Djungarian hamster: care and maintenance, nutrition, photo

In general, caring for Djungarian hamsters is not burdensome, but these animals have their own characteristics. For example, an animal is so sensitive that fright can cause its heart to rupture, and being on damp bedding leads to the development of respiratory diseases. Therefore, it is better for the future owner to find out in advance what housing conditions are suitable for the dwarf and how to properly care for the pet.

Description of Djungarian hamsters

Djungarians are small rodents with an elongated body, a pointed muzzle and small five-fingered paws. They are distinguished from other breeds by their furry feet and short bushy tail.

Coat color and length

The hamster's fur is short and smooth. In nature, rodents are grayish-white in color with a dark stripe on the back.

Domesticated individuals differ from each other in different coat colors, including:

• standard - brownish-gray;
• sapphire - gray with a bluish tint;
• pearls - matte white with gray splashes;
• tangerine - reddish-cream.

Regardless of color, all jungarians have a light belly, the inside of the ears and paws.

Length and weight

Djungarians grow up to 10 cm in length. The size is the same for males and females. Animal weight - 25-75 g.

Character and lifestyle

Rodents live in steppes and semi-deserts. They are nocturnal: they hunt and gather food in the dark, and spend the day in labyrinthine burrows consisting of a sleeping nest and several chambers.

Animal shelters always have at least 2 exits so that they can escape in case of danger.

Both wild and domesticated hamsters are territorial and, when in close proximity to their own kind, experience stress, which causes fights. But with people, Djungarians are quite friendly and easy to tame.

Lifespan

Under natural conditions, the lifespan of the animal does not exceed 2.5 years. Pet rodents, if well cared for, can live up to 3 years.

Preparing for the arrival of a hamster in the house

Before buying a Djungarian hamster, it will be useful to know what types of rodents there are. Thanks to the variety of colors, each person can choose a pet to their liking. The most common coat color is wild or standard. These hamsters have gray-brown fur.

Other popular colors are bred artificially:

• pearl is a white Djungarian hamster;
• sapphire – blue-gray fur;
• mandarin – light brown fur with reddish tint;
• brown;
• black;
• chocolate.

Reference. There are no albino Djungarian hamsters. The breed contains individuals with light beige and light ash fur. Animals with this coloring appear almost white.

Features of the animal

Before you get a Djungarian hamster at home, it is recommended that you read the description of its lifestyle in the wild. Then it will be easier to organize suitable conditions and provide care. Information you need to know:

1. Representatives of this species are nocturnal. They sleep almost all day and are active at night.
2. With good care, a hamster at home will live for about 3 years.
3. Djungarian hamsters are loners. They do not tolerate proximity to their own kind. Rodents that find themselves in the same territory fight. This applies not only to same-sex individuals, but also to opposite-sex individuals.
4. In Djungarian hamsters, the incisors grow constantly. Therefore, the animal must grind them down.
5. Djungarik may die from fright or overheating. It is important to provide him with good care - he is a very sensitive animal.
6. Hamsters are fertile. A female can bring up to 6 litters in a year.
7. Djungarians are easy to tame. They have a calmer disposition than Syrian hamsters.

Pros and cons of content

Keeping Djungarian hamsters has both advantages and disadvantages:

pros	Minuses
The rodent is small, so it does not take up much space. He constantly sits in a cage, does not run around the apartment, and does not damage property.	Short lifespan: dzhungarikas live 2.5-3 years.
Affordable price. A Djungarian hamster costs 150-300 rubles (depending on the region). Anyone can buy it.	The pet is active at night. During the day he leaves the house several times to eat.
Even a school-age child can show care and care for a hamster.	Unpleasant smell. If well cared for, hamsters do not smell. The problem will not arise if you regularly clean the cage.
Unpretentiousness in nutrition. Djungarian hamsters eat little. For a month they will only need half a package of cereal mixture and some vegetables.	Some Djungarian hamsters can bite, although they are not aggressive. Teeth are used if the animal is scared.
Positive emotions. Tiny hamsters are very funny and fun to watch.	Noise. At night, a rustling sound is constantly heard - the pet is digging the litter and running in a wheel.

Features of keeping a Djungarian hamster

Djungarians are easy animals to keep, but they also need to be looked after to maintain their health and activity.

To live a full life, your pet needs:

• ensure access to sufficient food and drink;
• provide an area for play and exercise;
• protect from stress;
• limit contact with other animals;
• maintain hygiene and cleanliness.

In addition to following the basic rules of care, it is necessary to carefully monitor the animal during games and walks so that it does not get lost or injured.

Conditions for keeping a hamster

Firstly, a drinking bowl, a feeding trough and a bathing basin . The drinking bowl must be special - with a metal ball. This is the most correct drinking bowl option. Change the water in the drinking bowl daily. The feeder can be made of different materials, but it is better to choose metal or ceramics. The plastic bowl is easy to turn over. You can make a bathing suit yourself using a bowl, the main thing is that it is comfortable to climb into, and that as little sand .

