Hamsters are fascinating creatures with many characteristics that make them unique pets. Here is a comprehensive list of fun and proven facts about these little rodents that will amaze you.
1. Hamsters are crepuscular
Did you know that hamsters are primarily active during twilight hours, just before sunrise and sunset? This means they spend most of the day sleeping and wake up at dusk to search for food and play.
2. The size of hamsters varies greatly
Get ready to be surprised! The largest type of hamster, the European hamster, can grow up to 33 cm long. On the opposite end, Roborovski dwarf hamsters are the smallest, measuring between 5 and 10 cm long. This great size variation makes each species unique.
3. Hamster cheeks: storage pouches
Hamsters can store food in their cheeks to eat later. They use this ability to transport food to a safe place before consuming it. Hamster cheeks can expand up to three times the size of their head! Hamsters’ cheek pouches can hold 20% of their body weight
4. Different species of hamsters as pets
There are five main species of hamsters often kept as pets: Roborovski hamsters, Syrian hamsters, Campbell dwarf hamsters, Chinese hamsters, and Russian white dwarf hamsters. Each species has its own characteristics and needs.
5. Hamsters are omnivores
Contrary to what many think, hamsters are not strictly vegetarians. In addition to seeds and vegetables, they also eat insects in the wild. Their varied diet helps them get all the nutrients they need.
6. Lifespan of hamsters
The average lifespan of hamsters is around 2 to 2.5 years, although some, like Roborovski hamsters, can live up to 3 to 4 years. Their lifespan can vary depending on their species and the quality of care they receive.
7. Hamsters are born blind
Baby hamsters are born blind and do not open their eyes until about two weeks later. They are also hairless at birth and are entirely dependent on their mother for survival.
Hamsters suffer from severe myopia, which means they can only see clearly objects that are very close. Their eyes are adapted to pierce the darkness rather than distinguish distant details.
Unlike humans, hamsters do not see all colors of the visible spectrum. According to studies, they perceive primarily in shades of blue and green. The rest of the world appears grayish !
8. Hamster teeth never stop growing
The incisors of hamsters continue to grow throughout their lives. That’s why they need to chew regularly to wear them down. Chewing objects, like wooden sticks, are essential to prevent their teeth from becoming too long.
9. Hamsters can have multiple litters
Hamsters can have several litters a year, with an average of 7 babies per litter. However, some hamsters can have up to 24 babies at once! The gestation period for hamsters is also very short, often around 16 to 22 days.
10. Hamsters have an excellent sense of smell
Hamsters have a highly developed sense of smell that they use to navigate their environment, find food, and recognize other hamsters. They also use scent glands located on their flanks to mark their territory.
11. Hamsters communicate through sounds and body postures
Hamsters make a variety of sounds, such as squeaks and grunts, to communicate their emotions. They also use body postures to signal submission, aggression, or curiosity. In addition to sounds and postures, hamsters use pheromones to communicate with their peers, particularly to mark their territory or signal their presence.
12. Hamsters love running in wheels
Hamsters love to run in wheels for exercise. A suitable wheel in their cage allows them to stay active and healthy. Some species, like Syrian hamsters, can run several kilometers in a single night.
13. Hamsters store their food
Hamsters’ cheeks are not just for smiling! Indeed, each cheek can expand up to three times its normal size to store food or even small objects. These “cheek pouches” also serve as temporary storage for carrying nesting materials.
This behavior is a natural survival instinct that ensures they always have something to eat.
14. Hamsters can recognize their owners
Over time, hamsters can learn to recognize their owners by their voice and smell. Regular, gentle interaction with your hamster can strengthen this bond and help tame the animal.
15. Hamsters have limited vision
Hamsters do not see very well and rely mainly on their sense of smell and hearing to explore their environment. They are colorblind and do not perceive colors the same way humans do.
16. Hamsters love to dig
Hamsters love to dig and make tunnels. In the wild, they live in complex underground burrows with several chambers. Providing suitable substrate in their cage allows them to satisfy this natural instinct.
17. They can memorize routes
Hamsters have excellent spatial memory and can remember complex routes in their environment.
18. They are natural architects
In the wild, hamsters build burrows with specific chambers for sleeping, storing food, and even for their toilets !
19. Hamsters have keen hearing
Hamsters have an extremely developed sense of hearing. They can hear sound frequencies much higher than those detectable by the human ear. This ability allows them to detect predators and faint noise sources in their natural environment.
20. Alcohol enthusiasts?
According to some research, hamsters have a high tolerance for alcohol. They have been found to ingest a proportion of alcohol significantly higher than that tolerated by larger animals without showing obvious signs of intoxication (please don’t test this!).
21. Hamsters can eat their young
If a mother hamster feels stressed or if her young are handled, she may perceive them as vulnerable and eat them.
22. Hamsters are intelligent
They have problem-solving abilities and can learn to recognize their name if you repeat it enough.
23. Owning a hamster is illegal in Hawaii
Still in effect in 2024, Hawaii bans hamsters on its territory to protect its endangered plant and animal species!
24. Hamsters can catch your cold
Avoid handling your hamster if you are sick, as they can catch your respiratory infections.
25. The word hamster comes from German
The German word “hamstern” means “to hoard,” a favorite pastime of hamsters.
26. Chocolate is toxic to hamsters
Chocolate contains theobromine, which is toxic to hamsters.