All the most important things about breeding Djungarian hamsters at home. Djungarian hamster (Djungarian) - photo and description All about keeping Djungarian hamsters

A steppe inhabitant, as well as a very cute and funny animal - the Djungarian hamster, is one of the most popular domestic rodents. And this is not at all surprising, because this baby will bring joy to the whole family, and especially children, with her cute antics.

Another significant advantage is that it takes minimal time and effort to care for and maintain a pet.

But you should not take this lightly, as this can negatively affect the health of the hamster. Therefore, you need to know all the nuances and features of keeping a Djungarian hamster at home.

Also in the article you can get acquainted with another type of pets

Habitat of the Djungarian hamster in nature

The Djungarian hamster prefers to live on gravelly or sandy soil. Their habitat is quite extensive. This type of rodent can be seen in the semi-deserts of Central and Central Asia and North-East Kazakhstan. Or even in Northeast Mongolia.

Minks are dug where there is a minimal amount of vegetation, without branching passages, and they have a couple of chambers.

IN winter period molting occurs, then they change their fur to a lighter shade, in order to make it easier to camouflage themselves from predatory animals.

Appearance of the Djungarian hamster

This rodent grows up to 10 cm, and its weight is approximately 50 grams. The body is oval, under which the paws and small tail are practically invisible. The head is wide and has high-set ears. The eyes are beady, black and convex, less often red (albinos).

The coat is quite soft and thick. The coat color is usually gray-brown, but there are other colors, for example:

It has its own business card - a black stripe of fur runs along the back and ends on the very muzzle of the hamster. It is worth noting that the feet of the little chubby creature are also covered with hair, which is where the name of the genus itself comes from.

Characteristics of the Djungarian hamster

Of all the domestic dwarf rodents, the dwarf has the least aggressive character. For example, they don't bite as much as Campbell's hamsters.
and are calmer than Roborovsky's hamsters.
More often than not, the owners watch them, but if you can tame your pet, the baby will happily go into your arms and fall asleep while being petted.

After puberty, it is advisable to place them alone in a cage. An exception may be if you place two hamsters that have been around since they were born. Conflicts may arise with a stranger.
But you can give them time to get used to it if you put two of them in a cage with a partition in the middle, and after a while remove it. Also, you shouldn’t be angry with them for making noise at night, since the Djungarians night image life, they prefer to sleep during the day.

Housing for hamsters at home

For a house, a cage with narrow partitions is suitable, through which the hamster cannot crawl through. However, they are not stupid, because they are capable of watching you open the cage for a long period, and one morning you suddenly discover that the cage is empty. If this happens to you, then you should not get upset right away and look for your pet in two ways:

1. You should look for your pet under furniture that is low on the floor, because they instinctively strive for closed places– there are fewer dangers there. Hamsters are also attracted to paper and cardboard, so if there is a cluster of them somewhere on the floor, then most likely they are there.
2. The second method is much simpler. You will need complete darkness in the room, then freeze and listen to the rustling on the floor, most likely your pet has climbed out onto an open surface. Don't miss the moment and seize it.

Now let's go back to home improvement. For an ideal place for a rodent to live, a glass aquarium is suitable, the length of which is about 100 cm and the height of 40 cm.

You should also place a shelter in the aquarium, that is, a small house or cave. They can be purchased at a pet store. There the hamsters will be able to rest during the day, hiding from the light.

Make sure your animal is physically active by installing a play area, such as a running wheel or rope bridges. Thus, the baby will not be bored and his life will become much more active, which will have a beneficial effect on his health.

There are also special walking balls for hamsters in which you can let him run around on your floor.

Wood or corn filler 3cm wide should be laid on the bottom of the aquarium or cage. In addition, you can add a paper towel or hay.

Branches of fruit trees, mineral or soy stones are suitable for grinding down cloves.

Nutrition and care of the Djungarian hamster

This type of rodent, like others, is omnivorous, but this does not mean that they can be fed with everything.

They are inclined to excess weight. Obesity can shorten an already short life. Therefore, the hamster's diet must be balanced.

The main type of food is grain crops; pet stores sell special kits for hamsters. They contain almost the entire list of vitamins that they need. Do not buy food for other rodents, because their diet may differ significantly.

It is worth diluting the animal’s diet with a variety of fruits and vegetables, but there are exceptions, which we will talk about later.

Once a week, give the dzhungarik protein food: egg yolk, pieces of lean fish or chicken fillet.