Secondly, you need to buy a house in which he will sleep and spend most of the day. It is important to know that Khomas like to stock up on large amounts of food in their huts, so buy a larger version. Pay attention to the window - it should be large or absent altogether, so that the fluffy does not get stuck in it when it grows up.

Hamster wheel. Is it necessary?

A hamster can run up to 9 kilometers in one night.

Don't forget about the wheel or running disc. This is a kind of cardio exercise machine for hamsters. In pet stores you can find small wheels consisting of rods, the distance between which is 5 mm. You should not buy such a wheel - a dzhungarik hamster can seriously damage its paw while running. The diameter of the wheel should be from 14 centimeters. You can buy a plastic or wooden wheel, but a metal one begins to creak over time.

A walking ball and a Djungarian hamster in it. Good or evil?

If you are concerned about the animals, then do not buy a hamster ball. In the cartoon "Volt" the hamster Rino was in a ball, but do not forget that this is a cartoon. A real animal will not like such a walk, because in a ball the hamster sees objects much worse due to the dull plastic. Poor visibility means it can crash into walls and other objects - no fun.

There is practically no ventilation in the ball, and there is a risk of overheating of the body. Such walks cause considerable stress to the animal, because the hamster actively just wants to get out of the confined space. There are countries planning to ban hamster balls. In Germany, balls are included in the list of animal products with a high risk of injury. So play it safe and keep your furry one in sight while you play.

Litter for rodents

An important point to consider is the filler. Corn filler is better suited, but it is not sold everywhere and is not cheap. As an alternative, use white napkins without dyes or fragrances. Wipes absorb moisture and odors less well, so they require replacement more often. But the hamster will like them, and he will be able to use them to insulate the house.

Corn filler

Is it possible for a dzhungarika to lay newspaper or sawdust as bedding? Newspaper should not be used - printing ink contains lead. Pine or cedar granules, pine sawdust carry a strong allergen for rodents, causing sneezing, rashes and even premature death.

Granular litter for cat litter is also not suitable, even non-coniferous ones. The hamster will simply rub his paws on these huge cobblestones. If you don’t want to spend money, you can wet the napkins (white), squeeze them with your hand into small granules and let them dry completely. Get a kind of analogue of corn filler with your own hands.

Hamster toilet

By nature, hamsters are clean animals: they take care of their fur and “wash themselves” when they wake up, so it’s not difficult to teach a hamster to go to a special toilet.

This hamster skill will allow you to clean the cage not every day, save time and reduce the unpleasant odor. And the Djungarian hamster will walk on dry bedding - which will protect it from colds.

Choosing a home for a Djungarian hamster

Hamsters are small in size, so organizing a home is not a problem for them. You can use a purchased cage, an aquarium, or a homemade structure as a home.

Cell

A cage is a classic housing option for a hamster. Models with a fine metal grid are best suited for dzhungariks - this way the animal will not chew the bars or squeeze between them.

Options with a removable tray are convenient - they are easier to clean and change the bedding. It is recommended to choose plastic from the bottom material - it is easy to clean and does not absorb odors.

Cages with bars on the floor are not suitable for hamsters, as they must dig holes in the bedding. The recommended housing size is at least 30x50 cm for one animal.

Comfortable and spacious cage.

Aquarium

An aquarium for keeping a hamster is convenient because of its transparent walls, which make it easier to observe the animal, but it is more difficult to clean. As a home for rodents, you should choose only models with ventilation and a one-piece construction without gluing - otherwise the pet may be poisoned. Elongated rectangular aquariums are best suited for hamsters.

Terrariums and glass shelving

An aquarium alternative optimized for keeping animals rather than fish. It is compact and easy to monitor the animal, but is difficult to clean due to the lack of a removable bottom.

Dune

Dune is a spacious container with a transparent top and an entrance on the ceiling. It is distinguished by its convenience, ease of care, and cleanliness - the filler never spills out due to the solid construction of the house.

It is convenient to observe animals in such a home because of the transparent ceiling. Dunes with good ventilation are suitable for dwarfs - staying in a container without a special grill has a bad effect on the health of the animals.

Dune house for a hamster..

Houses made from scrap materials

To keep a hamster, you can use a spacious wooden box, a utility basin, a pulled out box and other similar containers. They must be made from environmentally friendly materials that are safe for animal health.

The walls of the makeshift home must be made high enough so that the pet cannot escape from the home. The recommended size corresponds to the standard cage dimensions.

Cage for dzhungarika. Basic principles

Think about the size of your home. According to research, the pallet must be at least 50x30 cm. This is the minimum living space, despite the fact that the area of ​​the floors is not taken into account. A small pallet leads to stress, to obesity, it can gnaw on the cell, and therefore live less than expected.

The cage for the dwarf should be low (dunes for rodents are also sold). A small second floor is allowed, but the third floor is clearly superfluous. The hamster may fall and hurt itself. The second floor should not be made of twigs so that the furry's legs do not fall through, otherwise injury is possible. In nature, Djungarian hamsters have long passages in their burrows, so you can buy a cage with a closed labyrinth.

