If you want to get yourself a teddy bear hamster as your first or next pet, you should give this article a good read.
We have summed up the main reasons why these cuddly cute furballs aren’t the best choice as home pets.
What is a Teddy Bear Hamster?
Many names know a teddy bear hamster; golden, Syrian, or fancy bears due to its cuddly fur and sweet nature, making them the giant breed of hamsters. They are cute, docile, curious, intelligent, and have all the imaginable good traits.
Teddy bear hamsters come in a range of colors and patterns with a variety of coat types. Their petite bodies are wholly submerged under their long hair. They have a cute pink stubbed nose, round, glossy black eyes, and paper-thin ears to complete their super innocent look.
| Name | Teddy Bear Hamster |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Mesocricetus Auratus |
| Lifespan | 2 to 3 years |
| Weight | 5.3 ounces |
| Size | 4 to 7 inches |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Order | Rodentia |
| Family | Cricetidae |
| Sub Family | Cricetinae |
| Genus | Mesocricetus |
| Species | M. auratus |
| Binomial Name | Mesocricetus auratus |
| Gestation Period | 16 to 20 days |
| Litter Size | 8 to 10 pups |
Teddy Bear Hamster: Why You Shouldn’t Buy (8 Quick Reasons)
Teddy bear hamsters seem like no-maintenance pet animals. But, before getting your hands on these cute furballs, here is a list of 8 reasons that may well change your decision about getting teddy bear hamsters for your household.
These are vital observations collected over the years, which in no way mean to hurt the sentiments of hamster owners.
Reason 1: Teddy Bear Hamster can carry salmonella
Salmonella is an intestinal bacterium that can cause severe illness in adults. Salmonella can worsen if transmitted from a pregnant mother to her child.
Reason 2: Teddy Bear Hamsters are nocturnal
They sleep for a significant part of the day only to get super active during the night when you or your kids are trying to sleep. If you intend to wake them up during the daytime, beware, as this can ruin their health and mood as well.
Reason 3: Teddy Bear Hamster can trigger asthma
Animal feces and urine can infect their pet owners when they breathe in the dried particles. In addition, these dried feces also makes the teddy bear hamsters prone to ingest the air or food which the dried feces have contaminated.
Reason 4: Teddy Bear Hamster can cause tapeworm infestation
The tapeworms are transmitted by teddy bear hamsters when they contact contaminated water or food. These tapeworms then infect the pet owners causing them to fall sick often.
Reason 5: Teddy Bear Hamsters require adult supervision
Teddy bear hamsters are considered low-maintenance pets compared to other animals, but they still need plenty of supervision and support from adults.
Their upbringing is no kid’s play, and neither are they tools to content cranky children. Therefore, it’s essential to understand the basics regarding their feeding regimen, cleaning the cage, and ensuring the teddy bear hamster gets enough rest and play.
Reason 6: Teddy Bear Hamsters can cause painful bites
Teddy bear hamsters are shy and cannot stand being mishandled. They will bite you if you treat them inappropriately. Children need to be taught the correct way to interact with them and take care of them.
Likewise, they cannot share their space with other hamsters. This will agitate them, causing injuries on both sides.
Reason 7: Teddy Bear Hamsters have short lives
My sister had hamsters while we grew up. We loved having them, but I could not get over the hamster cemetery we had in our backyard. I don’t want any other child to go through the same misery I felt when we grew up as hamsters live for slightly more than a couple of years.
The owner has to face the sadness of their death, which can be especially difficult and emotional for children.
Reason 8: Teddy Bear Hamsters dwell best in the wild
No matter how we choose to sugarcoat the fact that teddy bear hamsters are great pets, we cannot overlook that they are meant to be wild animals. They dwell best in the open forests and are not held in captivity.
Final Verdict
Teddy bear hamsters are not social animals, but they behave well once tamed, which doesn’t mean you can cram them with other hamsters, as they want you to respect their social boundaries. However, if you can devote the time and energy to their upkeep, they won’t disappoint you.
Children usually demand having teddy bear hamsters as their pets, but this can be fulfilled if an adult is willing to supervise both the animal and the child.
Careful thought goes into planning what the hamster gets to eat, their cage maintenance, cleanliness, and minor health issues.
Reference and Further Readings:
SmallPetsX.Com does not provide veterinary advice. Our aim to help small pet owners understand their pets a little better so that they can provide their pets with the life they deserve. All content is therefore for informational purposes only. If you're concerned about the health of your pet you should seek medical advice from a vet.
