What cages are needed for hamsters dzhungarikov. Important rules for caring for Djungarian hamsters. Fresh vegetables and fruits

Small and cute rodents Djungarian hamsters in nature live in the North-Eastern Caucasus, Central and Western Asia and Western Siberia. Their habitat is rocky semi-desert areas, cinquefoil and wormwood steppes without shrubs. Dzhungars also live well at home, where their maintenance does not require a lot of time and money. They are happy to be kept in their apartments by pet lovers, and this is understandable, since they love to play with children and delight with their funny antics.

Acquaintance with the Djungarian hamster

A very active rodent with beautiful fur grows up to only 10 cm and has a body weight of 45 g. The features of its appearance include dark stripe on the back which distinguishes it from its peers. The coat of the animal has a variegated color and white blotches, due to which, under natural conditions, the rodent can safely disguise itself and hide from predators. Domestic hamsters can have the following colors:

• pearl;
• mandarin;
• standard;
• sapphire.

In winter, the animal's coat sheds and acquires a white color. The inclusions become invisible, only a gray stripe on the back remains.

Many people like Dzungaria not only for their cute plush muzzle, but also because are exceptionally clean and do not emit an unpleasant odor. At the genetic level, even at home, they stock up on food, putting it behind their plump cheeks. The funny rodent is very interesting to watch. Djungarian hamsters are active only at dusk. Day and night they sleep and can do it with pleasure on the lap of their owners.

Like all rodents, dzungars can show aggression, and even bite. Their bite is not dangerous to humans, however, it is quite sensitive. This character trait of the animal must be borne in mind if the hamster is purchased for a child.

Keeping a jungarian at home

In keeping hamsters are very unpretentious and comfortable. The ideal option for their content is a cage. Since a rodent can easily gnaw through plastic and wooden rods, it is best if the frame of the dwelling will be galvanized. The cage should be large enough to fit a pet house, a special wheel and still have room for the active movement of the hamster.

The cage should be equipped with:

1. A fairly spacious house with a wide opening into which the rodent should easily enter.
2. Lazami in the form of tubes, branches and horses.
3. A special toilet designed for small animals and filled with absorbent material.
4. Bedding in the form of compressed sawdust or fine sand, which must be able to absorb moisture and absorb odors. It is strictly forbidden to lay newspapers, rags, napkins and cotton wool for hamsters.
5. A drinker with a volume of at least 50 ml. It is best to choose an automatic drinker that will be attached to the cage wall. Pet water should always be fresh.
6. A feeder, the width of which should be from 3 to 10 cm.
7. A wheel that is selected based on the size of the pet. It should have a bottom without a grid and transverse protrusions.
8. Kupala, which differs in that instead of water, sand is poured into it. It is not recommended to wet and bathe jungars.

Features of care

Clean rodents do not require special care. They wash themselves and brush their fur with their paws. It will only be necessary to change the toilet filler as it fills up, and clean the cage once every 5-7 days. Once a month, the bottom of the cage should be washed with water and laundry soap.

Since it is impossible to bathe Djungarian hamsters, they sometimes should take a sand bath. This is required only if the rodent's fur does not shine and has fallen off. To do this, some sand is poured into some container and a pet is launched into it. He will gladly wallow in the sand and clean his fur.

These simple jungar care measures will ensure a healthy and joyful life for your little animal.

Nutrition of Djungarian hamsters

If caring for rodents is quite simple, then you need to pay special attention to nutrition. It is recommended to feed your pet twice a day at the same time. This should be done in the morning when the hamster wakes up, and in the evening when it starts to show activity. The pregnant female is fed at regular intervals four times a day.

In the morning, the jungarik's diet should include boiled vegetables, protein and juicy food. In the evening, he is tedious to give porridge, dry food and treats.

The basis of the diet of Djungarian hamsters includes:

Twice a week, the diet of rodents should include protein in the form of boiled eggs, cottage cheese, kefir, natural yogurt, low-fat boiled fish or boiled chicken fillet.

Pregnant females, sick and thin hamsters are recommended to be fed with water-based baby food without sugar and salt. If the intestines are upset, the pet can be fed with glutinous rice, and with constipation, give a drop of vegetable oil.

The list of products prohibited for jungars includes:

When purchasing food for a small rodent at a pet store, you need to be careful. Designed for large rodents rough mixes are not suitable for jungars. They have a completely different composition, which can harm the health of a small hamster.

Diseases of the jungars

Small and delicate creatures can be prone to various ailments. You need to know about the simplest of them so that you can properly care for your hamster in case of illness.

Active animals in the fall can hit or get dislocated or fractured. The main symptoms in these cases are problems in the movement of the animal and curvature of the limb. It is simply impossible to fix broken legs or tail. Therefore, veterinarians are advised to provide the hamster with a quiet place to stay and feed it with calcium-rich food. Ladders and the wheel from the cage are temporarily removed. Fixed limbs with such care grow together in 10-14 days.

