Many are convinced that Dzungarian hamsters are ideal pets. This opinion is explained by the fact that dzungariki are completely unpretentious in food and care, they are very popular with children and do not require significant maintenance costs. And even adults will like watching funny kids, studying their unusual habits and behavior.

If you want your pet to please you with good health and excellent mood for a long time, choose it responsibly. Determining whether an animal is healthy is not difficult at all. When buying, be sure to pay attention to the following points:

  • The fur of the animal should shine and not have bald spots.
  • Clear eyes, absence of suppuration and spots are an important indicator of the animal's condition.
  • Be sure to inspect the animal's anus and fur around it. They don't have to be dirty. Diarrhea often indicates an infectious disease.
  • The nose should be clean and pinkish in color.
  • If the dzungarik is sleeping, be sure to wake him up and observe his behavior. Hamsters are very active by nature. Lethargy can be caused by illness or extreme stress, which often happens in the crowded and stuffy cells of a pet store. Animals are known to be more susceptible to illness during times of stress, so skip the purchase.

Dzungarian hamster

Many can't decide animal what gender select. If you are not planning to breed, then the issue of gender is not important for you. It is known that the character, habits and behavior of dzungariks do not depend on this factor.

Do not forget to consider the question. pet transportation home. To transport your hamster, veterinarians recommend purchasing a special carrier. At its bottom, you should put a little sawdust, as well as a few pieces of carrots. If the transportation takes more than 2 hours, be sure to provide the animal with access to water by hanging a drinking bowl.

You can carry the hamster in your arms only if he is not afraid of you and the road will take no more than half an hour. This method is completely unsuitable for the first transportation of the jungarik home.

What do you need for a dzhungarik?

Minimum set

In order for the Dzungarian hamster to somehow live for some time in your house, he will need a cage (even the smallest, in extreme cases, an aquarium or a 3-5 liter jar) for living, food (you can put it right on the bottom of the cage) and a drinking bowl. That is, the minimum Spartan set of a jungarik looks like this:

  • mini cage
  • drinker

Optimal set

For a normal life, it is advisable for a hamster to buy a larger cage. It would be convenient to feed him from a special feeder. For physical development, buy him a wheel, and a house for rest. It is advisable to put filler at the bottom of the cage in order to keep the hamster's home clean for longer and soften its falls.

Therefore, the standard list of necessary things for Dzungarian hamsters looks like this:

  • Medium cage
  • Trough
  • Drinker
  • Small house
  • Wheel
  • Cell filler

With this set, the hamster will feel quite comfortable and cozy.

Ideal - all inclusive

If you will not regret the money and want to create excellent living conditions for your hamster, then you will need to purchase everything from the previous option. But it is advisable to buy a larger cage: a two-story one with special pipes that replace underground burrows for the hamster.

In addition, the dzungarik will be happy to gnaw a special chalk stone for grinding teeth, in addition to the main food, eat special snacks, occasionally walk around the apartment in a special bowl and swim in fine sand.

Here's our perfect list of things to keep a Dzungarian hamster:

  • Spacious and comfortable cage
  • Small house
  • Feeder (preferably divided into two sections);
  • Drinker
  • Wheel (always solid or with a fine mesh);
  • Cell filler
  • Chalk stone
  • Bathing suit and sand
  • Walking ball
  • Yummy

Additional features

Bring your dzungarik sometimes twigs of trees. Hamsters love to gnaw them. And also spoil him sometimes with special toys for hamsters, including edible ones.

  • Twigs
  • Toys

Dzungarian hamster cage

In order for the adaptation period to pass easily and calmly for the pet, be sure to equip a comfortable home for it. Now in the pet store you can buy any cages for dzungarian people from the simplest and most budgetary ones to “palaces” that are not cheap. Consider the pros and cons of different cells.

Traditional cage with twigs

This option is good because the hamster will be able to actively exercise, climbing on the rods. He will also be provided with a comfortable temperature and constant fresh air.

The main disadvantages are the noise that the pet will make in it at night, and the dirt. Be prepared for the hamster to spread the filler all over the floor surrounding the cage as he runs and plays.

Also, the cage is not suitable for those who have other pets. A cat or dog can easily get to the jungarik through the twigs.

