Syrian vs. Dwarf Hamsters, What Should I Get For My Family?
Syrian vs. Dwarf Hamsters, What Should I Get For My Family?
As pets go hamsters are fairly easy to take care of. Hamsters require no walking, are not particularly dirty or stinky, they are small and don't take up much space and are generally inexpensive. Hamsters are also fairly hearty animals and can be a very good pet for a child or a family with several children. There are however, two distinct choices when it comes to adopting a hamster for your family, and that is the dwarf hamster and the syrian hamster. I spoke with Ken Brocx, the founder of Hamsterific.com, an authoritative hamster and small pet website about this question and what his recommendations would be to someone considering adopting a hamster but not knowing exactly which route is best for his/her family.Andy Markison:
Thanks Ken for taking the time to speak to us. First of all, let's assume a family
with a young child or children (let's assume around seven or eight years of age for
this example) is considering adopting a hamster or hamsters for their home. Would
you personally recommend either a dwarf hamster or a syrian hamster in this case?Ken Brocx:
Typically I would recommend a syrian hamster for younger children. Dwarf hamsters
are smaller which can make them harder to handle. Also, if a dwarf manages to
get loose they are faster than syrians and thus harder to catch. Syrians tend to be
more docile if they are properly raised.AM:
Syrian hamsters are supposed to be solitary once they are weaned, but that's not the
case with dwarf hamsters is it?KB:
No. Most dwarf hamsters prefer some company, but that means more space. That
can be a problem since many commercial cages are too small for more than one
hamster, even a dwarf hamster.AM:
Is there any reason to purchase a dwarf hamster solitarily? Or would it be better to
adopt two dwarfs rather than one?KB:
In the wild dwarf hamsters live in colonies, so I prefer to keep them that way. A
dwarf hamster on it's own will need a lot of attention to keep it from
getting depressed.AM:
If you initially purchase a dwarf hamster and later wish to introduce a second (or
third) dwarf hamster would that be possible or are you asking for conflicts with such
an introduction?KB:
It depends on the particular dwarf hamster and on how long they have been alone. If
a dwarf hamster has been on it's own for more than a month I find it is very difficult
to introduce a new cagemate. Young dwarf hamsters will accept a new hamster
much more readilly than an older dwarf hamster. Also dwarf hamsters tend to
socialize better with siblings than with strange or unfamiliar hamsters.AM:
Are dwarf hamsters generally less hearty creatures than syrians?KB:
Both dwarf and syrian hamsters are very hardy creatures. Dwarf hamsters have been
domesticated for a much shorter time than syrians, and because of that there has
been less of an opportunity for them to become inbred. Inbreeding can cause many
problems with the health of any breed of hamster. In syrians this often results in a
hamster that is difficult to tame. In dwarf hamsters it is very common to see
diabetes in inbred pups.AM:
What kind of equipment would you recommend someone about to adopt a hamster
get for their hamster's new home?KB:
Hamsters need a constant supply of clean water, a food bowl that's heavy enough
that it won't tip over when a hamster is crawling on it, a wheel for exercise and a
"nest" where they can feel secure. Wheels aren't just toys. A hamster in the wild can
run several miles a night marking it's territory and looking for food and the only way
we can duplicate that in a confined space is a wheel. In the wild hamsters live in
burrows underground. For nesting a hamster needs a place where it feels it can
retreat from danger. A hamster without a nest will feel insecure and nervous.AM:
What are the life spans of dwarfs and syrian hamsters?KB:
Dwarfs usually live 2-4 years depending on breed, living conditions and genetic
disposition. Syrians live about 2-3 years.AM:
What would you suggest someone look for when purchasing or adopting a hamster?KB:
The most important things are the hamsters health and personality. The color, long
hair and pretty eyes won't matter much if you have a sick hamster. Look for clean
and dry fur, especially around the butt of the hamster, stressed hamsters can get
Wet Tail, which is a deadly type of diarrhea. Wet Tail can spread to surrounding
cages and it can be very difficult to sterilize an area after an outbreak. Personality is
very important, too. If you pick an outgoing hamster that doesn't mind being held
you're probably going to have a much easier time taming and making friends with
him or her.AM:
Is there a reason to adopt a hamster(s) from a breeder rather than a pet store?KB:
Professional breeders usually take great care in ensuring their hamsters are not
inbred. Inbreeding can result in many health and personality problems. Many pet
stores buy from these same breeders, although some may just let their hamsters
breed in the store leading to rampant inbreeding and hamsters with poor health.
