinguished by their very large size, their average height is about 16 cm. This is one of the largest representatives of the Hamster family, which lives at home.
2. Dzungariki. The snow-white color of dzungaria is called “pearl”. These are small creatures with body sizes up to 10 cm, black shiny eyes and bare arms. Often a gray stripe runs along the fur along the spine, but it may not exist. Dzungarian Khoma acquires a light color closer to winter. Therefore, if you want to get a snow-white dwarf, you need to buy it in the summer! The animal lives a very active life, constantly running around in a wheel, but at the same time it is very timid.
3. Campbell's hamsters. But white representatives of this breed can be bought in winter, since seasonal color changes are not typical for them. Campbells are light silver or whitish with black spots. They have white paws covered with fur.

Breeders have still not been able to breed a Roborovsky hamster with a snow-white color (not counting albinos). But this breed does not need this, they are already cute.

The photo shows a Djungarian white hamster:

Appearance

Hamsters of this species are very small, they are called dwarf for a reason. They grow from 7 to 10 cm in length. In the wild, their weight reaches 20 g, in domestic conditions they can weigh up to 45 g.

A very cute creature - the Siberian hamster. The photo of the animal conveys its beauty and grace. The summer color of the rodent is gray, there is a black longitudinal stripe along the length of the back, the tail and ears are dark gray. The paws are short and covered with fur down to the soles. The belly is light gray in color. Shiny charcoal eyes, small nose. The fur is soft and smooth.

By winter, the animal begins to molt. The dark spots on the fur disappear, and the hamster becomes almost white, and the black stripe on the back becomes dark gray. Shedding depends on the length of daylight hours and can last up to 5 weeks.

It is worth noting that seasonal molting may not occur in domesticated Siberians.

Colors of Djungarian hamsters

Domesticated rodents, as a result of selection, have acquired a variety of colors, the features of which are a dark stripe and interspersed with light spots on the back, an almost white abdomen and paws. There are main types of colors of Djungarian hamsters.

Standard

The standard color resembles nature. In the wild, it helps animals camouflage against the background of sand and steppe plants. The standard calls for brownish-gray fur on the back and a dark or black stripe from head to tail. The abdomen and paws are white or light gray.

The standard color of the Djungarian hamster is natural.

Albino

Albinos have white fur and pink skin. They have red or pink eyes.

Sapphire

This coloration is characterized by a gray-blue back and a much lighter, to white, belly and paws.

The sapphire-colored hamster has a characteristic gray-blue back.

Pearl

Pearl hamsters have matte white fur with gray patches. Among them there are individuals with a uniform milky color without a stripe on the back.

Mandarin

It is a red color with a brown stripe on the back, with lighter legs and belly.

Mandarin is a red color with light legs and belly.

Features of the subspecies and habitat

White hamsters were bred artificially. They are not a separate breed and are found among almost all rodent species and are distinguished by their white coat, red eyes and pink nose. The most popular breeds, among whose representatives there are the most albinos, are the Djungarian hamster and the Syrian hamster.

Albinos are practically never found in the wild. This is due to the fact that their color does not allow them to camouflage properly, and they are the first to become victims of predators. But their relatives live in Central Asia, found in the foothills, steppes and plains of Dagestan and Turkey. The rodents in question lead a solitary and nocturnal lifestyle.

The sizes of white hamsters with red eyes coincide with those of the corresponding breed:

• Syrians weigh up to 200 grams, and the body length is from 20 to 30 centimeters. Their lifespan is about three years.
• Albino Djungarian hamsters, photos of which can be found on the Internet, do not weigh more than 45 grams and adult individuals reach a body length of no more than 6 centimeters. Representatives of this breed live up to four years.

Different eye color

The possible relationship of the breed with the Taimyr wolf gives the dog’s gaze a special coldness and mystery, especially if the eyes are blue. But, in addition to the light, sky blue or gray color of the eye iris, the Siberian Husky has black and brown. It is found very often, has a rich, deep tone and goes well with different nose colors (they are not only black, but also beige, flesh-colored with pink streaks) or the color of the dog’s coat: red, beige and white. Representatives of other variants of the breed, not Siberian, have eyes that are reddish and light brown, and also with an olive tint.

