Bartlett, Patricia Pope; Earle-Bridges, Michele (2003). The Hamster Handbook. Barron's Educational Series. p. 21. ISBN 9780764122941. Portions of fresh food should be as small as your hamster's ear. Suitable fresh foods include most vegetables, mealworms, lean cooked meat and boiled egg. Syrian hamsters can have small pieces of fruit as an occasional treat. Treats

Testimony from Grant C Riddle (born 1929, living in Lake Wildwood, CA) who had a pet hamster in 1942. Classification P. sungorus. The winter white dwarf hamster A winter white dwarf hamster P. roborovski. The Roborovski hamster P. campbelli. The Campbell's dwarf hamster For children, male hamsters are the safest option. It is because they are more loving and don’t mind being held or cuddled. Like rabbits, female hamsters are much more dominating than males. Likewise, they are also far more territorial. Male and female hamsters may appear to be the same at first. But upon closer examination, there are some major physical differences. As previously stated, the anogenital distance is the most reliable factor. Additionally, only female hamsters have nipples, which is another indication of their sex. Hamsters are born hairless and blind in a nest the mother will have prepared in advance. [3] After one week, they begin to explore outside the nest. Hamsters are capable of producing litters every month. Hamsters can be bred after they are three weeks old. It may be hard for the babies to not rely on their mother for nursing during this time, so it is important that they are supplied with food to make the transition from nursing to eating on their own easier. After the hamsters reach three weeks of age they are considered mature. [25] LongevityThe pups have closed eyes and ears and no hair. However, puppies are born with their incisors. When the puppies are around seven days old, it is usually safe to slowly start handling them. Puppies can start receiving solid food moistened with water around ten days of age. Moreover, they should have easy access to water. Gattermann, R.; Fritzsche, P.; Neumann, K.; Al-Hussein, I.; Kayser, A.; Abiad, M.; Yakti, R. (2001). "Notes on the current distribution and the ecology of wild golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)". Journal of Zoology. 254 (3): 359–365. doi: 10.1017/S0952836901000851. The genus Mesocricetus also forms a clade. Their analysis included all four species, with M. auratus and M. raddei forming one subclade and M. brandti and M. newtoni another. Often, hamster wheels sold along with a hamster cage are too small. Despite this fact, hamsters will continue to use the small wheels and over time it can cause damage to the spine. Therefore, these wheels should be replaced with a suitable alternative. Any wheels with spokes or mesh should also be replaced, due to the risk of feet getting caught.

The best-known species of hamster is the golden or Syrian hamster ( Mesocricetus auratus), which is the type most commonly kept as pets. There are numerous Syrian hamster variations including long-haired varieties and different colors. British zoologist Leonard Goodwin claimed most hamsters kept in the United Kingdom were descended from the colony he introduced for medical research purposes during the Second World War. [26] Hamsters were domesticated and kept as pets in the United States at least as early as 1942. [27] A spacious hamster cage made from a display cabinet

Is a hamster the right pet for you?

Start by placing your hand in their cage so they can sniff and get used to you, then gently stroke them The other common problem needing veterinary help is wet tail, which is diarrhoea associated with stress, especially in newly weaned babies. As well as the above, your hamster will need a constant supply of water. You may also want to consider getting pet insurance. Hamster cages Hamsters should have an enclosed hide to sleep in. Ideally, this should be a 'multi-chamber' hide as they prefer to sleep away from the entrance to their hide. Like all pets, hamsters have their own health issues that you will need to be aware of. Lodged food