FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
The golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) is a common species of hamster that is kept as a pet all over the world. Just like any other hamster, it has short, stocky legs, a stout body, short and wide feet, and small, sharp claws. They have a small head, huge internal cheek pouches, and furry ears. Their cheek pouches extend to behind their shoulders and open inside their lips. Their tail is stubby and can be pink or white. The ones with the long hair are called teddy bears.
The golden hamster’s natural range is restricted to a region around the town of Halab, in northwestern Syria. In this area, the animal inhabits rocky, shrubby, and dry slopes or plains. In 1930, a small group of these hamsters was transported to Palestine from Syria and their descendants were distributed all over the globe. In 1971, another group was captured in Syria and taken to the US. Even though golden hamsters are not domesticated, they are tractable. Over the years, they have become popular as pets, as subjects for breeding for biological research, and as animals at zoo exhibits.
You may also check out our fact files on the wood mouse and marsupial mole from Kidadl.
A golden hamster or Syrian hamster is a type of rodent living in burrows.
A golden hamster or Syrian hamster belongs to the class of mammals.
There isn't enough information to evaluate the exact number of golden hamsters left in the world. However, the IUCN Red List of Threatened species has categorized them as Endangered.
Historically, golden hamsters or Syrian hamsters have been known to inhabit open steppe habitats in burrows that were once the primary characteristics of the Aleppinian plateau and surrounding areas. However, as their range has increased in population, they have shown an interest in agricultural areas. They often burrow near irrigation wells or in legume plots.
An open steppe is an ecoregion that is characterized by grass plains. The area doesn’t have trees apart from those near lakes and rivers.
Golden hamsters or Syrian hamsters are solitary in nature. They only meet for breeding.
The average lifespan of a golden hamster or Syrian hamster is one and a half to two years. However, they can live twice as long in captivity. Respiratory issues are common.
Female golden hamsters use olfactory cues in their vaginal secretions for indicating their receptiveness to males. When they are ready to mate, they increase the frequency of their vaginal marking. This behavior is characterized by them pressing their vaginal region against a surface and moving a few inches forward on bedding.
In mature females, ovulation is determined mainly by photoperiod. Ovulation, induced by photoperiods of more than 12.5 hours long, will continue as long as the photoperiod remains. If the females are exposed to darkness in a laboratory or if the photoperiod is reduced, they will stop ovulating. In five months, they will acclimate to the shorter photoperiod and start to ovulate spontaneously. This photoperiodic cycle in the wild ensures that their young are born when the season is most favorable for survival.
The gestation period for a golden hamster or Syrian hamster is 16 days. The average parturition time is between one and half to two and a half hours. During this time, about eight to 12 young golden hamsters are born after gestation. At birth, the young are altricial which means that they are born with closed eyes. They open their eyes for the first time at the age of 12-14 days. Weaning occurs when they are 12-21 days old. Young golden hamsters become sexually mature at one month.
The IUCN has listed golden hamsters as an Endangered species because of their localized distribution and small geographic range. The biggest threat to their wild population in burrows is human encroachment on their natural habitat. They are continuously trapped and poisoned. They are also widely used as research animals and pets. These animals are rare in the wild and found only in northwest Syria. They are, however, common in captivity.
A golden hamster or Syrian hamster is a medium-sized hamster that is significantly smaller than a common hamster of western Asia or eastern Europe. However, it is larger than the Roborovski’s desert hamsters of Mongolia and China. It has a short tail of about 0.5 in (1.5 cm), large ears, relatively small eyes, a blunt rostrum, and a stout body. They have golden-brown fur on their head that fades to white or gray on the ventral surface. Some hamsters have a dark patch on their forehead and black stripes running on each side of their face from their neck to the cheek. Golden hamsters with long hair on their body are called teddy bears.
With their adorable eyes, ears, and cheek pouches, no one can deny the cuteness of a golden hamster or Syrian hamster.
The most common mode of communication used by this animal is scent marking through scent glands. They also use a wide range of auditory skills. They create squeaking sounds in different situations that are usually associated with sudden movements. Golden hamsters are also known for teeth chattering which is a sign of aggression. Teeth chattering has been recorded in 39% of observed female to female interactions, 92% of male to male interactions, and 5% in male to female interactions. Young hamsters produce ultrasonic squeaks that are important for maternal care. Golden hamsters also communicate with conspecifics using visual signals.
The average size of a golden hamster or Syrian hamster is 5.1-7 in (13-18 cm), about two times smaller than European hamsters.
A golden hamster can run at a speed of about 3-6 mph (4.8-9.6 kph) due to its large limbs, similar to a Chinese hamster.
The average weight of a golden hamster is 2.9-5.2 oz (85-150 g). They are relatively smaller than black bear hamsters in size.
The male and female names of the golden hamster species are buck and doe, respectively.
A baby is called a pup.
This teddy bear has a diet of fresh vegetables, fruit, hay, and hamster pellet blocks of food. In the wild, their diet includes plants and seeds that they can chew with their teeth. These animals are omnivorous as they also feed on insects like crickets and mealworms.
Golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) don’t participate in social activity.
Golden hamsters have a docile and inquisitive nature. Their small size and cuteness are the reason why they are so popular as house pets. However, they have some special requirements that you have to take care of or else their health will deteriorate. Some people think that a golden hamster is a pet for children. However, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommends that a hamster as a pet is only suitable for kids over the age of six and even then, they should be supervised by an adult human. The right bedding, seeds, protein, food, and cages are necessary for their support and treatment as pets.
Hamsters can become infested with fleas, although not as frequently as cats and dogs do. This can be avoided with careful management and treatment though.
After Professor Aharon’s collection in 1930, there were infrequent captures and sightings of golden hamsters in the wild.
Observing the females of this wild population showed that activity patterns are not nocturnal, but crepuscular. This could be to avoid nocturnal predators. There is another theory that suggests that golden hamster mice, who are sensitive to temperature fluctuations, might be crepuscular to avoid the extreme temperatures of daylight and night.
Syrian hamsters have a friendly behavior and form strong bonds with humans in a cage environment. Being the most popular and largest of pet hamsters, they have a long history of availability worldwide. This chunky, slow-moving pets are easy to care for, even by nervous owners.
Chinese hamster's pets also have a friendly behavior, however, they are a little timid. Also, since they move quickly, the owner must be comfortable in handling them outside the cage.
Yes, golden and Syrian hamsters are the same.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these Catahoula bulldog facts and sei whale facts for kids.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our Golden Hamster coloring pages.
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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