When hypothermia hamsters can catch a cold or catch the flu from the inhabitants of the house. The first symptoms of the disease are: decreased activity, runny nose and sneezing of the animal. If there are no other manifestations of the disease, then the pet’s cage should be moved from a draft to a warmer place, add warm bedding to it and give it warm milk. You can boost your immune system with fruits and vegetables. With a sharp weight loss, loss of appetite and purulent discharge from the eyes, it is recommended to urgently contact a veterinarian who will prescribe treatment and tell you how to care for a Djungarian hamster during an illness.

bacterial infection may develop into conjunctivitis. In this case, inflamed eyes are gently rubbed with salted water. But if the lens of the eye becomes cloudy, and the pupil area is gray, then most likely the hamster has developed a cataract. This disease affects old animals. It is not amenable to treatment.

With frequent stress, hamsters can get eczema or dermatophytosis, which are manifested by hair loss and flaking of the skin. In this case, you should immediately seek help from a specialist who will prescribe a course of antibiotics.

Sometimes in Djungarian hamsters have problems with teeth. Therefore, with a sudden refusal of a rodent from food, you need to check the teeth for integrity. In some cases, too long teeth prevent the hamster from eating, which can be aligned with ordinary nail clippers. But this procedure is best left to a specialist.

As can be seen from the article, the maintenance and care of Djungarian hamsters is not very complicated. Simple measures such as providing food and fresh water, cleaning the cage, and playing with it regularly will ensure a healthy life for the pet and bring joy to both the pet and its owner.

One of the smallest and cutest domestic rodents is the Djungarian hamster. But, despite this, you should not treat him like a toy, he, like any other living creature, requires some care and proper nutrition.

Djungarian hamsters are quite small animals, even adults do not exceed 5 cm in size, so they can be purchased even by those whose living space does not allow pets. A distinctive feature of these rodents is a gray color with an expressive black stripe. In nature, these rodents live in Asia, Siberia, and also in the Northeast Caucasus. They mainly settle in semi-desert rocky areas and steppes without shrubs.

Despite such a habitat, hamsters get along well at home, and their maintenance does not require a huge amount of time and money at all. In the event that you have small children in your house, then you definitely need to get these little pets that will bring a lot of pleasure to all family members.

How to choose the right jungarik

Since the Djungarian hamster is by nature a loner, they feel great in a cage without a "friend". Otherwise, cohabitation of rodents can lead to unpleasant consequences. Very often, hamsters living together start fights and can even injure each other. Therefore, before buying two hamsters at once, you need to think very carefully.

When choosing a hamster, you also need to immediately determine its gender. In the event that you do not have experience in this matter, it is best to trust the experience of the seller.

Although rodents are considered one of the most common pets, not many people know how to properly care for a Djungarian hamster.

Not many people know how to care for a dzhungarik

For a comfortable existence, the animal first of all needs a cage. It is best to give preference to galvanized frames, as wooden or plastic hamsters can easily gnaw through.

The cage for a rodent must be spacious. It should easily accommodate a house, a special wheel, and also leave a place for the active movement of the pet.

In turn, the cage for the hamster dzhungarika must be equipped with the following:

• a spacious house with a wide entrance to it, the pet should easily enter there;
• tubes and branches;
• toilet with filler;
• bedding;
• drinker;
• feeder;
• bathing suit;
• wheel.

Cage for a hamster dzhungarika

For the toilet, you must definitely purchase a special absorbent material, and pressed sawdust or fine sand, which can absorb all odors, is best suited as bedding. It is strictly forbidden to use napkins, cotton wool, rags or newspapers for these purposes.

A hamster drinker should have a volume of at least 50 ml and be best automatic. Be sure to make sure that your pet always has water. As for the feeder, its dimensions can vary from 3 to 10 centimeters.

The wheel must be with transverse protrusions, and it is also necessary to have a bottom, it should be chosen based on the size of the hamster.

A bathing suit is an obligatory attribute in a jungarik's cage, but since these animals cannot be wetted, sand is poured into it instead of water.

The cage for the Djungarian hamster is not the only possible place to live, they can also be kept in an aquarium that is of sufficient length. The most optimal dimensions for such purposes are aquariums with dimensions of 100x40 cm.

Despite the fact that Djungarian hamsters are considered very clean animals, they do not require special care. They take care of their own hygiene. The only thing worth systematically monitoring is the contamination of the toilet, the filler of which must be changed as it fills up. In addition, it is necessary to systematically clean the cage. This should be done at least once a week, and once a month, wash its bottom with soapy water.

Since it is strictly forbidden to bathe a pet, he needs to arrange sand baths, which help to improve the appearance of the rodent. After taking such baths, his coat becomes more shiny.

Sand baths improve the appearance of the rodent

Thanks to these fairly simple rules, your pet will always be healthy and live a joyful life.

Compared to fairly simple care, a hamster's nutrition needs to be given close attention. It needs to be fed at the same time twice a day. The first feeding occurs in the morning, as soon as the rodent wakes up, and the second in the evening. The second feeding should be started at the time when the activity of the animal begins to appear. In the event that a pregnant female lives with you, then the number of feedings for the entire period of pregnancy must be increased to four times. Feeding in this case is carried out at regular intervals.

