1. Hamsters
Mrs. Salvati

3. Varieties Syrian Varieties Dwarf
Golden - Brown on top, white on bottom
Black stripe on back
Teddy Bear - Long haired
Panda Bear – Coloring, black and white
Dwarf
Smaller then golden
Different varieties

4. Characteristics Chunky body,Stump tail
Nocturnal – sleep during the day
Weigh grams
Continuously growing incisors
Cheek pouches – pockets on inside of mouth to store food
Solitary animals

5. Housing 10 Gallon tank with cover Plastic hamster cages with tunnels
Wood shavings for bedding (substrate)
Nesting materials (toilet paper rolls)

6. Feeding Hamster mix found at the pet store Water should be in a bottle
Treats can include:
Cheerios
Breads
Timothy hay
Fruits and vegetables

7. Information Gestation – 19-20 days Litter size – 4-12 babies
Wean – 3-4 weeks
Origin – Middle East
Life span – 2-3 years
Sexually mature – 10weeks
Urine is cream colored

8. Sex by Anogenital Distance
It is a male because the anus and genitals are far apart
It is a female because the anus and genitals are close together.

9. Health Problems Wet tail – bacteria causing diarrhea Trauma
Malocculsion – Teeth grow to long
Signs of a healthy hamster:
Clear eyes, Good skin and coat, eating drinking, normal urine and feces

10. Handling Do not startle hamster Pet first
Hold with 2 hands over safe area
Restrain – scruff
Tame with treats

11. Gerbils

12. Gerbils Gerbil Varieties
Mongolian Gerbil
Comes in different colors

13. Characteristics Longer hind legs help gerbil to stand upright
Long tail covered with fur
Weigh 2-4oz
Good Digger
Can be active in both day and night
Usually prefer mate for life

14. Housing Housing available for hamsters is usually suited for gerbils
Gerbils should have more cage space then hamsters because they are more active
Wood shavings for bedding
Nesting materials (toilet paper rolls)
Tail can get caught in exercise wheel

15. Feeding Gerbil mix found at the pet store
Consume very little water, water should be in a bottle
Treats can include:
Sunflower seeds
Green foods – lettuce, cabbage

16. Information Gestation – 21-26 days Litter size – 5 babies
Wean – 3 weeks
Origin – Mongolia
Life span – 1-4 years
Sexually mature – 5w
Sex by Anogenital distance

18. Health Problems Tyzzer’s disease – bacteria that may cause death
Seizures
Trauma
Teeth problems

19. Handling Pet first Pick up and restrain – “ice cream cone” grip
Tame with treats
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20. Info taken from http://www.hamster-club.com/varieties.asp