Hamsters

Physical Attributes: The Hamster has large incisor teeth, small furry ears, and long-tail and woolly coat and can be found in various colors such as white, yellow, brown, golden etc. Hamsters are very flexible, and their bones are somewhat fragile. There are many different kinds of hamsters, but the one most commonly kept as a pet is the cute Syrian hamster breed. Syrian hamsters are the largest kind of hamster, and they can be found in a lot of pretty different colors, in long-haired or short-haired variety. The long-haired Syrian hamster is sometimes called a Teddy Bear hamster. A full-grown Syrian hamster usually grows to about four to six inches long. An important thing to know about Syrian hamsters is that you should never keep more than one per cage, because if two Syrian hamsters are forced to share the same space, they will probably fight and can seriously hurt each other. The next most popular hamsters are Dwarf hamsters, which only grow to three to four inches in length, hence the name Dwarf hamsters. These cute little guys can be kept together with other Dwarf hamsters and they will usually get along just fine.

Reproductive System: Hamsters become fertile at different ages dependent on their species, but this can be from one month to three months of age. Male hamsters remain fertile for the rest of their lives, though females do not. Females are in heat approximately every four days. Breeding season is from April to October, with two to five litters of 1 to 13 young being born after a gestation period of 16 to23 days.

Caring of Hamsters
When it comes to learning how to care for a hamster, your goal should be to remember that your furry friend must be kept warm, dry, and entertained. A hamster's needs are directly related to the life it would be living were it a wild animal. Hamsters are desert creatures, populating dry, rocky areas in places like Syria, Mongolia, and Pakistan. This is why it's essential that you meet your hamster's need for dry, warm housing. Avoid keeping your hamster in an aquarium, as the glass enclosure will promote the locking-in of moisture. Instead, seek out a cage made especially for hamsters-either a standard wire enclosure or one of the popular "habitrail" type cages. A habitrail cage, with all of its tubes, turrets, and tunnels will also help ensure that your hamster's need for entertainment is met.

Diet
Diet is another essential element in knowing how to care for a hamster. Fresh water should be made available at all times via a specially made drinking bottle. Never put your hamster's water in a dish, as the dish will quickly be tipped or filled with debris, and then you will have a sad, wet hamster. As for food, there are a multitude of pre-packaged hamster foods on the market, and it's always a good idea to make those foods the bulk of your hamster's diet. However, hamsters, like people, appreciate a little variety at dinnertime, so an offering of apple pieces, carrot slices, or crackers is always welcome. Greens can also be integrated into your hamster's diet, but avoid overfeeding these vegetables to your hamster as they will contract an illness called "wet tail," which is fatal if left untreated. Keep in mind also that hamsters are hoarders. It is nearly impossible to overfeed them, as they will most likely take much of their food with them into their nest, so remove uneaten foods that might spoil if your hamster decides to save them for later!