Teddy Bear Hamsters
All About Teddy Bear Hamsters
Teddy Bear hamsters have become the most popular of all hamsters. They are a type of Syrian hamster, which is the kind seen in most pet stores. Teddy Bear hamsters have very long hair, which helps them look like teddy bears. They are sometimes referred to as angora hamsters. They are also larger than the average hamster at four to seven inches long. Healthy Teddy Bear Hamsters have a lifespan of two to three years.
Originally, all hamsters sold in pet stores in the United States and England were only one color. They were all golden, even though they were a mix of gold, brown and black. But breeding brought about hamsters of many other colors, such as sable, tortoiseshell, white, black, gold, cream, and even hamsters with a band of a different color around their bodies. These started to be called Fancy Hamsters to distinguish them from the Golden Hamsters. Hamsters now come in forty different colors. Teddy Bear hamsters also were separated from the Golden classification and became the third group of Syrian hamsters.
Teddy Bear hamsters have the most fur of all hamsters with the male having more than the female. Females are often larger than males. You should never house any type of Syrian hamsters together as they are very territorial and will fight and kill one another. Pet stores often house many hamsters in one cage but that is because they are very young. Once a hamster reaches eight weeks old, he or she must have its own cage.
If you intend to get a Teddy Bear hamster, you must first make a commitment to take proper care of your pet, and make sure there is someone to care for him or her should you not be around. You will need to get a hamster cage or other housing, water bottle, hamster food (they also like fresh veggies and fruit daily), food bowl, bedding, chew toy, a place for nesting and hiding within their cage, treats, vitamins, and toys for exercise. A book on how to take care of your hamster is a good idea, but if you can’t afford one, you can do adequate research online or at the library.
Teddy Bear hamsters need more grooming than an ordinary hamster, so keep this special care in mind when considering what kind of hamster to get. Their temperament also makes them a bit nippier than other hamsters. Plenty of chlorine-free water is a necessity. Check out what foods are good for hamsters and which ones should be avoided. For example, hamsters should not be given green leafy vegetables because they cause diarrhea. Foods such as chocolate, caffeine or alcohol can cause illness and even death.
Teddy Bear Hamsters need a lot of exercise so the larger the hamster cage the better. Avoid cedar bedding and use hardwood shavings or the pelleted bedding you can buy at the pet store. Try to play with your hamster every day or at least have some type of interaction with him or her. The more personal contact you have with your pet, the friendlier he will be to you and others.