Your hamster's diet needs to be monitored. The following foods must be included in the diet:

• boiled vegetables that are prepared without the use of salt;
• fresh fruits and vegetables;
• seedlings of grains;
• dry food specially designed for these animals;
• homemade crackers;
• seedless berries;
• cereals.

Hamster nutrition must be given close attention

For morning feeding, it is best to give preference to juicy food, protein and boiled vegetables. In the evening, you can pamper your pet with dry food, porridge, and treats.

The diet of the jungarik must include protein. It is in the right amount in cottage cheese, yogurt, boiled eggs, chicken fillet or fish. Such products should be given to the rodent twice a week.

When hamsters get sick, lose weight, or are pregnant, it is best to supplement them with baby food that is free of salt and sugar.

When hamsters are carrying offspring, it is best to supplement them with baby food.

With constipation, the pet is given a drop of vegetable oil, and with loose stools, glutinous rice.

Also, when feeding a dzhungarik, one must take into account the fact that it is strictly forbidden to give him some products. These include:

• sausages;
• sausage;
• sour cream;
• milk;
• cream;
• garlic;
• mint;
• butter;
• watermelon;
• spices;
• salt;
• sugar;
• chocolate;
• citrus.

Bananas, peaches, apples and apricots, treats for Djungarian hamsters

Vegetables are also well tolerated by them, so it is necessary to systematically feed the rodent with corn, cucumbers, lettuce, zucchini, tomatoes, and carrots.

In summer, it is recommended to pamper your pet with fresh herbs such as clover, dandelion, parsley, nettle or plantain. It is strictly forbidden to feed the rodent with mint, as it contains a huge amount of essential oils. You should also not feed him with sorrel, as it has a very high acidity.

Important! Djungarian hamsters should not eat sweets, white bread and spices, as well as fried and sweet foods. Food should be balanced and also fresh. Unwashed and missing food can lead to poisoning.

Pamper your pet with fresh herbs

In addition, when purchasing special food in pet stores, you need to pay attention that it is not intended for large rodents, since they have a completely different composition. If you choose the wrong one, you can cause irreparable harm to your pet.

We already know how to care for a djungarian hamster if he lives alone, but if you have two of them, then sooner or later they may have babies. You also need to take care of where you will put them in advance.

In advance, you need to take care of where you will put them with the kids.

In most cases, if the female and male live together, after forty days they are completely ready to create offspring. Therefore, in such cases it is necessary to be extremely careful.

It is better not to acquire and settle same-sex Djungarian hamsters, as this will certainly lead to enmity between them.

Also, special attention must be paid to the location of the cell. In no case should it stand near the battery, TV or computer. Draft also negatively affects the condition of the animal.

The cage should not stand near the battery, TV or computer

Do not forget that hamsters are shy animals and can experience stress. In order not to harm the pet, do not take it as a toy, but treat it carefully and with love. It is best not to give the jungarik into the hands of young children and not to try to forcefully tame it in the first days of acquaintance.

How to accustom a rodent to hands

As soon as you get hamsters, you do not need to immediately try to accustom them to hands. These pets need to be given some time to get comfortable. For this, basically, a couple of days are enough for pets.

After a while, you can already begin to pick it up, but this must be done carefully. It is best if the animal is on the floor at this moment. You need to take it carefully, gradually sticking your hand under it. If the jungarik is afraid and rushes around the cage, then you should not insist on contact. In such matters, it is necessary to exercise patience, which will be appreciated by the hamster. In the process, you need to contact him daily. This is a prerequisite. A neglectful attitude can lead to the fact that the jungarik generally weans from you and may even bite.

It is also worth remembering that hamsters are very sensitive to temperature changes and loud sounds. Sometimes, frightened pets do not make contact with people for a long time, during which they can run wild.

The Djungarian hamster is a small rodent, its size does not exceed 10 cm, the average individual reaches a size of 5-7 cm in height, and its weight ranges from 50 g. The fur of the animal is very beautiful, it tends to change shade depending on the season of the year. Their distinguishing feature from other breeds of hamsters is a dark stripe along the spine. Actually, the wool is variegated with light patches, this feature allows them to mask themselves as much as possible from predatory animals in the wild.

Djungarian hamster

The color of domestic jungars can be:

• tangerine;
• pearl;
• sapphire;
• black;
• standard (gray-brown).

Most often, in winter, rodents are subject to molting, the animals shed their old hair and turn white with their characteristic dark stripe on the back.

Unlike other breeds of hamsters, Dzungarian ones are absolutely not smelly. They are clean, and if you regularly sanitize your home, you can eliminate the appearance of an unpleasant odor. Dzhungariki become attached to the owners, willingly go into the hands and can be on the lap of a person for some time.

However, this does not mean at all that a toy for a small child can be made from an animal. They can also be quite shy and dislike loud noises. It is worth noting that the Dzungarians are active at night, you should put up with this feature, or place the cage in such a way that its nightlife does not interfere with the sleep of its owners.