Also, just because a person has lots of hamsters and sells them does not mean they
are a quality professional breeder. Don't forget to check your local shelters, too.
Animal shelters often have hamsters that need good homes.AM:
Is the diet of the syrian significantly different than that of a dwarf? I know, for
example, that giving dwarf hamsters fruit that may be high in sugar could be
problematic because dwarfs may be more likely to become diabetic.KB:
Other than that, syrians and dwarfs have similar diets.AM:
What is "heat" exactly? It's related to nuts in some way isn't it or is it related to other
types of foods as well? And does "heat" affect a syrian and dwarf the same way?KB:
Well, there are two types of "heat". "Heat" can be the term for when a female
hamster comes into season, but you are talking about the condition that affects
hamsters that eat too many fatty foods. That type of "heat" is usually caused by an
owner who wants to feed their hamster a treat, usually sunflower seeds, and goes
overboard. Too much oil, like that in sunflower seeds, can cause a hamster's
metabolism to speed up and cause them to lose hair. That's "heat" and I've only
seen it in dwarf hamsters.AM:
Any last words, warnings, recommendations or other thoughts in general that you'd
like to share with someone who is interested in adopting a hamster?KB:
Health and personality are the most important things in buying a new hamster, buy
the biggest home for your hamster you can, never put two syrian hamsters
together, and play with your hamster as often as you can!Interview with Ken Brocx, founder of Hamsterific.com an authoritative website on hamsters
and other small pets.Andy Markison is an illustrator, graphic designer, animal lover and pet owner living
in Germany. His website, http://www.zapgraphix.com/, sells fun and humorous pet related
merchandise.
The Story Of My Amazing Dog Shandy
The Story Of My Amazing Dog Shandy
This is the story of my dog called Shandy. He was my favourite pet and he was very lively, lots of fun and very obedient. His main passion in life was to be taken for a long walk, culminating with a big run out in his favourite park.I would try to take him on this walk everyday, weather permitting. The park itself was about three miles away from our house. To reach the park we had to cross a number of busy roads, however he would never pull or misbehave. He knew where we were heading and seemingly did not want to rock the boat and risk been taken home before he reached his dream destination.At the park itself I would throw a ball and he would chase it and fetch it back to me.At this stage I was living at home with my parents, however aged twenty two, I decided to rent my own bungalow near the coast in Devon. This was nearly two hundred miles away from my parents in home in Birmingham. This obviously meant I was no longer in the position to take Shandy on his walk.I spoke to my parents, who reassured me that they would continue to take him on the walks.Two weeks after I had left, I had a phone call from my mother. She was panicking, stating that Shandy had managed to escape from the back garden and that she could not find him. She insisted that she had been looking for hours but that there had been no sign of him.I was quite worried and thought about where he may have gone to.
"Have you been taking him on his walks to the park everyday?"
I asked.She replied:
"Most days"
I asked her to try at the park, telling her that he loves that park etc.
"He would not be there, its miles away."
She said.I again asked her to try there.
