Syrian Hamster Diet

Syrian Hamsters are omnivores, which means they need a variety of foods. They can be selective feeders so and is important to wait until they empty their bowl before refilling so they are not just eating their favourites. If you are ever in doubt of a foods suitability simply check online at a reputable source before feeding it.

Syrian Hamsters do hoard food, so it is essential to be aware of where they are stashing this, both to keep conditions in their cage sanitary and to ensure your pet is getting a balanced diet and you aren't overfeeding.

Water

Should always be available and changed daily. A bowl or bottle is fine for this, if using the latter just keep a careful eye on them as they can get clogged.

Seed mix

A good quality hamster mix. Many commercially available foods include a lot of 'filler' items that are not high in nutritional value so it's important to find a good quality mix.

Fresh

Small amounts of fresh fruit, vegetables or herbs. Foods that are high in water content should be given sparingly due to the diarrhoea risk. Items like cucumber can be placed in a hamster carrier during a long journey where other water sources cannot be given.

Do not feeds citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons or grapefruits.

Protein

A small amount of protein can be given on a semi-regular basis, items such as mealworms, cheese, monkeynuts and scrambled egg.

Hay

Timothy hay is a good quality variety of hay that is high in fibre and provides additional enrichment for small pets.

Treats

Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, mealworms, cooked soya beans (thought to reduce the likelihood of tumours), stale or toasted wholemeal bread as well as pet-shop treats that aren't too high in sugar.

Tempting food

If you have an ill pet, you may need to try the following to build weight back up. Some items, such as the mousse, are also useful if you need to conceal the harsh taste of medication.

You can also attempt adding some water to their dry mix and microwaving it to make it more tempting.

• Scrambled egg, nuts, mealworms, sunflower seeds, lean boiled chicken.
• Banana, fresh basil, curly kale, pureeing/overboiling vegetables.
• Warm milk and cous-cous, rich tea biscuits or bread soaked in milk.
• Complan - human build-up drink, available in boots/superdrug.
• Chocolate mousse - brilliant for hiding medication in and tempting ill pets.

Overview of Syrian Hamsters

With the dubious honour of being one of the most popular pets for children, the Syrian hamster is the most widely available hamster and the largest. Syrian hamsters are also known as the Golden Hamster, Black bear or Angora/Teddy bear hamster.

Syrian hamsters are said to all be descended from a mother and her litter of 12 brought back from Aleppo, Syria in the 1930s.

Adult syrian hamsters measure around 13cm, with females being slightly larger than the males. They typically weigh around 100-150g. They can live around 2-3 years although poor care and husbandry often make it much less.

Both genders of Syrian hamsters have scent glands located on either side of their hips - these are sometimes known as 'hip spots' and the hair surrounding is often shorter and darker than elsewhere. A Syrian Hamster uses its scent glands to mark its territority, and on rare occasions these spots may appear red or inflamed, in which case they need veterinary attention.

Syrian hamsters are highly territorial and must be kept alone. Although some pet shops will keep them together this is due to their young age, and is very misleading. The only time Syrian hamsters may tolerate each other is when the female is in heat, and even then she may attack after mating.

Pet syrian hamsters require a large, barred cage the size suggested as a minimum is 80 x 50 x 50 cm. The majority of cages sold in pet shops will not be suitable for a fully grown syrian hamster (and in fact, are often not even big enough for the dwarf species. See Syrian Hamsters - Environment for more details and cage suggestions.

Syrian hamsters can be tamed with care and patience and are easier and slower to handle than the dwarf species. They are less likely to nip, although can still do so if woken abruptly from sleep. A Syrian Hamster is nocturnal so tend to be most active at dusk and during the evening. This means it is vital that is has adequete space and enrichment for whilst you cannot interact with it.

Syrian hamsters have been bred in a wide range of colours and coat types.