Necessary purchases. Djungarian hamsters, although small, are able to defend their territory very actively. Based on this fact, you cannot buy two hamsters and put them in one, even a large, cage. Regular fights and the struggle for survival, the extraction of food will lead to the fact that the animals will die.

The first purchase after acquiring the animal will be a spacious cage. The larger its size, the more comfortable the pet will feel, the minimum size of his home should be 50 × 30 cm. This amount of space will be enough for him to live and play. If you choose a cage with bars arranged horizontally, the hamster will be able to climb them, warming up additionally. If you do not provide the animal with the necessary space for moving, running and playing, it will simply die. The cage can also be two or three tiered.

Djungarian hamster dwelling must be equipped with the following equipment:

1. A home for privacy.
2. drinker;
3. feeder;
4. Container for "bathing";
5. Sports (game) equipment;

Since Djungarian hamsters are timid, they need security, so in order for them to be alone and hide in a cage, they need a small house. These structures are sold in pet stores, they can be made of various materials: wood, plastic, ceramics, cardboard. Cardboard houses are not so practical; ceramic and wooden products would be preferable. The higher the practicality of a small shelter, the higher its price. Plastic houses combine both reliability and comparative cheapness, therefore they are more popular among buyers.

The high mobility of the Dzungaria was mentioned above, therefore, in order to maintain this feature of the breed, its cage must be equipped with sports equipment. It can be wheels for running, labyrinths, rope bridges, ladders. When choosing a wheel, it is worth inspecting it carefully. It is desirable that the design does not contain holes, otherwise the animal's leg may get stuck, the consequences are fraught with fractures or dislocations of the pet's limbs.

Too large a radius of the wheel can provoke a curvature of the spine in a rodent, so the inventory must be appropriate for its size, do not hesitate to ask a pet store consultant for advice. Equipping the cage with game elements will help the pet to spend time actively and cheerfully, which is important for a loving owner.

A food feeder may not actually be needed, hamsters do not eat from a bowl, and most often they love to turn it upside down, scattering the contents. The bowl is needed only in order to lay out food on it, and then the hamster will take it to its bins. A ceramic feeder is preferable - it is heavier, it is more difficult for a small rodent to move and turn it over than a plastic one. When choosing a drinker, you should know - they are different.

You should not take a simple bowl for these purposes, the hamster will easily turn it over and wet the filler. An excellent solution for cages is automatic drinkers, nipple design. Its device is quite simple - water is poured into a plastic container, at the bottom there is a special long metal spout with a valve, when the animal wants to drink, it presses on it and gets water for itself. The advantage of such a device is that it is easy to attach to the cage, the water does not overflow and does not get dirty. Dzungaria cannot be bathed in water, but they need to keep their fur clean. Therefore, in the cage, as necessary, you need to put a bathing container with clean sand.

The filler for the cage is vital for the animal. You can buy special sawdust for hamsters at a pet store, or you can use wood, corn, and cellulose fillers. You can dilute the filler with paper napkins, toilet paper, it is necessary for rodents to arrange nests. You should not use cotton wool and synthetic winterizer as a filler, rodents will clog their cheeks and can choke, and the material also sticks to the limbs of the animal and contributes to impaired blood circulation in them.

Basic care

The most important thing in caring for a Djungarian hamster is to provide comfortable living and eating conditions. Therefore, the issue of placing a cage with a rodent must be given special attention. Animals do not like noise, so you should not equip his home next to a TV, computer or other source of loud sounds. A place near the radiator is also not the best option for a pet. To avoid the development of diseases, it is impossible to put a cage in places where drafts form. Direct sunlight is undesirable for hamsters.

Djungarian hamsters are very clean animals, so it is easy to care for them. By itself, the animal does not exude unpleasant odors, and the cage needs to be cleaned on average once every three days, with the replacement of the filler once a week. Cleaning up should begin with moving the hamster to a safe place where it cannot escape, such as a jar or a portable container. Next, you can start cleaning items. It is worth noting that all the dirty filler cannot be removed, a small part of it must be left. Every month it is necessary to wash the cage with laundry soap. Sawdust must be poured out, and the pan washed and dried, then pour a new layer of warm bedding.

In order for the rodent to sharpen its teeth, it is necessary to put a wooden stick in the cage, and mineral rock is also suitable for the same purpose. To clean the fur, as necessary, you should arrange a “bath day” for the hamster. You can determine that it is time to clean the fur by its appearance. If the wool has lost its luster and pellets have formed, you need to take a bathing container and pour clean sand into it, put your pet in it. Wallowing in the sand, the hamster will clean the fur.

Optimal Nutrition

The average life expectancy of dzhungariks is 3 years. Mature animals lead a sedentary lifestyle and practically do not move. To ensure a full life, the rodent requires a balanced diet. It is necessary to accustom the animal to take food in one place to the cage, and not to pull it apart around its entire perimeter. For these purposes, both the feeder and the drinker are installed in one corner. The Dzungarian hamster is omnivorous, but this does not mean that it can be fed from its own plate. The animal is prone to rapid obesity, and this fact negatively affects its health.

