Mary Allen
The golden hamster is a popular pet – because anyone who sees such a small animal would like to stroke and cuddle it immediately. As cute as the golden hamster may seem – it is still not a toy! Rather, the small rodent needs to be kept in a species-appropriate manner. For example, although it does not grow very large, it needs plenty of exercise and special living conditions.
Requirements for the Appropriate Golden Hamster Keeping
It’s fun to watch the small, furry high-performance athletes move and climb. But before one rushes to get a golden hamster, the demands on species-appropriate husbandry should be observed – and this is more difficult than you think. This requirement is not met with a simple cage. Any inappropriate animal husbandry, whether large or small, inevitably leads to health and psychological problems in the animal.
Syrian hamsters in particular are nocturnal and therefore rather unsuitable for children or animal lovers who want to spend time with their new pet during the day. Tame hamsters are happy to receive attention when they are awake. This requires human attention in the evening and at night. On average, a golden hamster only weighs around 100g. Especially when handling by children, care must be taken to ensure that they handle the small and delicate animal with care.
Hamsters are loners. If they are kept together with conspecifics, this means immense stress for the animals. For breeding purposes alone, the animals are kept together for a short time – but this task is better left to the really experienced golden hamster keepers. Hamsters are naturally used to moving around a lot. Cages that are too small create enormous stressful situations for the Syrian hamster. This is shown, for example, by abnormal behavior such as incessant nibbling at the cage at night.
Stressful situations always arise in animals when they are not kept in a species-appropriate manner. Since a hamster only measures up to 15 cm and people, therefore, seem like giants to him, he must first gain trust. Therefore, a hamster is very shy at the beginning. Patience, empathy, and gentle handling of the animal are required here.
What Should a Golden Hamster Cage Look Like?
Since the small rodents build caves and ditches for themselves, the cage should be large enough that it offers enough space for the animal to run around and at the same time enables it to satisfy this natural need. The size of the cage should therefore be at least 1/2 m² (minimum size 100 x 50 x 50 cm), better more. The hamster builds corridors – a height of 20 cm of the litter is used as a guide. The litter should be mixed with one-third each of hay and straw. This enables the hamster to build stable tunnels. Here, for example, lattice cages with a high lower shell are advisable for the litter. This way, the area around the cage does not get dirty while rooting.
The little rodents are very clean. Therefore, each hamster usually has a certain place where he relieves himself. The quickly soiled litter in the relevant corner must be replaced daily. Climbing possibilities (please do not mount too high, consider the risk of falling! Hamsters do not have a feeling for height.) And devices, such as the running wheel (at least 30 cm in diameter), offer the golden hamster the ideal environment. However, these should not be made of plastic, but rather of untreated wood. It is important that the cage can be cleaned easily so that sufficient and reliable hygienic care is guaranteed for the animal.
How Old Do Golden Hamsters Get?
The life expectancy of a golden hamster, in human care, is one and a half to three years. The death of such a small, beloved housemate is inevitably associated with separation pain, especially with children. The life expectancy of a hamster primarily depends on the extent to which its health is guaranteed. A healthy diet, a lot of attention, good cage hygiene, and a spacious enclosure with plenty of exercises are the prerequisites for this. Too much noise and movement on the part of the owner mean stress for the hamster during the day, as it has its resting phase, especially when we humans are most active. If there are many small children in the house and family life, in general, requires tolerance of loud noises, this environment is not suitable for the Syrian hamster.
What is a Good Golden Hamster Diet Made Of?
Hamsters are omnivores, which means they feed on different types of plants, but also on animal protein in the form of insects or eggs, for example. It is important to feed these pets as faithfully as possible. This means the consumption of rather low-fat and less sweet feed. There should always be some hay and straw available for the rodents. It’s popular nesting material, but people also like to nibble on it. Branches are good for promoting healthy tooth abrasion in small rodents. Untreated birch, fruit, and hazelnut tree branches are recommended. However, they must not come from conifers, as the resin can be harmful to the health of the animals.
Vegetables (e.g. carrot and cucumber), some fruits and herbs are also good. Please avoid very sweet fruits (e.g. honeydew melon). Pellet or grain feed can also be fed sparingly. In the case of animal feed components, the palette ranges from insect larvae to small crustaceans to hard cheese, boiled eggs, and dry cat food.
A varied diet is, therefore, a must for healthy hamsters, but abrupt changes in food should be avoided because of the risk of diarrhea! When you have been given fresh food, check your pet’s supply points the next day at the latest: Not that the “hoarded” treats spoil there. Since hamsters, if you let them go, don’t know what to measure and what to do with, you shouldn’t be given too much food. Otherwise, there is a risk of obesity. In other words, many types of fresh and dry food are allowed – all in moderation, of course. Of course, enough fresh water must also be available for the animal to drink. Nipple drinkers are recommended here, as they protect the water from contamination by the animals.
Conclusion: Keeping a hamster requires a certain amount of expertise in order to protect the animal’s health and ensure a comfortable existence for it. Only those who are ready and able to offer the golden hamster appropriate nutrition, husbandry, and care should choose a hamster as a pet.