Hamsters
Hamsters have been bred in captivity and kept as pets in the U.S. since the 1930s. The Golden or Syrian Hamster is the most commonly kept Hamster and was originally imported for use as a laboratory research animal. Selective breeding has produced a broad range of color and coat variations of the Syrian Hamster such as the Teddy Bear Hamster. More recently Dwarf Hamsters have been imported from China, Russia, and Siberia. These Dwarf Hamsters are quite different in size, shape, coloration, and temperament than the Syrians.
Diet
Hamsters are seed and grain eaters who like chipmunks stuff cheek pouches with seeds to store in their nest. A typical Hamster mix contains Sunflower seed, milo, millet, peanuts and pelleted and extruded grain products.
Occasionally small quantities of fresh vegetables and greens like romaine lettuce should be offered.
Fresh water should always be available in a drinking tube or water bottle.
Housing
Hamsters are kept in cages, aquariums with wire screen tops, and plastic molded habitat modules. Cages are not commonly used any more because the hamsters scatter their bedding through the wires and out of the cage. Cages with a deep tray and narrowly spaced wires are still useful.
Aquariums with wire screen tops are much more commonly used. These are difficult for the hamster to escape from, keep the bedding in place, and are easy to clean.
Handling & Care
Golden Hamsters are not particularly social animals and do better when kept as individual pets. Putting two hamsters in one cage invariably leads to fights that can be very fierce. Females in particular seem prone to aggressive behavior towards other hamsters.
The dwarf species of hamsters tend to be more social and get along in multiples if they are raised together.
Hamsters that receive regular gentle handling when young generally will continue to manageable. Ones that are not acclimated to regular handling tend to bite.
Hamsters are primarily nocturnal, so handling them during the day can be a bit of a challenge since you are actually disrupting their natural sleep pattern. Don't try to pick up a sleeping hamster as they are liable to be startled by this and bite in self defense. It's better to wake the hamster first, and then try to pick them up by scooping them up in the palm of the hand.
Teddy Bear Hamsters tend to tolerate handling better than their shorter haired counter parts. Chinese Dwarves on the other hand tend to resist handling.
Traditionally pine shavings have been used as bedding material for this animals, but recent studies indicate that the phenols in pine that cause their aroma, also can lead to health problems in animals that have direct exposure over an extended period of time. Aspen bedding is a much better and safer choice. Never use cedar shavings for hamsters, as the phenols are very strong and cause serious respiratory and liver problems.
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