When compiling a diet for a hamster, it must be understood that it should not differ significantly from what they eat in the wild. The best and easiest option would be to buy food from a pet store. Special feeds for jungars are balanced and additionally supplied with vitamins and microelements necessary for the growth and health of the animal. Most purchased feed contains corn, sunflower seeds, nuts, oats, peas.

In addition, hamsters love to eat vegetables:

• zucchini;
• carrots;
• cucumbers;
• tomatoes;
• lettuce leaves.

Categorically, cabbage, garlic and onions are not suitable for Dzungarians. You can also replenish your pet’s diet with fruits: peaches, apples, bananas, apricots. It is desirable not to offer citruses.

It is also necessary for rodents to diversify the cereal diet with protein foods. Once a week, the hamster should be offered meat, about 2-4 small pieces. It could be boiled chicken. Also, low-fat cottage cheese, boiled chicken eggs are suitable as protein. In the summer, it would be nice to pamper the jungar with juicy greens, such as dandelions, nettles, clover, plantain, parsley. It is better to refuse sorrel and mint as a pet treat.

Mint contains essential oils, and sorrel is overly acidic, which may not please the hamster. It is important to know that you should not add salt, spices, pastries, pasta, sausages to the food of Djungarian hamsters. Fried and sweet are also prohibited. A serving of a healthy adult rodent should be no more than 2.5 tablespoons of prepared food. The hamster eats up to 2 times a day, and also hides food behind his cheeks, so he will not be hungry.

Diseases

Pets get sick, and this fact cannot but upset the owner. Djungarian hamsters are also prone to various kinds of diseases. An alarm signal of the development of the disease can be deviations in the normal behavior of the animal. For example, refusal to eat, immobility, excessive solitude, change in stool, and other signs. First of all, you need to visit a veterinarian to diagnose and prescribe treatment for your pet.

The main diseases of the dzhungaria can be classified into groups:

1. Mechanical damage.
2. Colds.
3. Diseases of the digestive tract.
4. Eye diseases.
5. Hair problems.
6. Dental diseases.
7. Oncological diseases and neoplasms.

The activity of hamsters can often lead to various injuries to organs or limbs. Often in their short life, fractures and dislocations of the paws from a fall or excessive love of the owner. You can understand that the animal has received a mechanical injury by uncharacteristic behavior or visually. The injured foot may be deformed, the hamster can hardly move, does not eat and is inactive - all this means that he may be in pain.

Signs of colds in a dzhungarik are sneezing, runny nose and low mobility. You should know that a hamster can catch a disease from the owners of the house, or catch a cold in a draft. It is worth treating the animal with warm milk, heating the litter and moving the cage to a warm place. Additional treatment is prescribed by a veterinarian. Sticky eyelids in a hamster is a sign of an eye disease. It could be conjunctivitis or some other infection.

Wash the eyes of the animal with tea leaves or saline. Cataract - clouding of the lens, often occurs in jungars in adulthood. Unfortunately, this disease in rodents cannot be cured.

Dental problems often bother Djungarian hamsters. If the pet refuses to eat, it is possible that his teeth are bothering him. It is necessary to examine the oral cavity, perhaps the incisors have grown too much or the animal has been injured. In any case, it is better to show it to the veterinarian.

And for oral hygiene and grinding teeth, a wooden stick or a mineral pebble should always be in the cage. If a dzhungarian hair falls out, he may be sick. He may have eczema or an allergic reaction to the food or filler. A course of antibiotics will help cure the animal.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are not uncommon in the life of Djungarian hamsters. Signs of the disease - diarrhea, seething in the stomach, fetid discharge. Infections of bacterial etiology are treated with antibiotics, so in this case the way out is a direct road to the veterinarian. Dzungarians are highly susceptible to the development of cancer and neoplasms. An accurate diagnosis can only be made by an experienced veterinarian.

Jungars breed throughout the year. The female hamster brings from 1 to 10 babies of various colors. The gestation period is 3 weeks. The youngest female can be 4 months old, and she is able to become pregnant a day after giving birth. It is better to transplant the male immediately after the appearance of the offspring, otherwise there will be fights. But the new mother needs peace and comfort. Their life is short, so all important processes proceed rapidly in dzungaria.

The Djungarian hamster is the most popular rodent to keep in apartments. In addition, it is also the most studied species. Such a hamster lives in the steppes of Kazakhstan and in Central Asia. Life expectancy averages three years. Although everything here depends on the conditions in which the rodent lives.

Djungarian hamsters are very well tamed. Caring for them is quite simple, they are picky in food. To grow a healthy rodent, you need to follow the rules of hygiene, as well as feed a variety of foods. If you decide that you want to get such a rodent, then read the article further.

Buying an animal. Is it worth taking several hamsters

First decide how many rodents you want to have. Some people think that you need to buy two jungariks at once so that they have more fun. But experienced breeders say differently about this. They believe that each rodent should have its own cage. Why do they have such a point of view?