Aquarium

Many readers ask: "Is it possible to keep a dzungarian in an aquarium?" We answer: “You can. But there are also disadvantages of this option. "

In the case of an aquarium, the pet's nighttime noise will hardly bother you. But there are a lot of disadvantages: the difficulty of cleaning, the difficult flow of fresh air and the lack of exercise.

Plastic house

Such a cage will become a real paradise for your jungarik! A multitude of pipes, manholes and nooks and crannies will provide him with an active and fun pastime. The only drawback of such a house is its high price. Remember that you can equip a simple cage yourself - it is much cheaper.

Be sure to get your pet a small house. In it he will be able to sleep, rest and hide, which will make his life much more comfortable. It is worth giving preference to a wooden house. They are less durable than plastic, but chewing them is harmless.

Some hamsters happily live in hanging houses. They are perfect if the cage is small or heavily packed.
There are also thatched houses. It will not work as a main dwelling. But if you are looking for something to pamper a dzungarik, think about such an acquisition.

Nutrition

The key to your pet's health is in proper nutrition. Try to feed the jungarik at the same time. 7-8 am and 8 pm, when the hamster starts to wake up, are ideal.

Morning feeds should include juicy food, protein, and boiled vegetables. In the evening, you should give the dzungarik dry food, cereals and some kind of delicacy.

If you are caring for a pregnant female, feed her 4 times a day at regular intervals.

Main menu

The basis of the diet of a dzhungarik should be:

  • dry food specially designed for Dzungarian hamsters;
  • nuts (except almonds) and seeds;
  • dried fruits;
  • seedlings of grains;
  • cereals;
  • seedless berries (grapes are allowed in small quantities);
  • fresh fruits and vegetables;
  • non-starchy vegetables cooked without salt;
  • fresh herbs, lettuce leaves;
  • leaves and dried twigs of deciduous and fruit trees;
  • rose petals (purchased from a flower shop are not suitable, as they have been treated with pesticides);
  • carob and homemade croutons as a treat.

Extra menu

The protein component of the menu (several times a week in small quantities):

  • boiled chicken fillet;
  • lean boiled fish;
  • natural yogurt, kefir and cottage cheese;
  • boiled egg white.

As complementary foods for sick, thin or pregnant hamsters, you can use baby food without salt and sugar, porridge cooked in water.

For constipation, you can give a drop of vegetable oil, and for diarrhea, sticky rice will help.

What can not be given to a dzungarik

List of prohibited foods:

  • spices, sugar and salt;
  • kozinaki;
  • ice cream;
  • cookies, chocolate;
  • citrus;
  • watermelon;
  • mint;
  • garlic and onions;
  • mushrooms;
  • potato;
  • fruit pits;
  • butter;
  • milk, cream, sour cream;
  • sausages, sausages;
  • coniferous branches.

Care

Cleaning the cage

The unpleasant smell of the cage will not bother you if you regularly clean it once every 1-1.5 weeks. Place the hamster in the carrier. Remove the dirty litter, leaving a small amount (this will make the hamster feel more comfortable), and add a fresh one. Once a month, do a wet cleaning by rinsing the bottom of the cage with water and laundry soap.

Bathing

Never wash your hamster in water! If you notice that your pet's fur coat is matted and does not shine, give him a sand bath. To do this, purchase a special bathing suit (a three-liter can is also suitable) and sand for chinchillas. Pour some sand into the bathing suit and run the jungarik there. Soon you will be watching him wallow in the sand and peel his hide.

As you can see, caring for dzhungariki is not very difficult. Clean the cage regularly, provide your hamster with access to water and fresh food, and of course play with it regularly. These simple steps will ensure your pet has a happy and healthy life!

Dzungarian hamsters are incredibly funny babies, thanks to their appearance, are very popular. Caring for these animals is not cumbersome and is considered fairly straightforward. Despite the minimum care requirements that the animals need, you should know and take into account certain rules for caring for these pets. Dzhungariki hamsters are a very playful animal that will please not only adults, but also children, as they quickly get used to their hands.

Dzhungariki hamsters: what you need to know about them?

If, before purchasing a hamster, you want to create the most optimal living conditions for him, then you should take note of the following rules:

Dzungarian hamster: care and maintenance

How to care for a Jungarik hamster?

