Djungarian hamsters: description, care and maintenance at home

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

A person who has never kept an animal in his house should really assess his capabilities. Those who do not have experience with pets should pay attention to Djungarian hamsters. These animals are quite unpretentious, hardy, have a small size, do not live long.

Appearance

The standard color of the Djungarian hamster is grey. It is complemented by a dark stripe on the back. The eyes are black or red. But genetics does not stand still, so you can find a rodent of other colors:

• smoky;
• tangerine;
• white-beige;
• brown;
• black;
• chocolate;
• yellow-beige;
• spotted.

Adult pet does not grow in length more than five to seven centimeters. Usually the coat is straight, but there is also a wavy type. The color of the coat may change depending on the season. By winter, it brightens.

Choose a pet

Djungarian hamster, like any other animal, should be chosen carefully. Then the pet will please its owner for a long time.mobility and charge with positive emotions.

When purchasing a jungarik, it is important to pay attention to the following points:

• whatever the color of the fur, it should shine, not have bald spots;
• eyes should be clean and clear, without suppuration;
• the anus and the fur around it must be clean, otherwise it indicates the presence of infection;
• The nose of a he althy pet has a pinkish tinge.

The selected pet should be observed for some time. The animal should not be lethargic. The cause may be illness or stress. You should not buy a dzhungarik if he lived in an overcrowded, stuffy cage. Such an animal is very susceptible to disease.

There is no significant difference between a boy and a girl when it comes to the same pet. You can start a couple, but you should be prepared that they will give offspring regularly and in large numbers. It is impossible to keep same-sex hamsters together, as they will constantly fight, proving their superiority. The sex of a pet can be determined as early as the fourth week of life. To do this, place the jungarik on the back and examine the abdomen. In males, the distance from the anus to the male genitalia is five to ten millimeters. In females, the distance is much shorter, and two rows of tiny nipples can be felt.

It is better to transport the selected pet in a special carrier cage. Sawdust and pieces of carrots are poured on its bottom. If it takes a long time to transport, a rodent should be providedwater. Before the pet is at home, it is worth deciding what kind of house he will have for permanent residence.

House

A cage with a fine mesh or an aquarium can serve as a house for a Djungarian hamster. Alternatively, you can use a three-liter jar, but such a stay for a pet will not be comfortable.

The dimensions of the house can be thirty by forty centimeters, and more. It is better to cover the aquarium with a lid with air holes. The shelter should not gnaw through so that the pet does not run away. Finding a dzhungarik even in a small apartment is quite difficult. A runaway female can cause a lot of trouble when she gets to the wardrobe.

There must be a drinking bowl with water and food in the dwelling. Other accessories depend on the desire of the owners.

House cleaning

Djungarian hamsters are clean animals. They go to the toilet in the same place. You can put the tray there and periodically clean it. It is important to ensure that leftover food does not spoil. They should be removed in a timely manner. The entire cage should be cleaned once a week. Dirty filler should be replaced with a clean one. To make the rodent more comfortable, some of the dirty filler can be left.

The rodent itself should never be washed. The animal takes care of itself with the help of its paws and tongue. Do not interfere with natural processes with soap. A sand bath is well suited for cleaning wool. But the bottom of his dwelling, on the contrary, should be washed with soapy water once a month.

Perfect Home Furnishing

The ideal dwelling for a jungar is a special plastic house. It is equipped with pipes, manholes, nooks and crannies. The pet will be able to lead an active life without creating inconvenience for its owners in the form of night noise and the scattered contents of its shelter. Similar housing can be made from an ordinary cell.

Djungarian hamster, care of which does not require much time, will appreciate the appearance of a small house in the cage. In it, he can hide, sleep. For the he alth of the pet, it is better to purchase a wooden house, but in terms of durability, the plastic option wins.

The following items should be placed in the dwelling:

• feeder, consisting of two compartments;
• drinker;
• wheel;
• checked filler;
• bathing with sand;
• walking ball;
• chalk stone.

You can please your pet with tree branches. He will happily chew on them. In pet stores you can find a lot of toys for rodents, including edible ones.

What to feed?

The he alth of a rodent largely depends on proper nutrition, so it is important to know how to feed a Djungarian hamster. Meals should be at the same time, such as 7 am and 8 pm.

In the morning it is better to give juicy food, and in the evening dry food. A female expecting offspring should be fed every four hours.

Foods to givejungariku:

• specialized dry food;
• nuts and seeds;
• sprouted grains;
• dried fruits;
• cereals;
• berries, fruits, vegetables (seedless);
• greens;
• homemade crackers;
• leaves and twigs of fruit and deciduous trees.

Small amounts of boiled chicken fillet, cottage cheese, boiled egg white are allowed.

If your pet is constipated, a drop of vegetable oil will help him. With diarrhea, you can give glutinous boiled rice. It is important that food is fresh and clean.

Water should be mentioned separately. It must be clean, so it should be changed regularly. It is better to use a drinker.

What should not be given to a jungarik?

Although keeping Djungarian hamsters is not difficult, there are a number of foods that should not be given to rodents. These include human delicacies and sweets, spices, sausages, mushrooms, citrus fruits. With caution, you should feed the jungarik with grapes. Do not give almonds, mint and watermelon.

Djungarians are very fond of rose petals, but flowers purchased in a store cannot be used as a treat. They are treated with pesticides. Only homemade roses grown without the use of chemicals will do.

Pet lifespan

At home, Djungarian hamsters live for about three years. These are averages that can be significantly affected by care and nutrition.

Rodents can be taken out to fresh air, but underin direct sunlight, they can get heatstroke. They do not tolerate drafts well. Regarding walking in the grass, this activity is more than risky. Firstly, a dzhungarik can run away forever, and secondly, other pets can eat it. Also, the animal will pick up helminth eggs in the grass, which will significantly shorten its life cycle.

Owners should be careful about showing love to their pet. It is better to limit yourself to stroking the rodent with your finger. Strong hugs and kisses can lead to heart failure.

In general, caring for a small representative of rodents is not difficult. Watching his life is very exciting. Especially funny are his attempts to shove as many supplies as possible into his cheeks, as well as running in a wheel.