Loading...[ad_1]
Dwarf baby hamsters are becoming very popular animals to adopt or buy as pets. Their small size and irresistible cuteness cause many to make quick decisions about obtaining one before they have really thought it through. In order to keep your dwarf baby hamster healthy and happy, there are several things you need to understand before you bring your new pet home.
When a dwarf hamster gives birth, it usually results in an average of 5-6 pups. This can vary depending on the species of hamster. When they are first born, the pups are extremely tiny and should not be handled. Their skin is very thin and when they nurse, you might even be able to see the milk going through their little tummies.
At this time, the mother hamster is more than capable of taking care of her babies so even the cage should be left alone other than feeding and watering. While you might be tempted to handle the babies, you don’t want to introduce any germs to them or cause any injuries to their incomplete muscles and bones. The good news is that they grow very fast.
Once the dwarf baby hamsters have a little fur on them and they are crawling around a bit (usually about two weeks), then you can handle them for very short periods of time. This will help in the taming process and will assist with developing a bond between you and your pet. Still, the babies have a lot left to learn from their mother so they should be kept with her for the majority of the time. It is during this period that the pups are also getting crucial nutrition from mom that helps them continue to form and grow.
After two weeks, the dwarf baby hamsters can receive solid food in the form of small nuts and grains. They will continue to nurse but as they learn how to eat and drink all by themselves, it will become less and less frequent.
Once a month has passed, the male and female hamsters should be placed in separate cages. This is also close to the time for you to get to take your hamster home. Remember, you should never take home a hamster that is less than 4 weeks old. Adopting a baby dwarf hamster is important because at this young age you will be able to tame him or her a bit easier, however, anything less than 4 weeks and you are putting your hamster at risk.
Prepare your pet’s new home with clean bedding, a wheel, toys, tunnels, daily food and fresh water. Maintaining clean surroundings is one of the most important things you can do for your new hamster to keep it healthy. Continue to bond with your hamster by including handling time when they are up and active.
Hamsters are nocturnal so you should not bother them much throughout the day. This is one reason they make a great pet if you are at work or school a lot. However, they will be up at night scurrying around and running in their wheels so consider noise when deciding where to put the cage.
When a female hamster reaches two months of age, she can actually become pregnant so if you don’t want to breed your hamsters, this is something to keep in mind. With a gestational period of about 16-20 days, it does not take very long to be overrun with baby dwarf hamsters!
[ad_2]
Source by Liz Andrews