An essential part of caring for a hamster is regular cleaning of its cage. If it is not cleaned, then the smell of urine will acquire a rather strong and specific smell.

How to clean properly?

  1. Regular replacement of the filler in the cage should be carried out at least once a week;
  2. So that a small but extremely nosy animal does not run away, it is necessary deposited in a carrier or any container;
  3. Used the filler is not recommended to be removed completely, you should leave a little dzhungarika;
  4. Every month it is necessary to wash the hamster's cage, but at the same time, without destroying the nest. You can limit yourself to washing out the bottom of the cage with ordinary laundry soap.

It is also worth noting that the Dzungarian hamster does not need water treatments... The animal cleans its fur on its own, and a bathing suit filled with sand helps it in this. In addition, the jungarik's cage must be equipped with a tooth stick. An ordinary stone of mineral origin will be enough for him to grind his teeth. The animal will not refuse a stick, which was made from a branch of a fruit tree, with the exception of apricot and cherry.

Dzungarian hamster: photo




Dzungarian hamster: how to feed it?

Eating your hamster at home shouldn't be very different from what you eat in the wild. The easiest and most optimal way to feed the animal is to purchase ready-made, specially developed ready-made mixtures.

The composition of such feeds includes oats, corn, seeds, nuts and peas... Dzungarian hamsters are very fond of each of these foods. But what else can you feed the animal?

How many times should Jungariks be fed? They should be fed no more than twice a day, preferably in the morning and evening. The remains of feed can not be removed from the cage, but as for perishable products, it is better to remove them so that the animal does not get poisoned by the spoiled product.

Dzungarian hamster cage

At home, dzhungariks are recommended to live in large cages, since they move a lot and like to run. If you deprive the animal of space, then it will not be able to live for a long time. The best option in choosing a cage is cages with narrow rods so that the animal does not have the opportunity to escape. To provide the rodent with maximum space, it is recommended to purchase two or three-tiered cages.

A hamster will live for a long time if it feels confident and safe in its home. Therefore, it is necessary to equip it with everything necessary, namely:

  • food utensils;
  • game wheel;
  • a house where there will be an opportunity to hide;
  • drinker;
  • sand bathing.

The drinker should be attached to the bars, or rather between them, and the food utensils should be placed on the bottom of the cage. Dzungariki do not need large volumes of water, but they should always have access to it. The bathing suit, as we said earlier, should be filled with sand, not water, since water does not suit them.

It is best to use sawdust as a filler, which is sold in every pet store. If you clean the cage as expected, once a week, then the consumption of the filler is quite economical. In addition to the filler, the bottom of the cage can be supplemented with wet wipes or toilet paper. Hamsters make their nests from pieces of paper. It is better not to use cotton wool, since rodents stuff their cheeks with it, and it also sticks to the paws, slowing down the blood circulation processes.

How long does a Dzungarian hamster live? In the wild, their life expectancy, as a rule, is no more than a year, and at home they are able to live from two to three years. There were cases when Dzungarian hamsters lived up to 4 years, but this is more the exception than the rule.

Dzungarian hamsters are very friendly creatures that can make great pets. In the wild, they live in groups in the forests, meadows and deserts of China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Siberia. There are several types of Dzungarian hamsters: winter white, campbell and roborovski. They should be kept in a cage equipped with obstacles and other activities for the hamster. Find out how best to arrange a home for your pet, and let your pet live happily ever after!

Steps

Build a home for your pet

    Choose a cage for your hamster. Dzungarian hamsters grow up to 10-11 cm in length, they need a lot of space to play and run. The cage should be large enough to accommodate toys, a house, a food bowl and a drinking bowl. Choose one of the following options:

    If you have multiple hamsters, set up a cage for them. Dzungarian hamsters love to live in small groups.

    Buy litter for your hamster. Fillers are very beneficial for the health of your pets: they absorb moisture and warm the hamster. Fillers made from recycled paper, sawdust, or recycled corn cobs work well.

    Think about where to put the cage. Hamsters are most active at night, so they need to be placed in a room that will be dark at night. This room should be warm. If your hamster catches a cold, it can get pneumonia.

    • Do not open the windows in the room where you put your hamster cage.
    • If you have other pets, place the crate where other pets cannot reach it.

