Monthly Archives: December 2016

can hamsters eat yellow split peas

Can Hamsters Eat Yellow Split Peas?

Hamster foods

Split peas are an agricultural or culinary preparation consisting of the dried, peeled and split seeds of Pisum sativum, the pea.

Green and yellow split peas are commonly used to make pea soup or “split pea soup”, and sometimes pease pudding, which was commonly prepared in Medieval Europe.

So can hamsters eat yellow split peas?

Let’s take a look at their nutritional data and find out more.

In particular, their acidic, water, sugar, fat, salt, calcium, and phosphorus content is of most interest as far as hamsters are concerned.

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 1,425 kJ (341 kcal)
Carbohydrates
60 g
Sugars 8 g
Dietary fiber 26 g
Fat
1 g
Protein
25 g
Vitamins
Thiamine (B1) (61%) 0.7 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5) (34%) 1.7 mg
Folate (B9) (69%) 274 μg
Minerals
Iron

source wikipedia

As you can see yellow split-peas contain a huge amount of acidic content.

This means that they are not good for hamsters to eat and should be avoided if possible as a food for them.

can hamsters eat pine

Can Hamsters Eat Pine?

Uncategorized

Pines are among the most commercially important tree species valued for their timber and wood pulp throughout the world.

In temperate and tropical regions, they are fast-growing softwoods that will grow in relatively dense stands, their acidic decaying needles inhibiting the sprouting of competing hardwoods.

Commercial pines are grown in plantations for timber that is denser, more resinous, and therefore more durable than spruce (Picea).

Pine wood is widely used in high-value carpentry items such as furniture, window frames, panelling, floors and roofing, and the resin of some species is an important source of turpentine. (source)

So can hamsters eat pine at all, so as to grind their teeth on it to stop them growing?

Yes they can eat pine, as long as it is the kiln-dried white variety. Nothing else.

can hamsters eat bamboo

Can Hamsters Eat Bamboo?

Hamster foods

Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family.

In bamboo, the internodal regions of the stem are usually hollow and the vascular bundles in the cross section.

They are scattered throughout the stem instead of in a cylindrical arrangement.

The dicotyledonous woody xylem is also absent.

The absence of secondary growth wood causes the stems of monocots, including the palms and large bamboos.

These are to be columnar rather than tapering.

Most bamboo are native to warm and moist tropical and warm temperate climates.

However, many species are found in diverse climates, from hot tropical regions to cool mountainous regions and highland cloud forests.

Timber is harvested from both cultivated and wild stands, and some of the larger bamboos, particularly species in the genus Phyllostachys, are known as “timber bamboos”.

Bamboo is used for a whole number of things due to its versatility from building structures to cooking utensils. (source wikipedia)

So can hamsters eat bamboo at all to chew on so that their teeth can have something to grind down?

Yes they can eat bamboo, as long as it isn’t bamboo that has been brought in from the wild.

It may have bacteria on it that maybe harmful for them hamster.

It is better to give them bamboo which has been internally stored.

They will find it very good for gnawing their teeth on and keeping them from growing longer than they need them to be.

can hamsters eat willow

Can Hamsters Eat Willow?

Hamster foods

Some of humans’ earliest manufactured items may have been made from willow.

A fishing net made from willow dates back to 8300 BC.

Basic crafts, such as baskets, fish traps, wattle fences and wattle and daub house walls, were often woven from osiers or withies.

One of the forms of Welsh coracle boat traditionally uses willow in the framework.

Thin or split willow rods can be woven into wicker, which also has a long history.

The relatively pliable willow is less likely to split while being woven than many other woods, and can be bent around sharp corners in basketry.

Willow wood is also used in the manufacture of;

  • boxes
  • brooms
  • cricket bats
  • cradle boards
  • chairs and other furniture
  • dolls
  • flutes
  • poles
  • sweat lodges
  • toys,
  • turnery
  • tool handles
  • veneer
  • wands
  • whistles.

In addition, tannin, fibre, paper, rope and string can be produced from the wood.

Willow is also used in the manufacture of double basses for backs, sides and linings, and in making splines and blocks for bass repair. (source)

So can hamster eat willow at all to grind their teeth on?

Yes they can eat willow because of its non-toxic nature, it is find for them to eat and chew on.

They will find it very beneficial to grind their teeth on it

However, keep them away from white willow which is not so good for them.