Categorically prohibited foods for hamsters:

• Sausages, pasta, bread;
• Cow's milk, as well as butter, sour cream, cream, etc.;
• Sorrel, mint;
• From fruits - pineapples, kiwi, avocado, cherries, citrus fruits, pomegranate, apricots, persimmons;
• Vegetables – onions, garlic, cabbage;
• Watermelon melon;
• Mushrooms;
• Salty and sweet (chocolate, cookies, chips, etc.)

If you accidentally fed something from the forbidden list to your pet, don’t worry, nothing will happen to him at one time. However, with regular use, negative consequences may occur.

Regarding drinking, it is worth noting that due to the fact that these rodents lived in conditions where there was no constant access to water, they drink little. But a drinking bowl is still necessary. Don't forget to check the freshness of the water every day.

You should clean your dwarf's home at least once a week. They themselves are quite clean and do not give off an unpleasant odor if they are cleaned regularly.

Reproduction of Djungarian hamsters

IN natural environment These rodents breed in their habitat from March and end in September inclusive. But under home conditions they can breed for a whole year.

Pregnancy takes place over a period of three weeks. Due to the fact that their life expectancy is short, a female can give birth to 5 to 8 babies at a time. They develop quickly, after a week the first fur appears, and after that they open their eyes.

After three weeks after birth, the female should be separated from the babies. They are already completely independent.

It is important to know that until this moment a person is prohibited from touching them, since someone else’s smell can drive the mother away from the offspring or even lead to her eating them.

Djungarian hamsters live an average of three years. Although they can even live up to 4 years under particularly comfortable living conditions.

Where can I buy an animal?

You can buy a Djungarian hamster in almost every pet store. The cost averages 300 -500 rubles.

Djungarians are very common among domestic animals in Russia. Reading the reviews of the owners, we can conclude that they are friendly and funny.
However, in order for this animal to please you and your children, do not show aggression towards it. A hamster may stop trusting a person and also show aggressive behavior towards you.

And remember - we are responsible for those we have tamed!

The Djungarian hamster is a small rodent from the family of hamsters with a characteristic color and a cheerful, good-natured disposition. The complete absence of odor, since the animal is clean, as well as the ease of keeping furry animals at home makes them popular among pets.

For some reason you cannot have a pet large sizes? Then a domestic Djungarian hamster is perfect for you. This species is one of the most popular among its brethren, as it has no bad habits and does not spread its fur around the apartment. Doesn't happen with these animals big problems. He is a great owner and loves to play. Hamsters have only one drawback - they are nocturnal animals. At night, extraneous sounds may be heard from the cage: rustling, crackling or squeaking in the absence of communication. If this annoys you, then arrange your pet’s home in such a way that he can always do something on his own.

Volume and color of rodents

The weight of the dzhungarik is approximately 45 grams, and the height does not exceed 5-6 cm, which means that it will be very difficult to scare the enemy. The beautiful fur of the rodent changes its color depending on the time of year.

Peculiarity appearance This is a dark stripe on the back of the animal, which distinguishes the dzhungarika from other relatives. Domestic rodents have such common colors as:

• mandarin,
• sapphire,
• pearl.

In winter, the Djungarian hamster sheds its coat and turns white.

Lifespan

In the wild, hamsters rarely survive to one and a half years of age, since in wildlife they face the following dangers:

• predators;
• lack of food;
• illness;
• harsh climate.

At home, surrounded by love, care and attention, your pet's life will become longer. On average, domestic Djungarian hamsters live twice as long as their wild relatives, that is, the animals live up to 3-4 years.

We wrote about the life expectancy of other species.

Bites

The answer to the question “why does the Djungarian hamster bite” is quite simple. All rodents, even small hamsters, show aggression and also bite. Djungarian hamsters are no exception here. This character trait should be taken into account if a hamster is purchased for children. Despite the fact that a hamster bite does not pose a danger to people, say what you will - the bite is sensitive.

About why hamsters bite and how to wean these little furries from bad habit we wrote.

Care and maintenance

Despite the minimum effort spent on keeping a Djungarian hamster at home, you should learn the rule: without care and proper nutrition, your pet will not be able to survive.

Sometimes it is quite difficult to keep track of a mischievous animal so that it does not fall from a height, so if an animal falls, it is better to seek qualified help rather than play doctor. If you don’t have the opportunity to contact a veterinarian, pay attention to, in it we told you what to do with a rodent that has fallen from a height.

Djungarians also suffer from colds. The main symptoms that your ward is sick: decreased activity, sneezing or sniffling. If the hamster does not eat well or refuses to eat at all, then he has problems with his teeth (a dental injury or too long incisors are hampering him).

