TIPS FOR CHOOSING YOUR HAMSTER

Hamsters are all cute more than others, making the choice of a companion often difficult! But beyond its appearance, a hamster must above all be fulfilled and healthy.

You have decided to buy a small hamster, and you are looking forward to welcoming him home. Here are the essentials to check to be sure to make the right choice.

The origin of a hamster: advantages and disadvantages

THE DETAILS

Occasionally, individuals end up with hamster litters, intended or unwanted, and seek to yield the cubs. The advantage: animals are usually used to being handled from a very young age. Docile, they are easier to tame. The general environment is healthy with little microbial pressure.

BREEDERS

A breeder can be amateur or professional. Unlike the individual, he has regular hamsters litters and a great deal of knowledge about rodents. He will be able to answer all your questions, and provide you with important informationabout the animal you have chosen, such as date of birth, identity of parents and character.

PET SHOPS

These are the most common places to get a hamster. You will usually find a wide selection of individuals. But very often, males are not separated from females, hence a risk of unwanted pregnancy. In addition, animals are not regularly handled, and may be fearful or aggressive. Community living also subjects them to greater microbial pressure.

The importance of proper maintenance

Whether you decide to take your hamster from an individual, a breeder or a pet store, it is essential to inspect the premises and check the maintenance conditions of the animals. Cages must be clean, spacious and not overcrowded, and adequate food (seed mix or better extruded food) and water must be available to all hamsters.

How to check the state of health of a hamster?

Always make sure a hamster is healthy before you adopt it. Indeed, with the stress of transport and change of place of life, an animal that is already fragile and sick at the base is likely to develop a serious pathology, even fatal. Observe carefully the individual of your choice. There should be no secretions or crustsin the nose and eyes, and he should not sneeze. Its coat must be smooth and shiny , without holes. It is important that it has a dry and clean back: diarrheais common in hamsters. It is better to buy your pet late afternoon, to see him awake and to check that his behavior is very lively.

Are there different species of hamsters? 
Several species of hamsters are available for sale. The most common is the golden hamster, of relatively large size. There are also dwarf hamsters, such as the Russian hamster, Roborovski’s hamster, and more rarely the Chinese hamster.