Mary Allen
The teddy hamster – here the name says it all thanks to its long and plush fur. Not least because of this, alongside the golden hamster, it is one of the most popular hamster species in Germany. In addition to a lot of love, he of course needs a species-appropriate attitude and care. You can read about what this should look like here.
Teddy Hamster:
Genus: Middle hamster
Size: 13-18cm
Coat color: all possible, most often wild color
Weight: 80-190g
Life expectancy: 2.5-3.5 years
Origin and Breeding
The teddy hamster – also known as the angora hamster – is a variant of the well-known golden hamster, which comes from the region around Syria. The first long-haired golden hamsters were born in the USA in the early 1970s, from which the long-haired hamsters developed through breeding.
Appearance and Characteristics of the Teddy Hamster
The long, plush fur is characteristic of the teddy hamster and can be up to 6cm long. The males usually have long fur all over their body, whereas the females often only have a few long-haired areas in the rear area. The color of the fur can vary from light to dark and from monochrome to piebald or spotted, with the wild color being the most common. The teddy hamster can be between 12-18cm tall and weighs 80-190g, depending on its size. If kept well, the animals can live up to three years. On average, they reach an age of around 2.5 years.
Attitude and Care
Teddy hamsters are mostly tame animals that quickly get used to humans. However, you should note that despite their plush fur, they are not cuddly toys. Teddy hamsters are loners and should have a cage that is at least 100x50x50cm (LxWxH). You should also know that they are nocturnal animals that sleep during the day and only wake up between 6 p.m. and midnight. When they are awake, they like to rummage in the litter, run on the hamster wheel, and are constantly on the move. This of course makes noise, which is why keeping it in a child’s bedroom or bedroom is not recommended. You should also keep other animals away from the teddy hamster in order not to expose it to unnecessary stress.
The Right Feed
Vegetables, herbs, grasses, and insects such as mealworms are at the top of the menu of the long-haired hamster. Every now and then there may also be dried fruit as a treat. However, you should only feed small amounts of fruit because too much sugar could lead to diabetes in hamsters. Special food supplies the teddy hamster with the most important nutrients. This is so important because the animals often suffer from bezoars – these are clumps of food and hair in the animal’s digestive tract. However, these pads cannot be strangled like cats, because the hamster does not have a gag reflex. A high proportion of raw fiber in the feed serves to prevent bezoars and selected herbs and grasses provide the hamster with important vitamins.
How Do I Care for My Teddy Hamster?
Long hair requires special care. In the cage, litter can quickly get caught in the fur of the animal and make it difficult to care for it independently. Cleaning can also cause hairballs to form in the hamster’s digestive tract, which is harmful to their health. Therefore, you should help him a little with grooming and regularly comb the long hair carefully with a small brush or with your fingers and remove any foreign bodies.
Hibernation with the Teddy Hamster
Hamsters usually hibernate in their natural environment. If you keep a teddy hamster at home, it will not be used because the temperatures at home are relatively constant. However, if the thermostat falls below 8 ° C, it can happen that the hamster prepares for hibernation, as it saves energy during this time and reduces its consumption to a minimum. As a result, his heartbeat and breathing slow down, and his body temperature drops. Some owners then mistakenly think that their animal has died, but this is not the case. Every now and then the hamster wakes up to eat something. Hibernation should never be forced as it is an instinctive measure of wildlife survival and not required when kept at home. It also costs the rodent a lot of energy.
Teddy Hamster: the Right Pet for Me?
If you want to buy a teddy hamster, you should make sure that there are no other animals in the house and that the little rodent should not be placed in the hands of children. Even if it occasionally allows itself to be picked up, it is not a cuddly toy and can be seriously injured if it falls. His nocturnal activities are exciting to watch for observers, but he is a quiet companion during the day. Regular care units support the health and well-being of the little hamster. It is always a great alternative to the well-known golden hamster.