วันศุกร์ที่ 27 สิงหาคม พ.ศ. 2553

Toys for Hamsters

Hamsters, both dwarf and Syrian, are active creatures and need a variety of toys and other items to provide opportunities for exercise, exploration and play. While they do appreciate time outside of the cage to explore in a hamster-safe environment, there are many things your can place inside the cage to provide exercise as play time.

Wheels and Run-Abouts
Most hamsters make great use of a hamster wheel and your hamster's cage should have a wheel if possible. It is important to make sure the wheel is the proper size and try to get a solid surface wheel to cut down the risk of injuries. Run-Abouts are the clear plastic balls (several styles are available) in which you put your hamster and let them run around on the floor without worry of them getting away on you. Both wheels and run-abouts are great ways to make sure your hamster gets enough exercise, and more advice on choosing a wheel or run-about is found in "Hamster Wheels and Run-Abouts."


Chew Toys
Hamsters, as will all rodents, need a good supply of items and toys they they can gnaw on to keep their constantly growing teeth in good condition.
Wooden pet chew toys are an ideal choice. Wood items should ideally be safe (stay away from cedar or other evergreen type woods), and pesticide and chemical free. If you are unsure a type of wood is safe, it is probably best to stick with items made for use by pets. Pesticide-free fruit tree branches from your backyard or hardwood wood blocks or shapes that are not chemically treated are okay for your hamster.
Willow balls, rings and tunnels are also marketed for rabbits, and the smaller sized of these items can be used for hamsters.
In addition to wood chews, cardboard can also be provided for chewing (and for hiding). Ideally, choose cardboard with as little ink as possible as there has been concern over the content of commercial inks in the past (I can find no solid evidence one way or the other on the safety of colored cardboard, and I have used colored cardboard for my mice, so don't panic if you are using colored cardboard). Hamsters also love cardboard tubes from paper towel and toilet paper rolls, although some people are also concerned about the safety of the glues used in these. Many hamsters regularly chew these items without problems, but if you are concerned there are now commercial tubes that are a bit sturdier and are said to be safe for chewing (e.g. Totally Chewbular Play Tubes and Critter Crunchy Chew Tube).


Climbing and Houses
There are also a variety of climbers and houses/huts designed for hamsters and other small rodents. Wood ladders and climbing blocks are great for hamsters. If you can't find wood ladders in the hamster section of your pet store, check the bird section. Any of these wooden items are bound to be chewed as well, as that is natural for hamsters, so be prepared to replace them as needed.
You can also use hardwood dowels and wood to made your own ramps and climbing structures. Coconut shells can also be used to create huts and houses. Organic ropes (hemp, sisal, cotton) can also be used to construct hanging toys, walkways and bridges in the hamster cage. Extreme caution is required with hanging toys and ropes -- use thicker sizes of rope and be absolutely sure your hamster (head, body, legs or toenails) can not get entangled in any ropes used to hang items, or use them only under close supervision.


Plastic Toys
Caution is needed when it comes to plastic. Most hamsters love plastic tunnels and tubes and other play structures, but chewing can be a problem. Some plastic toys will be destroyed very quickly, and if you hamster is swallowing plastic pieces from chewing, that is a big concern. When you offer plastic items, keep a close eye on them and if your hamster is chewing too much, remove the item.

Sand and Digging
You can provide a dish of chinchilla dust bath or fine sand, in which you hamster may roll to keep its coat in good condition. Also, most hamsters love to dig so providing a deeper box of sand or sterilized soil big enough for the hamster to burrow in is a great treat for hamsters.


Mineral Blocks, Pumice Stones
These are not really necessary. If your hamster does gnaw on them it can help keep their teeth in good condition, but they are very hard and many hamsters won't really use them. A variety of natural wood chew items is a better option (and necessary minerals should be provided via the diet).

วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 26 สิงหาคม พ.ศ. 2553

Types of Hamsters

Thanks for hamster-club.com for the good review of hamsters' types.
These are all kinds of hamsters that you can choose to be your pet.

