1. Hamsters Mrs. Salvati

2. Varieties  Golden (Syrian)  Brown on top, white on bottom Black stripe on back Syrian – Different colors Teddy Bear - Long haired Different colors  Dwarf Smaller then golden Different varieties http://harveyhams.weebly.com/syrian-hamster-varieties.html

3. Characteristics  Nocturnal – sleep during the day  Stump tail  Weigh 90-150 grams  Continuously growing incisors  Cheek pouches – pockets on inside of mouth to store food  Solitary animals

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

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

6. 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  Sex by Anogenital distance  http://hamsterhideout.com/forum/index.p hp?showtopic=10517

7. Health Problems  Wet tail – bacteria causing diarrhea  Trauma  Teeth problems  Signs of a healthy hamster: Clear eyes, Good skin and coat, eating drinking, normal urine and feces

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

9. Gerbils

10. Gerbils Gerbil Varieties  Mongolian Gerbil Comes in different colors

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

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

16. Handling  Grasp base of tail  Tame with treats

17. Info taken from  http://www.hamster- club.com/varieties.asp http://www.hamster- club.com/varieties.asp http://www.hamster- club.com/varieties.asp  http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/pets/hamst er.htm http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/pets/hamst er.htm http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/pets/hamst er.htm  http://www.caringtogether.com/exotics/ha msters3.html http://www.caringtogether.com/exotics/ha msters3.html http://www.caringtogether.com/exotics/ha msters3.html  http://www.petwebsite.com/gerbils/mong olian_gerbils.htm http://www.petwebsite.com/gerbils/mong olian_gerbils.htm http://www.petwebsite.com/gerbils/mong olian_gerbils.htm