Ch20 - Hamsters

Question 1

Which antibiotic should never be used in hamsters?

Answer 1

Penicillin

Question 2

In what type of mating system are females placed sequentially with one or two males for one week, and then moved to a separate cage for birth?

Answer 2

Intermittent mating

Question 3

In what type of mating system are females introduced to males during the dark cycle, but if they don’t mate after 5 mins, the female is removed, but if they do mate, she stays until the next light cycle

Answer 3

Hand breeding

Question 4

Pairing one male and one female together immediately after being weaned to mate is known as _________________.

Answer 4

Monogamous Pair Mating

Question 5

In what type of mating system are there 2-3 females per 1 male, and then any pregnant females are removed 2 days before birth and then are returned to the group after weaning their pups.

Answer 5

Harem Breeding

Question 6

When are hamster pups weaned?

Answer 6

21-28 days after birth

Question 7

What is NOT a common method of euthanasia for hamsters?

Answer 7

IV injection of barbiturates

Question 8

True or False: hamsters are docile and easy to work with

Answer 8

False; they are AGGRESSIVE and very spicy!!

Question 9

True or False: hamsters will defecate in their feeders, so they must be changed daily

Answer 9

False; hamsters choose one corner of the cage for waste, leaving the rest of the cage clean

Question 10

What is NOT an appropriate method for handling hamsters?

Answer 10

holding the base of the tail

Question 11

What is an anatomical feature in hamsters?

Answer 11

Expandable cheek pouches

Question 12

What should you do if you see a mother hamster stuff her pups in her cheek pouches?

Answer 12

Leave her alone!

Question 13

What is one reason that hamsters make good research models?

Answer 13

They are relatively free of spontaneous pathogens that affect other rodents

Question 14

What type of environment enrichment is good for hamsters?

Answer 14

tubes and boxes to climb in; bedding to encourage furrowing; wood blocks for gnawing

Question 15

What are the common and scientific names for the most frequently used hamster in lab research?

Answer 15

Golden syrian hamster; “Misocricetus auratus”

Question 16

If a mother hamster with young pups is startled or disturbed, what might she do with the pups?

Answer 16

hide them in her cheek pouch or eat them

Question 17

Why is it important to provide nesting material to female hamsters before they give birth?

Answer 17

They like to burrow, and they can hide their young (it’s necessary for pup survival)

Question 18

True or False: Hamsters can be moved around from cage to cage without danger of fighting

Answer 18

False (very aggressive!)

Question 19

True or False: Hamsters sleep very soundly and startle easily if awakened suddenly

Answer 19

True

Question 20

True or False: hamsters will dominate smaller ones, no matter what sex they are

Answer 20

True

Question 21

True or false: only male hamsters have scent glands

Answer 21

False; both males and females

Question 22

While preforming a health check, you notice that a cage of young unweaned hamsters all appear to be sick. The cage was recently changed. List 3 husbandry-related concerns that you should check in the cage as you report the problem to vet staff

Answer 22

• they have bedding
• access to food and water
• water and food are good quality
• give food on the floor if they can’t reach the food hopper

Question 23

What do hamsters generally do if the room temperature drops around 41 degrees F?

Answer 23

They “hibernate”/ curl up in bedding to conserve energy (lower metabolism)