11 Fun Facts About Teddy Bear Hamsters
You are probably familiar with the cute little teddy bear hamster. There is a reason why teddy bear hamsters are so popular. From their small, furry body, to their little round face, with those large "puppy dog" eyes and twitchy nose, the teddy bear hamster is hard not to fall in love with. They are a common household pet and you may even have one as a pet yourself. There are many things that you may not know about this type of hamster. Here are some fun facts about these cuddly creatures that you may not have known. These interesting facts will help you learn a little more about teddy bear hamsters so that you can appreciate your pet even more:
Teddy Bear Hamsters Aren't Really Bears
They're called "teddy bear" hamsters because of their chubby cheeks and thick, dense coat of fur that resembles a teddy bear's fur. Teddy bear hamsters’ coats can come in many different colors, including golden brown or cinnamon brown, and even a deep black. Their fur is very soft and silky.
There are variant breeds that are also sometimes called "Angora hamsters."
Teddy Bear hamsters are also known as Syrian hamsters.
Syrian hamsters are usually kept as pets but can be found in the wild in northern Syria and southern Turkey. Teddy bear hamsters came from Syria, a hot, desert-like country in the Middle East, which means they have adapted to living in warm temperatures. This is why it's important that their cage temperature stays at 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 26 degrees Celsius) at all times.
They're Most Active at Night
Like all hamsters, teddy bears are mostly nocturnal. To escape the heat in the wild, Syrian hamsters burrow and sleep in the cool ground during the day. They come out in the early evening when it is cooler to hunt for food.
Your pet teddy bear hamster will most likely also be more active at dusk and during the night and sleep mostly during the day. This could actually make a teddy bear hamster the ideal pet if you are at school or work during most of the day! You can play with your pet in the evening when he is more alert and active.
If you find that your teddy bear hamster is asleep during the day and keeps you awake at night when you are trying to sleep, don’t despair, there are some things you can try. Play with and handle your teddy bear hamster regularly during the day. Oftentimes by just doing this, you may find that they will adapt to your routine.
Of course, having your pet’s cage in a separate room during the night is another alternative to them keeping you awake all night!
Only They Have Poor Eyesight
The teddy bear hamster’s eyesight is rather poor. Even though they have large eyes, they don't see well at all. In fact, they are very nearsighted and considered color-blind. Surprisingly though, hamsters run around at night and seem to be able to see better in the dark. While that may seem true, that is not really the case.
Teddy Bear Hamsters rely on other senses to get around. They have a strong sense of smell. This helps them find food and also helps them recognize other hamsters or predators in the wild. They also have very good hearing and sensitive whiskers which help them navigate their way around.
They Are Only Pregnant for 16 Days
Female hamsters only carry their babies for 16 days. This is one of the shortest pregnancies known in mammals. A baby hamster is called a pup. A typical litter of hamster pups is seven, but a female hamster can give birth to as many as twenty pups at one time!
Syrian hamsters are born with no fur and their eyes closed. In a few short weeks though they will have fluffy fur and their eyes will be open.
Although rare in captivity, mother Syrian hamsters in the wild have been known to eat their young after giving birth if they believe they are in danger. If you have a hamster that has given birth, it’s important not to disturb or touch the babies for the first two weeks.
Hamsters have an average lifespan similar to other small rodents. The teddy bear hamster typically lives 2-4 years with proper care. Believe it or not there is a record of a teddy bear hamster that lived for 8 years! *https://sciencetrends.com/teddy-bear-hamster-lifespan-and-characteristics/
Teddy bear hamsters can grow to 6 inches in length (excluding tail) and can weigh from 4 oz to 1 lb at full growth. The female Teddy Bear Hamster is often larger than the males.** https://hamsters-uk.org/syrian-hamster/
They Like to Live Alone
Syrian hamsters are solitary animals. Adult Syrian hamsters prefer to live alone and will fight with other hamsters in the wild and even in captivity. The female hamster will tolerate a male hamster in her presence during mating season, but will soon want him gone!
Their Teeth Never Stop Growing
A teddy bear hamster has very sharp teeth that grow constantly. In the wild, their sharp teeth are perfect for chewing through tough nuts and roots and are naturally worn down. However your pet hamster isn’t chewing through roots every day!