Also, willow that it taken from outside in the wild is not good to be given to them. It may contain harmful bacteria on it.

It is much better to give them willow which has been stored inside.

 

Why is my hamster walking funny

The Different Types of Dwarf Hamster

Uncategorized

Dwarf hamsters are the tiniest type of hamster.

Despite how small they are, they are extremely popular pets for both children and adults alike.

Despite their size they are extremely capable creatures.

Their resourcefulness has meant that they have withstood the attacks of many predators and adapted to their environment throughout the centuries.

The different species of dwarf hamster which are in the family of cricetidae shows how they have adapted in different environments.

They have shown how they have developed and evolved in their habitat.

Dwarf hamsters are found distinctively in China, Russia, Mongolia, Tibet, Kazakhstan and other parts of Eastern Asia.

They are creatures that measure between 7 to 10 cm or 2.8 to 3.9 inches in length.

They tend to be more sociable creatures than the larger species of hamster and tend to live together rather than by themselves.

So what are the different types of dwarf hamster?

Like other species of animal, they are split into different types of family and genus.

Note: For more details on animal families and genus, check out this page and this page

In the case of the hamster, dwarf hamsters belong mainly to the genus phodopus where they have their own genus as dwarf hamster.

Note: A genus is a principal taxonomic category that ranks above species and below family, and is denoted by a capitalized Latin name, e.g. Leo. (source)

But there are also other species of dwarf hamster that you can find.

Dwarf hamsters
  • Phodopus is a genus of rodents which are native to central Asia which have unusual adaptations to extreme temperatures.
  • They live in groups and there are known cases where the males help significantly with the raising of their young.
  • They are nocturnal creatures and are active throughout the year.

There are three species in this genus that share very similar characteristics

Campbell’s dwarf hamster
  • This species was given its common name by Oldfield Thomas in honor of C. W. Campbell (Charles William Campbell), who collected the first specimen in Mongolia on July 1, 1902.
  • The Campbell’s dwarf hamster has small ears and no distinctive dark fur on its crown and has a narrow dorsal stripe with grey fur on the stomach.
  • It is native to China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Russia.
  • They are omnivores, and so feed on both plant and insect material.
Roborovski hamster
  • The Roborovski are the smallest species of dwarf hamster averaging under 2 centimeters (0.8 inches) at birth and 4.5–5 centimeters.
  • They have very short, broad and densely hairy feet.
  • Robo’s have an average lifespan of three years, although this is dependent on living conditions.
  • They are native to desert regions, such as the basin of the lake Zaysan in Kazakhstan and regions of Tuva, Mongolia and Xinjiang in China.
Djungarian hamster or winter-white Russian dwarf hamster
  • Also known as the Siberian hamster, Siberian dwarf hamster or Russian winter white dwarf hamster.
  • They have a thick, dark grey dorsal stripe running down their head and body and have furry feet.
  • As winter approaches and the days shorten, the Winter white dwarf hamster’s dark fur is almost entirely replaced with white fur.
  • They originate from Dzungaria, the wheat fields of Kazakhstan, the meadows of Mongolia, Siberia, and the birch stands of Manchuria.
Other types of dwarf hamster

Outside of the genus Phodopus, there are other dwarf hamsters inside the family of hamsters.

Tibetan dwarf hamster
  • The Tibetan dwarf hamster is found not only in Tibet and China, but also in India and Nepal in mountainous regions at altitudes of up to about 5,200 m (17,100 ft).
  • It has a head-and-body length of about 103 mm (4.1 inches) and a tail of between 30 and 37 mm (1.2 and 1.5 inches).
  • The head and neck are a pale sandy ochre color and the body is a slightly darker and uniform shade of ochre.
  • They are active in both the day and the night.
Kam Dwarf hamster
  • The Kam Dwarf hamster is found only in the mountains of western China.
  • It inhabits grassland, shrubby marshes and steppes. has a head-and-body length of between 88 and 112 mm (3.5 and 4.4 in) and a tail length of 51 to 64 mm (2.0 to 2.5 in).
  • The Kam dwarf is found in western China where it is found in the Tibet Autonomous Region and the provinces of Qinghai, Gansu and Xinjiang.
  • It is a mountain species and is found at altitudes of between 3,300 and 4,100 m (10,800 and 13,500 ft).
Chinese striped hamster
Long tailed dwarf hamster
  • The long tailed dwarf hamster has a head-and-body length of between 85 and 135 mm (3.35 and 5.31 in) and a tail at least a third as long as this.
  • It is found in China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Russia much like other varieties of dwarf hamster.
  • It inhabits arid areas with shrubby slopes, dry forests, rocky steppes, and the foothills and southern slopes of mountains
Gray dwarf hamster
Sokolov’s dwarf hamster

Sokolov’s dwarf hamster has a distinctive dark stripe down its back on and otherwise grey body.