This is because Djungarian hamsters are loners by nature, so if there is no “friend” in the cage with them, they will not get bored. In 95%, the joint life of such rodents leads to bad consequences. Between the hamsters there are fights, after which the rodents appear injured. Although there were times when they still lived very peacefully. Therefore, before you decide to buy two rodents, think carefully.

Determine the gender of the Djungarian hamster

How to do it? Of course, the seller can volunteer to help, but he, unfortunately, can make an elementary mistake. It's actually very easy to figure this out. How? First, put the back of the rodent on your palm, with your thumbs you should hold the upper part of the hamster's body.

The back part is now in a free position, so you can easily see the sexual characteristics of the animal with your second hand. During this procedure, do not hurt the rodent, do not squeeze the body, be extremely careful.

So, now about the differences ... If the animal has a distance of about one centimeter between the anus and genitals, a formed gland is visible in the center of the tummy, which looks like a navel, then you should know that you have a male hamster.

How to understand that you are holding a female in your hands? The distance between the anus and the genitals is insignificant, while the gland is almost invisible. Another difference between the female is two rows of papillae running from the chest to the bottom of the tummy.

Djungarian hamsters: care and maintenance

Now we turn to the choice of housing, because the baby needs to live somewhere. Of course, the best option is a cage. It is desirable that it be more than 50x30 cm in size. So the rodent will have enough space for jogging and warming up. Choose a cage with horizontal bars, it will be better. The rodent will be able to climb them.

What to do when a home is purchased? Next, you need to correctly fill the cell. The first thing you need is a house. Pay attention to the material. There are different types of houses made of plastic, ceramics, cardboard or wood. Cardboard products, as you know, are not particularly practical. It is better to choose ceramic and wooden. But such houses will cost more. Plastic products are the best option for the price / quality ratio.

What should be the size of the house? Spacious. It is important that the Djungarian hamster freely passes through the door with stuffed cheeks. In the house itself there should be enough space for pantries. If the rodent feels uncomfortable in the home, then it needs to be changed. After all, the pet should be comfortable.

Feeder for food

Rather, the owner needs a feeder than a rodent. As a rule, hamsters empty the feeder very quickly, dragging the grain mixture around the pantries.

When you pick up a bowl, remember that rodents love to turn plates over on the "ground". The ideal option is a ceramic product. Moving such plates is difficult for a small hamster. Glass bowls should not be placed in a cage with a rodent, as it can get hurt.

Drinker for a rodent

There are several types of drinkers. The pet store may advise you to buy a regular bowl. But this is not the best option. The advantage of such a purchase is the price. In a cage, a rodent will simply turn over a plastic bowl or throw it with sawdust.

The best option is automatic drinkers. They are also called "nipple". The design of this product is quite simple: a plastic container with a metal spout is used for water. The drinker is easily attached to the cage. To get water, the Djungarian hamster must press the valve with its nose. The advantage of this species is that the rodent will not be able to pour or spoil the liquid.

Some necessary items that can be put in a cage

You will also need a wheel. After all, a rodent needs to spend its accumulated energy somewhere.

To grind teeth, you need a mineral or chalk stone.

If you wish, you can purchase a special bathing suit that you fill with sand. In such a product, rodents will take a bath with great pleasure. Of course, sand.

For rodents, pet stores also sell special tunnels, ladders, sections and more.

Cage filler: which one is better to choose

You can use different filler. But the best option is sawdust. Some people advise using cat litter as bedding. This is acceptable, but everything is better than sawdust. They are cheaper and safer for animals.

Never put cotton wool in a hamster's cage. It is contraindicated in rodents. Cotton wool fibers can wrap around the paws and body of the hamster, resulting in impaired blood circulation. There are cases when rodents eat pieces of this material, which leads to problems with the intestines.

Where to put the cage

Do not place your home next to noisy objects (TV, radios, etc.) and with a hot battery. Make sure that the rodent's cage is not exposed to sunlight. Also, do not put it in a draft, as Djungarian hamsters will often get sick.

Rodent care

Such an animal is very clean. Taking care of him is a pleasure. Such an animal does not smell, so cleaning can be done infrequently. The ideal option is once every three days. How to clean?

First remove the rodent from the cage, then all items. Next, pour out the sawdust, wash the pallet and pour in new ones.

Should you bathe your hamster? You can bathe, but you need to use either a special or dry shampoo. Soap is by no means suitable for these purposes. Hygiene procedure should be carried out only as it gets dirty. Just because you should not bathe a rodent, as it is stressful for him. In addition, the animal can catch a cold.

As a rule, the Djungarian hamster carries out all hygiene procedures himself. He carefully cleans the body using the tongue and paws.

Hamsters live in burrows in their natural environment. But even there the animal manages to maintain perfect cleanliness. There they make a toilet in special compartments. At the genetic level, the property was transferred to domestic hamsters. In a free corner, as a rule, these rodents arrange a latrine for themselves.