Example of a suitable cell

Some owners place rodents in spacious aquariums - such housing has disadvantages. The main disadvantage is the risk of injury. If there are children in the house, the glass aquarium may break. This will cause injury not only to the hamster, but also to the children. Aquariums are not well ventilated, which results in a bad smell if not cleaned every week.

If you buy a cage secondhand, it must be disinfected and thoroughly washed. The rods are metal (distance no more than 1 cm) and not rusty. Using these tips, you will be able to choose a decent home for your future family member. The next task is to acquire all the hamster's necessities.

Arrangement of the cage

After choosing a house, you need to place in it all the items and accessories necessary for the rodent’s life. The hamster needs a shelter for sleeping, resting and storing food supplies, a feeder and water bowl, and at least 1 toy for running and exercise.

Additionally, various functional decorative objects are placed in the cage, making watching the pet more interesting and helping to diversify the animal’s leisure time.

Drinker and food bowls

It is advisable for the hamster to have 2 food bowls - for dry grain food and fresh vegetables and fruits.

Feeders should be shallow so that it is convenient for the hamster to get food out of them.

For water, special drinking bowls with a dispenser are used, because when using a bowl of water, the animal wets its paws and spreads dirt throughout the cage. The water is changed daily.

Pet drinking bowl.

Sports area

A good addition to the cage would be an area for play and exercise. Specially equipped labyrinths and playgrounds are well suited for this purpose, but you can organize a sports area yourself by installing various toys.

Filler

The bottom of the cage must be covered with filler. The minimum layer thickness is 2 cm. Sawdust or special granular fillers are best suited for dzungaria.

They should not be too small so as not to get into the animal’s respiratory tract. Fibrous materials such as cotton wool, lint and cloth are not suitable for rodents as they can become entangled or ingested by hamsters, leading to intestinal obstructions and other health problems.

In addition to the filler, the dwarf needs to be provided with soft nesting material for its sleeping place.

Soft napkins or scraps of paper are best suited for this. They should not contain fragrances or topographic paint. Paper with cutting edges, such as office paper, is also not suitable.

Hamster cage filler.

running wheel

A running wheel is necessary to ensure that the animal can maintain its level of physical activity. If this is not possible, your pet will develop health problems such as obesity.

A hamster wheel should be without spokes, with a ribbed coating. Products with a lattice bottom are not suitable for dungeons, as their small paws will fall through. The stand or wheel mount must be located at least 1 cm from the surface of the machine.

Wheel for fun.

Additional accessories

In addition to the main items, additional toys and accessories can be placed in the cage.

These include:

• crossbars;
• stairs;
• hammocks;
• tunnels;
• toys with treats inside.

All accessories should be made from environmentally friendly, healthy materials, since hamsters have a habit of chewing everything that is nearby.

About the characteristics of the breed

The Djungarian hamster is recognized by its characteristic dark stripe located in the middle of its back. The variegation and white speckles make the animals invisible to predators in their natural environment.

Djungarians can have the following colors:

• standard;
• pearl;
• tangerine;
• sapphire.

As a result of pre-winter molting, the hamster's coat turns white.

Miniature pets rarely grow more than 10 cm and weigh 50 g. They are characterized by exceptional cleanliness, the habit of storing food reserves behind their cheeks, and fussiness. The animal leads a twilight lifestyle, but likes to sleep at any time of the day. Despite its good tameability, the animal experiences bouts of aggression. If you get a hamster for children, you should warn them to be careful. Although a rodent bite is not dangerous, it is quite painful.

Djungarian hamster of tangerine color

How to tame a Djungarian hamster

Young dwarfs are best suited for taming. It is worth starting it 2-3 days after purchasing the animal, so that it has time to get used to its new home.

Taming stages:

1. Get to know the animal. Without making direct contact, the owner needs to be near the cage more often so that the animal gets used to the voice and smell of a person.
2. Offer a treat. When the rodent gets used to the presence of a person, you can stick your hand into the cage with a treat on it. Most likely the hamster will not go to pick up the treat in the first 2-3 days, but over time he will climb onto your hand. During this period, you should not immediately try to lift it - the pet should get used to it and begin to feel safe.
3. Get used to your hands. When the animal begins to climb into your palm without fear, you can try to lift it, covering it with your other hand. The procedure must be repeated daily until the animal is completely accustomed to its owner.

When taming a hamster, it is necessary to carefully monitor the animal's mental state. If it shows signs of aggression or stress, you should return your pet to the cage and continue training the next day.

How to toilet train a hamster

Buy a toilet with small sides at a pet store. Animals often choose the corner of the cage, so it is better to choose a corner toilet. The filler may come included; if not, choose the one you bought for regular bedding.

Keep the toilet away from the feeder. Djungarik will not walk into it right next to food.

