Dzungarian hamster: description, feeding and care tips

Dzungarian hamsters are one of the most common breeds of cute furry animals. Often in everyday life such animals are affectionately called "dzungariki", and they often become the first pets of young children. The fact is that the cost of Dzungarian hamsters in zoological stores is rather low, and besides, rodents do not need specialized care activities.

If you are thinking about purchasing a Djungarian hamster, then you should familiarize yourself with all the characteristics and characteristics of the animal. In our article, you will learn about the conditions in which a rodent should be kept, how to feed and bathe him, and also be able to read the reviews of those who have already managed to start a cute fluffy animal in their home.

First of all, let's consider the biological description of hamsters of the Jungar species.

Djungarian hamster is a breed of rodents, which is tiny in size. Thus, the body length of the animal traditionally does not exceed 10 centimeters, and the weight of the animal is usually about 50 grams. The skin of the hamster is covered with thick hair, which can be of the most diverse colors. The most popular colors are gray, black and brown. The eyes of the animal have a convex shape, coal-black color and glossy shine.

Despite the fact that this rodent is a fairly common and popular pet, it can live in the wild. So, the natural habitat of the jungar are steppe and semi-steppe regions of Kazakhstan, Asia, and even Russia.

In this regard, it is worth noting that there is an external difference between those hamsters that live in natural conditions, and those that live in the home. Thus, the natural coloring of the jungle is a mixture of gray and brown with a bright black stripe on the back, running along the spine. The abdomen is colored in a lighter tone, as are the paws. This coloring is intended primarily to ensure the safety of the hamster, because it allows him to mask.

At home, however, there are hamsters whose hair is colored in more aesthetic and pleasing shades: tangerine, red, beige. One of the rarest is considered a hybrid color "pearl", it is almost impossible to meet her.

The twin breed for Dzungarian hamsters is a breed called Campbell's hamster. Differences from this variety are in several characteristics:

• Dzungar breed of rodents has a more dense, smooth and shiny coat;
• on its torso (regardless of the basic color), the dzungarik has several wide bands on the sides and back;
• on the muzzle of the animal of the Jungar species, one can find a clearly defined rhombus;
• Campbell's rodents have a waist;
• Campbell's animals are more aggressive and more difficult to contact with a person (which is why it is believed that it is better to choose a jungar as a pet).

Due to the fact that the Dzungar hamsters are rather small in size and do not grow with age, it is very difficult to know how old they really are. However, there are several ways to determine the more or less accurate age of fluffy animals.

• The younger the hamster, the more active it is: the animals sleep less, move more, and therefore eat more. Older animals, on the contrary, prefer to sleep and eat quite a bit.
• There is practically no wool on the ears of an old woman, while the ears of young hamsters are completely covered with it.
• Young animals have clear and shiny eyes. With age they grow turbid.
• Newly born hamsters have no hair - they begin to become covered with hair only on the 5th day of life. After 2 weeks, the wool fully grows.
• Young hamsters aged 1 to 3 months (namely, such animals should be bought) weigh no more than 40-45 grams.

Rodents of the Dzungar breed are quite picky in their care and are content with only basic conditions of detention. Therefore, even those who have never had a pet before will be able to cope with such rodents; an elementary schoolchild will easily educate them.

In terms of food, the rodents of the Dzungar breed are very picky. So, in nature, the basis of their diet consists of a variety of crops. From this and should be repelled, caring for the rodent that lives in your home. In general, it is believed that the best option will be a variety cereal mixtureswhich are sold in zoological stores. Moreover, it is important to give preference to precisely those mixtures and combinations that are intended for dwarf hamsters.

In addition to such mixtures, animals can be fed and other food. For example, dzhungarikam can be given vegetables, fruits and herbs, as well as boiled chicken and low-fat cottage cheese. As a delicacy in pet stores you can buy a variety of products.

This is due to the rapid metabolism of these animals. This factor should be taken into account when purchasing food:

• one should get enough food for the rodent so that it does not stay hungry;
• Try to buy only the food that is produced by well-known manufacturers and is of high quality, because bad food can cause a large number of diseases.

Among other things It is important to pay attention to the condition of the mouth of the hamster.. In order for a rodent to grind its teeth, periodically buy special mineral stones for it.

In no case should the cage containing the rodent be empty. It must be equipped with the necessary elements for the hamster. First you need to install a special house. This is a design that will allow the animal to retire, to feel safe. Give preference to small houses (about 10 centimeters in length). Choose houses without windows and those constructions that have no bottom.

In addition, your running handy wheel is useful. In the wild, dzungar hamsters run several kilometers a day. That is why to maintain the health of the animal at the proper level, it needs constant movement and an active lifestyle.

Ideal for a dzungarik, the size of a running wheel is about 16-18 centimeters in diameter. Do not buy running wheels with a crossbar. Also, when choosing this item, make sure the surface is secure. If possible, the wheel should be covered with a fine mesh, thanks to which your furry pet's paws will not get stuck in it.

As entertainment, as well as to be able to move the rodent to a safe place while cleaning the cagecan be purchased special walking balls. This device will ensure the safe movement of the hamster around the room or apartment: first, the hamster will be safe, because not to notice the walking ball is difficult (if he escaped without a ball, then it will be quite difficult to catch in the apartment), and secondly , the animal will not be able to bite household items, wires, etc.