Easy care

The Djungarian hamster requires fairly simple care, which includes regular cleaning of the home:

• cleaning the cage or aquarium at least 2 times a week;
• partial cleaning of dirty litter;
• once a month wash the bottom of the cage with laundry soap

Do not place the cage close to a heater, window, TV or computer. Excess heat, drafts, loud noises and bright lights will lead to illness and stress of the animal, which will kill it.

In order to determine whether you are caring for your pet correctly, you should pay attention to the following symptoms indicating impending danger:

• decreased activity of your pet;
• lethargy and drowsiness;
• hard breath;
• dullness and brittleness of the coat.

The Djungarian hamster carries out all hygiene procedures independently, using its paws and tongue, it cleans its body of dirt and foreign objects.

At home, it is difficult for a restless person to fully express his energy, so a running wheel or wheel should be placed in his home.

In addition to entertainment, a hamster needs:

• house for sleeping;
• feeding equipment (feeder and drinking bowl);
• bedding made of sawdust or a special one for absorbing odors from the hamster’s needs.

We described in detail how to choose a cage for a hamster and equip it in.

In pet stores and on the market you will be offered a huge selection of fillers, but it is best to use corn, as it absorbs liquid and odor better and therefore will have to be changed less often than others.

Since it is not recommended to bathe hamsters, they should occasionally have sand baths. It is necessary to arrange baths when your pet’s fur has become matted or lost its shine. For such baths, you should pour sand into a container and then put your pet in it. Hamsters wallow in such a bath with great pleasure.

Dzungarian food

The easiest option for feeding hamsters is to purchase ready-made food. But if you don’t want to buy dry food for your pet, but at the same time, you want to know what to feed your Djungarian hamster , You should seek advice or advice from a specialist veterinary clinic.

Purchased food includes grains (oats, corn), peas, seeds, and nuts. Animals love these very much food products, so you can prepare the mixture yourself, including these constituent components.

The Djungarian hamster loves:

• fresh cucumbers and tomatoes,
• zucchini and corn,
• lettuce and plantain leaves,
• dried fruits (dried apricots, dates, prunes)
• fresh apples and pears.

A hamster's diet should contain protein, which means that 2 times a week he can enjoy low-fat cottage cheese, chicken meat or boiled eggs.

Be careful that your pet does not eat bones - they act as poison on the hamster.

We discussed in detail what to feed a hamster at home.

Salt, sugar and spices, onions and garlic, milk and sour cream, citrus fruits and melons, sorrel and mint, any baked goods and confectionery, mushrooms and sausages, cabbage and almonds should be strictly excluded from the animals’ diet.

You will find a complete list of foods prohibited for consumption by hamsters in.

And if you don’t know if your pet is a boy or a girl, here is a reminder on how to determine the sex of Djungarian hamsters, as well as rodents of other species.

By following all the rules for the care and maintenance of Djungarian hamsters, a joyful and long life for your animal is guaranteed. Remember, how long your pet will live and how long it will please its owners depends primarily on you.

Small and cute rodents Djungarian hamsters live in nature in the North-East Caucasus, Central and Western Asia and Western Siberia. Their habitat is rocky semi-desert areas, cinquefoil and wormwood steppes without shrubs. Djungarians also live well at home, where their maintenance does not require a lot of time and money. Pet lovers happily keep them in their apartments, and this is understandable, since they love to play with children and delight with their funny antics.

Meet the Djungarian hamster

A very active rodent with beautiful fur grows to only 10 cm and has a body weight of 45 g. Features of its appearance include: dark stripe on the back, which distinguishes it from its brothers. The animal's fur has a variegated color and white inclusions, due to which natural conditions the rodent can safely camouflage itself and hide from predators. Domestic hamsters can have the following colors:

• pearl;
• mandarin;
• standard;
• sapphire.

In winter, the animal's fur sheds and turns white. The inclusions become invisible, all that remains is gray stripe on the back.

Many people like Dzungariki not only for their cute plush face, but also because are distinguished by exceptional cleanliness and do not emit an unpleasant odor. At the genetic level, even at home, they stock up on food by putting it behind their chubby cheeks. This funny rodent is very interesting to watch. Djungarian hamsters are active only at dusk. They sleep day and night and can happily do this on the laps of their owners.

Like all rodents, dzhungarikas can show aggression and even bite. Their bite does not pose a danger to humans, however, it is quite sensitive. This character trait of the animal must be kept in mind if a hamster is purchased for a child.

Keeping dzhungarika at home

Hamsters are very unpretentious and easy to keep. Ideal option to contain them is a cage. Since a rodent can easily chew through plastic and wooden rods, it is best if the frame of the house will be galvanized. The cage should be spacious enough to accommodate a pet house, a special wheel, and still have room for the hamster to actively move around.