General Health of Albino Hamsters

Regardless of what the mutation was, it causes significant harm to the animal’s condition.

The main types of health problems include:

1. Various types of skin diseases, which include lichen and dermatophytosis. Due to the fact that hamsters' skin is quite delicate, it suffers from direct exposure to the sun's rays. Due to the lack of the necessary pigment, albinos are more susceptible to the formation of tumors and papillomas than others.
2. Eye problems are also common in albino hamsters. Due to the special structure of the eyes, they are more sensitive to direct sunlight. And direct rays of light with prolonged contact with the eye can burn their shell. Due to such factors and the carelessness of the owners, premature blindness often occurs.
3. Few people know, but there is a close relationship between the melanin pigment and stress. Due to its absence, albinos are more likely than other animal species to be exposed to stressful situations.

The bright sun has a more detrimental effect on them. As a result, the cage with the pet must be installed in a darkened space.

Albino hamsters are typical representatives of introverts. They value personal space, and if you put 2 or more individuals in the same cage, they can begin to show aggression towards each other.

It is not recommended to skimp on the size of a rodent cage. The larger it is, the better for the albino. Based on the required standards, the most optimal size is considered to be 30x50 cm. Ideally, the bars of the cage should be metal, since there have been cases of animals being poisoned by plastic material, the pet begins to chew them out of habit.

Health and life expectancy of white hamsters

The lifespan of an albino hamster depends on the breed. Djungarians live on average 2.5 years, Campbell's hamsters - no more than 2 years, Syrians - 3 years.

Since albinos are the result of a gene mutation, they are predisposed to certain diseases. White hamsters with red eyes are prone to the following pathologies:

1. Skin diseases. Most often, albino hamsters are diagnosed with dermatophytosis, scab and lichen. White rodents have very delicate skin, which suffers greatly from exposure to direct sunlight. Albinos have a higher chance of developing malignant tumors and papillomas than other hamsters.
2. Ophthalmological diseases. White hamsters have a very sensitive retina that easily burns under the bright sun. As a result, albinos become blind.
3. Stress. Albino hamsters are completely devoid of melanin, so they are more susceptible to stress than others.

What to fear?

It happens that an ordinary non-albino hamster, with black eyes and not white fur, suddenly develops redness in or around the eyes, which has never been observed before. Here you cannot do without consultation and a thorough examination of the baby by a veterinarian.

Most likely, treatment will be needed, since hamsters, like other representatives of the fauna, are often susceptible to diseases. In a number of ailments, the eye may be directly affected, or redness will only be a symptom of a disease in another organ. The vigilance of the owner and a thorough examination of the animal by a specialist are the most important factors for timely and effective treatment.

Why does a hamster have red eyes?

If we talk about albino hamsters, the red or pinkish color of the eyes of these animals is considered the norm and is due to the absence of the melanin pigment, which is responsible for the color of the fur and the iris of the eye. In rodents, whose body does not produce melanin, the coat has no color, and therefore is snow-white, and the eyes have a bright red tint, since their membrane is transparent and blood vessels are visible through it.

But sometimes it happens that the eyes of a small pet that is not an albino acquire an unhealthy reddish color. Why does this happen and what treatment methods can be used to help your furry pet?

Blindness

Red eyes are characteristic of rodents suffering from congenital or acquired blindness. It is not difficult to identify a hamster that is blind from birth: the baby hardly moves, does not react to movements and does not frolic with its fellows.

A healthy animal can go blind due to injury or infection in the eye. If the owner notices that the pet's iris has become red and pus is oozing from it, you should consult a veterinarian and not allow the disease to develop, which can lead to complete blindness.

Dust irritation

The cause of redness can be dust that gets into the rodent's eyes. This often happens when the hamster is allowed to roam freely throughout the apartment. In this case, it is necessary to rinse your pet's eyes with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or chamomile decoction.

