Black-Bellied Hamster
Cricetus cricetus is found in Eurasia from Belgium to the Altai region of Siberia. The habitat of the common hamster includes steppe, agricultural land and riverbanks. Burrows are usually in loam of loess soils in the western part of the range.
Black-bellied hamster
The fur is light brown on the back, white on the sides and black on the belly (hence the name black-bellied hamster). There is a wide range of variation, however, including both albino and melanistic animals. The small tail is mostly hairless. Cricetus has cheek pouches.
Reproduction
The breeding season in Cricetus lasts from April to August. It is not clear if males are driven away by females after mating or if the pair remains together to raise the offspring. Females normally have two litters of 4-12 young per year, though captive animals are capable of reproducing every month. Gestation is 18-20 days long and birth weight is usually about 7 grams. Young are weaned at 3 weeks and attain adult size at 8 weeks. Female are sexually mature at 43 days.
Behavior
Cricetus is a solitary, burrowing rodent. Burrow size is age and season dependent. Summer and fall burrows have tunnels constructed in a single plane, usually about 50 cm below the surface. In winter burrows can be as deep as 2 meters and have extra space for the large (90 kg) winter store of cereals and agricultural crops. Cricetus hibernates in the winter, although it wakes every 5-7 days to eat stored food. Activity is crepuscular during the spring, summer and fall. When it must swim, the common hamster inflates its cheek pouches with air for increased buoyancy. During large population movements indiuced by food shortages, common hamsters can cross large rivers.
Food Habits
The diet is diverse and includes grains, beans, lentils, roots, green parts of plants, insect larvae and frogs. In captivity they should be offered a complete diet of rodent lab blocks, and rat or mouse mix, with bits of fruit or veggies regularly. Cheerios or wheat bread are great treats, in small quantities. Do NOT feed chocolate, fried foods, salted foods, candy or junk food! They may enjoy crickets and mealworms if they are captive bred, never feed wild insects as they may carry parasites.
Vitamins, like Nutri-Cal are a good addition to their diet, and added calcium during nursing and growth due to demands on their systems at those times, but take care not to overdo it. Water bottles should be used to proved constant, clean water. Ceramic or stoneware food dishes work well for keeping seeds or fresh foods off the floor, and a wire mesh hopper that allows them to eat the lab blocks through without extra waste.