Do not install a hamster litter box immediately after your hamster arrives. It's better to watch the animal for the first week or two. He can choose a convenient place on his own.

Hamsters go to the toilet in the corner, which is why corner toilets are popular

If your Djungarian hamster is sleeping or stocking up in the toilet, think about the reason for this behavior. Maybe he’s just not satisfied with an ordinary house. Perhaps it is too cramped or difficult to get to (if it is on the second floor, for example).

Do not demand instant submission from the fluffy and do not punish. You may need two toilets, because the hamster sometimes chooses two corners, everything is individual here. It may take several days for him to get used to the new object.

Nutrition of the Djungarian hamster

The basis of a hamster's health is proper nutrition. The diet should be healthy, rich in nutrients and close to the animal’s menu in natural conditions.

Mode

Hamsters are nocturnal animals, so it is best to feed them close to dark. A two-time diet is optimal: the animal receives 70% of its food in the evening, and the remaining 30% early in the morning.

Diet

It is best to give hamsters special ready-made food in combination with bait from fresh vegetables and protein foods.

List of products allowed for dzungaria:

• cereals - oats, wheat, barley, rye, corn;
• sesame and flax seeds, in small quantities - sunflower and pumpkin;
• nuts, except Brazil, almond and pine;
• low-starch vegetables, greens;
• sour and moderately sweet fruits and berries;
• protein component (1-2 times a week) - boiled egg white, lean chicken or fish.

In addition to food, animals need round-the-clock access to drinking water. It is changed daily.

Hamster breakfast.

Toys for grinding teeth

A hamster's teeth grow quickly, so the animal needs to chew on hard objects to wear down. To prevent it from using rods or a house for this purpose, you need to buy it several special toys.

They are made from dried grains and hay, so they are safe for health. In addition to toys, branches of fruit trees and mineral stones are well suited for grinding - they not only maintain your pet’s oral hygiene, but also supply the body with minerals and nutrients.

Natural stone for grinding teeth.

Selection of dzhungarik

Determination of gender

Of course, you can ask the seller to check the gender of the animal, but sometimes they make mistakes. Therefore, it is better to make sure for yourself what gender the hamster is. So, to do this you need to lift the animal up with its belly. The female will have two closely spaced holes visible on the bottom. In the male, these two holes are located at a distance. In addition, the female has two rows of papillae running throughout the abdomen.

Number of pets

An example of a popular saying: “To make life more fun for rodents, it is better to buy a pair.” However, there is some disagreement on this issue. Many people believe that when buying two hamsters, it is better to keep them in separate cages. Otherwise, quarrels and fights between pets cannot be avoided, after which they receive various damages and injuries. Of course, there are exceptions when Djungarians coexist peacefully with each other, but they are rare. In general, it is better to think in advance about the number of animals you buy.

What to look for when purchasing

Choosing a jungarik is an important process, so you need to approach it responsibly.

Here are a couple of guidelines to help when buying a pet:

1. To buy a rodent, you should choose a small pet store, as they pay more attention to the animals. And this directly affects the pet’s health and its life expectancy.
2. It is necessary to pay attention to the age of the hamster, since they live only 3 years. The ideal option is to purchase a baby at the age of 6-10 weeks. Adults are larger and have yellowish teeth. The little hamster still has white teeth and ear hair.
3. Determine the hamster's health status. Firstly, there should be no discharge from the eye or nose. Secondly, there are no signs of a fight or poor care - torn ears. Thirdly, there are no scratches or bald spots in the wool. Fourth, pay attention to the hamster's butt. If it is wet, then he has a fatal disease (“wet tail”).
4. Also look at the behavior of the animal. If he doesn't mind being petted, then everything is fine. In addition to this, you can take it in your hands. It is advisable that it does not twitch in your hands.

The last important point is how much a Djungarian hamster costs. In a pet store, a hamster will cost about 300-500 rubles.

How to name

What to name your pet? In general, it is best to monitor his behavior. Thus, an eternally sleepy dwarf can deservedly bear the name Sonya, and an active one - Jumpy. Another source of inspiration is the color of the pet. For example, a hamster can be called Ryzhik or Snowball.

In general, the best option is to use your imagination or remember the names of characters from your favorite books or films. At least one of them will definitely suit your pet.

Rules for caring for a Djungarian hamster

Djungarians do not require special care. They maintain their hygiene on their own, grinding down their claws and teeth. Owner intervention is necessary only in case of obvious discomfort of the animal.

Walks and games

The hamster can be let out to walk around the room. Before this, you need to remove all potentially dangerous objects from the room, block the gaps between the furniture, and drive out other pets.

It is categorically not recommended to release the dwarf on the street - there it is almost impossible to protect the animal and keep it from escaping.

Water treatments

It is not recommended to bathe dwarfs. These clean animals take care of their fur themselves, washing and cleaning it. In case of heavy contamination (from food, detergents, etc.), the hamster’s fur is wiped with a cloth soaked in warm water, and then wiped dry.

