Chapter 1: Biological Characteristics of Hamsters

Section 1 Definition, origin, and origin of hamsters
Definition of hamsters I Origin of hamsters I History of hamster breeding (first mentioned Syrian hamsters/Syrian hamsters collected for use as research animals/Syrian hamsters used in leprosy research/Beginning and prosperity of the hamster market/Descendants of wild Syrian hamsters) I Academic classification of hamsters I Current status of hamsters

Section 2 Hamster's body structure and characteristics
Teeth I Cheek pouches I Eyes and whiskers I Ears I Nose I Mouth I Limbs and feet I Tail and sex I Hair I Skin I Internal organs (stomach/lungs/heart/reproductive system)

Section 3 Hamster Ecology and Life Cycle
Hamster Habitat I Hamster Size and Lifespan I Hamster Growth I Hamster Feeding I Hamster Sex I Hamster Reproduction I Hamster Life Cycle (Birth/Childhood/Adolescence/Sexual Maturity/Adulthood/Old Age)

Section 4 Hamster Characteristics and Habits
Nocturnal or twilight maternal behavior I Food storage habits I Burrowing I Solitary or communal life? I Cannibalism I Hamster digestion I Coprophagia I Hibernation and diapause in hamsters (Hibernation and diapause in hamsters/When they go into diapause/How long does diapause last and what are its effects/How to check if they are in diapause/Wake them up from diapause/How to prevent diapause) I Hamster senses (sight/smell/hearing/touch) I Hamsters commonly used as laboratory animals I Hamster behavior (Normal behavior - Being active in the dark, chewing on objects, filling cheek pouches, digging and hiding, other normal behaviors/Abnormal behavior - Going into diapause, lacking energy, not eating or drinking, not chewing, hiding more than usual, other abnormal behaviors)

Chapter 2: The Basics of Raising Hamsters

Section 1 Hamsters as Pets
Advantages of hamsters as pets (cute/small size/easy to care for/low adoption cost/quiet/clean/fun to watch/short-term commitment/gentle/no special environmental requirements) I Disadvantages of hamsters as pets (biting/shy mothering lifestyle/diseases and bacteria/short lifespan/adult supervision required) I Good hamster breeds to keep as pets

Section 2 Things to Consider Before Raising a Hamster
Curious temperament I Cost of adoption I Lifestyle of the guardian I Children and hamsters I Health of the guardian I Agreement among family members I Forming a bond I Preparation for commitment I Hamsters are escape experts

Section 3 General criteria for selecting hamsters
Selection of hamster type (Syrian hamster/Chinese hamster/Campbell's dwarf hamster/Russian dwarf hamster/Roborovski hamster) I Selection of number of hamsters (1 hamster per cage) I Selection of hamster sex (Difference between male and female Syrian hamsters/Difference between male and female Chinese hamsters/Difference between male and female Russian dwarf hamsters/Difference between male and female Campbell's dwarf hamsters/Difference between male and female Roborovski hamsters) I Selection of hamster age I Selection of healthy hamster I Adoption of hamsters I Moving hamsters I Adaptation to new environments

Section 4 Things to keep in mind when raising a hamster
Handling I Taming I Stress and Hamsters I Hamsters and Other Pets I Considerations on Breeding I Determining the Sex of Hamsters I Pregnancy at the Time of Adoption I Growth of the Offspring

Chapter 3 Hamster Cage Composition

Section 1 Supplies needed to build a cage
Cage (size and setup of cage/cage design type - wire cage, glass tank cage, two-tier cage, plastic cage, living box, acrylic cage, emergency cage) I Bedding (pulp bedding/wood shavings/pellet bedding/soft hay and soil/homemade bedding) I Water bottle I Food bowl I Hamster wheel I Hideout I Toilet I Bathtub I Toys I Teething supplies

Section 2 Cage Setting and Enrichment
Cage setup (setting up a sleeping area/setting up a ramp/setting up a hamster wheel/setting up a food bowl and water bottle/setting up a litter box/introducing the hamster) I Cage enrichment

Chapter 4 General Hamster Care

Section 1 Cage and Cage Environment Management
Temperature management (winter temperature management - use heaters/heating pads, provide soft bedding/hiding places, move the cage/summer temperature management - provide cool water, use air conditioning/fans, limit play, provide frozen supplies, move the cage) I Cleaning management I Safety management I Handling an escaped hamster

Section 2 Feeding and Nutrition Management
Types of hamster food (pellet food/mixed food/extruded food/fresh vegetables and fruits/hay/mealworms and crickets/things to keep in mind when purchasing food) I Vitamin and mineral supplements I Snacks I Feeding method I Feeding amount

Section 3 Hamster Dental Care
Dental health problems (incisor damage/molars damage/cheek pocket disease) I Care to prevent dental disease (provide proper food/provide healthy snacks/provide teeth grinding toys/prevent bacterial infections/annual dental check-up) I Identify potential dental disease (examine teeth weekly/watch for changes in appetite/watch for changes in weight/check for excessive drooling/smell the breath/consult a veterinarian) I Treatment of dental disease

