Behavioral Adaptations for the Golden Hamster

Behavioral Adaptation

• In the wild, the term behavioral adaptation equates to the changes an animal makes in its natural routine in order to survive. The golden hamster, originally from Syria, existed in the arid, hot climate of the Arab Republic. Their first major behavioral adaptations occurred when they were first taken into captivity by British zoologist George R. Waterhouse in 1839. Waterhouse used these captive rodents in laboratory research.

Hamsters in America

• The hamster's habitat has changed in the wild. Through human transportation their natural habitat now includes Asia, North and South America, Europe and Africa. The first golden hamsters appeared in the United States in 1932. Because of their rapid breeding habits and docile nature, they were deemed suitable for scientific research. It soon became obvious that these little rodents would make tame and accommodating pets. People began bringing hamsters into their homes shortly after. Through all these environmental changes, the hamster has adapted.

Natural Behavior

• In the wild, hamsters are always busy finding food or expanding their habitat. When keeping a pet hamster, it is important to offer your pet hamster toys and activities to keep it mentally and physically stimulated. Hamsters live in burrows. Many owners duplicate this environment with cages that extend with tubes and channels leading in different directions. Hamsters also like to dig. They have adapted their behavior to accommodate captivity, but it is a good idea to provide a layer of bedding for them in burrow down into and nest.

  One of the biggest questions hamster pet owners have is about the sleeping habits of the golden hamster. Once thought nocturnal, we now know hamsters are crepuscular. This means they sleep during the day and are most active during the night, but also twilight and dawn hours. According to the Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), it is stressful to wake your hamster during the day. They recommend handling your hamster in late afternoon to evening, or early in the morning.

Handling

• Hamsters have adapted to human handling, but will bite when frightened, anxious or irritated. Gently handling your hamster from a young age is essential to earn its trust and eliminate any stresses from being picked up off the ground.

  Hamsters clean themselves constantly, so it is not necessary to give them a bath. Constantly grooming themselves is a behavior hamsters display in the wild to keep themselves parasite and disease free, and they do the same in captivity. Hamsters can catch human diseases, though, like the common cold, so it is important to wash your hands before and after handling your pet.

Health

• In nature, golden hamsters have certain immunities and disease-resistant physiological traits. Pet hamsters, through diet and a languid lifestyle, have developed certain ailments and health concerns indicative of captivity. For example, hamsters can get diabetes, viral infections, urinary tract infections and many other illnesses not common to hamsters in the wild. For this reason it is important to have your hamster checked by a rodent-experienced veterinarian.