Nail trimming

Regular nail trimming is not required for jungarians, since the animals themselves bite off the overgrown stratum corneum. The procedure is carried out if the nail extends beyond the finger and causes discomfort to the animal.

Haircut instructions:

1. Place the animal on your palm with its belly down and squeeze its paw between your middle and index fingers. The animal must not move.
2. Bring the scissors from below and cut off each claw one by one.
3. Repeat the procedure with the remaining paws.

For cutting, it is best to use nail scissors with rounded edges. Before starting work, they are lubricated with an antiseptic.

Be extremely careful when trimming nails.

What do dungarian hamsters eat?

Although Djungarians are small hamsters, they love to eat. Moreover, like all steppe rodents, they stock up, dragging the remains of grains and fruits to secluded places in the cage.

Photo: pixabay.com: UGC

Will information about what Djungarians eat help you create a menu for them? The easiest option for owners is to buy a ready-made mixture at a pet store. In it, grains are selected so that the animal’s nutrition is balanced and dietary.

But many representatives of this species are capricious. Therefore, owners will have to take a closer look at what products their pet prefers, and periodically pamper him with such treats.

You need to give your hamster:

1. Cereals: oats, corn, barley, peas, seeds.
2. Nuts: Greek, peanuts, etc.
3. Fresh vegetables: cucumber, carrots, milk corn grains, lettuce.
4. Fruits: apple, pear, berries.
5. Protein foods: low-fat cottage cheese, a piece of unsalted lard, boiled chicken.

Hamsters are prone to allergies and eczema, so watch their diet. Remove those foods that cause hair loss, flaky skin, and stomach upset.

Foods high in fat (sour cream, hard cheese, cream and butter), smoked meats and any sausages are detrimental to the Djungarian’s delicate stomach. Potatoes, onions, mushrooms, cabbage, citrus fruits, as well as confectionery, honey, sugar and chocolate will cause health problems.

Photo: pixabay.com: UGC

To maintain good physical shape, offer rodents special grain sticks. This fortified food provides dungarians not only with energy, but also with a silky, soft coat, sharp teeth and claws.

To grind down their teeth, they will need a special chalk or mineral stone. Instead, you can offer the animal a birch (in no case coniferous) block.

Reproduction of Djungarian hamsters

Rodents reach sexual maturity at 1-1.5 months, but for breeding it is better to take individuals no younger than 5, since early pregnancy leads to health problems.

The meeting of a girl and a boy is carried out on neutral territory or in the male’s cage during the period of estrus. Immediately after mating, the couple is seated. Pregnancy lasts from 21 to 26 days.

A week before giving birth, cage care and any contact with the female should be stopped, with the exception of changing water and food and in feeders. It can be resumed only after 2-3 weeks, when the cubs have grown up - otherwise the mother may abandon them.

In the hamster's diet during the period of bearing and caring for the offspring, it is necessary to increase the proportion of protein by giving bait daily.

The cubs begin to be separated from their mother a month after birth. It is permissible to give hamsters to new owners from the age of 45 days.

Little hamsters.

Compatibility of the Djungarian hamster with other hamsters

The relationships between hamsters of different species depend on many factors and in most cases are determined individually. If the cage is large enough, then the dwarf can successfully get along with any other hamster.

If rodents often begin to fight with each other, then resettlement will be the best solution to the problem. To do this you will need to purchase another cage.

You can also try to reorganize the space inside the cage so that the hamsters collide less with each other.

Prevention and treatment of diseases

The most common diseases of dzhungariks:

• obesity;
• diseases of the cardiovascular system;
• problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
• eye pathologies;
• dermatitis.

To prevent diseases, you need to monitor the animal’s nutrition and hygiene, provide conditions for physical activity, protect the hamster from hypothermia and stress, and ensure that it does not get injured during walks and games.

It is not recommended to treat jungaric diseases on your own. It is difficult to carry out home diagnostics, and improper care can worsen the pet’s condition. Djungarian hamster

Therefore, if symptoms of the disease appear, the animal should be taken to a veterinarian or a more specialized rodent specialist - a ratologist.

Care

Frequent illnesses

The most common problem with Djungarian hamsters is injuries that the animal can receive when falling. When injured, you may notice that the hamster's paw is twisted or turned at an unnatural angle. From pain, the animal can fall into a state of shock: it is motionless and does not react to what is happening. An injury is a reason to take your hamster to the vet as soon as possible. Treatment depends on the condition of the animal and the severity of the injury.

Susceptible to respiratory viral infections. Infection is indicated by:

• decreased activity;
• sneeze;
• loss of appetite.

There is no special treatment for viral diseases in Djungarian hamsters. It is recommended to provide your pet with vitamin supplements and high-quality food to strengthen his body’s immune defense and speed up recovery.

