« HAMPY FOR SHORT »
i visited this site: http://www.zabaware.com/webhal/hampy.html
and i got to "talk" live to Hampy the Hamster Expert! here's our chat log:
Hampy: Hello Hamsterlog! How are you today? I am Hampy the Hamster Expert. I can answer most of your questions about hamsters. I know topics ranging from what hamsters eat to why you shouldn't microwave them.
Hamsterlog: oh, aren't you cheeky! how old do hamsters live?
Hampy: I know I cheeky. Generally, hamsters naturally live in multi-chambered burrows in fields. These burrows are usually 4 to 5 feet below the surface of the ground. One of these chambers is used by hamsters to store grain during the summer and fall.
And on a more specific basis, hamsters have been known to live in the plains, deserts, and steppes of Central Asia.
Hamsterlog: What is the best type of bedding to use for hamster cages?
Hampy: There are three basic types of cages: aquarium, wire, and connectable cages. Recently, Bently Durant ran a poll on alt.pets.hamsters on which cages were the most popular. The results: wired cages: 11; aquarium cages: 3; conectable cages: 1.
It's a lot of fun to watch your hamster run through all of the tubes in the connectable cages, but they aren't very escape- proof, and they are really difficult to clean.
Aquarium cages are hard for the hamsters to get out of, although one hamster owner said that his hamster actually broke through the side of the cage. Aquarium cages are slightly more difficult to clean than wire cages, and don't offer as much ventilation for the hamster.
Wire cages are easy to clean, and allow the hamster to swing from the top and sides of the cage for exercise. However, you've got to be pretty clever in securing the wire top to the plastic bottom, as well as making sure the top of the cage is securely shut. Your hamster will also try to eat through the bottom of the cage. You'll need duct tape, wire, heavy objects, and maybe even a padlock to keep your hamster from escaping.
Hamsterlog: who is bently durant?
Hampy: I have no idea who bently durant is, ok?
Hamsterlog: okay, but what about bedding? you know, substrate?
Hampy: Ask yourself please. I am glad you know.
Hamsterlog: LOL. okay well. hmm. i guess this isn't a test. but here's another question for you, hampy. What kind of hamster are you?
Hampy: Was that really that funny? Well, being smarter than retards isn't that difficult. Relax. There's no hurry. :).
Hamsterlog: whatEVER! i still want to know which bedding you think is best. pine or aspen?
Hampy: Certainly. So true. How did you get to be so smart?
Hamsterlog: okay, now don't you make me grab your cheap cat hair weave you call fur!! my next question: can i keep more than one hamster in the same cage?
Hampy: Television vet Dr. Bernie says, "One cage, one hamster". Hamsters will harm each other if they are together. Males and females can be together for mating, but not much longer than that without risking some sort of fight.
There have been cases where several hamsters have lived together in a cage, but don't risk it.
MORE THAN ONE HAMSTER IN A CAGE IS A BAD IDEA!
Hamsterlog: that's great advice, especially for syrian hamsters! you're slick, hampy! now, what do hamsters like to eat?
Hampy: They will eat almost anything (broccoli, Kraft Dinner, yogurt...) Their favourite foods are foods native to their dry habitat, like seeds/cereals (but make sure that it's natural seeds - no roasting or salt, and that the cereal isn't sugary).
For protein and variety, they will eat some small insects. They like vegetables, but don't feed them too many. You might want to give them a dog biscuit to chew on - it's healthy for them and is great for their teeth.
Try not to shock them too much. Give them a regular diet - like a commercial small animal mix - but supplement it with treats to give them some variety. Make sure as well that the food is still good to eat. Be sure that vegetables, bread, and other perishables aren't moldy or rotten.
Do not feed them: Canned or frozen veggies, anything poisonous to humans, raw beans, sprouting potato buds, fool's parsley, poison hemlock, laburnum, onions, garlic, or toffee. Chocolate is a bad idea too, but there is a special variety of chocolate that's sold at pet stores that is safe for animals.
Hamsterlog: can you feed them craft dinner, really?
Hampy: Well, no. I do not know how to feed them craft dinner really.
Hamsterlog: I THOUGHT SO!!! can you feed them meat?
Hampy: No! I don't believe you can feed them meat.
