Last updated on January 22nd, 2023 at 07:05 pm
Hairless hamsters are a breed of Syrian hamsters, and since they do not have hair, many people choose to keep them.
But you must wonder if keeping a hairless hamster is easy or difficult.
Don’t worry; today’s article will tell you everything you need to know about keeping and caring for hairless hamsters.
What are hairless hamsters? Hairless Hamsters are Syrian hamsters with no hair, and they are a mutation of Syrian hamsters. Although rare, this breed of Syrian hairless hamster is gaining more and more popularity, and you can often see people choosing them for keeping.
Hairless hamsters were first seen in China in the 1980s, but now they are found worldwide. Hairless hamsters are especially a perfect choice for people with hair allergy problems.
And now, let’s learn more about these hamsters’ characteristics, diet, behavior, and problems they may have in terms of health.
What color are hairless hamsters?
Brown, white and black colors are characteristic of Syrian hairless hamsters.
While the color of their fur is not essential because they do not have hair.
This look is very interesting and is gaining more and more popularity. It is up to you to choose the color of your hairless hamster.
The behavior of hairless hamsters
Hairless hamsters are known for being very peaceful with other hairless hamsters, and they are only aggressive with hairy animals.
What is very interesting about hairless hamsters is that although they are nocturnal animals, they sleep during the day and are active at night, but they will not cause any problems.
When you sleep, they will not hang you and let you sleep, which is very important for the owners of these breeds of hamsters.
Hairless hamsters and their diet
Hairless hamsters are omnivores, which means they can consume animal and plant food.
However, we have to pay attention to their diet because, being furless, they have different needs than other breeds of hamsters.
For example, you can give them vegetables and fruits, seeds, and other food, but in larger quantities, unlike other hamsters.
This is because hairless hamsters need more protein, especially in the winter. Since they do not have fur to keep them warm like other hamsters.
Hairless hamsters have a slower metabolism because they don’t have fur.
That’s why we have to give them more to eat so that their digestive system can digest the food and provide enough nutrients.
Hairless hamsters should not eat food with too much salt and sugar because they will get diabetes and have kidney problems.
Or our recommendation is to avoid giving them food with a lot of sugar and salt as much as possible.
How long do hairless hamsters live?
The lifespan of hairless hamsters is precisely the same as that of Syrian hamsters, from 2-3 years.
Hairless hamsters one-year-old are already considered older hamsters, and we need to pay more attention to them.
Hairless hamsters are prone to many diseases because they have a weak immune system, can easily get sick and have a short life span.
However, this should not scare you if you decide to keep hairless hamsters because with a little more attention you will extend his life.
Here are some tips to increase the lifespan of hairless hamsters:
- Keep them away from predators giving them a safer living environment.
- More activity and running on the wheel exercise is necessary so the hamster can always be in good condition. The training will allow them to be in top shape, not gaining weight and reducing the chances of diabetes.
- A healthy diet rich in nutrients is important for health and prolonging their life span.
- Without changes in the temperature of the room, you should always allow them a normal temperature of 65-75F so that they stay healthy and free from colds and diseases.
- Keep the cage clean and tidy because ammonia from urine can cause infections and bacteria in hamsters. The food in the cage left after eating should be removed because of insects and flies.
All these little tips mean a lot for better breeding hairless hamsters, so see how much more you can fulfill them.
How much money do hairless hamsters cost?
The price of hairless hamsters varies from 25 to 150 dollars, depending on their color and origin.
Their price varies also because there are not many breeders of this breed of minnows.
That’s why you should take the time to find a hairless hamster at a better price and of course well bred, in good conditions.
Hairless Hamster Care Guide
Hamsters can’t talk, so you need to get close to your hairless hamster so you can better learn to notice their actions.
The better you know your pet, the easier you will be able to help him if something is not well or sick, as well as for other important things such as nutrition.
Caring for this breed of hamster is a little different than other breeds and a little more complicated.
Here are some exciting tips that will help you take better care of your hairless hamster:
- Hairless hamsters need a more significant amount of food than Syrian hamsters due to their slower metabolism.
- Do not expose them to much sun, because they do not have fur that can easily get skin problems and diseases.
- The temperature should always be within the normal range, because they cannot tolerate cold temperatures like other breeds of hamsters.
- Temperature changes can negatively affect the health of hairless hamsters, creating problems and even dangerous fatal consequences.
- Bedding for this breed of hamsters should be as soft as possible since they do not have fur. If you put bedding made of wood shavings, they can easily hurt their skin, so be careful.
Health problems in hairless hamsters
Since hairless hamsters do not have fur, they get diseases that other hamsters have much less often.
Here are some of the health problems in hairless hamsters:
Diabetes
The risk of diabetes in hairless hamsters is much higher than in other types of hamsters.
That’s why you need to check their sugar level much more often.
If it is not right, they should be given appropriate therapy and changes in their diet.
Skin diseases
Hairless hamsters suffer much more from skin problems because they have no fur. Most often they get sunburn and harmful effects of UV radiation.
If you keep your hairless hamster in the sun for a long time, it is best to cover it so that its skin does not burn.
Or keep it indoors so it won’t have as many skin problems.
Body temperature
Hairless hamsters have a much harder time regulating their temperature, and can easily catch colds or other illnesses.
That’s why you should keep them in a room with an optimal temperature, which will protect them from such unwanted problems.
Is it unethical to buy hairless hamsters?
Buying hairless hamsters is considered unethical because they are a mutation from Syrian hamsters.
This breed of hamsters cannot be found in the wild, and therefore we cannot know if they would survive if we humans did not keep them and feed them regularly.
Hairless hamsters are prone to diabetes, so this is another possible reason to buy them.
Should hairless hamsters be our first choice as owners?
No, if you are keeping hamsters for the first time, it is best to start with some of the other hamsters, the ones with hair.
Keeping hairless hamsters requires much more care about the food choice and the environment where they are kept.
So get some experience first before you start keeping hairless hamsters.
Read more: Why Is My Hamster Nose Bleeding? Complete Guide
Conclusion
Hairless hamsters are Syrian hamsters without fur.
They can eat plant and animal food, but you should give them food with less sugar and salt, so they don’t get diabetes and other health problems.
Their lifespan is about 2-3 years with good care and attention.
Since they do not have fur, you should not expose them to the sun a lot because they will get burns on their skin. The diet of these hamsters should be in larger quantities than other hamsters due to their slower metabolism.
Finally, hairless hamsters require a lot of care and attention to keep them healthy and live longer.