  1. Keep your hamster's cage clean at all times. In a clean cage, your hamster will grow up healthy and happy. Change your hamster litter several times a week, wash the cage once a week. Wash it with antibacterial detergent and hot water to disinfect the cage. You can use white vinegar for washing. Wash your hamster's wheel, toys, bowl, and drinker.

    Give your hamster treats. In addition to the main food and seed mix, give him a treat from time to time. These can be fruits, vegetables, and other fresh produce. Don't give your hamster too many fruits and vegetables to avoid an upset stomach!

Play with your hamster

    There should be enough toys and other entertainment in the cage. Hamsters are very energetic animals and need to run and play a lot (especially at night). The hamster must have toys and various obstacles.

    • The jogging wheel is considered a classic toy for a hamster. The wheel is mounted on the bottom of the cage or attached to the wall. These wheels are usually very noisy, so it is better to move the cage with the hamster to another room at night.
    • Another very popular hamster toy is the walking ball. The hamster is put in a plastic ball, the hamster starts to move and the ball rolls. Place the ball on the floor away from the stairs.

  1. Learn to handle your hamster. For the first few days, don't touch the hamster, just stick your hand into the cage and let the pet sniff you. The hamster needs to get used to your scent. Remember that your hamster has very fragile little bones, so don't squeeze it. When you pick up your hamster, try to put your hand under it rather than grab it from above. This will make your hamster feel more relaxed. Try to hold the hamster in your arms when it is on the floor. When the animal sees that it can easily retreat and hide, it will not resist and bite.

    Help your hamster to keep himself clean. Dzungarian hamsters are very clean and do not need your intervention. However, once a week, you can add some fine sand to a special container. The hamster will take sand baths because hamsters often dig in the sand in the wild.

    • If you notice that the hamster looks dirty and unkempt for some reason, take a small, wide brush, which is usually used for dyeing hair, or a toothbrush. Wet it and rub it gently over the hamster's fur. Then dry it off with a dry towel.
    • Never bathe your hamster in water! Your hamster can become seriously ill.

Take care of your hamster's health

  1. Assess the health of your hamster. Usually Dzungarian hamsters are rather stocky, with large pouched cheeks and short tails. Check your hamster for eye or nose discharge. Russian Dzungarian hamsters are especially prone to diabetes. If your hamster is sick, he will drink a lot and urinate frequently. If you suspect your pet has diabetes, consult your veterinarian.

    Check if your hamster has a wet tail. If the baby has just recently been weaned, or is very agitated, he may have diarrhea, which will cause the tail to be wet. Consult your veterinarian for correct diagnosis and treatment.

    Check your Djungarian hamster's eyes and nose regularly. They are especially susceptible to various viruses and can get infected from humans. The hamster can develop pneumonia. If your pet has pneumonia, you notice discharge from the eyes and nose, the hamster will refuse to eat. This is serious! So take your hamster to the vet immediately.

The Dzungarian hamster (Рhodorus sungоrus) is a popular domestic animal in many countries, belonging to the genus Uplifted hamsters and the Hamsters family. Domesticated Dzungarian hamsters quite often have significant differences from wild relatives in color.

Characteristics of the Dzungarian hamster

The incredibly popular pet is small in size.... The length of such a rodent can reach 8-10 cm with a weight in the range of 35-65 g. The color of the Dzungarian hamster is uneven. The main coloration is a dark gray with a brownish tint.

The area of ​​the chest and abdominal part of the body is covered with snow-white and rather thick fur. The paws of the domestic animal are light pink in color, and the lower part of the muzzle is whitish. In the area of ​​the back of the Dzungarian hamster, there is a very characteristic line of dark color, reminiscent of a lightning in shape.

Individuals with a white, brownish or brownish basic color are found. The hamster of this species has small, rounded ears, long and light antennae, and tiny round eyes of coal-black color. The muzzle of such a rodent has a slight elongation, and a small nose has a coloration similar to the main color or pink. The tail is very small and almost invisible.

Sellers who sell home dzungariki "from hand" are quite capable of lying about the date of birth and the purity of the blood of such pets. It is for this reason that all veterinarians recommend purchasing pets from pet stores or nurseries.

In the first case, the disadvantages of the acquisition include only a somewhat limited choice, as well as the lack of competent advice on maintenance and care. Of course, the cost of the animal in zoological stores is significantly higher than the market value, but the conditions of its keeping are also more favorable.