  • They are found in China and Mongolia, and they are mainly found in burrows beneath desert shrubs.
  • They have a head-body-length of between 77–114 millimetres (3.0–4.5 inches), tail length of 18–32 millimetres (0.71–1.26 in) and ear length of 13–19 millimetres (0.51–0.75 in).
  • The skull is on average between 23–26 millimetres (0.91–1.02 in) long.

sources:
http://netvet.wustl.edu/species/hamsters/phodopus.txt
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/17035/0
http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Phodopus_roborovskii/
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ka-9f68nPT4C&pg=PA245&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/5525/0
http://www.ratbehavior.org/pet_rodent_classification.htm
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=JgAMbNSt8ikC&pg=PA1042&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false

can hamsters eat skittles

Can Hamsters Eat Skittles?

Hamster foods

Skittles is a brand of fruit-flavoured sweets, currently produced and marketed by the Wrigley Company, a division of Mars, Inc..

They have hard sugar shells which carry the letter S and as a result signifies their name.

The inside is mainly sugar, corn syrup, and hydrogenated palm kernel oil along with fruit juice, citric acid, and natural and artificial flavors.

The confectionery has been sold in a variety of flavor collections, such as Tropical and Wild Berry.

So can hamsters eat skittles?

Let’s take a look at their nutritional data and find out more.

In particular, their acidic, water, sugar, fat, salt, calcium, and phosphorus content is of most interest as far as hamsters are concerned.

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 1,680 kJ (400 kcal)
Carbohydrates
90.7 g
Sugars 75.6 g
Dietary fibre 0 g
Fat
4.4 g
Saturated 3.9 g
Trans 0 g
Protein
0 g
Vitamins
Vitamin A equiv. (0%) 0 μg
Vitamin C (0%) 0 mg
Minerals
Calcium (0%) 0 mg
Iron (0%) 0 mg
Sodium (1%) 15.1 mg

source wikipedia

As you can see, skittles contain a huge amount of sugar and quite a bit of fat.

This means that hamsters cannot eat skittles due to the amount of sugar that they contain and may make them sick.

Skittles are best avoided due to their content.

There are much better foods for them to eat and will enjoy much more.

 

Do Syrian Hamsters Like Company?

Hamster owner faq's

Syrian hamsters are by far the most popular type of pet hamster.

Around the world they are the most populous and are enjoyed by many pet owners for their placidity and ease of ownership.

They aren’t known particularly for living with others.

So do Syrian hamsters like company of other hamsters or animals?

Syrian hamsters are in their nature, solitary creatures and like to live alone.

This means that they need to live alone and without the company of others even their own family.

If you happen to put two Syrian hamsters together they will fight unfortunately.

Many have been injured after being innocently put together in the same cage.

Putting two Syrian hamsters together is not impossible though.

However, they need to come from the same family and need to be kept together from birth and not be split up.

However, this is rare and it is difficult to find two Syrian’s that have been bred together and are still housed together.

There are other types of hamsters who prefer to be in pairs

If you would like to have two hamsters together then it is more advisable to go for another type such as a dwarf hamster like a Roborovksi, Chinese, Winter white or Russian Campbell.

These types of hamster are more social than Syrian hamsters and more accommodating to their own kind.

They quite happily live together and even raise their young together in large families.

Syrian hamsters’ are fiercely territorial and will defend his territory against intruders of his own and other species.

So why are Syrian’s solitary creatures?

Their behavior is purely instinctive and it stems from the way they live in the wild to their behavior in captivity.

The only time they come together is to mate and when this happens the female is in heat

Once they have mated, the female will leave the male and raise the young on her own.

She will have no further contact with the male.

Upon reaching adulthood, the syrian hamster much be housed alone once they reach at least 6-8 weeks of age

If the pups are housed with their mother after 5 weeks from birth, then she may turn against them.