Rodent food at home

What to feed Djungarian hamsters? This topic needs special attention. The easiest option is feed mixtures. You can buy them at the pet store. Commonly prepared meals include peas, oats, seeds, corn, and nuts.

What do Djungarian hamsters eat? Fresh vegetables and fruits. The Dzungarian hamster, whose photo you see in our article, with great pleasure will eat lettuce, plantain, dried fruits (dates, prunes and dried apricots), carrots or zucchini. Also, he will not give up corn. Remember that onions are harmful to rodents. If we talk about fruits, then hamsters love apples, peaches, apricots and bananas. Citrus fruits should not be given to rodents.

The diet of hamsters should also include protein. A couple of times a week, a rodent can be given fat-free cottage cheese, boiled chicken or boiled eggs (chicken and quail). In addition, boiled shrimp, dried gammarus and earthworms should be added to the diet. Watch what the hamster hides in his pantries, there should not be perishable food there, otherwise it can lead to bad consequences.

If you put hay in a cage, then do not be surprised, the jungarik will eat it too. Sometimes rodents need extra vitamins. In the selection of such products, it is better to consult a veterinarian.

List of prohibited products

1. Spices.
2. Salt.
3. Avocado.
4. Lemons.
5. Milk.
6. Branches of coniferous trees (pine, larch and others).
7. Oranges and grapefruits.
8. Sugar.
9. Sour cream.
10. Cabbage (Brussels, white and red).
11. Cream.
12. Pasta.
13. Watermelon.
14. Biscuit.
15. Almond.
16. Bakery.
17. Pomegranate.
18. A pineapple.
19. Candies.
20. Mint.
21. Chocolate.
22. Apricot and cherry pits.
23. Cakes.
24. Muesli.
25. Kiwi.
26. Butter.
27. Sorrel.
28. Sausages.
29. Bread (black).
30. Mint.
31. Mushrooms.
32. Sausages.

It is believed that drinking water is not needed for pygmy rodents. This is an erroneous statement. Djungarian hamsters at home will not do without water, so it is best to keep a special drinker in a cage for these purposes. Water should be changed twice a week if the rodent does not empty the container earlier.

Diseases

Everyone gets sick, Djungarian hamsters are no exception. Most diseases can only be diagnosed by a veterinarian. Now consider the main diseases of Djungarian hamsters.

Cold or flu

If your animal has significantly decreased activity, he sneezes and sniffs, then there is a possibility that he has picked up some kind of infection. The disease proceeds in exactly the same way as in humans. The virus can also be transmitted to animals by humans. As such, there is no cure, but during the period of illness, provide the rodent with fruits and vegetables. So you can increase his immunity.

Bumps, fractures and dislocations

As a rule, dzhungars get similar injuries in case of an unsuccessful fall. Main symptoms:

• problems in movement;
• curvature of the limbs;
• shock (sometimes it can also accompany a sick rodent).

If you notice that something is wrong with your pet, then you should contact your veterinarian. He will give you appropriate recommendations, depending on the severity of the injury.

eye diseases

Have you noticed that your pet has stuck eyelids? Then it is most likely that the animal caught a bacterial infection, which developed into conjunctivitis. The eyes of a rodent should be washed with salted water or strong tea.

How do you know if your hamster has a cataract? The lens is cloudy, and the pupil area is gray. As a rule, such a disease manifests itself in old age. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this disease. Therefore, you need to accept your pet as such.

Dental problems

If the Djungarian hamster suddenly refused food, then this may be due to a trauma to the teeth. Check if everything is in order with the incisors. There are times when too long teeth interfere with rodents. For alignment, you need to use special nippers for claws.

Skin and coat problems

Hair loss, skin flaking are symptoms of diseases such as eczema or dermatophytosis. As a rule, such diseases are associated with stress or allergies.

If the pet has red spots and wounds on the body, then it is likely that he has ticks.

Diseases of the intestines of a rodent

Loud bubbling in the abdomen, severe diarrhea, copious discharge with an unpleasant odor - all these are signs of intestinal diseases. Bacterial infections of this kind must be treated with special drugs. With such problems, you should contact your veterinarian.

Tumors

This is the most problematic area among all the diseases of Djungarian hamsters. This is because it is very difficult to diagnose, errors are possible. Sometimes people mistake a normal bump for a brain tumor.

It is not necessary to see a deadly diagnosis in everything. If there is any suspicion, immediately see a doctor. He will be able to conduct a qualified diagnosis.

A small conclusion

Now you know who the Djungarian hamster is, the maintenance and care of which, as you understand, are quite simple. This rodent can become a good friend for kids and adults. If you have forgotten what a Djungarian hamster looks like, the photos presented in our article will help you remember. Did you like the animal? Then remember the information provided here, it will help you in raising and keeping a rodent.

Dwarf Djungarian hamsters (in narrow circles known as "Russian" hamsters) are the ideal solution for those who do not want to risk the establishment of large specimens from the hamster family. In addition, they are very popular among children due to the fact that they lead an active lifestyle at almost any time and quickly get used to hands (however, they wean just as quickly).