However, the best purchase option would be to choose a Dzungarian hamster in a special nursery, where breed rodents are sold, which can be used not only in exhibition shows, but also for breeding purposes.

When choosing a pet, you need to pay special attention to the following parameters:

  • the presence of a shiny and thick coat;
  • no bald patches or scratching marks;
  • sufficient fatness, but not fattening;
  • absence of subcutaneous tumors and lameness.

The eyes of a completely healthy Djungarian hamster should be clear and shiny, without discharge.... It is imperative to examine the nose and ears, the area around the mouth, as well as the genitals and anus. Signs of diarrhea and profuse drooling should be completely absent.

It is interesting! It is best to choose an animal in the evening, when the hamster is able to actively move around the cage, run in a wheel or eat.

The best option is to purchase a one-month or two-month-old hamster. Currently, the cost of a Dzungarian hamster is on average 200-250 rubles, but it may be slightly higher, which depends on many factors, including the pricing policy of the nursery or zoological store, as well as the age of the sold animal.

Housing and habitat arrangement

When choosing a home for a hamster, it is imperative to take into account the natural mobility of such a pet and its natural habitat. For example, the size of the cage for keeping less than 30x50 cm often causes a deterioration in the health of a domestic rodent, provoking in him the development of physical inactivity, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases.

The purchased cage must be completely safe. Dzungariki often try to crawl through too small cracks, and getting stuck in them, they die. As the practice of keeping hamsters at home shows, the width between the rods in the cage should vary within 5-20 mm. The height of one level in multi-level cells should be about a quarter of a meter.

The floor in the hamster cage can be low or high. The first option has the advantage of being able to slide out the structure for thorough cleaning. If the acquired cage is planned to be used for keeping the female and offspring, then it is best to give preference to structures with a high pallet, which is due to the special mobility of newborn hamsters and the risk of their falling out of the cage.

Many experts consider it advisable to keep a hamster in small aquariums, which is explained by the following advantages of using a glazed space:

  • there are no gaps between the rods that injure the hamster;
  • the risk of an animal escaping from such a dwelling is minimal;
  • no clogging of the space around the dwelling;
  • complete protection of the rodent from other pets, including cats and dogs.

Important! Do not place the hamster's dwelling near heating appliances, as well as objects that can be hopelessly spoiled by a domestic rodent.

The dwelling purchased and equipped for the hamster must be correctly located. It is advisable to put the cage or aquarium in place without direct sunlight, with the presence of free space around and the complete absence of a draft.

Dzungarian hamster food

One of the parameters of the correct maintenance of a dzhungarik is to provide such a pet with a regular, and most importantly, complete and highest quality diet. The main requirements for the diet of a domestic Dzungarian hamster are as follows:

  • use only quality products;
  • make up a diet based on the age characteristics and motor activity of the rodent;
  • use special ready-made feed mixtures from trusted manufacturers.

For use in feeding ready-made feeds to domestic rodents, it is advisable to purchase ready-made diets:

  • JR Fаrm;
  • Prestigе;
  • Benelux;
  • Fiory;
  • Vitakraft;
  • Radovan.

Ready-made diets have a balanced and varied composition, a fairly high protein content, as well as the presence of vitamins and minerals. The main grain feeds for the jungarik are mixtures, represented by oats, rolled oats, corn, seeds, nuts and peas. This composition can be supplemented with foods such as buckwheat, beans, lentils and barley, as well as melon and pumpkin seeds.

Nuts are very suitable as natural proteins: cashews, hazelnuts, chickpeas and sesame seeds... The Djungarian hamster's vegetable diet should include broccoli and bell peppers, fresh corn, peas and beans, as well as carrots and cucumbers, pumpkin and cauliflower.

It is interesting! It is advisable to include the main fruits in the diet of the jungarik, represented by bananas, grapes, apricots, apples and plums, and you can also give a small amount of cherries, sweet cherries, rose hips, strawberries and gooseberries in addition to the diet.

A couple of times a week, hamsters are given protein food in the form of boiled chicken and peeled shrimp. In zoological stores, you can buy earthworms, which serve as a source of protein.

It is quite rare to give boiled quail and chicken eggs, as well as kefir with a low percentage of fat. In order to maintain the teeth of the rodent in a normal state, you need to give the domestic hamster freshly cut branches from birch or maple, cherry or pear, oak or apple.