Conjunctivitis

If your hamster cannot open his eyes and there is a small amount of pus on his eyelids, he may have developed conjunctivitis. It is recommended to treat conjunctivitis by washing the animal’s eyes with a weak saline solution. In order not to make a mistake in the concentration, you can buy saline solution with a sodium chloride concentration of 0.9% at the pharmacy.

Cataract

Cloudiness of the pupil indicates cataracts. This disease usually develops in older individuals. It is impossible to cure cataracts.

Long teeth

Refusal to eat may indicate a dental injury or that too long teeth are preventing you from eating. In such cases, the teeth should be straightened by contacting a veterinarian. To prevent excessive growth of incisors, you should constantly keep a chalk stone in the cage.

Dermatophytosis

Peeling skin and hair loss are a sign of eczema or dermatophytosis. Problems with the skin indicate either stress or the presence of an allergen in the cell. Treatment of eczema and dermatophytosis is carried out by a veterinarian.

Parasites

If your hamster is constantly itching, restless, and has red dots visible on its skin, it most likely has parasites (lice or fleas). On sale you can find many products designed to combat skin parasites in rodents. A veterinarian will help you choose the safest one for your animal.

Refusal to eat, diarrhea, and loud bowel movements are symptoms of an intestinal infection. They can be cured with antibiotics.

How to properly care?

It is enough to provide him with everything he needs (a spacious cage, food, a drinking bowl with fresh water). There are some subtleties that will create optimal conditions for the animal. To help your pet get used to its owner faster, it is recommended:

• talk to the animal in a quiet, calm voice;
• pick up the hamster delicately and gently, supporting it under the front paws;
• before touching the animal, give it the opportunity to sniff your hand: this way the animal will quickly get used to the owner’s smell.

It is important to clean the cage regularly. This should be done once every 7-10 days. The hamster is placed in a small carrier cage or cardboard box with holes for ventilation. The old filler is removed and replaced with a new one, leaving a small amount (to make the animal feel more comfortable). Once every 4 weeks it is necessary to wash the cage or aquarium with warm water and laundry soap.

How not to care

To avoid harming your hamster, you should:

• bathe your pet in soap and water. The hamster can handle cleaning its fur on its own. You can buy special sand for him for bathing guinea pigs. Sand is poured into the bathing suit and placed in the cage. After some time, the hamster begins to wallow in the sand and clean its skin;
• buy a “comrade”. Hamsters do not tolerate rivals and defend their territory. They only need a partner for reproduction; the rest of the time, dzhungarikas feel great alone. If the need to house two hamsters in one cage is great, you must first divide the cage into two halves using a partition. The partition can be removed only when the animals get used to each other and do not show signs of aggression;
• leave the hamster on a high surface. Rodents are lowland animals and do not understand what height is and its dangers. Dzungarik may fall and be seriously injured and even die.

In order for your hamster to quickly get used to it and trust its owners, you should not:

• make sudden movements near the animal;
• scream near the cage, play loud music;
• pick up a sleeping or recently awakened animal. This can frighten the hamster so much that it bites the owner, which is quite painful;
• roughly take an animal by the withers to lift it.

Additional recommendations

Hamsters begin to age at 15 months of age. This is reflected in the deterioration of the health of their heart, respiratory and digestive systems, and teeth. To avoid a decline in quality of life, from this age more vitamins and mineral baits need to be introduced into the hamster’s diet.

Hamsters are nocturnal animals, so it is advisable to communicate with them closer to the dark - in the morning or evening. It is undesirable to disturb an animal during the day or disrupt its sleep pattern - this leads to aggression and health problems.

What do you need for a dzhungarik?

Minimum set

In order for the Djungarian hamster to live at least some time in your house, he will need a cage (even the smallest one, in extreme cases an aquarium or a 3-5 liter jar) to live in, food (it can be placed directly at the bottom of the cage) and a drinking bowl. That is, the minimum Spartan set of dzhungarik looks like this:

• mini cage
• feed
• drinking bowl

But we strongly do not recommend keeping a hamster in such conditions. Have pity on the animal. This is only permissible in rare cases for a short time or during transportation.

Optimal set

For a normal life for a hamster, it is advisable to buy a larger cage. It would be convenient to feed him from a special feeder. For physical development, buy him a wheel, and a house for relaxation. It is advisable to place filler at the bottom of the cage to keep the hamster’s home clean longer and soften its falls.

Therefore, the standard list of necessary things for Djungarian hamsters looks like this:

• Medium cage
• Feeder
• Drinking bowl
• House
• Wheel
• Feed
• Cage filler

With such a set, the hamster will feel quite comfortable and cozy.

Ideal option - all inclusive

If you spare no expense and want to create excellent living conditions for your hamster, then you will need to purchase everything from the previous option. But it is advisable to buy a larger cage: a two-story one with special pipes that replace underground burrows for the hamster.

Read more about how to choose the right cage for your hamster.

In addition, the dwarf will happily chew on a special chalk stone for grinding down teeth, eat special treats in addition to the main food, occasionally walk around the apartment in a special ball and bathe in fine sand.

