H E A L T H & W E L L N E S S
TAKING CARE OF YOUR PET HAMSTER
It is no doubt that hamsters are 3C ’ s - cute , cuddly and cheap . However , these tempting characteristics cannot overshadow the required tasks to keep them well and healthy .
By Dr Joan Dee Riconalla ( DVM )
The word hamster originated from the German word hamstern meaning hoard . Hoarding is a unique characteristic of hamsters , which means that they secretly store extra food collected by them . Generally , female hamsters are bigger but live a shorter life than males . They can survive comfortably between 50 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit . They hibernate if the temperature is lower . Hamsters have a lifespan of 1-5 years .
There are different hamster breeds like Syrian , Siberian , Chinese and Roborovsky ’ s Djungarian . Syrians or golden hamsters that come in various colours are bigger , more gentle and love to be groomed than its dwarf counterparts .
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