There are 5 types of hamsters. These are: the Syrian Hamster, Dwarf Campbell's Russian Hamster, Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamster, Roborovksi Hamster and the Chinese Hamster. 
 
 
Syrian Hamster - Golden HamsterThe Syrian Hamster lives alone in the wild and it feels much happier when it’s alone in captivity too. Syrian Hamsters can be aggressive with each other and can seriously hurt each other. Never keep Syrian Hamsters in a pair or a group. Syrian Hamsters are the most commonly found in pet stores.
 
The Syrian Hamster is sometimes referred to as the 'Golden Hamster' due to its original wild golden colouring although today there are many different colour and coat mutations. It is also sometimes referred to as the 'Standard Hamster' or as the 'Fancy Hamster'. A Long Haired Syrian Hamster is sometimes also referred to as the 'Teddy Bear Hamster'. A female Syrian Hamster is larger than a male Syrian Hamster. 
 
Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamster
 
Dwarf Winter White Russian HamsterThe Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamster is also known as the Djungarian Dwarf Hamster. It originates from the steppes of Northern Kazakhstan and Siberia. When kept outdoors it gets a white winter coat. This is a natural protective colour during a period when its original habitat is covered in snow. Hamsters are most comfortable at temperatures between 65 ฐF / 18 ฐC and 80 ฐF / 26 ฐC and should always be housed indoors.
 
Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamsters can be housed in a group, preferably of the same gender. They can only be housed in groups if brought together from a young age.
 
 
Campbell's HamsterDwarf Campbell's Russian Hamsters are closely related to Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamsters.
 
Because of its thicker coat, the Campbell’s appears somewhat larger than Dwarf Russian Hamster, but in fact it's not.
 
Campbell's Hamsters tend to become fatter in captivity than the Russian Hamsters. The Campbell’s coat is yellow-brownish with a thin, sharply lined dorsal stripe. Its coat turns slightly greyer in winter. Dwarf Campbell's Russian Hamsters can live in groups of the same gender.  Dwarf Campbell's Russian Hamsters are around 8-11cm long.
 
 
Roborovski HamsterThe Roborovski Hamster is also a short-tailed Dwarf Hamster, but its yellow-brown colouring and striking whiskers lend it a totally different appearance to the other two short-tailed species of Dwarf Hamsters.
 
Roborovski Hamsters are much less well knows and they breed very few young. The Roborovski Hamster is the smallest Dwarf Hamster. Its body measures only 4-5.5cm in length and its tail is barely visible. Its back is a brownish-yellow with grey under colouring. Sometimes the yellow on its back appears somewhat rusty in colour. Roborovski Hamsters don’t have dorsal stripes. Roborovski Hamsters can live in groups of the same gender.  Roborovski Hamsters may live up to 3 years.
 
 
Chinese HamsterThe Chinese Hamster is a long-tailed Dwarf Hamster and not closely related to the other Dwarf Hamsters. The Chinese Hamster’s coat is not as woolly as that of the other species. Its fur lies close and dark-brown dorsal stripe on its back is not always clearly visible and its belly is light grey. The Chinese Hamster has dark ears, lightly edged. The male has a strikingly large scrotum.
 
Chinese Hamsters have a quiet temperament and are easily handled even though at first they might be a bit aggressive, but with patience and time they get tamed too. The average life span of a Chinese Hamster is from 1.5 to 2 years. On average the Chinese Hamster is 10-12cm long and the male is larger than the female.  
 
Credit:
Types of Hamsters
Author: Nadia Vella
Source: www.hamster-club.com

วันเสาร์ที่ 14 สิงหาคม พ.ศ. 2553

How to Teach Your Hamster to Jump across Small Fences

            The hamster is one of the most popular animals that people choose to be their pet. Because of its tiny size, colorful soft hair, and lovely face, many people fall in love with it at first sight. If you choose the hamster to be your pet, you will find that it is a smart animal. After you treat it for a while, you will see that it can learn to recognize its own name, your body odor, and the feeding time. Furthermore, it can do many things more than you would expect. You can also teach your pet to do anything by using a psychological technique. Even though many people believe that teaching hamsters to do things is impossible, I will prove that it is very easy to do. You only need to prepare small fences or other obstacles that your hamster can jump over, hamster food, and a medium-sized box that can protect your hamster from running away.