Dzungarian care and hygiene

In a cage or aquarium, it is advisable to use sawdust or shavings as a frequently replaced bedding, but paper in the form of toilet paper or napkins is allowed.

It is these materials that best absorb the odors emitted by the pet's waste products. Among other things, sawdust is used by hamsters as a "building material" for arranging a nest.

It is interesting! To keep the Dzungarian hamster from being overshadowed by illness or death of such a pet, it is very important to regularly clean the cage, drinkers and feeders, as well as to completely or partially replace the litter in the form of filler.

Installed inside the cage, a sufficiently heavy bowl for juicy food should be washed regularly, and once a week cleaned and disinfected. Despite the fact that several types of drinkers are currently being sold, the best option is to purchase an automatic nipple drinker, represented by a plastic container for clean water, with a fixed metal spout.

The advantage of such a drinker is ease of use, as well as protection of water from damage or spillage by dzungarik.

The Dzungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus) is a small rodent from the Khomyakov family, the Upland family. Quite a popular pet for keeping at home. This is due not only to the cute look and funny behavior, but also to the ease of care and the minimum space required. In the wild, these animals live in the Eastern Caucasus, Asia and Western Siberia. They prefer to settle on a rocky steppe territory with limited vegetation.

    Show all

    Habitat

    These tiny fluffy creatures in nature live mainly in the 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 for themselves in the ground on their own, with a 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 to be active as soon as the sun goes down: they build dwellings, look for food and make provisions for the winter. The diet of animals is dominated by plant foods: 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 various predators. However, nature itself has endowed them with a masking color, which allows them to avoid early death.

    Description

    Dzungarian hamsters look pretty, 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, dense, uniform. The abdomen is lighter in tone than the other parts. The back is predominantly dark gray or brown in color. White spots are observed on the paws and inner area of ​​the ears. A distinctive feature of this species of hamsters is a solid black strip along the entire ridge.

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

    Name Description Photo
    StandardBrown-gray background and white belly
    SapphireMain color - gray-blue, snow-white belly
    PearlMatt white color with intermittent gray inclusions
    MandarinSolid orange-cream cover

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

    To determine the sex of an animal, you must turn it upside down. The female has two closely spaced holes at the bottom. In the male, the anal passage is far from the urethra.


    Often a problem in keeping "dzhungariks" at home is their short lifespan. On average, it does not exceed three years. There are exceptions, but rarely. Although in the wild, many animals do not live that much, due to the many dangers around.

    It is not recommended to settle two individuals in one cage, regardless of gender. Since these are tough "territories", they do not tolerate being near someone from their own. This inevitably leads to the manifestation of aggression and constant skirmishes. As a result, the animal falls into a stressful state, which has a detrimental effect on health. Even when purchasing several hamsters for the purpose of breeding, it is worth placing them separately.

    The first step is to choose a cage where the new pet will spend most of the time. It should be as comfortable as possible and spacious enough. The best option is a 30 x 50 cm galvanized cage 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 odors. It is unacceptable to use cotton wool, rags, paper napkins, newspapers.
    2. 2. Toilet. They purchase a special tray for small rodents, into which moisture and odor-absorbing filler is poured.
    3. 3. Branches, driftwood, plant roots. Serve as a manhole for a pleasant pastime.
    4. 4. House. It is necessary for the rest of the pet, this is a place where it can hide from prying eyes. You can buy ready-made or make it yourself from wood.
    5. 5. Wheel. Designed for running rodents, which gives them great pleasure.

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

    The pet store has a wide range of different accessories for the entertainment of hamsters: ladders, tunnels, sections. Just don't buy too many of them and clutter up the space. Be sure to have a drinker and a feeder inside. Clean water is needed constantly, in free access. They change it daily. Recommended sizes of drinkers - 50 ml, feeders - 4-10 cm in diameter.

    It is undesirable to settle dzungariks in cramped aquariums with high walls. Then there is a lack of oxygen, which causes stress in the hamsters and worsens their well-being.

    It is necessary to put a mineral stone inside for grinding teeth. An alternative would be any twigs from trees, with the exception of cherry and apricot.

