After escaping from captivity, it is no longer recommended to keep a snub-nosed bear as a pet for several reasons:
1.Safety Concerns: After a hamster escapes, it may be exposed to numerous hazards, such as predators, extreme temperatures, or toxic substances. Keeping hamsters safe and healthy outside of controlled and safe enclosures is a challenge.
2.Adaptation to the wild: Domesticated snub-nosed bears are bred in captivity and may not have the necessary skills to survive in the wild. They may have difficulty finding food, shelter, and adequate protection, leading to shortened lifespans or suffering.
3.Disease transmission: There is a risk of spreading disease if a golden bear escapes and comes into contact with wild hamsters or other animals. Domesticated hamsters can carry pathogens, and if they become pathogen carriers, they can endanger wild populations or other pets.
4.Legal restrictions: In some areas, the release of non-native species into the wild may be illegal. Releasing escaped snub-nosed bears may violate local regulations and conservation efforts.
Therefore, it is generally recommended to prevent hamsters from escaping and provide them with a safe and suitable habitat to ensure their well-being as a captive pet.
Encyclopedia about the Golden Bear:
Overview
Golden bears make great companions. Golden bears have a variety of personalities and have strange behaviors, making them a great choice among pets, and once they understand their needs, they are easy to care for.
Before deciding to bring a golden bear home, it's important to understand their needs and commitment to them, and to think twice – make sure this is a pet that you can invest your time, space, and money into. In this pet encyclopedia article, we'll cover the basic welfare needs of golden bears and provide some key information to help you get started with raising hamsters.
Golden bears must live independently, as they are territorial-minded mammals that begin to fight each other once they reach maturity (8 to 12 weeks). Golden bears should never be kept in pairs or groups after they have matured. Even smelling another adult hamster in the same house can upset them, so it's best to keep just one.
Golden bears are nocturnal, meaning they are most active at night and have a life expectancy of 1 to 2 years, but there are also longer-lived ones. Although they have a shorter life expectancy compared to rabbits or cats, they still need the attention and care of their owners twice a day during this time. So, before bringing your little ones home, make sure that your lifestyle adapts to their needs.
The nocturnal nature of hamsters means that they are nocturnal, burrowing, digging, playing, and chewing! This is a very important hamster fact to consider before keeping a hamster, as this may determine where your hamster enclosure is located in your home – hamsters are known to make a lot of noise when rolling and running in the enclosure!
Golden bears are excellent pets. They are very active and have strong personalities. If raised and handled properly, they will become your friends for life. However, when hamsters are young, it can be tricky to deal with as they are still adjusting to this wide world. Golden bears are predators, which means that loud sounds, sharp movements, and touches can make them a little nervous at first. Before raising a hamster, it's important to keep this in mind and be prepared so that they will happily be cared for by you and your family after a little time. The way to deal with hamsters is to touch them less and often, and build their confidence in being touched and picked up at an early stage; This may take time.
Best Feeding Tips:
Hamsters will never bite unless there is a reason.
Many people are nervous when keeping hamsters for fear of being bitten. Yes, it can be painful (very painful) to be bitten, but as long as you treat hamsters gently at the beginning, over time they will become wonderful little fur that will sit in the palm of your hand, enjoy the stroke, and thrive in your company.
- Wash your hands
Golden bears have poor eyesight and rely mainly on their sense of smell and touch. If your hands smell like food. You can bet it will want to take a bite and taste something that smells so good!
- Let them wake up first.
These little ones are usually most active at night, and they most likely won't wake up when you want them to get out of bed (after school, after work, during the day). So it's important to wake them up by talking to them gently before you try to pick them up, and maybe wash some of the beds. If you don't give them a few minutes to wake them up, they can become very irritable, which is not the best place to start with hamsters!
- Be gentle!
Golden bears are sensitive to touch, and scratching or poking them can scare them and make them nervous. When picking up hamsters, be sure to gently scoop them up with both hands and pet them gently (avoiding noses and whiskers). If your hamsters are a bit nervous and can't safely pick them up, we recommend using a plastic cup. By scooping the hamsters into the cup, you can safely move them from A to B without worrying about them jumping out of your hands until both you and your hamster are more confident in carrying the hamster.
- Small amounts many times.
At the beginning, 10-15 min should be used to handle hamsters at a time. A short and gentle training session will make your hamster understand that handling a hamster is not a long or scary process and that it will soon be back in a safe enclosure. This goes a long way in building the hamster's self-confidence.
- Don't put your fingers on your face!
Going back to hamsters and their eyesight, snub-nosed bears don't have the best eyesight and can't tell things up close, so when you put your hands or fingers close to their noses, they can be very scared. This can make them nervous, causing them to bite or run away.
- They are trainable!
These adorable mammals may be small, but with a little time and patience, they can learn to call themselves by their first names, learn routine movements easily, train themselves not to litter, and even do simple small movements if taught gradually. So, the more you spend time with them, the more fun you get.
Over time, the bears adapt well to being manipulated and can be desensitized. Some hamsters may only take a week or so to adapt, while others may be more sensitive and take a few weeks. But be patient, take your time, they will get used to it, and then they will be happy to be fiddled with every day, and will even be waiting for you in the enclosure, ready to play with you.
Precautions
Let your pet acclimatize for 24 hours before doing the first operation. Play with your hamster as much as you can, gently and close to the ground. Exercise is essential to keep your hamster running indoors as much as possible while unattended. Playing with balls is just one way for hamsters to safely explore the house (they can only be used for 20 minutes at a time), and another good way is to place tubes and boxes in a safe open space for hamsters to climb into. How about building a maze for hamsters to explore?