The cage should be equipped with:

1. A fairly spacious house with a wide opening into which the rodent should easily enter.
2. Manholes in the form of tubes, branches and horses.
3. A special toilet, which is intended for small animals and is filled with absorbent material.
4. Bedding in the form of pressed sawdust or fine sand, which should be able to absorb moisture and absorb odors. It is strictly prohibited to lay newspapers, rags, napkins and cotton wool on hamsters.
5. A drinking bowl with a volume of at least 50 ml. It is best to choose an automatic drinker that will be attached to the wall of the cage. Your pet's water should always be fresh.
6. Feeder, the width of which should be from 3 to 10 cm.
7. A wheel that is selected taking into account the size of the pet. It should have a bottom without a grid and transverse protrusions.
8. A bathing suit, which differs in that sand is poured into it instead of water. It is not recommended to wet or bathe dzhungarikas.

Features of care

Clean rodents do not require special care. They wash themselves and clean their fur with their paws. You will only need to change the litter as it fills, and clean the cage once every 5-7 days. Once a month, the bottom of the cage should be washed with water and laundry soap.

Since Djungarian hamsters cannot be bathed, they should sometimes arrange a sand bath. This is only required if the rodent’s fur is not shiny and matted. To do this, pour a little sand into a container and place the pet in it. He will happily wallow in the sand and clean his fur.

These simple measures for caring for dzhungarikas will provide your small animal with a healthy and joyful life.

Nutrition of Djungarian hamsters

If caring for rodents is quite simple, then you need to pay special attention to nutrition. It is recommended to feed your pet twice a day at the same time. This should be done in the morning when the hamster wakes up, and in the evening when it begins to be active. The pregnant female is fed at regular intervals four times a day.

In the morning, the dzhungarik's diet should include boiled vegetables, protein and succulent food. In the evening, it is tedious to give him cereal, dry food and treats.

The diet of Djungarian hamsters includes:

Twice a week, the rodents' diet should include protein in the form of a boiled egg, cottage cheese, kefir, natural yogurt, low-fat boiled fish or boiled chicken fillet.

It is recommended to feed pregnant females, sick and thin hamsters with baby food prepared in water without sugar and salt. If your pet has an intestinal disorder, you can feed your pet sticky rice, and if you have constipation, give a drop of vegetable oil.

The list of products prohibited for Djungarians includes:

Purchasing for small rodent food at the pet store, you need to be careful. Designed for large rodents rough mixes are not suitable for dzungaria. They have a completely different composition that can be harmful to the health of a small hamster.

Dzungarian diseases

Small and delicate creatures can be susceptible to various ailments. You need to know about the simplest of them so that you can properly care for your hamster in case of illness.

If they fall, active animals may get hit or get dislocated or fractured. The main symptoms in these cases are problems in the movement of the animal and curvature of the limb. It is simply impossible to fix broken legs or tail. Therefore, veterinarians advise providing the hamster with a quiet place and feeding it calcium-rich food. The ladders and wheel are temporarily removed from the cage. Immobile limbs with this type of care will grow together in 10-14 days.

If hamsters are hypothermic, they can catch a cold or contract the flu from the inhabitants of the house. The first symptoms of the disease are: decreased activity, runny nose and sneezing of the animal. If there are no other manifestations of the disease, then the pet’s cage from the draft needs to be moved to a more warm place, add warm bedding and give him warm milk. You can boost your immunity with vegetables and fruits. In case of sudden weight loss, loss of appetite and purulent discharge from the eyes, it is recommended to urgently contact a veterinarian, who will prescribe treatment and tell you how to care for your Djungarian hamster during illness.

Bacterial infection may develop into conjunctivitis. In this case, the inflamed eyes are carefully wiped with salted water. But if the lens of the eye has become cloudy, and the pupil area gray, then most likely the hamster has developed cataracts. Old animals are susceptible to this disease. It cannot be treated.

With frequent stress, hamsters can develop eczema or dermatophytosis, which is manifested by hair loss and peeling skin. In this case, you should immediately seek help from a specialist who will prescribe a course of antibiotics.

Sometimes in Djungarian hamsters there are problems with teeth. Therefore, if a rodent suddenly refuses food, you need to check the teeth for integrity. In some cases, the hamster has teeth that are too long to eat, which can be straightened with regular nail clippers. But it is best to entrust such a procedure to a specialist.

As can be seen from the article, keeping and caring for Djungarian hamsters is not very difficult. Simple measures such as providing the rodent with food and fresh water, cleaning the cage and regularly playing with it will ensure that your pet healthy life and will bring joy to both the pet and its owner.

The Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus) is a small rodent from the Hamster family, the genus Hairy-footed. Quite a popular pet to keep at home. This is due not only to its cute appearance and funny behavior, but also to its ease of care and minimum space taken up. In the wild, these animals live in the Eastern Caucasus, Asia and Western Siberia. They prefer to settle on rocky steppe territory with limited vegetation.

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Habitat

These tiny furry creatures in nature live mainly in steppes and semi-deserts. They got their name according to the place of their initial discovery - the province of Dzungaria, in northwestern China. They are also called Sungur hamsters. These animals are loners. They dig holes in the ground on their own, with great length and at a depth of up to one and a half meters, with many labyrinths and compartments. Such dwellings usually have up to 6 entrances and exits.

They are nocturnal, starting active work, as soon as the sun sets: they build houses, look for food and make food reserves for the winter. The diet of animals is dominated by plant food: shoots, grass, seeds, berries. They also eat insects. Every day they have to travel more than one kilometer in search of food. On desert plains they are very vulnerable to different predators. However, nature itself has endowed them with a camouflage color, which allows them to avoid early death.

Description

Djungarian hamsters look cute, with a pointed muzzle and small ears. Regardless of gender, the average body length is 9–12 cm with a weight of 40–65 g. The coat is short, thick and uniform. The abdomen is of a lighter tone than the other parts. The back is predominantly dark gray or brown in color. On the paws and internal area white spots are observed in the ears. Distinctive feature This type of hamster has a solid black stripe along its entire ridge.

Domestic hamsters are slightly different from their free-ranging counterparts. This is expressed in a greater variety of fur colors. The most common ones are presented in the table:

Name	Description	Photo
Standard	Brown-gray background and white belly
Sapphire	Main color - gray-blue, snow-white belly
Pearl	Matte white color with alternating gray inclusions
Mandarin	Cover of a solid orange-cream shade

There are no blacks or albinos. U wild representatives In summer the coat color is light, and in winter a whitish tint appears.

To determine the sex of an animal, you need to turn it belly up. The female has two closely spaced holes in the lower part. In the male, the anal passage is located far from the urethra.




Often a problem in home care"Djungarians" is their short lifespan. On average it does not exceed three years. There are exceptions, but they are rare. Although in the wild, many animals do not live that long, due to the many dangers around.

It is not recommended to house two individuals in one cage, regardless of gender. Since these are strict “territorials”, they do not tolerate one of their own being nearby. This inevitably leads to aggression and constant clashes. As a result, the animal falls into stressful state, which has a detrimental effect on health. Even if you purchase several hamsters for the purpose of breeding, you should place them separately.

The first step is to choose a cage where the new pet will spend most of its time. It should be as comfortably furnished as possible and spacious enough. The best option- this is a galvanized cage measuring 30 by 50 cm or a special plexiglass container. Internal filling:

1. 1. Litter. Fine sand or pressed sawdust, medium fraction. Both materials absorb excess moisture well and absorb foreign odors. It is unacceptable to use cotton wool, rags, paper napkins, newspapers.
2. 2. Toilet. Purchase a special tray for small rodents, into which moisture- and odor-absorbing filler is poured.
3. 3. Branches, driftwood, plant roots. Serve as manholes for a pleasant pastime.
4. 4. House. It is necessary for the pet to rest, this is a place where he can hide from prying eyes. You can buy ready-made ones or make them yourself from wood.
5. 5. Wheel. Designed for rodents to run, which gives them great pleasure.

To maintain physical fitness, hamsters need to travel several kilometers every day. Doing this in captivity is problematic. Therefore, the wheel will be the ideal way out of the situation. But letting your pet out for free walks around the apartment is dangerous. Either he will escape and may get lost and die, or he will be crushed due to his small size. True, there are special walking balls in which the hamster will be safe to run outside his home.

The pet store has a wide range of different accessories for entertaining hamsters: ladders, tunnels, sections. Just don’t buy too many of them and clutter up the space. Be sure to have a drinking bowl and feeder inside. Pure water necessary constantly, in free access. They change it daily. The recommended sizes of the drinker are 50 ml, the feeders are 4–10 cm in diameter.

It is not advisable to place dwarfs in cramped aquariums with high walls. Then there is a lack of oxygen, which causes stress in the hamsters and worsens their well-being.

A mineral stone must be placed inside to grind down the teeth. An alternative would be any twigs from trees, with the exception of cherry and apricot ones.



Care and hygiene

Mandatory measures for caring for dzhungarikas include daily cleaning of the cage, which helps to avoid the appearance of a specific odor in the room. General washing and changing of toilet filler is carried out once a week. During this procedure, the hamster is transplanted into a special box or carrier.