Infection

Also, redness in a hamster's eyes can be caused by an infection. This happens especially often if the owner forgets to change the bedding in the rodent’s cage and does not thoroughly clean it. A frivolous attitude towards your pet’s health can provoke the development of conjunctivitis, and then long-term complex treatment will be required.

If the animal's eyes are red and purulent discharge is oozing from them, you should not try to cure the pet yourself. You especially shouldn’t put drops intended for humans into your hamster’s eyes. Only a qualified specialist can prescribe appropriate treatment and help the animal cope with the disease.

Recommendations for keeping a Siberian hamster

Choose a cage that your hamster cannot escape from. Hamsters are small and can easily squeeze between the cage bars

It is important that you choose a cage with narrow openings that your hamster will not get stuck in

Choose a cage with enough space. Even though hamsters are small, they need plenty of room to run around to simulate their foraging and daily activities. Be careful with multi-level hamster cages that don't have enough space for your hamster to explore.

Find a safe place in your home to place the cage. Hamsters can get sick if they are too cold or hot. Other pets, such as dogs and cats, may try to eat or play with the hamster.

Give your hamster enough space to hide. In the natural food chain, hamsters are prey for other animals. Hiding is an instinctive way hamsters protect themselves. They need somewhere to hide when they are nervous or asleep.

Consider purchasing a hamster wheel or ball. Hamsters need a lot of exercise. Many cages come with a wheel. You can upgrade to a better quality wheel or buy a hamster ball that you can place on the floor to watch him run.

Place a water bottle that your hamster can reach. Make sure the water bottle does not drip or touch the bed.

There are two methods you can use to feed your hamster. You can place food in a bowl once a day or scatter food around the cage to appeal to your hamster's natural walking skills. If you use the foraging method, you will need to clean out the cage more often.

Choose a variety of toys that are safe for your hamster. Like rodents, they need to chew on something constantly to keep their teeth healthy. Choose natural toys without dyes to keep your hamster safe.

Campbell's dwarf hamsters have very poor vision and even poorer depth perception. To compensate for these shortcomings, hamsters have many storage glands, which are located on the face, behind the ears, on the cheek pouches, near the rectum and genitals.

Many pet owners notice that their hamster rubs against objects in unfamiliar places. This is done in order to create a trail that would allow the hamster to find its way back to the hole. This behavior can also be used to repeatedly visit a place with abundant food. These odors can last up to eight days.

Possible diseases of Siberian hamsters

In addition to diabetes, hamsters can develop tumors (both benign and malignant) as well as glaucoma. Look for discharge on the animal's tail or eyes. A wet tail or discharge around the eyes may be a sign of infection. If you notice any of the symptoms, contact a veterinarian who is knowledgeable about small pets.

Possible variations of the Siberian hamster

Campbell's dwarf hamsters are born with one of two coat types, satin and rex. A hamster with a satin coat appears wet or greasy. In fact, the gene only enhances the color of the fur and gives it strength. The Rex coat type is smooth, silky and shiny, found in the vast majority of hamsters.

Dwarf Siberian hamster hybrids are available in three primary colors plus many variations. There is also a spotted gene that can result in different markings. Albinos are very common.

But not all white hamsters with red/pink eyes are albino. Some are variegated or platinum-tinted, appearing white.

Characteristics and behavior of a ferret

The ancestors of domestic ferrets were forest predators, this leaves an imprint on their character. But all these animals usually get along well with people, while domestic ferrets are not at all suitable for keeping in natural conditions.

To make it clearer what kind of interesting animal this is, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the main features of its character. These include:

Love of attention. Similar behavior can be observed in dogs

Ferrets need attention. If you don’t show it, the animal may get bored or start mischievous.

Ferrets need to be interacted with and played with. Curiosity. Thanks to their physique, the animals get to all the places they want. Therefore, keep an eye on them so that they don’t get lost anywhere and make a mess. Activity. These ferrets enjoy active games with humans and with their fellow animals. However, you need to be careful with them; sometimes, when overexcited, the animal may begin to show its hunting instincts. As a result, the owner may be scratched or bitten. Then you need to put the animal in a cage for a while.

