Fun Fact 2: Their are 25 different species of Hamsters which are grouped into several types which include; Chinese, Roborovski, Russian Dwarf and Syrian
Fun Fact 3: The origins of the word Hamster are old German, which translate as "to hoard". Hamsters hoard (store) and carry food in their cheek pouches
Fun Fact 4: What do Hamsters eat? Hamsters are omnivores, this means they eat fresh vegetables, berries, seeds, nuts and meat, some wild hamsters eat insects
Fun Fact 5: The most popular hamster kept as a pet is the Syrian, commonly known as the Golden Hamster or Teddy Bear Hamster
Fun Fact 6: The smallest species are Roborovski hamsters (also know as desert hamsters, Robos or Robs). An adult will have a body length of approximately 5.5 cm (2 inches) long and weigh 20-25 g (about 1 oz)
Fun Fact 7: The largest species of hamster is the European (also called the Common, Eurasian or Black-bellied hamster ) it can measure up to 34 cm (about 13.5 inches) in length and weigh 220-460 g (8-16 ounces)
Fun Fact 8: A male hamster is called a boar, a female is called a sow and baby hamsters are called pups
Fun Fact 9: The Syrian hamster (Golden Hamster or Teddy Bear Hamster) have a solitary character (like to be on their own); they should be caged accordingly, they also benefit from regular vitamin supplements
Fun Fact 10: Key rodent features visible in hamsters are their long sharp teeth; both upper and lower teeth grow throughout their life and must be regular looked after to check that they are not too long
Fun Fact 11: If you are keeping a hamster as a pet you need to ensure that it is kept in a suitable cage. A good quality cage will have good ventilation, bars that are a close distance so that the hamster won't escape and a deep easy clean base (they will burrow). A water bottle, hamster bedding and some toys are an addition requirement in the perfect hamster cage home
Fun Fact 12: All Hamsters are nocturnal; this means that they sleep during the day and are active during the night - you might decide that putting your new pet hamster cage in the bedroom might not be a good idea after all!
Fun Fact 13: Hamsters have scent gland on their hips or abdomens depending on the species. Hamsters have poor eye sight so the scent glands are used to leave a trace of smell to help with navigation, and to find a mate
Fun Fact 14: The average lifespan of a hamster in captivity is about 2-3 years; Russian hamsters sometime live a little longer. Hamsters have a much shorter lifespan in the wild.
Fun Fact 15: The wild Golden Hamster is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as 'Vulnerable'. It is very rare wild species; only a few remain in the Middle East, some can be found in Syria. They are classed as 'At risk' because their declining numbers are facing high-risk in their natural surroundings |