The filler is not completely changed, some is left so that the hamster does not lose his bearings. Do not use chemicals for cleaning. A soap solution is ideal. From inside, they remove all the garbage and food supplies that the animal managed to hide in corners and other hidden places. However, the nest should not be destroyed.

Djungarian hamsters are not bathed because water procedures will be another shock for them. They are able to take care of their fur on their own. For hygiene purposes, it is recommended to place a container with sifted sand inside, in which they like to tumble.

It is important to initially correctly position the pet’s housing, so as not to move it in the future and not to injure the animal’s vulnerable psyche. You cannot place the cage on the floor, in direct sunlight, near radiators and various household appliances, or in a draft.

Feeding

It is ideal to feed such pets with ready-made food mixtures, where the emphasis is on the grain component.

You just need to supplement your diet with natural food. The pet's menu should include:

• fresh and boiled vegetables;
• fruits;
• greenery;
• berries;
• cereals;
• sprouted grain;
• nuts other than almonds;
• homemade crackers;
• carob fruits.

Twice a week the animals are fed protein foods: boiled eggs, cottage cheese, natural yogurt, boiled fish and chicken. Any new product is introduced gradually, observing the body's reaction. If a hamster develops diarrhea, this component is excluded from the menu.

Adults have a two-time diet. Pregnant females and babies are fed 4–5 times a day.

The following products are prohibited:

• shoots of coniferous trees;
• potato;
• onion and garlic;
• tomato tops;
• citrus;
• melon, watermelon;
• almond;
• sausages;
• salty and smoked foods;
• chocolate, ice cream.

When purchasing specialized mixes for dwarfs at a pet store, you should avoid those intended for large rodents. This is due to the difference in composition, which can cause harm. Do not overfeed, which leads to obesity. Remains of food are immediately removed, otherwise the hamster will quickly move them to some hidden place.

Taming

Djungarians are independent by nature and are not too eager to communicate. In order for the animal not to bite and behave calmly in your arms, you will have to be patient and time. It is necessary to pay attention to your pet every day, establishing close contact. It will not be possible to tame once and for all. If you do not contact him for at least a week, then the wildness returns and you will have to start all over again.

Since the animal is accustomed to being awake at night, it is better not to disturb it again during the day. But at night you have to endure its increased activity. It is at this time that they begin to chew something, run in a wheel, rustle with paper. Therefore, it is recommended to place the cage away from the master bedroom.

When you bring a small pet into your home, you need to give it time to adapt to new conditions. Usually 2–3 days are enough. Then they carefully begin to pick him up. If a dzhungarik begins to rush around the cage at the sight of a hand reaching out to him, it is better to postpone the event and not traumatize the psyche of the ward.

It should be remembered that animals are very sensitive to external stimuli: bright light, loud sounds, sudden changes in temperature. As a result, they get very scared and quickly run wild, not wanting to for a long time make contact with a person.

Health

Most diseases in pet hamsters are caused by inappropriate care, which causes extreme stress. Extremely undesirable:

• cell movement;
• changes in sleep and wakefulness patterns;
• long trip;
• adding another hamster.

If unmotivated aggression, ulcers on the body, rapid breathing, apathy, baldness, loss of appetite and loose stools occur, you should immediately contact a veterinarian.

The most common diseases of dzhungarikas, their symptoms and recommended actions for the owner:

Problems	Symptom	Help
Viral infection, cold	Sneezes, coughs, is inactive	There is no treatment as such, but they try to ensure peace and introduce more fruits and vegetables into the diet. Serve with warm milk. The cage is removed away from drafts
Injuries: fractures, dislocations, sprains	Excessively mobile animals can be injured when falling or as a result of careless handling. Symptoms: deformed limbs, impaired gait	It is impossible to fix a broken leg or tail, so they ensure the hamster is kept in peace. They are fed food with a high calcium content (greens, sesame seeds, nuts, sunflower seeds). All traumatic attractions are temporarily removed from the cage. Usually bones heal in 10–14 days
Intestinal disorder	Loose stools or constipation, loss of appetite, exhaustion. Occurs against the background of individual intolerance to a food product	Reviewing the diet. For diarrhea give sticky rice, for constipation - vegetable oil(1–2 drops)
Conjunctivitis	Sticky eyelids	Rinse eyes with saline solution
Cataract	The pupil becomes gray and the lens becomes cloudy	Cannot be treated
Dental trauma	Refusal to eat	Examine your teeth. It happens that long incisors become the cause of loss of appetite. You can trim them with regular nail clippers, but it’s better to trust a specialist to do this.
Eczema, dermatophytosis and other skin diseases	Hair falls out in clumps, skin peels off	Contact the veterinarian
Fleas, ticks	The hamster is itching, there are wounds and red spots on the body	Use special lotions and aerosols as prescribed by your doctor.

