The rodents can be found in a variety of habitats from northern Europe to a large band of Asia, except for the southeast corner. There are 24 species of gerbils but only one, the Golden Hamster or Syrian Hamster (Mesocricetus auratus), is popularly kept as a pet around the world.

Hamsters of the Golden or Syrian variety

James Skene who was a member of the diplomatic corps in Syria at the time, brought live Syrian hamsters to England forty years after its discovery. The group that was discovered in 1839 seems to have thrived for 30 years.

Consequently, it seems that none of these rodents were in captivity before April 1930. It was believed that the species had gone extinct until Dr. Israel Aharoni found a nest on Mount Appo, Syria. The Hebrew University in Jerusalem received the young hamsters. Four of the eight hamsters fled, and a female was killed in a fight between the male and the lone surviving hamster. The male, despite this not-so-promising start, mated with both females, and within a month, 300 and 64 offspring were born.

Golden Hamsters were made available as pets by Dr. Edward Hindle, in England, and possibly through breeding stock at London Zoo. It wasn’t until the Second World War that these hamsters appeared in North America. It’s incredible to think that all the hamsters that are kept today on the planet are direct descendants of the nest that was found on Mount Appo half a century earlier.

Hibernation

Hamsters have an unusual, and at times disconcerting, habit. They can hibernate when the environment is not favorable. This is a common natural trait that is less evident in domesticated stock. The blood temperature of the hamster drops from its traditional 37 C to just a little above the ambient temperature. Under normal conditions, the rate of breathing can reach up to 100 or more breaths per minute. The heartbeat can also be as low at four contractions per second, as opposed to five hundred contractions per second in an active animal. To the casual observer, this makes a hibernating Hamster appear dead. Hamsters will enter this state of torpor when temperatures drop, and sunlight is less.

In a home that is heated in the winter, this behavior will be less likely to happen. Transfer a sleeping hamster into a warm place where they can gradually awaken. Temperatures above 20 C (68 F), are ideal. The hamster will start to breathe and warm up slowly as the blood flow increases. You can treat a hamster that appears to be dead in the nest to determine if it has simply gone into a torpid condition.

Hamsters are also influenced by other factors when it comes to their readiness to enter dormancy. The hamster needs a deep bedding layer and the ability to store food. Food is stored in the cheek pouches of the hamster and taken back to the nest.