So, what do you need to know to keep such hamsters at home? Firstly, you must understand that the “dzhungarik” is a family hamster and he definitely needs a husband / wife. Keeping a hamster alone, although possible, is not welcome. Alone and without affection from the owner, he can run wild. The degree of savagery of the Djungarian hamster can reach such a level that you simply physically cannot put a bowl of food on it or replace water - the hamster simply jumps on your hand and bites it until it bleeds.

If you are not sure that you will pay attention to your hamster every day - buy a pair. It is desirable that these were young hamsters, full of energy and capable of quick addiction.

Hamsters love it when it's dry. And it's not hot. Dry and not hot. Be guided by these rules when choosing a place where they will live. A table that is not exposed to direct sunlight is ideal for this. You can settle hamsters both in a cage and in an aquarium. The aquarium, by the way, is the most relevant, because dwarf Djungarian hamsters are very smart and within a month or two they can understand how you open the cage. From my own experience, I can say that this is quite unpleasant: every night my hamster opened the cage latch and ran around the room. The young have fun in the feeder. As you can see, in an aquarium they are no worse than in a cage.

If your hamsters run away, know: they are where the paper or cardboard is. If you don’t have paper products anywhere on the floor, look under the bed, sofa and other furniture attributes with a low leg. There is an easier way to find runaway Djungarian hamsters: turn off the lights and wait for them to come out on their own. Within two to five minuts, they begin to rustle and will most likely run out onto an open surface. This is where you catch them.

And now let's talk directly about the conditions in which the Dzhungars should live. The surface on which they run should be filled with sawdust. With their help, they can “twist” a nest for themselves and begin to be born. Paper should be used only if the purchase of sawdust was not possible. A good option would be to install a house, which is made of clay and sold in pet stores at a low price. So they can sleep peacefully during the day, not paying attention to the light.

Caring owners will surely provide the jungarik with space for entertainment - a wheel for running, ladders for climbing the wall will make your pet's life much more fun than without them.

The hamster feeder should be replenished once a day, just like water. Food for Djungarian hamsters, by the way, can be both bought in stores and made by yourself. It is important to understand that without a good diet, the hamster will begin to fade. So, if you make the mixture yourself, you should use the following elements:

• Corn cobs;
• Cereal cobs;
• Seeds (not salted)
• Fruit and vegetable complex (sometimes give cabbage, apples, etc.);
• Legumes.

Hamsters do not mind eating beans and peas, but it is undesirable to give them in large quantities. It should also be noted that mixtures in stores are not so expensive, mixtures for 100 rubles will last you at least two to four weeks (depending on the number of hamsters).

The cycle of care for Djungarian hamsters also includes cleaning their cages and hygiene procedures. The cage should be cleaned at least once a week, so as not to breed dampness and an unpleasant odor in the cages. That's why I suggested sawdust instead of paper earlier: sawdust absorbs moisture better and is easier to remove (paper shrinks a lot and forms a smelly layer that is difficult to pull out). Often there are cases when hamsters "go to the toilet" in the same place. This can be a corner that is not occupied by toys or a house, as well as being at a decent distance from them. In this case, you can completely change the sawdust once every one and a half to two weeks, removing only the toilet sector once a week.

Djungarian hamsters are very afraid of drafts and colds. Because of this, they are strictly forbidden to bathe in the water. Instead, you can install sand baths for them, in which they themselves will clean the skin when they please. If you want to participate in bathing a hamster, then use a decoction of wormwood. This is one of the few liquids that are safe to use when washing your hamster.

Caring for Djungarian hamsters in "non-standard" situations

Is your hamster acting weird? This is not a reason to ring the bells and call the doctor! There are several hackneyed cases that occur in a good part of the owners of Djungarian hamsters. We will consider them.

The hamster sleeps all day and all night. What to do?

Of course, the Djungarian hamster cannot sleep around the clock. If you bought a hamster in a single copy, then there is a high probability of stress. Also, an insufficiently varied diet leads to book activity: for example, it is impossible to feed it with seeds alone. Cereals are an obligatory part of the diet of the Djungarian hamster. It could also be that he is ill. Most likely, he was blown away.

One hamster is aggressive. Why?

The female hamster is quite often aggressive towards the male. This means that she is ready for the birth of little hamsters. In this case, you should not be scared and separate them, everything is fine. Another thing is when the male is aggressive. This can only be caused by the presence of a younger generation of hamsters in the same cage with an old hamster - father / grandfather, etc. If you do not separate young hamsters from old ones, the oldest one can show very strong aggression. My oldest hamster went crazy and started biting all the hamsters until they bleed. I had to separate him from the others. Unfortunately, this madness did not stop and he lived alone until the end of his life.

First, she needs peace. Try not to touch the house with the children in which she was born (if you have a house, then she will be born there). Do not touch the newborns with your hands, otherwise the female will become incredibly aggressive. If she is poorly fed or subjected to stress (separation from offspring, taking babies in her arms), she can kill and eat them. The male should not be separated from the offspring - he will not do anything with them, just like with the female.