Reproduction

Djungarian hamsters, even in captivity, are quite fertile and are able to reproduce at any time of the year. Females at least four months old are selected for mating. Males mature a month earlier. Pregnancy lasts about 3 weeks. At this time, the expectant mother is switched to a more expanded diet, which includes:

• dry granulated food;
• protein foods: boiled chicken, eggs, cottage cheese.

Prepare the cage for the mother and offspring in advance - disinfect the interior space and accessories. Newborns are fed breast milk for the first 3 weeks.

You cannot pick up the cubs at this time. Otherwise, the female will smell someone else's scent and eat them.

Already on the fifth day, babies stop squeaking and become calmer. On the seventh day, the first fluff on the body begins to appear. They move around the cage on the tenth day. By this time, you can pour some kind of non-rough food on the bottom, which they will be able to eat on their own. Hearing and vision appear 1.5-2 weeks after birth. At one month of age, it is permissible to transplant them separately.

Djungarians are capable of reproducing high-quality offspring provided they are crossed only with Campbell hamsters. The lifespan of such hamsters usually does not exceed 1.5 years.

Charming miniature rodents, which their owners affectionately call dzhungarikas, are increasingly appearing in the homes of animal lovers. Moreover, the Djungarian hamster is considered the most popular pet from the rodent family today. Care and maintenance, according to reviews from the owners of these little ones, are not burdensome, and at the same time, both adults and children get great pleasure from watching the habits of their miniature pet.

The Djungarian hamster is a cute animal with a kind and cheerful disposition that easily makes contact with humans. These hamsters are unusually clean and do not have the unpleasant odor inherent in many of their hamsters. This is an indisputable advantage that simplifies the maintenance of Djungarian hamsters. The photos posted in this article will help you get a general idea of ​​these funny kids.

Despite the fact that many owners believe that caring for dzhungarikas is not difficult, beginners who have such a newcomer in their home need to know the basic rules of its maintenance.

Spreading

Djungarian hamsters have a fairly wide habitat. The species is found in natural conditions in southern Transbaikalia, Tuva, in the Aginskaya, Chuya and Minusinsk steppes, in Altai, and in the steppes of Western Siberia. In addition, representatives of the species are found in Northeast China and Mongolia.

Djungarians build their burrow houses in steppe or desert landscapes, much less often on the outskirts of the forest-steppe. These babies are not afraid of saline, sandy, gravelly soils. In Altai they are found at an altitude of up to 3 thousand meters above sea level.

Character and lifestyle

To provide proper care for your Djungarian hamster at home, you need to know how these animals behave in natural conditions. Hamsters of this species are predominantly nocturnal or crepuscular. These babies do not hibernate, but if the temperature remains below +16 °C for a long time, their fur becomes much lighter.

Adults lead a solitary lifestyle. If you are planning to place two hamsters together, try to choose ones that have been close to each other since birth. If you try to add someone else's hamster, then a conflict is quite likely. In this case, some owners use a cage with a removable partition. Over time, the animals will get used to their neighbor, and the partition can be removed.

Djungarians are peaceful and completely non-aggressive creatures. At home, they practically do not bite and get along well with children. You can buy a Djungarian hamster for yourself, or to teach your child responsibility, at almost any pet store. But as to where to place this cute baby, the opinions of owners and veterinarians differ - some believe that it is more convenient to keep and care for the Djungarian hamster in an aquarium or glass jar, others are sure that a regular metal cage is more suitable for dzhungarikas.

External features

This is a very active animal with a beautiful fur coat, maximum size which does not exceed 10 cm and weighs 45 grams. Features of the Djungarian's appearance include a dark stripe on its back, which distinguishes it from most of its fellows.

The fur of this species of hamster is variegated with white patches. This helps the rodent in natural conditions to perfectly camouflage and hide from predators. The following colors are especially common among domestic Djungarian hamsters:

• mandarin;
• pearl;
• sapphire;
• standard.

In winter, the animal's coat sheds and becomes almost white. The inclusions become almost invisible, and the gray stripe on the back still stands out. It's funny that even at home, when animals do not lack food, they store food, collecting it for chubby cheeks.

Djungarian hamsters: maintenance and care at home

We have already said that these charming babies are unpretentious in their maintenance. And yet they need to create comfortable conditions for accommodation.

• We will equip a house for a hamster.

