Golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus)

The Golden hamster originates from semi-desert areas in the Middle East, where

the climate is hot and arid. In its natural habitat it lives in deep tunnels which protect it from the desert environment. Although present throughout the world as a laboratory animal and a pet, it is possible that it is extinct in the wild.

The Golden hamster has a very short, hairless tail and short fur. Its original colour was a golden brown with a greyish-white belly, but numerous varieties developed subsequently: cinnamon, cream, white, albino, etc., and a long-haired type called “teddy bear”.

A particular characteristic of the Golden hamster is that it has a pair of cutaneous (sebaceous) glands on its flanks, which seem like dark marks on its skin and are much more obvious in males. They are used to mark the territory and also play a role in the animal’s sexual behaviour; these glands must not be confused with tumours or parasites. Golden hamsters have 7-11 pairs of mammary glands. Their body temperature is 36.5-37.5°C.

The Golden hamster is a solitary animal which is very aggressive towards other hamsters. This is particularly true for the females. These hamsters should be housed alone to avoid fights and cannibalism; if attempts are made to keep a couple together, the female almost always ends up killing her mate.

Physiological parameters

Reproductive parameters