HAMSTERS!

It's Friday folks and time to talk about pets!

The cricetinos are a subfamily of rodents, commonly known as Hamsters. Nineteen current species have been identified, grouped into seven genera. Most are from the Middle East and the southeastern United States. All species are characterized by expandable bags, called pockets, located inside the mouth and ranging from the cheeks to the shoulders. Being very easy to breed in captivity, they are widely used as pets. 

CHARACTERISTICS

• Life expectancy: One and a half to three years, although cases are known in which they have lived up to four years, but it depends on the species.
• Adult weight: 30-40 gr Russian hamster; 100-180 gr golden hamster.
• Length: 8-10 cm Russian hamster; 15-18 cm golden hamster.
• Sexual maturity: They complete it at two and a half months.
• Enter heat stage: (after two months) every four days.
• Gestation time: between eighteen and twenty-one days for Russians and fifteen to seventeen days for golden hamsters.
• Calves per calving: average of seven to eight. Cases of nineteen offspring have been known.
• Weaning age: between three and four weeks.

DWARF HAMSTER

There are four types of dwarf hamster that are raised as pets:

1. China Dwarf hamster
2. The Russian Dwarf Hamster
3. Campbell's Dwarf Hamster
4. Roborovski Dwarf hamster

 GOLDEN OR SYRIAN HAMSTER

The best-known hamster is the golden (or Syrian) hamster. The Angora hamster also belongs to the species of golden hamsters, but, contrary to these, it has a long coat.

CARE OF A HAMSTER

They eat daily and their home should be clean with enough water to keep them hydrated. They have to exercise on a daily basis with exits outside the cage and they must have entertainment inside it.

A wheel in the cage helps them exercise every day, you must change the bed of it cage at least every three days to avoid the appearance of germs and bad odors. At least once a year you must clean the cage completely and thoroughly including its accessories, for this, take your Hamster out to play so he can't experience discomfort cleaning.

Change the water daily since if they feel that it is not fresh they will not drink it and they can become dehydrated, also if you do not use a drinking fountain with a spout but instead an open container can easily get dirty by all the movement of the Hamster at night.

FOOD FOR HAMSTER

In pet shops you will find a wide variety of complete hamster food made from different types of grains, petals, dried herbs and fruits, try to have a low proportion of nuts, oily seeds and wheat. In addition to a quality diet, you can bring joy to your little one with snacks such as a piece of pepper or half a slice of cucumber, a small slice of carrot, or a raisin.

These little snacks are irresistible to hamsters and with a little patience, they may even eat from your hand. To satisfy the need for animal protein, you can offer, two or three times a week, a dried cricket, a mealworm or curd.

The hamster as a pet: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

Buying a hamster costs very little money, but like dogs and cats they are living things and have needs and requirements. They are not suitable for testing whether children are responsible with pets, as they are very fragile and must be supervised so that they have the best quality time.

Hamsters are also not for adults who do not dare have a cat or a dog, hamsters need a caregiver who takes their needs seriously, who respects their desire for peace and retirement during the day and who does not bother the noise at night, it is when they are full of energy and scamper around the cage.

Even if you are one of those people who does not need much sleep, you should not put the hamster cage in your bedroom. Unlike dogs or cats, these animals do not need closeness, when buying one you must give it adaptation time, so that it knows its surroundings and trusts you, you will be able to bring your hand to smell it but do not force it to love you by touching it from the beginning.

I personally had a Russian Hamster named Arrow, he was a beauty, super intelligent, but at first it was difficult to gain his trust and let me touch him, but after a month and a half he was no longer afraid of my hand on the cage, he let me hold him for short periods of time and he liked to run my body on the floor, like I was a mountain that I had to cross or something hahaha.

That's Him :)

I left his cage open at night to run around the apartment, but I did not have it in my room but in the living room so that the noise it made did not disturb me at dawn, if he like a specific place of the house will make a nest with food, since it is their way of saying that they are comfortable there and it is a safe area for them.

If you like pets, and you can't have a dog or cat around where you live, hamsters are a great choice. They are smart, playful, and quite friendly but keep in mind that hamsters are nocturnal animals, they sleep during the day and are active at night, you just have to keep it with toys to keep them busy.

XOXO Li.

WHY YOU NEED A PET!

     Hello beautiful people

Today is Friday!, and in normal circumstances, many of you would go out to dance, have a drink with friends or to the movies; but since we are in quarantine it is time to be at home and be happy with popcorn, Netflix and your blanket.

Who have pets to accompany you?, I had 3 pets when I lived in Venezuela, a dog, a rabbit, and a kitten, and yes, they got along very well and loved each other and we were a happy family, although my house seemed like a contact zoo hahaha.

Here in Colombia unfortunately, I have not been able to have my furry companions since where I live are not allowed any pets and yet I was rebellious and I had a beautiful hamster called Arrow, I had it hidden from everyone and every day was adrenaline but it was beautiful while it lasted.

 If those who read me are like me, a crazy animal lover, who wants to have a refuge for all those furry abandoned on the street and who loves to pet every animal I see on the street, you would like this post.

Today we will talk about the benefits of having a pet. Whether you want to adopt or buy an animal it will be a situation where we all win: the animal will have a home and will be able to enjoy its new family. 

However, the decision to incorporate a new member must be agreed upon and considered by the whole family, since once taken, we will have a faithful companion to take care of and that will bring joy and countless good things to the home, but a lot of responsibility too. 

#1 RELIEVE DEPRESSION

    Depressed people do not feel the desire to relate. When a person has a bond with a pet, they have a reason to get out of bed. Often a depressed person will not let off steam with anyone, but perhaps they do feel able to speak to their pet.

#2 IMPROVE SOCIAL LIFE

    Often, walking the pet is the excuse to meet people: in the parks, groups of dog owners are formed who coincide there, some people come to pet a puppy, and conversations arise about anecdotes or the care of their pets.

#3 STRENGTHEN SELF-ESTEEM

    Pet owners are more likely to have higher self-esteem, scientists from the Universities of Miami and Saint Louis concluded. It has also been observed that boys and girls with some difficulty, in addition to seeing them as their playmates, practice in front of their pet and reinforce their security and self-confidence, since pets will not laugh at how they do it or if they are wrong.

#4 REDUCE STRESS

   The team of the psychiatrist Sandra Baker of the Commonwealth University of Virginia (USA) measured the brain waves of different dog owners before and after spending time with them. These studies have revealed that having a pet and petting it frequently helps reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression.

Very impressive, isn't it? having a pet is much more than just feeding it and taking it for a walk, they become your companions, your friends, a unique connection is formed that in fact does not break even with death, they are the most faithful beings that can exist on earth and They only want love and many caresses.

If you have not yet encouraged yourself to have your first pet, after this post you will surely do it, you will not regret having a furry with you.

XOXO, Li.