They enjoy their own company

So, if you have a Syrian hamster then it is much happier on its own than with any company.

No matter if you think it is lonely, it actually values being on its own and is quite happy in its own company.

It really isn’t recommended that you get it another Syrian to share its cage.

can hamsters eat twine

Can Hamsters Eat Twine?

Hamster foods

Twine is a light string or strong thread composed of two or more smaller strands or yarns twisted, and then twisted together. More generally, the term can be applied to a cord.

Natural fibres used for making twine include cotton, sisal, jute, hemp, henequen, and coir. A variety of synthetic fibres are also used.

There are multiple claims to the world’s biggest ball of twine record in the United States. As of 2014, the ball of twine with the largest circumference is located in Cawker City, Kansas (source)

So can hamsters eat twine?

No they can’t unfortunately. It is not good for them to eat and should be avoided if it can be helped.

can hamsters eat wild rice

Can Hamsters Eat Wild Rice?

Hamster foods

Wild rice are four species of grasses forming the genus Zizania, and the grain that can be harvested from them.

The grain was historically gathered and eaten in both North America and China.

While now a delicacy in North America, the grain is eaten less in China,:165 where the plant’s stem is used as a vegetable.

So can hamsters eat wild rice?

Let’s take a look at their nutritional data and find out more.

In particular, their acidic, water, sugar, fat, salt, calcium and phosphorus content is of particular interest as far as hamsters are concerned.

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 423 kJ (101 kcal)
Carbohydrates
21.34 g
Dietary fiber 1.8 g
Fat
0.34 g
Protein
3.99 g
Vitamins
Vitamin A equiv.
lutein zeaxanthin
64 μg
Thiamine (B1) (5%) 0.052 mg
Riboflavin (B2) (7%) 0.087 mg
Niacin (B3) (9%) 1.287 mg
Vitamin B6 (10%) 0.135 mg
Folate (B9) (7%) 26 μg
Vitamin C (0%) 0 mg
Vitamin E (2%) 0.24 mg
Minerals
Calcium (0%) 3 mg
Iron (5%) 0.6 mg
Magnesium (9%) 32 mg
Manganese (13%) 0.282 mg
Phosphorus (12%) 82 mg
Potassium (2%) 101 mg
Sodium (0%) 3 mg
Zinc (14%) 1.34 mg
Other constituents
Copper 0.121 mg

source wikipedia

As you can see wild rice contains a lot of phosphorus, a hint of calcium and fat and quite a lot of acidic content.

This means that they can eat it, but only a few grains at a time as it is not great for them to eat. They can eat it raw or cooked.

can hamsters eat yams

Can Hamsters Eat Yams?

Hamster foods

Yams are a monocot from the Dioscoreaceae family.

Sweet potatoes are a dicot from the Convolvulaceae family.

Therefore, they are about as distantly related as two flowering plants can be.

Culinarily, yams are starchier and drier than sweet potatoes.

So can hamsters eat yams?

Let’s take a look at their nutritional data and find out more.

In particular, their acidic, water, sugar, fat, salt and calcium content is of particular interest as far as hamsters are concerned.

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 494 kJ (118 kcal)
Carbohydrates
27.9 g
Sugars 0.5 g
Dietary fiber 4.1 g
Fat
0.17 g
Protein
1.5 g
Vitamins
Vitamin A equiv. (1%) 7 μg
Thiamine (B1) (10%) 0.112 mg
Riboflavin (B2) (3%) 0.032 mg
Niacin (B3) (4%) 0.552 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5) (6%) 0.314 mg
Vitamin B6 (23%) 0.293 mg
Folate (B9) (6%) 23 μg
Vitamin C (21%) 17.1 mg
Vit E (2%) 0.35 mg
Vitamin K (2%) 2.3 μg
Minerals
Calcium (2%) 17 mg
Iron (4%) 0.54 mg
Magnesium (6%) 21 mg
Manganese (19%) 0.397 mg
Phosphorus (8%) 55 mg
Potassium (17%) 816 mg
Zinc (3%)

source wikipedia

As you can see yams contain a lot of phosphorus, a little calcium, quite a lot of acidic content and a hint of sugar and fat.

This means that hamsters can eat yams but only in small amounts of a few pieces at a time that they can hold in their paws.

Only feed them fresh yams.

Do not feed them cooked yams, as they are bad for them and should be avoided.