Here is our ideal list of things to keep a Djungarian hamster:

• Spacious and comfortable cage
• House
• Feeder (preferably divided into two compartments);
• Drinking bowl
• Wheel (necessarily solid or with a fine mesh);
• Cage filler
• Feed
• Chalk stone
• Swimming bath and sand
• Walking ball
• Goodies

Additional chips

Sometimes bring tree branches to your dwarf. Hamsters love to chew on them. And also sometimes pamper him with special toys for hamsters, including edible ones.

• Twigs
• Toys

Important Warnings

It is important to protect hamsters from stress. Animals are quite shy, so it is advisable to minimize their contact with any irritants: sharp sounds, smells, strangers and other pets.

Djungarians take care of their fur on their own, so dirty, crumpled or damp fur indicates health problems. Diseases are also indicated by any discharge in the eye or nose area. When they appear, you need to show the animal to a veterinarian.

Hamsters live on plains, so they often fall from horizontal surfaces. Because of this feature, it is not recommended to leave the animal on a table, chair or bed - a fall can lead to injury to the animal.

Description

Appearance

So, Djungarians, just like Syrian hamsters, are cute, very small animals; The hamster skeleton is only 9 - 12 centimeters in length. They usually weigh 40-65 grams. Their fur is short but thick, distributed evenly throughout the body.

Color

Most often, the fur on their back is gray or brown, and their belly is white. Small white spots are visible on the paws and in the inner area of ​​the ears. In general, domestic hamsters are extremely diverse in terms of color, something their free relatives can no longer boast of. So, there are such unique species that have a cover of gray-blue or even delicate orange-cream shades. However, in winter they begin to shed and eventually the coat becomes more of a white color, except on the back, where the color is still grey.

Look at the photo below to see what a homemade dzhungarik looks like:

Character

Many people like that dzhungariks are very clean animals. They do not leave any specific or unpleasant odor behind. It is worth remembering that they are mainly active only at dusk, and prefer to sleep during the day or at night. This is not to say that these hamsters often show aggression, but sometimes they can still bite. Therefore, it is better not to leave a small child alone with the animal.

Lifespan

A big disappointment for the buyer can be the life expectancy of the Djungarian hamster. So, usually it is about 3 years. In fact, this is not so little for rodents. In wild conditions this period is even shorter. However, sometimes there are happy exceptions.

Structure and appearance

Djungarian hamsters grow to sizes of 7-10 cm in length. The weight of an adult varies between 30-65 g. Sexual dimorphism is not expressed. The animal has a pointed muzzle, beady black eyes, and small ears with rounded tips. Around the nose there are long whiskers sticking out in different directions. On the back of the body there is a tiny tail less than 1 cm long.

Djungarian hamsters in nature have an ocher-gray color. The coat is smooth. A characteristic feature of this species is a dark stripe along the back. The upper part of the body always has a darker shade than the lower part.

White or light gray fur grows in the belly area. The skin on the inside of the ears and on the paws is white. The legs are short. The fingers are covered with soft fluff.

Kinds

Domesticated Djungarian hamsters differ from their wild counterparts in the color of their coat. The most common varieties of colors:

1. Standard. The cover on the back is gray-brown, the stripe is black, the belly is light gray or almost white. The paws are painted the same color.
2. Pearl - in this case, the fur on all parts of the body is white.
3. Sapphire. The fur on the upper part of the hamster's body is dark gray, and on the lower part it is light.
4. Mandarin. The back is colored in a warm brownish-red hue, the belly is milky.
5. Camel. The fur on the back and sides is cream-colored, the belly is slightly lighter.

Other popular types of colors of Djungarian hamsters are blue, dove, chocolate, lilac and champagne.

Animal character

Dzungariks cannot be called too sociable. Having an independent nature, rodents do not need close contact with a human being. And if the owner wants to get an affectionate and sociable pet, he will have to make an effort and be patient.

Taming a rodent once and for the rest of its life will not work. If you don't talk to him for a couple of weeks, he will go wild again.

Therefore, if you have already decided to interact closely with your pet, then you need to do this constantly.

You should also follow your pet's daily routine without disturbing him during daytime sleep. Most likely, the main communication will occur in the evening hours, when the furry-legged furry is already awake, and the owner has finished all the day’s activities and can relax in the evening silence.

If you cannot find some little thing that is vital, look for a rodent in the house.

The thrifty nature of animals is evident in everything; they carry not only food to a safe place.

You should not put several animals in one cage.

Individual farmers by nature, Djungarians will definitely fight for territory. It is also necessary to timely separate the grown offspring from the mother.

Breeds

Dwarf hamsters come in several breeds, differing primarily in coat color, and are connected by excessive activity.

Dzungarian

The Djungarian hamster is one of the most famous pets of small breeds. The rodent also lives in the wild: on Asian steppe plains and deserts. Representatives of this species are very sociable and partial to attention. Dzhungarik, as he is also called, has thick gray fur with a dark stripe along the entire length of the back, and a white belly. Hamsters weigh only 35–60 grams and measure 5–10 cm.

