All about white Dzungarian hamsters

When you want to have a quiet and easy-to-care pet, you should pay attention to the Dzungarian hamster. These cute little animals easily make contact, are friends with a man and do not require complex care.

The Dzungarian hamster is also called the Siberian hamster and the dzungarik. It belongs to the family of foot-bearing hamsters, which is represented by only 3 representatives. In nature, these animals live in Western Siberia, in northwestern China, on the territory of Mongolia and Kazakhstan.

Very similar to the dzhungarikov dwarf Campbell hamsters. These two species can interbreed, resulting in hybrids. Such experiments are undesirable. Dzungar males have a single gland, whose work is responsible for creating the male smell. This gland is located below the abdomen, it often has the appearance of a bulge and can be covered with oily secretions.

At home, this feature is rare. Home Dzhungariki have a low life expectancy. Usually it is about 2 years, only in rare cases a hamster can live 4 years.

From their close relatives Campbell hamsters, the dzungarics are distinguished by a softer and smoother coat. And also the transition from the forehead to the nose is smoother. A number of the following external characteristics are also characteristic of the Dzungarian hamster:

• on the back there is a dark strip that runs along the whole ridge;
• the tail is small, almost imperceptible;
• a sole on all paws is shaggy;
• the head is rather large compared to the body, it has large black beady eyes;
• body shape is rounded, length varies within 7–10 cm;
• weight is in the range of 30–65 g;
• cheek pouches are roomy;
• Jungar food is captured with its front paws, like marmots do.

The color of domestic Dzungarian hamsters is very different from the fur coat that wild animals have. There are several options for the color of fur in domestic jungars:

• "standard" represented by brown wool with a gray tinge, the fur on the abdomen is white;
• "sapphire" determined by gray fur with a bluish tinge and white abdomen;
• Pearls - This is a matte coat with a white color, which is diluted with gray gaps;
• "mandarin" presented in a light reddish cream color.

The white Dzungarian hamster is a peaceful animal, which is not characterized by aggressive behavior. And yet in the cage should be only one animal, regardless of gender. Dzungariki are territorial hamsters, therefore in conditions of limited space they can show aggression to each other. The result of fights can be injury and even death.

In order for the hamster to be healthy, to please his owner and not become a source of problems, it is necessary to know and observe some features of the content.

• For living, a dzungarik needs a cage. It is undesirable to use an aquarium, as in this construction the ventilation is not good enough, and condensate can form on the walls. In such conditions, the hamster will feel bad.

• Hay, sawdust, special filler are laid on the bottom, intended for rodents, or shavings from trees, but not conifers. Also, toilet paper, non-stained napkins and paper towels can be used as bedding. Vatu use is strictly prohibited.

• Dzhungariki tend to obesity, so they need physical exertion. To do this, it is necessary to place toys, tunnels, hammocks and a wheel with a diameter of more than 17 cm in the cage.

• Water treatments for these animals are contraindicated. But sandy baths Jungar hamsters are very fond of. Delving into the sand, the animal cleans its fur coat from crumbs and small debris. Regular sand baths help to get rid of greasy gloss on wool and prevent the appearance of an unpleasant smell. Dzhungariki are very clean.

• Dzungarians constantly grow teeth that they need to be ground regularly.. For these purposes, it is possible to place mineral pebbles, fruit tree branches (not only cherries and apricots) in a cage or wooden sticks.

• These animals are nocturnal. For a daytime rest, they need a house. And also in a cage it is necessary to arrange a feeding trough, a drinking bowl and a toilet.

• The cage must be installed away from drafts and direct rays of the sun. Also, it should not come into contact with wallpaper and curtains, as the animal quickly chew them.

• The cage must be cleaned and cleaned regularly; the animal may become sick from unsanitary conditions.. The same applies to food and water: they must always be fresh. The hamster can carry food into the house, you need to keep an eye on this and regularly remove such caches. After all, the food in the house can deteriorate, which will cause the poisoning of the dzungarik. Feeder and drinker should not be washed with the use of chemicals.

Pet stores have a wide selection of ready-made mixes that are meant for hamsters. The diet should not consist of mixtures alone. For variety, you can make a number of products:

• grain crops (wheat, corn, sunflower seeds, rye);
• vegetables can be given carrots, pumpkin, cucumbers, zucchini;
• you shouldn't get too carried away with fruit, sometimes you can offer apples, bananas and apricots to your pet, only without pits;
• only chicken and rabbit meat can be chosen from meat;
• boiled eggs (chicken, quail) can be included in the diet of the dzungarik;
• cottage cheese should be only fat free;
• from the green can give plantain leaves and salad.

Each hamster requires the selection of an individual diet that will fit his preferences. The amount of food should be enough for a day. And also you should always remember about the food that should not be given to a pet:

• foods high in fat (butter, milk and cottage cheese with a high percentage of fat, veal, beef and pork);
• seasonings and spices, including onions and garlic;
• sweets and foods that can froze in the cheeks of the animal;
• exotic fruits and citrus fruits;
• semi-finished products, including sausages;
• raw potatoes are also banned;
• watermelons and melons.

In captivity, dzungariki multiply well. This requires compliance with certain mandatory conditions:

• the female should be older than 4 months, and the age of the male should exceed 3 months;
• pregnancy lasts about 3 weeks, during this period protein foods (cottage cheese, breast and boiled yolk) are surely included in the diet of the female;
• during the pregnancy and until the end of feeding the female should be at rest;
• before delivery, in about 2 days, disinfection is carried out in a cage, including all accessories and toys;
• During the first 3 weeks, the young feed on mother's milk, during this period they are strictly forbidden to take in their hands, since the young mother can abandon her children and even eat them.

After 5 days from the moment of birth, the babies become calmer and stop beeping. On the 7th day of life, the body of the babies is covered with hair, and after 10 days they begin to make their first movements and try soft foods. In a separate cell jungars can be deposited a month after birth.

This point should be given attention and approach to the process of choosing a name seriously. The name for a rodent should be simple and sonorous. Often the name is chosen according to the temperament, taste preferences of the pet or appearance features. We selected the most interesting and original versions of the names for the dzungarik:

• names for boys: Oreshek, Croissant, Fatty, Zhora, Kikiks, Pirozhulya, Baby, Ginger, Wales, Ruddy, Antoshka, Gray, Garfield, Black, Knight, Snowball, Umka;
• names for girls: Bun, Bun, Gourmet, Lady, Gadget, Seed, Baby, Apricot, Toffee.

When buying it is important to choose a good pet in all respects, for this you need to take advice from professionals:

• It is best to buy a pet between the ages of 5 and 6 weeks;
• the hamster should be moderately active;
• if the health of a rodent causes even the slightest doubt, then the purchase should be abandoned;
• there should be no bite marks or bald patches on the coat, and it should be clean and dry;
• eyes and nose should have a healthy appearance, without discharge and suppuration;
• near the anus, the fur should also be dry and clean.

For the white jungars, see the video below.