It is important to remember that each jungar needs its own separate cage, so you should not keep several hamsters in one. This is due to the fact that even in the wild, these rodents are not going to groups, but live separately.

Despite the fact that the size of the animals of this breed is rather small, it is necessary to select a cage that will have the largest possible size. So, the best option is a cell with dimensions of 50x30 centimeters.

Today in the markets, in supermarkets, as well as in specialized zoological stores you can find a large number of modern and unusual cells. One of the latest fashion trends are cells that have several floors (tiers). For dzhungarikov such cells should not be chosen. It is better to give preference to having a more traditional construction.

When choosing a cell, among other things, it is important to pay attention to its reliability. So, experts advise to buy the wrong cells that are equipped with a lattice structure and a plastic pallet, and those that are closed and endowed with plastic inserts (the so-called "dunes").

After you have acquired a cage, a layer of special hamster filler should be poured at its bottom, which can be purchased at any pet store. It is best to give preference to the corn or cellulose species. It is also useful to place a small amount of dry paper towels or napkins - in the future they will become building materials for creating a nest for a hamster.

Dzungarian hamsters are very sensitive to the state of the environment. That is why they should be kept clean and carefully monitored for the hygienic conditions in which the animal lives.

Immediately it should be said that It is extremely undesirable to wash dzungarik in water. The fact is that fluffy animals are very sensitive to temperature, including water temperature. Even a slight discrepancy in temperature (literally 1 or 2 degrees) can adversely affect the state of health of the animal.

Despite the fact that water procedures are contraindicated, it is still necessary to clean the hamster. To begin with, it should be noted that being naturally clean, hamsters clean their fur themselves. In this way, you only need to do regular cell cleaning. It is worth doing it once a week using water and odorless cleaning products — for example, laundry soap.

However, there are situations when the pet is quite dirty and unable to cope with pollution on its own. In such cases, he needs assistance.

To do this, you can use specially designed for cleaning sterile and thoroughly disinfected sand (it is bought in pet stores, and then subjected to a quartz treatment procedure). The second option, which is suitable for the implementation of hygienic procedures in relation to the dzungarika, is the use of cotton pads and wet wipes. But despite the fact that such procedures are practically harmless to the hamster, they should not be carried out daily.

As you know, the best treatment is prevention. That is why it is important to keep the hamster cage in constant purity. Remove leftovers, bowel movements and other contaminants in a timely manner.

The fact is that the animals themselves do not emit any flavors. If you feel odors, then, most likely, you need to pay attention to the hygienic condition of the rodent cells.

For a start it is worth saying that the rodents of the Dzungar breed breed well in captivity at home. That is why they are often chosen by breeders of rodents.

It is believed that for breeding the female and the male must be constantly kept in the same cage, but this is not entirely true. Veterinarians and experienced breeders recommend combining different sex animals only for the period of crossing. This should be done in order to avoid mutual aggression about the division of the cell territory.

The mating process can be carried out at 1 or 2 months of the life of the animal. If possible, you should wait even up to 3 months - in this way, the female who gave birth to babies will be able to fully take care of her cubs.

Often the mating procedure takes place at night, and females give birth on days 17-21 of pregnancy. From one to two babies can be born at a time. During pregnancy, special attention should be paid to feeding the female - more greens, fruits and vegetables will need to be introduced into the diet.

Due to the high prevalence of Djungar hamsters, it may seem that much is known about these animals and that they have been completely examined by scientists. Nevertheless, there are facts concerning the rodents of this breed, which are little known to the general public.

• In the wild, Dzungar hamsters do not live in packs, but one by one.
• In order to survive, dzhungariki build themselves a hole, which has no less than 5 entrances, and several branches.
• This type of hamster is very mobile. In search of food for 1 day, an animal can run several kilometers.
• The animals got their name in honor of the northwestern province of China - Dzungaria.

In general, it is worth noting that the reviews of the owners of the Dzungarik are very ambiguous: some are completely delighted with the purchase of this animal, while others, on the contrary, regret the rash purchase and show discontent with this breed.

Among the negative comments can be found quite a large number of complaints about the fact that the animals constantly squeak, especially in the dark, due to the nocturnal lifestyle of the animals. This behavioral trait can disrupt your sleep, as well as the sleep of your children.

The second major category of negative comments tells us that the animal, as well as the fruits of its vital activity, have a rather persistent and unpleasant odor. Even with regular and systematic cleaning, it can manifest itself, which negatively affects the condition of the household (the hamster owners report that often the smell can cause headaches).

Rodents of the Dzungar breed are quite active and sneaky, therefore they should not be let out of the cage. Otherwise, they will flee and hide in such a way that you cannot find them later.

However, there is a wide variety of positive reviews. First of all, an aesthetically attractive appearance is noted. Many people who were previously afraid of rodents, literally fall in love with little fluffy dzungarikov. Parents note that such hamsters can be a good friend to your child, who has long been asking for a pet. They will accustom the child to responsibility. The hamsters are very good about dzungariki and breeders - they quickly and intensively breed (which can be a minus for an ordinary person).

Thus, we are convinced that Dzungarian hamsters are very ambiguous pets that have both positive and negative characteristics. When buying a rodent, it is important to remember that you are now responsible for it, so if you have definitely decided to have a pet, you should familiarize yourself with its behavioral features, as well as learn the rules of maintenance and care.

See how to tame the Dzungar hamster to your hands, see the video below.