The animals' low legs are covered with short light hairs, and they also have a tiny tail. The muzzle is slightly elongated, with dark beady eyes. According to color, they are divided into standard (gray-brown with a white belly), sapphire (gray fur with a bluish tint and a white belly), pearl (milky color with streaks of gray tone), tangerine (light brown fur shimmers with a light orange tint).

The lifespan of Djungarian hamsters is from 2 to 4 years, with appropriate care. Representatives of this breed can change color; by winter, their coat becomes lighter. The animals are capable of mating at 4–6 weeks.

In the natural environment, they have offspring from spring to autumn; in a cage they can reproduce all year round. Up to 11 babies appear at a time, pregnancy lasts 21–26 days.

Taylor's Hamster

Taylor's hamster measures no more than 6 cm, although it looks quite plump. The fur is thick, with uneven color: the chest and belly are white, and the head and back are brownish. Tiny ears, also overgrown with fur, are almost invisible, as is the miniature tail. The eyes are black with white eyebrows and spots, the nose is pink. Taylor's hamsters breed all year round.

The duration of the gestation period is about 20–30 days, the offspring ranges from one to five crumbs, weighing only one gram. On the twentieth day, the cubs can live separately. The animals become sexually mature at 10–12 weeks. The life cycle lasts 1.5-3 years.

Campbell's hamster

Campbell's hamster is just one representative of small hamsters, which has different colors: white, black, light brown. The animal's body is round, can reach up to 10 cm in length, weighs approximately 25 g. The tail is very short, the ears are pointed, and the base of the paws is covered with hair. The front legs have 4 toes, and the hind legs have 5. During one pregnancy, at 18–22 days, 4–9 babies appear. A Campbell's hamster lives for 1–2 years.

Roborovsky's hamster

The smallest breed in the world, its representatives measure 4.5-5 cm and weigh 20-25 grams. The fur is fluffy, the tiny tail is completely lost in it. Slightly rounded ears are located on the top of the head, the eyes look like black beads. A special feature of this breed is the presence of white eyebrows. The animals are very jumping, this ability has developed due to the fact that the hind legs are longer than those in front.

Roborovsky's hamsters are classified as hairy-legged, their legs are covered with short hairs. The fur coat is a delicate golden sand color. Varieties with different coat colors have been bred, but you should know that such babies have poor health. One litter can have 3–6 babies. Representatives of this breed live up to 4 years.

Pros and cons of keeping an animal

The advantages of the content include the following:

• no odor;
• ease of care;
• nice appearance;
• mobility;
• energy;
• a pet does not require large material costs.

The disadvantages are the following:

• predisposition to diseases;
• you need to communicate with the rodent every day, otherwise it will quickly lose the habit of holding hands;
• short lifespan;
• You need to constantly monitor so that the pet does not fall.

Description of the animal

Appearance

Djungarian hamsters weigh only 45 grams, and their body length does not exceed 10 cm. The animals have a predominantly brownish-gray back color with a lighter tummy color. Today you can find babies with more unusual colors: gray-lilac with a white belly, cream, matte white.

A distinctive feature of Djungarian hamsters is the dark stripe on their back.

The rodent has a pointed muzzle and small ears. There is a tail, but it is almost invisible. The feet are covered with hairs.

Even if there is enough food in the cage, the dwarf will definitely make a supply, putting goodies on his chubby cheeks.

One of the owners said that for some reason the pet even put a metal nut that he found in the house behind his cheek and then for a long time could not lift his head off the floor, which alarmed the whole family.

Lifestyle

Djungarian hamsters are nocturnal animals. Their activity awakens with the onset of dusk. But during daylight hours, they will take a nap with great pleasure in a cozy house or on the owner’s lap.

It is better to place the cage in a quiet corner so that the animal can rest peacefully during the day. But at the same time, it is better to place it away from the bedroom so that night noise does not disturb people’s light sleep.

In the descriptions of the animals there is information that the babies are very active and nimble. Active rodents need to be held firmly to prevent them from falling.

Hamsters are animals that are very unstable to stressful circumstances. Frightened, falling or experiencing pain, the baby may show aggression and even bite. And he will lose trust in the person.

The agile animal loves to climb up and down. If his house has special equipment, he will happily tumble there, but he will also never miss the opportunity to explore a person, climbing on him like a tree.

Photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/hamster-rodent-cage-pet-muzzles-2724477/

The rodents perform all their tricks with such positivity and optimism that it’s simply impossible to watch them without smiling.

But it wasn’t just his cute face that helped the hamster gain popularity. The absence of an unpleasant odor and the baby’s cleanliness are the main advantages of this rodent.

How long does a dzhungarik live?

When getting a rodent, people often wonder: how long do jungarians live at home?
Having naturally good health, the kids will be able to delight their owners with their company for three years. Naturally, if they receive proper care, a balanced diet and the absence of stress.