The first thing that you should know before teaching your pet is the psychological technique: Classical Conditioning. The concept of this condition is not complicated. You only have to memorize that ‘animals will do the behavior that you want if they know that they will get a reward’. After understanding the technique, it is time to choose the right hamster. A young hamster is easier to be taught than the older one. So, choose the hamster that is around 2 to 10 months old. It must be better if your hamster is healthy and active because if it is young but weak or inactive, it also means that your hamster is not ready to learn.

Before teaching, you should know what your hamster’s favorite food is. Most hamsters love sunflower seeds but some prefer another food. At first, you just mix your pet’s food and feed it. You must wait and see which one is being eaten by your hamster most. After knowing its favorite, stop giving that food and feed another one only. Now, you already have a reward to give to your hamster when teaching it.

Let us begin to teach the hamster. The first step is to put your pet into a medium-sized box and wait until it feels more comfortable to live in a new place. Put a fence in the middle of the box, wait for your hamster to be near the fence and feed its favorite food immediately every time it runs to that obstacle. Remember that your hamster will store the food in its cheek. It must be better if you stop feeding and teaching it when your hamster’s cheek is full. Train your hamster like this every day until it runs straight to the fence without hesitation. Try moving the fence to another space to make sure that your hamster has already learned that if it runs to the fence, it will get a reward. In fact, most of the hamsters will understand this condition very fast. You will be surprised if your hamster can do it in the first day.

The next step is to make your hamster jump. Stop feeding if it only runs to the fence but not jump across. Your hamster will be a little confused but it does not matter. Wait until it jumps over the fence and give its reward immediately every time it succeeds. In this step, you have to be patient because it may take a long time to wait. If your hamster does not do the trick, you can attract the pet by showing its favorite food. It will run to you to get the reward. You must only hold the food in your hand and lead your hamster to the obstacle. When it bites the food, gently drag the hamster to jump over the fence and let it eat. Continue teaching your pet every day until it can jump by itself.

            The last step to teach your lovely hamster is to make it jump over many fences. Put more fences in the box and let your hamster acquaint itself with the new objects. After a few minutes, it will jump across a fence again. Do not give the reward to your hamster. Wait for it to jump across the next fence until you can treat it. Your hamster will learn that it must jump over many fences and it will get the reward. Finally, wait until it jumps over all fences and let it eat. Repeat it again and again and you will see your hamster’s development. Every time you put the hamster in the box, it will immediately runs to the fences and jump over them. All you need to do is just treat your hamster and let it play in the box every day. Congratulations, your hamster is now a super smart pet!





            Teaching a hamster also teaches you to be patient. Waiting for a long time and training your pet every day would not succeed without your attempt. By following the concept of Classical Conditioning, you will know that you can also teach you pet to do more than jumping across obstacles. Try to figure out by yourself and you will find that the hamster is much cleverer than you think.

Hamster Food

Here is a list of acceptable food that is safe to feed your hamster




FRUITS

  • Apple (seedless)
  • Banana
  • Blackberries
  • Blueberries
  • Cantaloupe.
  • Cherries
  • Cranberries
  • Grapes(seedless)
  • Lychee
  • Mango
  • Melon
  • Peaches (no stone)
  • Plums (no pits)
  • Raspberries
  • Raspberry Leaves (helpful for diarrhea)
  • Strawberries

VEGGIES

  • Asparagus
  • Bean Sprouts
  • Bok Choy
  • Broccoli
  • Cabbage (Limited amounts)
  • Carrots
  • Cauliflower
  • Celery
  • Chard
  • Chestnuts
  • Chickweed
  • Chicory
  • Clover
  • Corn on the Cob
  • Cucumbers
  • Dandelion Leaves
  • Endive
  • Green Beans
  • Kale
  • Parsnips
  • Peas
  • Radicchio
  • Romaine Lettuce
  • Spinach
  • Squash
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Sweet bell Peppers
  • Swiss Chard
  • Turnip
  • Water Chestnuts
  • Water Cress
  • Zucchini

