Teddy hamster in portrait: character, care and attitude

Teddy hamsters are extremely popular pets, which are primarily noticeable for their long fur.

Thanks to the tame character they are a great choice for children.

What special features you need to consider when keeping and caring for a Teddy Hamster and how you can do justice to the gentle character of the animal, you will learn here.

Profile

Size	13 – 18 cm
Color	light to dark, single color, multicolor
Age	2 – 3 years
Character	tame and trusting
Enclosure type	Solitary

The character of a Teddy Hamster

The Teddy Hamster or Angora Hamster is the long-haired variety of the Golden Hamster.

It is extremely popular among rodent keepers and is also very suitable for beginners: It can be tamed quickly and shows itself trusting in a short time even with little effort.

Nevertheless, he prefers a single attitude, because he gets along with conspecifics of the opposite sex only during the mating season.

Females allow males in their territory only at this time. After that they will be driven away by force if necessary.

If you want to keep several Teddy Hamsters, you should therefore buy separate cages and not place them too close to each other. Because already a too small distance and the constant proximity to other conspecifics can represent a stress factor.

Nevertheless, you can have a lot of fun with a Teddy Hamster: He very active, likes to learn and moves a lot. This makes it possible for you to offer him always new facilities and activity toys and even teach him little tricks.

The right attitude

When it comes to the cage for your Teddy Hamster, the bigger the better.

A large footprint and multiple floors help give your pet as much room to move as possible. At the same time, it gives you the option to rearrange the hamster home over and over again.

Important are:

Bedding for digging
a sand bath
climbing possibilities
running wheel
hiding places for food
sleeping house

In this way, your pet will be kept busy in a manner appropriate to its species, will feel safe and will be busy. Thus it becomes more content and happier.
The life expectancy of a Teddy Hamster

With a life expectancy of two to three years, the Teddy Hamsters are unfortunately not very old.

They already become sexually mature with a few weeks and can already show first signs of age with one and a half years. These include, for example, a reduced mobility and thus the diminishing of their own fur care.

This is how you should care for a Teddy Hamster

Because of the long fur, you should get your Teddy Hamster used to accepting grooming by you from the beginning. The hairs collect dirt, hold moisture longer and can become matted.

You must be prepared for this.

If your hamster has diarrhea, for example, the fur will stick together and can irritate or dry the skin and close the anus. Wounds, fly maggots and also preventing defecation are then possible risks.

In addition, the long fur hairs can also close the digestive tract internally. This is because hamsters are clean animals that groom themselves frequently during the day. In doing so, they pick up hairs that can clump together in the stomach and intestines and develop into solids.

These, in turn, can cause intestinal obstruction.

Because teddy hamsters are so small and already tolerate anesthesia poorly, the surgery required for this is nearly impossible to perform and carries a high risk.

This is true even if the intestinal obstruction is noticed in time.

For these reasons, you should always brush and comb your pet from the beginning. In this way, the animal gets used to grooming and experiences it as a petting session, or at least does not perceive it as stress.

Attention: For you it means however more expenditure than with a short-haired hamster.

In addition, the skin of Angora hamsters is less tactile and visible. Checks for injuries, parasites or skin diseases and changes are therefore not so easy and require more time and habituation.

You also have to get used to this, because already an advanced mite infestation or an inflamed scratch can cause considerable problems and is also difficult to treat due to the size.
The color spectrum

Teddy hamsters can be found in light and dark colors, mixed forms, with patterns and in different hair lengths. They can have different markings and the coat can change color slightly over time.

However, the wild color of the golden hamster and pure beige teddy hamsters are the most common.

If you are interested in a special color, we have a tip: Ask specifically for the parents!

Because crossbreeding with other breeds is not uncommon in hamsters. For example, the color can also indicate that a “wilder” breed was crossed in and thus behavior and susceptibility to disease are different.

If no one in the pet store can answer this question, choose a Teddy Hamster from a breeder.

The character can then be better assessed and also the genetic predisposition with regard to diseases is easier to understand.

This is not a guarantee that your hamster will live to a healthy age, but the risk is lower.

Frequently asked questions

When are Teddy hamsters fully grown?

At about three to four months of age, Teddy Hamsters have reached an adult size. However, they continue to grow a few millimeters until the end of their lives. This happens inconspicuously.

Due to malnutrition or a very small cage, growth can also be delayed.

However, the animals do not reach over 18 centimeters in length.

When are Teddy Hamsters awake?

Teddy hamsters belong to the crepuscular animals.

This means that they wake up in the evening and have several phases of activity during the night. They can travel several miles per night to forage for food, groom their fur, and defend their territory.

However, when kept as a pet, this means that they can significantly disturb your sleep.

Therefore, they should not be kept in the bedroom.

In addition, you must avoid exposing them to disturbances during the day. Because even the otherwise peaceful teddy hamster can become aggressive or nervous and anxious due to lack of sleep.

Note: Please do not try to make your hamster day active.

What do Teddy Hamsters prefer to eat?

A mixture of roughage, seeds, grains and animal protein is ideal.

Make sure your Teddy Hamster has to work for his food. This will keep him busy at the same time and he will be better utilized.

Tip: You can also make your own hamster food.
How much can a Teddy Hamster weigh?

That depends on the size.

Since it can grow up to 18 centimeters long, it can also weigh up to 200 grams. An animal that is only 12 centimeters long, on the other hand, should be much lighter.

However, when determining overweight, the body shape and muscles are the most important indicators.

A taut body with ribs that are easy to feel is healthy.

If, on the other hand, the spine sticks out or the hip bones protrude, the animal is too thin. A bloated belly or barely noticeable ribs are also warning signs and indicate either disease or obesity.

How many babies do Teddy Hamsters have?

The litter size is between six and twelve kittens.

Variations are of course possible.

Be aware of this, however, as the small animals can multiply rapidly.