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Food and Water
Good-quality food and fresh, clean water must be readily available at all times. The exact nutritional requirements of the hamster are not known. In the wild, they are omnivorous, feeding on plants, seeds, fruits and insects. Pet hamsters are best fed commercial rat or mouse diets containing at least 16% crude protein. These foods are usually available as dry blocks or pellets. These commercial diets can be supplemented with small amounts of dry, sugar-free breakfast cereals, whole-wheat bread, uncooked pasta, cooked chicken, tuna fish, cheese, fresh fruits and vegetables. The last 2 items must be thoroughly washed to avoid exposing pet hamsters to pesticide residues and possible bacterial contamination. (1)
Pet stores sell prepared hamster diets
available in boxes or bags. These diets
contain
large quantities of seeds and items rich in
oils. Consequently, if improperly
stored, they become rancid and lose their nutritive value. Furthermore, these oil-rich items promote
obesity. These types of foods can be
offered as a supplement to the commercial rat or mouse diets mentioned above. (1)
All food should be provided in heavy
ceramic crocks that resist tipping. The
sides of the crocks should be high enough to keep bedding and fecal material
out of the food, or the crocks should be elevated slightly above the bedding. (1)
Water is most easily made available and
kept free from contamination by providing it in one or more water bottles
equipped with ‘sipper’ tubes. Make
certain the ends of the tubes are positioned low enough to allow all residents
within the enclosure (especially juvenile hamsters over 1 week old) easy access
to them. Also make certain that very
young hamsters are strong enough to obtain water from these sipper tubes. (1)
Average food consumption is 10 to 15 g of
commercial pelleted rodent food per day for adult hamsters. Hamsters drink
approximately 5 ml of water per 100 g of body weight per day. This rate of
water consumption is similar to the gerbil, another rodent species indigenous
to the desert. In comparison, rats drink 10 ml of water per 100 g of body
weight each day.(14)
A unique feature of Syrian hamsters is the
well- developed pair of buccal or cheek pouches beneath the skin on the lateral
sides of the head. In the picture,
the cheek pouch has been reverted for
examination. (2)
The pouches are used to carry food and
nesting material. They also provide an easily accessible site for tumor
transplantation and induction. The cheek pouches have
