Hamsters are very popular pets among Russian children. Every child at least once asked his parents to buy him a hamster. Many mothers and fathers often try to dissuade their child from this undertaking, because such animals cause a lot of trouble - they need careful care. Other parents, without hesitation, go to the nearest pet shop and buy the rodent they like.
However, this decision is more important than it seems at first glance. Before you buy, you always need to delve into the nuances and learn the features of a future family member.
The most popular hamster species is the Syrian as well as the Jungar rodent. How they differ from each other, and which of them is best suited for a child, can be found in this article.
Comparison
Dzungarian hamster is a very friendly and sociable creature. Those who prefer this species will have to spend a lot of time on the hamster. Some people turn it on as an addition to the interior, as it is pretty cute and looks beautiful. In this case, the owners practically do not interact with their pet. But this is wrong, since such an attitude negatively affects the hamster and may even shorten its lifespan.
By the way, despite their sociability, such individuals do not live in packs. But they almost do not show aggression towards their relatives.
The average life span of a Djungarian hamster is three years. He can live to four years with proper care, but no more.
As mentioned above, such a rodent looks very cute. In size it does not exceed the usual mouse, and weighs about 40 g. It has a spherical body, dark gray fur with a long dark stripe on the back and a light tummy. In winter, his color is lightened, and the strip becomes almost invisible.
Characteristic of its external distinction are large round eyes. Also worth noting are rather large for such a small body buccal bags.
The front legs of the Dzungar hamsters are very developed and close to human hands. For this reason, the rodent actively uses them during meals. It's funny to watch him gnaw at the food, holding it with his little paws.
Many parents choose this species, because such animals need less care. These hamsters do not cause much trouble because of their size, while they eat less.
However, the unpleasant smell from them is stronger. Such hamsters are very nimble and active, although they almost always sleep during the day. Their main activity is in the evening and at night.
Syrian individuals are almost twice as large as their brethren. Their length can reach 17 cm, and the weight varies from 150 to 200 g. These hamsters can be compared with rats in their size, but their tail is not so long. By the way, females are usually larger than males.
Being large rodents, they love space, so for such a hamster will have to acquire a large cage. It must have a wheel, as the hamster needs to throw out the stored energy somewhere. At night, he is able to run several kilometers.
Describing the appearance of the Syrian hamster is not easy, as individuals may differ from each other and have many different colors. They can also be fluffy or smooth coat.
Syrian hamsters eat the same food as the Djungar. However, they consume much more food. In general, because of their size, they require more care, so you have to clean the cage more often.However, this hamster will be a great friend for a child, because he is absolutely harmless, friendly and quickly gets used to people.
You can teach a lot to teach a Syrian hamster, for example, to go to the tray and respond to your name. But you have to train him every day. He needs constant attention and communication, otherwise the pet may run wild. Even this rodent loves freedom - several times a week it is worth releasing from the cage. So that he is not lost somewhere in the apartment, it is worth buying him a running ball for hamsters.
The difference between these two varieties, in the first place, is in size and appearance.
If the Dzungarian variant has predominantly dark gray colors, then the Syrian hamsters are more diverse and are distinguished by their reddish or golden shades. For this they were even called golden hamsters.
The length of the body of the Dzungar hamsters even with the tail does not exceed 10 cm. Accordingly, the Syrians are almost twice as good as they are, and weigh even more. Knowing this, man will never confuse one breed with another.
Syrian hamsters live longer than Dzungar - their life expectancy ranges from two to six years.
Although the Syrian hamsters are quite active, the Jungar brothers are more brisk and energetic. However, the first quickly get used to human hands, and the latter are difficult to train. But sometimes the life activity of the Dzungar individuals is simply interesting and fun to watch.
Anyway will have to follow the nutrition of your pet, as junk food can harm him. Although Syrian hamsters are omnivorous, they should not be abused. But with the Dzungarian individuals should be more attentive, since this type is prone to diabetes. For this reason, do not overfeed them with sweets or fruit.
For most parents who want to please their children, the most important criterion is a bad smell from a rodent, which can spread throughout the apartment. The Syrian hamsters are considered to be less problematic in this regard. Dzungarian, despite its size, more fragrant. But it is worth noting that females do not smell as much as males.
If it was decided to buy two hamsters at once, then they will have to be kept separately. Rodents do not get along well with each other and often conflict. However, the Dzungar hamsters are more loyal to their brethren and in most cases live peacefully.
In the end, one cannot say that one breed is better than another - any chosen pet will bring a lot of joy. The question is only what the new family expects from him.
What hamster make?
It all depends on the preferences of the child. The age of children is of considerable importance - it is not worth buying a small Dzungarian hamster to a child of preschool age, because he can easily crush the fragile body of an animal by playing with them. In addition, some particularly wild individuals have a habit of biting.
But a larger Syrian hamster can be safely held and stroked. Because of this, children like them more. And do not worry that the child will be bitten - the Syrian individuals are completely non-aggressive towards people.
If parents know that their child is not very responsible and they do not have much time to care for a hamster, then it is worth choosing Djungar, because he is more independent and can take care of himself, even if the family members forget to get out of it or feed it.
Now, knowing all the main differences between the two breeds, you can make a conclusion by yourself which of them best fits in the family. But before buying, you need to seriously discuss this with your child and explain to him how much responsibility is placed on him.
Care
Whatever hamster parents choose, it will require attention and proper care. First of all, you need to provide your pet with favorable living conditions. The cage should be spacious, but you should pay attention to the gaps between the rods were not too wide, otherwise the most agile rodents would be able to escape from their homes.
Also, do not forget about the basic devices that must be present in each cell, for example, a drinking bowl with a retractable stopper, which produces as much water as necessary. You need to make sure that the animal understood how it works. Water, by the way, should always be fresh, so you need to change it once or twice a day.
Also, the hamster needs to be properly fed. The main food for him is a special dry food. But sometimes you need to pamper him with fruits, vegetables and herbs. Care must be taken to ensure the nutrition of the rodent is balanced.
By the way, hamsters are afraid of water, so they are not allowed to bathe. For these purposes, you should purchase a special sand in which the animal can clean its wool.
It is worth remembering that hamsters are accustomed to be awake at night, which means that in the daytime they should never be awakened, as this can be a heavy shock for them.
The conditions in which the pet lives directly affect its lifespan. Like any other pet, hamsters are quite troublesome regardless of their breed. But it is worth giving them your love and attention, and they will become full-fledged members of the family.
Funny video about the differences between the two breeds of hamsters performed by young video bloggers can be seen below.
