Transcript Hamsters and Gerbils

Hamsters
Mrs. Salvati
Varieties
 Golden (Syrian)
 Brown on top, white on bottom
Black stripe on back
Syrian – Different colors
Teddy Bear - Long haired
Different colors
 Dwarf
Smaller then golden
Different varieties
http://harveyhams.weebly.com/syrian-hamster-varieties.html
Characteristics
Nocturnal – sleep during the day
Stump tail
Weigh 90-150 grams
Continuously growing incisors
Cheek pouches – pockets on inside of
mouth to store food
 Solitary animals
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Housing
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10 Gallon tank with cover
Plastic hamster cages with tunnels
Wood shavings for bedding
Nesting materials (toilet paper rolls)
Feeding
 Hamster mix found at the pet store
 Water should be in a bottle
 Treats can include:
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Cheerios
Breads
Timothy hay
Fruits and vegetables
Information
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Gestation – 19-20 days
Litter size – 4-12 babies
Wean – 3-4 weeks
Origin – Middle East
Life span – 2-3 years
Sexually mature – 10weeks
Sex by Anogenital distance
http://hamsterhideout.com/forum/index.p
hp?showtopic=10517
Health Problems
 Wet tail – bacteria causing diarrhea
 Trauma
 Teeth problems
 Signs of a healthy hamster:
Clear eyes, Good skin and coat, eating
drinking, normal urine and feces
Handling
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Do not startle hamster
Pet first
Hold with 2 hands over safe area
Restrain – scruff
Tame with treats
Gerbils
Gerbils
Gerbil Varieties
 Mongolian Gerbil
Comes in different colors
Characteristics
 Longer hind legs help gerbil to stand
upright
 Long tail covered with fur
 Weigh 2-4oz
 Good Digger
 Can be active in both day and night
 Usually prefer mate for life
Housing
 Housing available for hamsters is usually
suited for gerbils
 Gerbils should have more cage space
then hamsters because they are more
active
 Wood shavings for bedding
 Nesting materials (toilet paper rolls)
 Tail can get caught in exercise wheel
Feeding
 Gerbil mix found at the pet store
 Consume very little water, water should
be in a bottle
 Treats can include:
Sunflower seeds
Green foods – lettuce, cabbage
Information
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Gestation – 21-26 days
Litter size – 5 babies
Wean – 3 weeks
Origin – Mongolia
Life span – 1-4 years
Sexually mature – 5w
Sex by Anogenital distance
Health Problems
 Tyzzer’s disease – bacteria that may
cause death
 Seizures
 Trauma
 Teeth problems
Handling
 Grasp base of tail
 Tame with treats
Info taken from
 http://www.hamsterclub.com/varieties.asp
 http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/pets/hamst
er.htm
 http://www.caringtogether.com/exotics/ha
msters3.html
 http://www.petwebsite.com/gerbils/mong
olian_gerbils.htm