Luckily he was there quite happily sniffing around, unaware of the panic he had caused.Stephen HillStephen Hill has a couple of websites at http://www.lasik-laser-surgery.co.uk and at http://www.debt-specialist.co.uk
My Search for Happiness in the First Year of Sobriety
My Search for Happiness in the First Year of Sobriety
DAY 1: HOUR BY HOURHappiness in sobriety? Could this really be possible? Yes, I know I need to quit drinking if I want to continue to live. Survival during sobriety maybe, but happiness seems almost out of the question.I do feel a little glimmer of hope when I see other sober women who seem happy. Could I get there too? I won't think about that now. First I must somehow find a way to quit drinking. I will try to get through today without a drink. I will survive this day hour by hour. I know that I have to begin to really try.DAY 3: PROUD BUT SCAREDIt's been three days without a drink! I feel proud of myself but I'm also scared to death that I won't be able to maintain this. Maybe if I accept the fear but don't let it take over, I can continue. The women in my group have given me praise for what I have accomplished. That feels good. I don't want to let them and myself down. Just one more day, I can do it!I am feeling uneasy about myself. Thoughts have been coming to mind about what I don't like in my life, oh, what I wouldn't give to have a drink to numb my brain. How can I stay sober and deal with all these problems in my life too? I feel angry, it's not fair! I also feel angry at myself for letting my life get so out of control. Guilt will just get me drinking again so I can't go there. I need to try to think positive and just know that not drinking is enough for now.3 WEEKS: MORE IN CONTROLIt's been three weeks! I heard once that to establish a new pattern, it takes 21 days. It's true that I feel a little more in control now.My need to drink seems to occur more with mental triggers than with a physical need. When I feel sad or lonely or angry, it's the worst. Staying with my real feelings and honoring them is tough.My group keeps telling me that getting to know myself will help me stay sober. Then why do I feel all this guilt about what I seem to need or desire. Will I have to change all the relationships in my life? Will they stick with me when they get to know the real me? It's too scary to think about if they are unwilling to grow and change with me.3 MONTHS: COULD THIS BE PEACE?It's been three months with no alcohol. When I was walking on the beach today, I felt a moment of peace and acceptance with myself. Could this be happiness? I noticed that as soon as I tried to soak it in, I felt a desire to drink again. Why do I want to sabotage myself? Is it because I don't think I deserve to be happy?1 YEAR: ACCEPTANCEIt's been over a year now. My life used to be filled with busy activities, always finding a way to distract from what I really felt. Drugs and alcohol also served this purpose. Now my work is to accept my feelings, sit with them daily during meditation, and try to live in the moment as much as possible.I used to think happiness was something big, like exhilaration or joy, when I felt ecstatic! Yes, that is happiness, but those moments come rarely. Jean Kirkpatrick, Ph.D., founder of the Women for Sobriety Program, was right when she said happiness is created, not waited for. It takes practice to feel happiness or at least peace.THE BIGGER PICTURESomeone once told me that if I had the key to happiness, I would be happy while doing the dishes. Yeah, right! The truth is that life is often filled with many small, repetitive tasks. Happiness comes during those moments when I know that I am doing the right task, and that only occurs when I know what my bigger picture is.My more difficult and long-term goals include keeping my Women for Sobriety group going, building my business, and learning art and dance. When I know that I am working steadily towards those goals, I can enjoy the beautiful view of nature I see outside my kitchen window and feel happiness while doing the dishes!APPRECIATIONI need to work on developing awareness and appreciation of the small moments throughout the day that provide the opportunity for me to feel happy: a beautiful blue bird flying in front of my window while I type this, my daughter singing in the other room, me writing this on New Year's Day because I had a desire to.I wish for you the strength to look inward and find your own road to happiness.Jeannie LongAbout the AuthorJeannie Long now enjoys 8 years of continuous sobriety. She leads a weekly support group for women using the Women for Sobriety Program.She helps women achieve better physical and mental health through her health related web sites and newsletters.To read about the subjects covered in Jeannie's Commit to Recovery newsletter, click on the following link: http://www.ajpip.com/addictions/anopi/dir/jncrb.htm