Because your pet Teddy Bear Hamsters’ teeth never stop growing it is important that they have things to chew on to help wear them down. Offer them items to chew on like untreated wood blocks or branches so their teeth don't overgrow.
They Come in Many Colors
After Teddy Bear Hamsters are born, their fur often changes color with age. Many new fur colors have been developed over years of breeding. There are now a wide variety of colors of teddy bear hamsters available, from black, silver, sable and even white, not just the original golden brown.
A teddy bear's fur will continue to grow throughout its lifetime. Their fur grows quickly, which means frequent brushing is required to prevent matting and tangles from forming. You can also trim their fur regularly by using grooming tools specifically designed for this purpose such as an electric trimmer with safety guards on both sides or scissors designed for trimming dog hair.
Hamsters Can Swim
Their soft and dense coats are actually quite water-resistant! Their dense undercoat helps them stay warm when swimming, making it easier for them to survive in cold conditions. Because they are rodents and rodents are good swimmers, it comes as no surprise that teddy bear hamsters can take a dip in the water without any problems. However, just because they can swim, doesn’t mean they like it. Syrian hamsters originate from a warm, dry climate and swimming is not something they would normally do. Your teddy bear hamster may actually find swimming very stressful. He could also potentially get sick if he stayed wet for too long. It is not recommended to allow your hamster to swim.
They Love to Snuggle, Especially in Your Pockets
Teddy Bear Hamsters have sweet, friendly personalities. They love to burrow, and for these pocket sized pets snuggling in your loose jacket pocket can be rather warm and comforting.
They rarely bite unless startled or held aggressively. You can start getting a baby hamster used to you when they are as little as 14 days old. Gentle, light touches at first, gradually working up to cupping the hamster in the palm of your hand. Always approach slowly and speak calmly. Never wake your hamster up to play with him. Early evening when they are most active is the best time to try to bond with your pet.
It may take some time to bond with your teddy bear hamster if you’ve just brought your new pet into your home. Eventually though, with patience, they will gain your trust and want to cuddle!
While they've been around for a long time, they are a relative newcomer to the pet scene. Teddy Bear Hamsters were first discovered in 1839 in Syria, hence the name “Syrian Hamster”. The hamsters were brought into Jerusalem where by 1939 they had become fully domesticated. After years of breeding they were introduced into the United States and quickly became a popular pet. They're cute, easy to care for and so much fun to watch!
They Like to Climb and Dig
Teddy Bear hamsters are great climbers and diggers. In the wild, they are known to build complex underground tunnel networks, so they love to climb and burrow in captivity too.
Your hamster’s cage should have enough bedding to allow them to burrow. With a Syrian hamster, 3-4” of bedding is ideal. There are many types of bedding available. Bedding can be wood shavings, recycled newspaper shreds or pellets and other commercial products. It may take some trial and error to find one that your pet likes.
Even though teddy bear hamsters prefer to live alone, they need to be in a large cage. Being that they are very active, they need the space to move around. The best way to keep your furry friend healthy and entertained is by getting a cage large enough that allows it to run around, dig tunnels and climb up on platforms.
You can make a fun obstacle course for them. Choose toys with lots of different heights and levels for hopping around and climbing on top of each other. Large and varied length tubes for crawling through make a great addition. Toilet tissue tubes and empty cereal boxes make great inexpensive activity toys.
They Like to Run
Teddy bear hamsters can run up to 11 miles an hour or 3.5 meters per second! These little creatures can run up to 5 miles per night on their exercise wheel.
If you're looking for a fun way to bond with your little one, a hamster ball can be a great addition to your pet's collection. As with any toy for your pet, take care to ensure there are no sharp edges and plenty of ventilation. All pets are different and your teddy bear hamster may not enjoy the hamster ball. Don’t use these if your pet gets nervous or stressed.
Takeaway
The teddy bear hamster is on the list of many small animal lovers as a fun-sized, furry little pet. Teddy bear hamsters rarely bite and like to be held and cuddled. They can be a great pet for folks who are not home during the day because they like to sleep during the day and are active in the evening. Knowing a few fun facts about your teddy bear hamster can make taking care of your pet easier for you and lead to a happier and healthier life for him.
*Science Trends, “Teddy Bear Hamster: Lifespan and Characteristics” Sept 2018
**National Hamster Council - UK