    Care and hygiene

    Obligatory measures for caring for jungariks is daily cleaning of the cage, which avoids the appearance of a specific smell 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 its orientation. Do not use chemicals for cleaning. Soapy solution is ideal. From the inside, they remove all the garbage and food supplies that the animal managed to hide in the corners and other hidden places. However, you cannot ruin the nest.

    Dzungarian hamsters are not bathed, as water procedures will be another shock for them. They are able to care for wool on their own. For hygiene purposes, it is recommended to install a container with sifted sand inside, in which they like to tumble.

    It is important to initially correctly arrange the pet's housing, so as not to move it in the future and not injure the vulnerable psyche of the animal. Do not place the cage on the floor, in direct sunlight, near batteries and various household appliances, or in a draft.

    Feeding

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

    It is only necessary to supplement the diet with natural food. The pet's menu must include:

    • fresh and boiled vegetables;
    • fruits;
    • greens;
    • berries;
    • cereals;
    • germinated grain;
    • nuts other than almonds;
    • homemade crackers;
    • carob fruit.

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

    In adults, two meals a day. Pregnant females and babies are fed 4–5 times a day.

    It is forbidden to give the following products:

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

    When purchasing specialized mixes for jungarians at the pet store, you should avoid those intended for large rodents. This is due to the difference in composition, which can be harmful. You can not overfeed, which leads to obesity. The leftovers of food are immediately removed, otherwise the hamster will quickly transfer them to some hidden place.

    Taming

    Dzungariki are independent from nature and do not seek communication too much. To prevent the animal from biting and behave calmly in its arms, you will have to be patient and time consuming. It is necessary to pay attention to the pet daily, establishing close contact. Taming it once and for all will not work. If you do not contact him for at least a week, then savagery 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 once again during the day. But at night you have to endure its increased activity. It was at this time that they begin to gnaw something, run in a wheel, rustle paper. Therefore, it is recommended to place the cage away from the master bedroom.

    Having brought a small pet into the house, you need to give him 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 injure 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 make contact with a person for a long time.

    Health

    Most of the illnesses in domestic hamsters are caused by inappropriate grooming, which is extremely stressful. Highly undesirable:

    • shifting of the cell;
    • change in sleep and wakefulness;
    • long trip;
    • sharing another hamster.

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

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

    Problems Symptom Help
    Viral infection, coldSneezes, coughs, inactiveAs such, there is no cure, but they try to ensure peace and introduce more fruits and vegetables into the diet. Soldered with warm milk. The cage is removed away from the draft
    Injuries: fractures, dislocations, sprainsExcessively mobile animals can be injured when falling or as a result of careless picking up. Symptoms: deformed limbs, impaired gaitIt is impossible to fix a broken leg or tail, therefore, provide the hamster with a calm content. 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
    Bowel disorderLoose stools or constipation, loss of appetite, exhaustion. Occurs against the background of individual intolerance to some food productReviewing the diet. For diarrhea, give glutinous rice, for constipation - vegetable oil (1-2 drops)
    ConjunctivitisSticky eyelidsFlush eyes with saline
    CataractThe pupil turns gray and the lens becomes cloudyCan't be cured
    Tooth traumaRefusal to eatExamine the teeth. It happens that long incisors become the cause of loss of appetite. You can trim them with ordinary nail clippers, but it is better to trust a specialist in this.
    Eczema, dermatophytosis and other skin conditionsWool falls out in clumps, skin peels offSeeing a veterinarian
    Fleas, ticksThe hamster itches, there are wounds and red spots on the bodyUse special lotions and aerosols as directed by your doctor

    Reproduction

    Dzungarian hamsters, even in captivity, are quite fertile, capable of breeding at any time of the year. For mating, females are selected at the age of at least four months. Males mature a month earlier. Pregnancy lasts about 3 weeks. At this time, the expectant mother is transferred to a more expanded diet, which includes:

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

    The cage is prepared in advance for the woman in childbirth and the offspring - they disinfect the interior space and accessories. Newborns are fed with breast milk for the first 3 weeks.

    You cannot take the cubs in your arms at this time. Otherwise, the female will smell someone else's smell and eat them.

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

    Dzungariki are capable of reproducing high-quality offspring, provided they are crossed only with Campbell's hamsters. The life span of such hamsters usually does not exceed 1.5 years.