Hamsterlog: yeah it's probabky best to not feed them meat, but i do like to feed mine boiled egg or plain tofu from time to time, for extra protein (especially young growing hams!). anyway. how big do hamsters get?
Hampy: It varies from species to species. For the average hamster, it's under three years. Approximate life span is 3 years (I have one source that says "1000 days"). Russian and Chinese hamsters live from 1.5-2 years, and Syrian hamster live from 2-2.5 years.
Hamsterlog: hmmm. okay. how large do they get?
Hampy: Most common is the golden hamster... in brackets are the lengths of each breed. Campbells Russian (10-12cm) Chinese (female: 10cm, male: 12cm) Common/European (female: 22-25cm, male: 27-32cm)
Eversmann's (16.6cm) Golden/Syrian,Fancy,Teddy Bear (15-18cm) Longtailed (16cm) Migratory (13.5cm) Mouse-like (16.5cm) Rat hamster (26cm) Roborovski's (4-5cm) Rummanian (varies) Striped (13cm) Tibetan (varies) Winter White RUssian/Siberian/Djungarian (female:8cm, male: 10cm)
Hamsterlog: well that's more like it! okay. umm, should i breed my hamster?
Hampy: Any animal lover would find hamsters funny.
Hamsterlog: what about breeding?
Hampy: The story of hamsters has been embellished and idealized over the years... here is what probably happened...
In 1839, British zoologist George Waterhouse reportedly found an elderly female hamster in Syria, naming it "Cricetus auratus," the Golden Hamster. The hamster's fur was on display at the British Museum.
Around 1930, zoologist and Professor at the University of Jerusalem Aharoni found a mother and litter of hamsters in the Syrian desert. By the time he got back to his lab, most had died or escaped. The remaining hamsters were given to the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, where they were successfully bred as Golden Hamsters. They were a bit bigger than the ones Waterhouse found, so they were named "Mesocricetus auratus", although they were probably the same species.
The hamsters were shipped to labs all around the world. They arrived in the United Kingdom in 1931, and in 1938 reached the United States. Just about all Golden Hamsters are descended from the original litter found in Syria except for a few that were brought into the United States by travellers who found them in the desert. A separate stock of hamsters was imported into the US in 1971, but it isn't known if any of today's North American pets are descended from them.
The Dwarf Campbells Russian, Winter White Russian and Chinese were all introduced to the pet market in the United Kingdom in the 1970s, and the Roborovski hamster came from Holland into the UK in 1990.
Hamsters are now used for scientific research. Because hamsters are so disease-free and breed so rapidly (they can have a new litter every month!) and because they are so friendly and easy to handle, they are a popular choice among scientists. They are often used for cardio-vascular research, as their cardio-vascular system is remarkably similar to that of the human.
In the wild, hamsters are a nuisance to farmers. Hamsters have been known to hide in excess of 60 pounds of grain to feed them through the winter.
Hamsterlog: well okay you obviously aren't into breeding hamsters!! that's good i guess! okay then,, are you a happy hamster?
Hampy: We will eat almost anything...
Hamsterlog: OKAY! i get it... you're happy when you're well fed! well, tell me, are there any states that ban hamsters?
Hampy: Note that "hamsters" is spelled without a "p". Hamsters got their name from the German word hamstern, meaning "to hoard". (The word "hamper" comes from the same root.) One of the characteristics of the hamster, like many rodents, is to stuff their cheeks full of food, as if they were hampers.
The Golden Hamster's scientific name is mesocricetus auratus auratus often shortened to cricetus auratus. It is also referred to as the Syrian Golden Hamster.
Hamsterlog: hmm. you're acting a little nuts. but i like the information. okay then... another question. i'll make it easy: laboratory animals?
Hampy: Why would you test me!
Hamsterlog: i wouldn't, but i wondered if you had any views on the subject. okay, moving along.... do hamsters BITE?
Hampy: Generally, no.
Unlike their counterparts, gerbils, hamsters are not known for biting unless seriously invoked by their bearer (gerbils are known to bite for no reason). However, hamsters usually have relatively long teeth that do not break often and are tinted brown. On a side note, it is a good idea to provide a piece of hard dog biscuit if you own a hamster, which keeps his or her teeth in top condition.