Rodent character

Djungarian hamsters are militant introverts. They are sensitive to the protection of personal space. These cute rodents fiercely fight the enemy if he encroaches on their territory. They use teeth and claws, causing terrible wounds. Male Djungarians warn their relatives about the invasion of aliens with sharp sounds, standing on their hind legs.

Domesticated animals also like to live alone. Hamsters quickly get used to people, they willingly allow themselves to be picked up, they like gentle stroking and calm speech. They are inquisitive and nimble. If you make sudden movements and make frightening sounds, the hamster may scratch and bite.

Albinos

An albino hamster is a fairly rare occurrence. It differs from selectively bred animals in eye color. An animal with red eyes can scare those who do not know the reason for their appearance. We suggest you look into this issue in order to dispel stupid fears.

Why do albinos look like this?

The appearance of any animal depends on its genome - the sequence of certain genes. But sometimes genetic information undergoes point mutations, as a result of which a certain gene stops working.

In the case of albinism, the abnormalities affect the section of DNA responsible for the synthesis of melanin, the pigment that gives different colors to the coat, iris and skin. Since the animal does not produce pigment, the fur grows discolored, that is, white. Normally, the iris of fluffies is black. But in the absence of melanin, it becomes transparent, as a result, blood vessels appear through it - hence the red eyes of albino hamsters.

Albinism occurs in almost all vertebrate species, including humans. The reasons causing this mutation have not yet been reliably established. Therefore, it is possible to purposefully breed an albino hamster only by crossing animals with pigmentation disorders.

Albino hamsters are shown in the photo:

A little about the health of white hamsters

Albino white hamsters are initially born with skin and visual pathologies. They should not be kept near light sources, because the eyes of these rodents are especially sensitive. Exposure to direct sunlight can burn the retina of a tiny creature, causing the animal to become completely blind.

The sun also negatively affects the skin of these pets, even though it is covered with fur. It has been noticed that albino hamsters are twice as likely to suffer from skin diseases: papillomas and other tumors. If you keep your hamster in a slightly darkened room, the risk of getting sick is significantly reduced.

Recent genetic studies have discovered a link between melanin and stress resistance. It has been proven that albinos are more susceptible to stress and have a harder time getting rid of their consequences.

Many people like red-eyed creatures, but not everyone decides to have them, because they do not know how long hamsters with such a physical defect live. Owners are afraid that albinos are much more difficult to care for. In fact, under optimal conditions, snow-white rodents live as long as fluffies with normal pigmentation (about 3 years).

Albinos also do not differ in weight and activity level from ordinary hamsters of the same breed.

How to care for an albino?

The red-eyed creature needs a cozy home, healthy food and toys. That is, everything is the same as for ordinary black-eyed rodents

But there are points that you need to pay close attention to

• Due to a genetic predisposition to eye diseases, give your special pet more foods containing carotenoids;
• do not expose the cage to open sunlight to protect the animal’s retina;
• control the noise level in the apartment. Stress hits the nervous system of red-eyes very hard;
• Most of the time, try to keep albinos separated from normally pigmented animals.

In general, caring for normal and “bleached” animals is not much different.

Features of crossing

If you decide to breed red-eyed fluffies, the information below will be useful to you.

Albinism is a recessive trait. It is passed on to offspring if the male and female have a dysfunctional gene. In this case, parents may have normal coloring and black eyes or be albinos.

In red-eyed fluffies, all offspring should look like their parents. But for 2 normal-looking hamsters who are carriers of the gene, the probability of giving birth to discolored babies is about 25%.

The photo shows grown-up Syrian hamsters from the same litter:

The cause of red eyes can also be a sudden point mutation in the fetus, even if the male and female have a normal gene responsible for the secretion of melanin.

Thus, snow-white fluffies are bred among 3 breeds. But this does not mean that animals of a different breed will not give birth to an albino hamster. Rodents with red eyes need to be cared for in the same way as regular pets.