MEATS AND PROTEINS FOODS

  • Cooked Ground Beef (Rinse well in hot water to remove any grease)
  • Cooked Chicken or Turkey (Steamed or baked)
  • Low Fat Cottage Cheese
  • Fish Cod (Cooked removing bones and skin)
  • Grasshoppers (Pet Shop)
  • Mealworms (Pet Shop)
  • Crickets (Pet Shop)
  • Bread(whole grain no white bread) soaked in milk ( Low Fat, Skim, Soy)
  • Eggs ( boiled or scrambled)
  • Plain Tofu
  • Plain Low Fat Yogurt
  • Dog Biscuits (No Garlic, onion, or onion powder)
  • Monkey Chow
  • Lab Blocks

OTHER FOODS

  • Buckwheat
  • Baby Food(low sugar and no onion or garlic)
  • Cheese (mild cheeses in moderation)
  • Cooked Plain Brown Rice
  • Cooked Pasta(Wheat or Spinach would be better)
  • Dry toast(Also helpful for diarrhea
  • Flax seed
  • Low or Sugarless Cereals
  • Pumpkin Seeds (unsalted)
  • Nuts (No almonds)
  • Sesame Seeds
  • Soybeans(Roasted no salt)
  • Squash seeds
  • Lentils
  • Oatmeal(dry or soaked in skim, soy or lowfat milk)
  • Nutritional Yeast
  • Bran and Wheat Germ (Refrigerated goes bad fast)
  • Peanuts (unsalted)
  • Alfafa
  • Unsalted Popcorn (no butter)

FOODS TO AVOID

  • Almonds (Contains Cyanic Acid)
  • Apple Seeds
  • Canned food
  • Chocolate
  • Candies
  • Chips and Junk food
  • Pork Products
  • Potatoes (Raw)
  • Raw Kidney Beans
  • Eggplant
  • Fool's Parsley
  • Grape Seeds
  • Avocado (Contains Cardiac Glycosides)
  • Raw Rhubarb
  • Tomato leaves
  • Oranges or Tangerines(no citrus fruits)
  • No watermelon (the water content is high causes diarrhea)
  • Cherry Stone
  • Peach Stone & Leaves
  • Apricot Stone
  • Lemon or Lime
  • Jams and jellies
  • Spices
  • Garlic
  • Onions
  • Leeks
  • Scallions
  • Chives
  • Pickles

Interesting facts about Hamsters

Here is some interesting facts I have found that you should know about hamsters.

  • Scientific name Mesocricetus auratus
  • Potential life span 2-3 years
  • Adult body weight 100-150 grams (Adult females are slightly larger than adult males)
  • Desirable environmental
  • Temperature range 65-75 F
  • Desirable relative
  • Humidity range 30-70%
  • Recommended age >> at 1st breeding male: 10-14 weeks; female: 6-10 weeks
  • Length of estrous (heat) cycle 94 hours
  • Gestation (pregnancy) 15 1/2-16 days
  • Average litter size 5-10 young
  • Age at weaning 3 weeks
Now the real deal
  • Hamsters can store food into their cheeks up to 20 % of their body weight.
  • Hamsters can run at 2-3 mph for long distances and 5-7 mph for short distances.
  • Hamsters can travel about 8 Miles in search of food.
  • Hamsters react to their names.
  • Hamsters are color blind.
  • Hamsters can hear sound in Ultrasonic range.
  • Hamsters can dig up to 3 Meters in the wild.
  • Hamsters can only see up to 6 Inches in front of them.
  • Hamsters can store as much as 38 pounds of grain in a single burrow.
  • Hamsters follow path by trails of smell they leave by rubbing their body with things along the path.
  • Hamster’s heart beat falls from 400-4 beats per minuet during hibernation state.
  • Hamster remembers their relatives.

Welcome~*

WELCOME TO MY BLOG

This blog is created to help you to teach you little hamster
You can think that it is impossible
But I will prove that you can teach it very easy
Please feel free to read and comment

Enjoy :)