Syrian hamsters are among the most popular hamster species to have as pets. They’re easy to handle and don’t ask for much. Still, you’ll need to take some notes if you plan to own a Syrian hamster.
Syrian hamsters are friendly to their human owners but are territorial animals. They can be aggressive toward other hamsters, so you always need to keep one Syrian hamster per cage. This breed of hamsters lives around two years on average and needs protein and fiber in their diet.
Are you planning on buying a Syrian hamster as a pet? They make for excellent pets, but, like any other pet, there are a few things you need to keep in mind about this specific species. So read this guide to learn all you need to know about Syrian hamsters.
Syrian Hamster: What You Need To Know
Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) is also called the Golden hamster because of its fur color. Their hair is usually a mix of orange and white, but some might have black hair streaks behind their ears.
This color combination is perfect for their natural habitat: Syria. Since they live in dry and rocky regions of Syria, their fur creates excellent camouflage. As pets, Syrian hamsters are the most popular choice among all other hamster breeds.
Behavior
Syrian hamsters are perfect pets behavior-wise.
Several people hate static pets who don’t do much, while others hate over-active animals who refuse to “slow down.” Syrian hamsters are right in the middle. They’re active and like to move and explore the environment around them, but they also take their rest time seriously.
As nocturnal animals, Syrian hamsters are more active during night-time.
During the day, they sleep or eat, but if the temperature drops below 65℉ (18℃), hamsters, including Syrian hamsters, will hibernate to save energy. When that happens, increase the temperature, which should resolve the problem.
Syrian hamsters love exploring new things around them. They’re usually friendly with their owners and other people, including kids, but this might not be the case when they’re close to other hamsters.
Syrian Hamsters and Agonistic Behavior: One Hamster per One Cage
Syrian hamsters are highly territorial animals and don’t like sharing space with other hamsters. Otherwise, they develop agonistic and aggressive behavior, so you should never have two or more Syrian hamsters in one cage.
A study published in Neuroscience explored the relationship between mating and agonistic behavior. It turns out that these two behaviors are connected with Syrian hamsters’ nervous system, but they activated two different sets of “neural circuits.”
These results point to a behavioral pattern that can’t be changed.
However, if two hamsters grow up together, they might not have agonistic behavior. Another study from 2006 suggests that agonistic behavior stems from hormones that appear during hamsters’ puberty. As such, they affect adult social behavior.
So, if two Syrian hamsters grew up together before puberty, they may not view each other as enemies. However, you should always keep one Syrian hamster in a cage.
Life Span and Health
Unfortunately, Syrian hamsters’ natural lifespan isn’t long, about 2 to 3 years on average. Although their lifespan isn’t long, Syrian hamsters generally don’t have more severe health issues.
Like with all hamsters, dental issues are common with Syrian hamsters.
Overgrown teeth or tooth decay are the two most prominent dental problems your Syrian hamster might have. These two issues, however, are easily avoided by providing chewing toys and not giving them sugar.
Other common health issues are related to cold weather. Syrian hamsters love higher temperatures, and in the absence of one, they might:
- Catch a cold
- Have a fever
- Have runny eyes and nose
Hibernation, for example, can lead to your hamster’s death if not treated immediately.
Lastly, Syrian hamsters may suffer from “wet tail,” a form of diarrhea probably caused by some intestinal bacteria. If this happens to your Syrian hamster, you should visit a vet as soon as possible.
Syrian Hamster Care Guide
Many kids have Syrian hamsters as pets because they’re easy to take care of. However, they still need a proper diet and grooming to ensure they live a nice and long life in terms of hamster years.
Dietary Requirements
Syrian hamsters require a healthy mix of proteins and fiber. Commercially-sold hamster mix is the starting point you need to provide your hamster, as it contains everything a hamster needs.
But it’s not enough. Once or twice a week, you should provide your hamster with a sweet treat, but not too sweet. Citrus fruits are also excluded from the list, as they cause digestive issues. Apples with no seeds are the best treats for Syrian hamsters.
Chicken is the best source of protein, but don’t go overboard. Give your Syrian hamster a tiny amount of chicken once a week.
Grooming Regiment
Long-haired hamsters, Syrian hamsters included, need some help next to their usual self-grooming habits. But you should not interfere too much, though.
Since Syrian hamsters originate from a dry and hot place, you shouldn’t bathe them in water. The only type of baths Syrian hamsters should have are sand baths. Pour some sand into your hamster’s cage, and they’ll start rolling in the sand to clean themselves.
Other than that, if your Syrian hamster has a long skirt, you’ll need to groom it once or twice a week. Male hamsters, in particular, have longer hair than females. You can use smaller pet brushes or even toothbrushes.
Some owners trim their Syrian hamsters’ hair when it gets too long, but if you notice your hamster’s hair gets tangled, you might trim it a bit during warmer months.
Perfect Pet Habitat for Your Syrian Hamster
Now that you know everything about caring for Syrian hamsters, it’s time to discuss their living space. There are a few crucial things to know before you get a Syrian hamster and just place it in any cage.
Cage Dimensions
Syrian hamsters are larger than some other species. They’re usually around 7” (17 cm) in size, so they require bigger cages. It’s difficult to determine the perfect cage size for Syrian hamsters since different countries list different figures.
A study from 2007 showed that larger cages reduced wire-gnawing.
The study concluded that the cage size for Syrian hamsters should be 1550 in2 (10,000 cm2). Few people have space for such a big cage, so slightly smaller cages are also an option. A 750 in2 (4838 cm2) cage will provide your Syrian hamster plenty of room to run around and explore.
Bedding
Once you get a cage, you’ll need to add bedding before you put your Syrian hamster in its new home. Don’t use wood bedding since oil from wood can be harmful to hamsters. The only wood bedding safe enough, however, is aspen bedding. Another great option is paper shavings.
Toys
Syrian hamsters need plenty of toys to keep them busy. They’re energetic little animals, and they reduce the extra energy through these toys, so your hamster cage should incorporate the following:
- Chewing toys
- Running wheel or running ball
- Toy suspension bridges
- Timbells
- Hamster house
Final Thoughts
Syrian hamsters are a popular pet choice among many, as they’re friendly and easy to handle. Sadly, they only live for about 2 to 3 years on average. During that time, Syrian hamsters need a lot of protein and fiber.
Syrian hamsters are territorial and can get aggressive with other hamsters (agonistic behavior), so you should always keep one Syrian hamster in a cage. The cage for your Syrian hamster should be 750 in2 (4838 cm2) or more in size.