But close attention will have to be paid to the level of illumination of the room in which the cage is located, and the absence of stress

Rules for caring for albino hamsters

Caring for snow-white hamsters is almost no different from caring for other rodents. But there are several features in their content that should be taken into account so that the pet feels calm and comfortable:

Animals with white coats do not like to be close to other hamsters, so it is advisable to keep them in a separate cage. This is especially true for miniature albino jungarians, who often show aggression towards other rodents; The owner will have to frequently change the bedding in the pet’s home to prevent infection from entering the animal’s sensitive eyes;

Cage size is also important when keeping these unusual animals. The cage should be spacious and equipped with a running wheel, shelves at different levels and a swing; Snow-white rodents love secluded places where they can hide from everyone. For example, the albino Syrian hamster needs a house in which it spends most of the daytime, escaping the light and sun; Hamsters with snow-white fur should not be bathed.

To make their coat look well-groomed, just put a bath with special sand in the cage; These animals are very shy, so it is necessary to protect them from noise and loud sounds. It doesn’t matter what breed your pet is, a miniature Djungarian hamster, or a fluffy snow-white Syrian, the main thing is to devote enough time and attention to your unusual pet, because each of them needs the love and care of the owner.

Rules for handling dwarf hamsters

It was already mentioned a little higher that dwarf hamsters are shy and nervous creatures. Following simple rules will help you avoid stressful situations.

What's not allowed?

• make sudden movements near the cage or scream loudly;
• take a sleepy or just awakened animal;
• cover the pet with your palms on top;
• leaving kids at heights unattended - nimble by nature, they will definitely fall and break;
• take by the skin of the back.

Breed Features

Red eyes are considered normal only in hamsters of a certain coat color - white. They are similar in appearance to each other, but differ greatly from the usual pigmentation of the coat. The color is uniform, it does not have dark inclusions or other shades. Its snow-whiteness only emphasizes the redness of the eyeballs.

Below we will answer two of the most popular questions regarding the health of a small pet.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=EB_qaEClMWw

Why do albino hamsters have red eyes?

Sometimes it turns out that the most common rodent parents (in particular, Syrian hamsters) give birth to offspring whose fur has no pigmentation at all. The idea that albinos are a separate breed is erroneous. Such cubs are born among any breed. This is due to some genetic mutations, which in turn do not affect the behavior or health of hamsters.

Albino fluffies are considered very valuable representatives of the family, because it is almost impossible to breed them artificially. The uncharacteristic color is the result of the fact that the body of these rodents does not produce melanin, which is responsible for pigmentation. Because of this, blood vessels and capillaries are visible through the transparent membrane of the eyes.

It is quite difficult to meet albinos in the wild, because they fall prey to predators (their white color gives them away), but at home such a pet can live for about four years.

White hamsters with red eyes are slightly different from their relatives in size and character. The Djungarian albino hamster can be quite aggressive towards other representatives of the breed, while the Syrian is larger in size, but it easily gets used to hands and is unpretentious.

Is the white hamster a separate breed?

Many people think that all white hamsters belong to the same breed. But is this really so? In general, this is a very big misconception. Breeders have spent decades trying to develop animals with different colors within each rodent breed. Of course, in nature, a white hamster is extremely rare, because such a color is inappropriate for the survival of a defenseless animal. Therefore, the evolution of hamsters was aimed at acquiring a protective color - gray or brown.

But animals that are kept not in the natural environment, but under human care, can be of different colors, because they are not exterminated by predators as the most noticeable individuals. Moreover, people purposefully kept light-colored hamsters for their breed because of their extraordinary beauty! Repeated crossings led to the creation of animals with snow-white fur within the breed.

But the color of pets does not always depend on the success of breeders. If we summarize the reasons for the snow-white color of an animal’s fur, we get the following list:

1. Selection. Light color is found in Djungarian and Chinese hamsters, Syrian, and Campbell's hamsters.
2. Seasonal coloring. Representatives of some breeds shed in the fall and develop light-colored fur. This seasonal color is typical for dzhungariks.
3. Albinism. A genetic disorder in which there is a lack of pigmentation in the skin, fur and eyes. The phenomenon is rare, but absolutely independent of the breed of the animal.

Thus, white hamsters are by no means a separate breed.