These rodents are found in a wide variety of habitats, from Northern Europe to a wide swath through much of Asia, except for the southeastern corner. There are 24 known species, but as with gerbils, only one - the golden or Syrian hamster - has become popular as a pet around the world.
Golden or Syrian hamster
The golden hamster was first discovered in 1839, and forty years later live specimens were brought to England from Syria by James SK ENE, who served there in the diplomatic service. This group appears to have prospered for thirty years, with the last descendants dying in 1910.
Subsequently, none of these rodents appear to have been in captivity until April 1930. In fact, the species was thought to be extinct until Dr. Israel Aha RO NI did not discover a nest of Syrian hamsters on Mount A PPO in Syria. The young hamsters were taken to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The breeding program was not entirely successful at first, as four of the eight hamsters escaped and the female subsequently died as a result of a fight with the only surviving male. From this unpromising beginning, however, the male successfully mated with the two other females, and three hundred and sixty-four offspring were reared within a year.
Some of the descendants were sent to Dr. Edward Hind Le in England and, perhaps through breeding at the London Zoo, golden hamsters became available to the pet-owning public. It wasn't until the beginning of World War II that these hamsters were seen alive in North America. It is amazing to realize that all such hamsters bred around the world today are believed to be direct descendants from a nest found on Mount A PPO more than half a century ago.
Hibernation
An unusual and often disturbing habit of hamsters is their ability to hibernate when environmental conditions are unfavorable. It is a natural trait that is now somewhat less evident in domesticated animals. The hamster's body temperature will drop from a normal level of about 37 C (98.7 F) to slightly above ambient temperature. The respiratory rate is barely one breath per minute, whereas under normal circumstances this number reaches hundreds or more. Since the heart rate can be as low as four beats per minute, compared to five hundred per minute in an active animal, a hibernating hamster appears dead to the casual observer. A drop in temperature coupled with decreasing light periods will cause hamsters to enter this torpid state.
Obviously, in a room in the house heated during cold weather, such behavior is less likely. If you want to encourage a hibernating hamster to wake up from its sleep, move it to a warm position where it can gradually wake up. A temperature above 20 C (68 F) is ideal. Gradually, the hamster's breathing will begin to show, and its body will warm up as the blood flow to the skin increases. If you discover a hamster apparently dead in the nest, treat it this way to determine if it has simply gone into a torpid state.
Other factors also influence the readiness of the hamster to enter the state of dormancy. Among them is the provision of a very deep layer of bedding and, significantly, also the possibility for hamsters to store food. Hoarding is completely natural, food is taken back into the cheek pouches and stored in the nest.
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