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Hamsters are among them most popular rodents in Germany. This is no wonder, after all the little animals are just cute. They are also considered relatively easy to keep.
However, this assumption is only partially correct. The species-appropriate attitude of a hamster is relatively demanding. Therefore, before purchasing a hamster, you should find out about the Inform housing conditions.
The most sought-after hamster breeds include the golden hamster, teddy hamster, Djungarian hamster, Campbell dwarf hamster and Roborovsky dwarf hamster.
Common features of the hamster breeds
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All breeds of hamsters have the following things in common: You have to know that hamsters are predominantly nocturnal are. During the day they need their undisturbed sleep. This is often difficult for children to understand as they naturally want to engage with the pet after school.
Hamsters that are woken up are often in a bad mood and may bite. This is understandable given how reluctant it is to be woken up at night. You won’t get used to it either, hamsters are only active in the dark.
Moreover, despite their cuteness, they are no toy. They do not like to be handled in a hurry and injure themselves easily. They are therefore completely unsuitable for small children.
At night, the hamsters are very active and want to move around a lot. So they need one big cage, which offers a lot of variety. Most rodent homes from the trade are clearly too small for hamsters.
hamster gnaw at everythingwhat comes in their way. Therefore, cables, sofas and wooden legs are not safe from them. Cracks and tables are life-threatening for the small animals.
Some owners have the impression that the hamster is bored alone and therefore want to buy a conspecific. This is never a good idea since hamsters are absolute loner are aggressive to intruders. They also cannot live with other small rodents, dogs and cats.
Hamsters don’t get very old. Her Life expectancy is between 1.5 and 3 years. They are therefore not good pets for people who fear loss. Especially for children it is difficult when the pet dies.
The most popular hamster breeds in Germany
The keeping of hamsters in Germany began around 1945. At that time the first hamsters were brought to Europe and bred. Since then they have become increasingly popular as pets. Usually golden hamsters, teddy hamsters or dwarf hamsters are kept.
The golden hamster
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In the past there was actually only golden hamster to buy. The other breeds were later deliberately bred from the golden hamsters. Therefore golden hamsters are considered special robust.
In fact, they are a little hardier and easier to care for than the other breeds. Syrian hamsters reach one Size from 13 to 18 cm and are therefore significantly larger than teddy or dwarf hamsters. They can reach a weight of 110 to 200 grams.
Also life expectancy 3 years is comparatively long. Golden hamsters come in a variety of colors and coat textures. They are mostly reddish brown in color and have white and dark spots.
The big black beady eyes and the small tail make the golden hamster particularly cute. Golden hamsters are still more aggressive compared to animals other than the teddy hamster.
Every competitor is driven out immediately, if necessary by force. Therefore, fights are guaranteed to occur in a cage, since the weaker animal cannot escape. Such fights can even be deadly.
This is because the golden hamster still has a lot in common with its wild relatives. It descends from the Syrian golden hamster, which lives in the steppes of Asia.
Because of these wild characteristics, golden hamsters often become less trusting as a teddy or dwarf hamster. In addition, they are very jumpy and therefore need a lot of rest and a particularly gentle and calm handling.
Golden hamsters are special active and travel long distances in search of food. Therefore, they need a particularly large cage and plenty of exercise.
Despite its wildness and liveliness, the golden hamster is the most popular breed.
The teddy hamster
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The teddy hamster is a breeding form of the golden hamster. He has a special long and soft fur. It also owes its name to this cuddly fur.
The long coat is of course very beautiful, but it also requires more care. Often the hamster can grooming can’t do it myself and needs help. The long hair gets caught on litter and hay that the hamster cannot remove on its own.
A special variant of the teddy hamster is the Angora hamster. Angora hamsters have a particularly plush coat. Like the teddy hamsters, they also have to be regularly with one be combed with a small brush.
However, the hay and bedding should be removed by hand beforehand. This is usually not a problem, since teddy hamsters good-natured and trusting than golden hamsters are.
Most teddy hamsters become tame and some even seek human contact. As a rule, teddy hamsters reach one Size from 12 to 15 cm. Their average life expectancy is two years.
Djungarian hamster
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As the name dwarf hamster suggests, this breed is particularly delicate and small. Often the Djungarian hamsters only reach one size of 10 cm. At only 50 grams, they are real lightweights.
The Djungarian hamster can be recognized by its grey-brown colour. The belly is usually lighter. A dark line runs down the back. It starts at the ears and ends at the rear.
Overall, the breed looks special compact and round. The ears and tail are remarkably short and cute. Like the golden hamster, this breed can live up to 3 years.
The character of the Djungarian hamster is particularly relaxed. He will with loving treatment very trusting and cuddly. If you regularly offer him treats by hand, he quickly gains confidence.
Campbell’s dwarf hamster
At first glance, the Campell dwarf hamster is very similar to the Djungarian hamster. This is because they closely related are. The differences mainly concern coat color and behavior. The Campell dwarf hamster is browner.
In addition, the line on the back is less noticeable. The Campell dwarf hamster is extremely peaceful for a hamster. In the wild, he often lives in one community.
The offspring are also usually tolerated in the area. For this reason, animals that already understand each other commercially can be kept together. However, you have to make sure that each hamster has enough space and its own house.
It is best to simply connect two rodent homes with each other. Then the animals can live alone if they wish. Campbell dwarf hamsters are particularly good for one breed.
The Roborovsky dwarf hamster
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This breed is particularly small and dainty. He is the smallest hamster. An adult Roborowski dwarf hamster will only 6 cm long. With only 20 grams, the animal is hardly noticeable on the hand.
This tiny thing is indeed pronounced cute, but also harbors many dangers. The Roborovsky dwarf hamster is easily injured when falling. Because of this, a Running very dangerous.
Therefore, you should set up a large playground for him in a box or box. You can also block off a corner and then as playground design. An old aquarium can also be transformed into an adventure playground.
Since the hamster is very small, it often fits through the bars. If the cage is not securely locked, it can quickly escape. Despite its small size, the hamster is very active and often stays awake until the wee hours.
It is not easy to tame the Roborovsky dwarf hamster as he rather anxious is. Keeping a Roborowski dwarf hamster is therefore particularly demanding. you need a lot loving attentionto become trusting.
Because the hamster so tender is, it is absolutely unsuitable for small children. In the worst case, it can simply be crushed. However, for adults who have time at night, he makes a good pet.
The advantages and disadvantages of the races at a glance
All breeds have their advantages, but also some disadvantages. It is therefore worthwhile not only choosing the breed based on its appearance, the character should also be right. Teddy hamsters are best for families with children.
Benefits golden hamster:
– robust and healthy
– particularly active
– relatively large
Disadvantages golden hamster:
– become less trusting
– Very aggressive towards other animals
Benefits of teddy hamsters:
– very attractive coat
– becomes tame quickly
Disadvantages teddy hamster:
– Extensive grooming required
– lower life expectancy than most other breeds
Advantages of Djungarian hamster:
– very cute
– trusting
– relatively high life expectancy at 3 years
Disadvantages of Djungarian hamsters:
– high risk of injury due to the small size
Advantages Campell dwarf hamster:
– very friendly nature for a hamster
– becomes tame quickly
– in exceptional cases, keeping a pair is possible
Disadvantages Campell dwarf hamster:
– high risk of injury due to the small size
Benefits Roborowski dwarf hamster
– very cute because of the size
– relatively high life expectancy
Disadvantages of Roborowski dwarf hamsters:
– delicate and fragile
– rather anxious