Chapter 5 Hamster Health and Disease

Section 1 Signs and Prevention of Disease
Signs of disease (reaction to stimuli/overall appearance/changes in mood and attitude) I Disease prevention (providing a good diet/providing a dry environment/providing a shelter/providing an exercise wheel/paying attention to safety accidents) I Emergency measures in case of disease occurrence

Section 2 Common Diseases and Treatment Options
Fractures I Bites I Abscesses I Eye Diseases I Cheek Pouch Injuries I Tooth Diseases I Ear Diseases I Heatstroke I Respiratory Diseases I Intestinal Diseases I Salmonellosis I Fungi and Parasites I Shock I Aging in Hamsters I Genetic Problems

Chapter 6 Hamster Communication

Section 1: Understanding Hamster Body Language and Sounds
Hamster body language (ears pricked up and watching the guardian/ears folded back/ears forward with puffed-out cheek pouches/grooming themselves vigorously/stretching/emptying their cheek pouches rapidly/standing on their hind legs and moving their front legs simultaneously as if boxing/teeth clicking/running away in surprise when approached/lying on their back and baring their teeth/crawling on the cage floor, especially near the walls/digging through clean bedding inside the cage) I Hamster sounds

Section 2 Communication between hamsters
Approaching closely I circling around while sniffing I Face-to-face sparring I Appeasement I Rolling fighting I Scent marking

Chapter 7 Introduction to Hamster Species

Section 1: 5 Types of Hamsters Raised as Pets
Syrian hamster (Ecological characteristics of Syrian hamsters/Physical characteristics of Syrian hamsters/Behavioral characteristics of Syrian hamsters/Reproductive characteristics of Syrian hamsters) I Campbell's dwarf hamster (Ecological characteristics of Campbell's dwarf hamsters/Physical characteristics of Campbell's dwarf hamsters/Reproductive characteristics of Campbell's dwarf hamsters) I Russian dwarf hamster (Ecological characteristics of Russian dwarf hamsters/Physical characteristics of Russian dwarf hamsters/Reproductive characteristics of Russian dwarf hamsters) I Roborovski hamster (Ecological characteristics of Roborovski hamsters/Physical characteristics of Roborovski hamsters/Reproductive characteristics of Roborovski hamsters) I Chinese hamster (Ecological characteristics of Chinese hamsters/Physical characteristics of Chinese hamsters/Reproductive characteristics of Chinese hamsters)

Section 2 Colors and Patterns of 5 Types of Companion Hamsters
Colors of Syrian hamsters (Golden/Black/Blue/Brown/Chocolate/Cinnamon/Cooper/Black Eye Cream/Red Eye Cream/Dark Gray/Light Gray/Silver Gray/Honey/Black Eye Ivory/Red Eye Ivory/Lilac/Pearl/Rust/Sable/Sable Roan/Tortoiseshell/Umbrella Golden/Dark Ear White/Pale Ear White/Yellow/Yellow Black) I Patterns of Syrian hamsters (Self/Banded/Dominant Spot/Roan/Tortoiseshell/Recessive Dapple) I Fur types of Syrian hamsters (Hairless/Short/Long-hair/Satin/Rex/Umbrella) I Colors of Campbell's Dwarf Hamsters (Normal/Mottled Normal/Platinum Normal/Albino/Red Eye Argente/Black Eye Argente/Mottled Argente/Beige/Blue Beige/Black/Mottled Black/Blue/Mottled Blue/Blue Fawn/Chocolate/Dove/Mottle Dove/Lilac Fawn/Opal/Mottle Opal/Opal Platinum/Black Eye White/Red Eye White) I Russian Dwarf Hamster Colors (Normal/Sapphire/Pearl) I Roborovski Hamster Colors (Normal/Agouti/White Faced/Husky/Mottle or Pied/Head Spot/White from White Faced/White from Pied/Black Eyed White/Red Eyed/Black Blue/) I Chinese Hamster Colors (Normal/Dominant Spot/Black Eyed White)

Hamsters are currently the most popular small pets in the world due to their cute appearance and behavior, low maintenance requirements, and gentle and docile personalities.
It is a breed recommended for first-time pet owners or children because it is easy to raise, but it is not advisable to raise it without thorough preparation.
Although it is an animal with a very short lifespan, in order to raise it healthily for a long time and enjoy the advantages of a hamster, it is important to know the characteristics and habits of the individual in advance, and it is very important to understand its habitat and ecology and acquire the correct knowledge.


The 20th installment of the 'Mania Series', 'Cute, Furry Hamster Friend', is a hamster breeding book that systematically organizes the practical breeding know-how and specialized information that hamster owners are curious about based on the author's long-term breeding experience and research. It will be a very useful resource not only for existing owners, but also for beginners and breeders who are just starting to raise hamsters.