And while owners and veterinarians argue about where it is more convenient to keep dwarfs - in a cage or an aquarium - we suggest equipping the hamster’s house in a cage. When choosing it, remember that hamsters love to chew on everything that is available to them. Do not buy cages with painted rods: they look more attractive than usual, but very soon some of the paint will end up in the dwarf's stomach, and it is unknown what his reaction will be.

If you want to place your baby in an aquarium or terrarium, do not close the top tightly. The rodent needs air, so leave the top part open. If the sides of the terrarium are low and you are afraid that the hamster will jump out, cover the housing with a metal mesh.

And yet, it seems to us that it is more convenient to care for and maintain a Djungarian hamster (you see the photo below) in a cage. First of all, because it is well ventilated and the hamster does not lack air. Another argument in favor of the cage is the fact that moisture does not form in the cage, which rodents have a negative attitude towards. In the cage you will avoid the appearance of an unpleasant odor, which often forms in the terrarium. In addition, in such a house it is easier to attach toys, drinking bowls, and feeders.

A cage for a hamster of this species should be quite spacious, despite the miniature size of its occupant. The fact is that it must be filled with various “structures” and items necessary for comfortable life jungarika.

• Shelter.

Under natural conditions, hamsters live in burrows, which serve as a refuge for rodents from prying eyes and predators. Place a compact, cozy house in the cage in which the dwarf will sleep or just relax when he wants to be alone. Today in stores you will be offered to purchase ceramic, plastic, wooden and fabric houses. We recommend avoiding the last two options, since fabric and wood absorb unpleasant odors.

The plastic house is too fragile - your pet will chew it off in a few days. But the ceramic one is ideal, since it is difficult for the baby to move it from its place. You can put small pieces of fabric on the bottom to make your pet warm and cozy.

Drinking bowl

Water is necessary for any living creature, so caring for a Djungarian hamster at home requires having a drinking bowl in the cage. Some models come with built-in water containers, while others attach them to the bars of the cage. Pour only boiled water into the drinking bowl and change it every 2 days. Do not place it in the sun so that the water does not “bloom”.

Feeder

A dzhungarik should have two containers for food - for fresh vegetables and fruits and for dry food. Feeders should be washed with warm water without using detergents.

Litter

The cage should be cozy and soft. Properly chosen bedding will relieve you of unpleasant odors and absorb moisture. You can use sawdust or toilet paper. After pouring sawdust for the first time, carefully observe the animal’s reaction - some types of wood can cause allergic reactions in a rodent.

You should not use newspaper as bedding - printing ink is toxic to the animal. When wet, it sticks to the paws and bottom of the cage. You should not use cotton wool either - the jungarik will simply get entangled in it, which can lead to the death of the clamped limbs.

Toys

It is impossible to imagine a hamster's home without a wheel. This is the most effective device that can satisfy the animal's need for movement. The wheel must be lubricated so that the hamster can spin it without much effort. In addition to this, you can install horizontal rods, branches, and various toys in the cage.

Features of care

These clean animals do not require special care. They wash themselves thoroughly and clean their fur with their paws. It is only important to change the litter and clean the cage once a week. Once a month you should wash the bottom of the cage with laundry soap. You can't bathe dzhungarikas, but sometimes they need to have sand baths. This procedure is usually carried out if the hamster's fur is dirty - it is matted and does not shine.

Pour some fine, clean sand into a container and place your hamster in it. He will happily wallow in the sand, cleaning his fur.

Feeding of jungarians

As you can see, the Djungarian hamster is quite easy to care for. The nutrition of these babies requires special attention. Such a pet should be fed twice a day and always at the same time. This should be done in the morning when the hamster wakes up, and in the evening when he begins to be active. A female expecting offspring is fed four times a day at regular intervals.

In the morning, the dzhungarik should receive protein, boiled vegetables, and succulent food. In the evening - dry food, cereals and treats. The basis of the diet of hamsters of this species is:

• dry food;
• vegetables that do not contain starch, cooked without salt;
• fresh fruits and vegetables;
• cereals;
• seedless berries;
• seeds and nuts (except almonds);
• dried twigs and fresh leaves deciduous and fruit trees;
• carob fruits and crackers as a treat.

There are foods that are strictly prohibited for feeding jungarians:

• various sausages;
• sour cream;
• coniferous branches;
• cream;
• butter;
• milk;
• potato;
• fruit seeds;
• onion and garlic;
• mushrooms;
• watermelon;
• mint;
• chocolate, cookies, ice cream;
• citrus;
• spices.

It is necessary to carefully consider the choice of food for a miniature rodent in a pet store. Mixtures designed for large hamsters are not suitable for him. They have a completely different composition that will harm your dwarf.