Hamsterlog: well that's a relief to know. and good advice on the biscuit, but be certain that the biscuit doesn't contain too much sugar, or any fat or garlic and onion. alright. another question, since you're so fun: what about taming my hamster?
Hampy: I don't think anyone can tame your hamster?
Hamsterlog: WELL, as if... okay what about this: do hamsters smell bad, like socks?
Hampy: It all depends on what your opinion of bad is. Hamsters have their own distinct smell different from most other animals aside of that of a gerbil. This often times mixed with the smell of the wood chips in a hamster's cage can smell either good or bad depending on your viewpoint.
Hamsterlog: What about playing with hamsters?
Hampy: Hamsters enjoy obstacles and mazes to play with, and Lego is great to make fun toys for your hamster. Your hamster will chew on the Lego, so don't give him anything you don't need anymore. There was some concern that Lego might be toxic, but as one person posted t the newsgroup, studies have shown that a human baby would have to eat 3kg of Lego each day for a month in order for the colour chemicals to reach dangerous levels.
Hamsterlog: OH, i read about that on the APH newsgroup before. i don't buy it haha... i'm not worried about the color chemicals, but i'm worried about them ingesting the plastic and having it lodge in their tummys. anyway... can i let my cat play with my hamster?
Hampy: No.
No matter what you have heard, water is dangerous to hamsters. Even if they do not drown trying to stay out of the water, chances are they will catch pneumonia.
Hamsterlog.. no, not WATER, CATS. ugh, anyway. any good hamster advice?
Hampy: Of course it is. Hamsters are relatively quiet, clean, and easy to take care of. The do not eat overly amounts and are not picky about their food (for more information ask what hamsters EAT). And, hamsters always can provide enjoyable entertainment, whether it be running on a wheel or catiously winding through a hamster maze.
Hamsterlog: hmm, you must be distracted by a big peanut or something. i was wondering if you had any advice, like how to say "i love you" to a hamster.
Hampy: According to Anna Hayward:
Let your hamster have the first few days in a cage on his/her own to get used to it. Put him in a quiet place so he is not disturbed and give him plenty of bedding. Putting a small cardboard box in the cage will also give him somewhere to hide, and therefore a sense of security.
The first few times you get him out, do not go through the cage door, especially if it is at the top. Take the whole top off the cage and place the base on the floor. They sit on the floor and scoop up your hamster. If he is young, he will probably be very skittish so you will have to be very aware to stop him running away, but let him run on your body. It is best if this job is initially done by an adult or older child, as small children do not have the confidence, usually. Always scoop up your hamster firmly - it will make him more confident, and never hold him without first sitting on the floor unless he is really tame.
Pick up your hamster in this way once or twice a day, talking in a soft voice and using lots of gentle encouragement. Skittish young hamsters usually calm down with age.
Always wait until your hamster is awake before taming him, and never pick up a sleeping hamster.
Most biting is as a result of fear, not viciousness. Remember this if you do get bitten (it was probably your fault) it does not mean the hamster is nasty. The most common reasons for getting bitten are grabbing a hamster from above, picking up a sleeping hamster and accidentally pinching a hamster when you pick him up. After a biting incident, put the hamster back in the cage and leave him for a couple of hours to calm down.
Remember that taming is easier if a hamster has been handled since birth, but I have yet to meet an untamable hamster. It may take months if the pet shop has allowed an animal to mature without once being handled, but even an older animal can be tamed with effort.
If at any stage the hamster starts biting and looking anxious, try going back a step and repeating the process (ie leave him alone for a few days).
Once your hamster runs on you without looking frightened, place the cage in a busier area to get him used to people.
Hamsterlog: well now that's more like it! how nice of you to offer that advice. this site is really great. i think i love you Hampy!
Hampy: Really? I never new you had feelings for me.
Hamsterlog: oh i do! if you only KNEW! you're lucky you're online, cuz i'd give you a big snuggle!
Hampy: No you don't. Good-bye Hamsterlog! It's been nice talking to you. Please come back soon.
Hamsterlog: bye! i love you!
Hampy: Would you like it if we both love each other?
Hamsterlog: YES!
Hampy: Yes. Plants grow out of the soil. Most plants have green leaves. Some plants have flowers.
WELL WELL WELL, WASN'T HE A SMARTYPANTS??? lol. and it seems like he knows how to handle his amorous friends on the internet! yay hampy!
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