Keep your pet indoors in a room that is protected from direct sunlight and has a stable temperature and is not ventilated. Ideal for a bedroom or lounge.
Check the hamster's food and water twice a day to make sure to clean up the pan of droppings and wood chips.
Clean the cage thoroughly with a pet-safe disinfectant at least once a week. Make sure to clean everything that your pet touches. Using a cat litter spatula can make cleaning easier.
Provide them with suitable wheels or turntables so that they can run freely in their cages. They can run up to 9 miles a night in the wind.
Do not feed dimethoate or avocados as these foods can be harmful. You can feed hamsters small amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables, but no more than twice a week.
Do not allow hamsters to be near televisions or stereos, as these devices produce high-frequency sounds that can stimulate the hamster.
Do not use aerosol cans near hamsters as they produce toxic gases.
Don't put too many toys in the cage, although it's a good idea to have several. You want them to have as much space to move around as possible.
What hamsters need
Cages: Hamsters need a lot of space. Hamsters need a lot of space to run and play. They have at least one or two platforms in their enclosures with ladder tubes to provide them with additional space and interest. The spacing between the railings should not exceed 12 mm, otherwise the hamster's head may get stuck or run away.
Spacious cage
Exercise wheels: Hamsters are energetic and can run up to 9 miles a day, so exercise wheels are essential for them. We recommend a minimum size of 12 inches for the rollers – if your hamster has a bent back while running in the roller, the roller is too small and you should buy a large roller to avoid health issues. Importantly, many complete cages on the market are equipped with wheels that are only suitable for young hamsters – you need larger wheels.
House Golden Bears need to have a house in their cage so they can hide and sleep quietly. For these hamsters, the darker the cage, the better, so look for a cage that will provide them with a comfortable small burrow environment.
Bottom bed: A good substrate is very important for absorbing urine and protecting their feet. A good substrate can be dust extract, rodent-safe wood chips, or carefresh. The depth should be at least 15 inches so that they can happily drill and burrow.
Litter: It is important that you only use litter that is safe for animals and place it in their house. We don't recommend using fluffy fiber bedding because there is a risk of entanglement in their limbs or ingestion of them, and cloth or paper are good options. Having them choose two types of litter during their nesting process helps stimulate their thinking, so it's another great way to add richness to their enclosures.
Water bottle: Make sure your pet has access to the water spout of the kettle and fill the kettle daily to monitor how well they are drinking. The water outlet of the kettle can easily become clogged, so it is important to clean the kettle regularly and check the water flow every day if there is a problem.
Food bowls: Golden snub-nosed bears actually benefit the most from dispersed feeding, so they don't always need one – just sprinkle their daily amount of food around the fence and they'll happily forage around and collect all their food. Still, if you want to use bowls, it's best to use stainless steel or ceramic bowls, as they are hygienic and not easy to bite.
Food: Golden bears are omnivores, so they should be fed a full mixture. It is important to allow the hamsters to gradually adapt to the new food so as not to affect their sensitive stomach. Just feed one teaspoon of food a day to prevent obesity.
Wood gnawing Like all rodents, pets have teeth that are constantly growing because they have toothed jaws. To keep your teeth straight and in good condition, nibbling wood is essential. If your hamster doesn't seem to like nibbling with their wood, it's best to experiment with different types and find out what they like best, as they usually have preferred flavors and textures. A good way to start here is to find the same chew it ate before it was brought home, so it will feel familiar. Then, as it gradually adapts, you can have great pleasure in learning its likes and dislikes.
Food: Give them some food every now and then, but not too often – the Golden Bears Full Mix will give them the important nutrients they need.
ToysTo prevent pets from getting bored when you're not at home (or sleeping), toys are essential to keep them active and stimulated. Golden bears have a wide variety of toys, from rope toys to ladders, but you can also make toys out of cardboard for them to play with and chew on. If you make your own toys, be sure to check whether the materials are safe and whether they do not contain unknown glues and inks.
Underlying health problems
Excessively long teeth: Bears may have problems with long teeth that may need to be trimmed by a veterinarian. Always make sure there is enough nibbling material.
Hibernation: If hamsters are housed at temperatures below 5 C or 40 F, they will go into pseudo-hibernation. They may look like they are asleep or even dead. The hamster must be placed on a covered heat pad or thermos to gradually warm up to no more than 32°C or 90°F before being sent directly to the veterinarian. If you think your pet is experiencing lethargy or any discomfort, you should seek the advice of a veterinarian.
Weekly health check-ups
Every time you keep a hamster, you should do a health check on it so that you know how normal your little one is. This will help you detect any health issues more quickly so that you can seek advice from your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Is it clean underneath the tail?
Are your toes and nails complete? Are the toes clean and not overgrown?
Do you move your legs freely, without stumbling or stiffness?
Do you have teeth? Are the teeth straight and not overgrown?
Is the nose clean and free of discharge?
Are the eyes bright and clear?
Stroking the ears, is it smooth and clean?
Is the fur clean and free of bald spots or parasites?
blow hair; Should be healthy and not red, dry or flaky.
Touch your body. Are you obese enough? It should not feel bloated or skinny.
Listen to the chest. Is the breathing almost silent, without wheezing?
If you answered no to any of the above, then your pet may need a veterinarian's**.
Please contact and play with your pet as much as possible, and you will find that your pet will be happier and friendlier. If you are not 100% sure that you or your child will be able to give your pet the attention it needs, then think twice.