Hamster

Behavioral Biology of Laboratory Animals (1st ed)

This 30-chapter volume informs students and professionals about the behavioral biology of animals commonly housed in laboratory and other captive settings. Each species evolved under specific environmental conditions, resulting in unique behavioral patterns, many of which are maintained in captivity...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Husbandry & Management, Natural Behavior, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Amphibian, Baboon, Capuchin, Cat, Cattle, Chicken, Dog, Equine, Ferret, Fish, Fowl, Frog & Toad, Gerbil, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Lizard, Macaque, Marmoset, Mouse, Nonhuman Primate, Other Rodent, Owl Monkey, Pig, Rabbit, Rat, Reptile, Rodent, Salamander, Sheep, Snake, Squirrel Monkey, Turtle & Tortoise, Vervet (African Green Monkey), Zebrafish

Citation: Coleman, K., Shapiro, S. J. (Eds.). 2021. Behavioral Biology of Laboratory Animals (1st ed). CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.

Indicators of postoperative pain in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)

Despite the use of Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) in research, little is known about the evaluation of pain in this species. This study investigated whether the frequency of certain behaviors, a grimace scale, the treat-take-test proxy indicator, body weight, water...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Hamster, Rodent

Citation: Edmunson, A. M., Duke Boynton, F. D., Rendahl, A. et al. 2021. Indicators of postoperative pain in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). Comparative Medicine 71(1), 76-85.

Alternatives to carbon dioxide—Taking responsibility for humanely ending the life of animals

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is commonly used to kill rodents. However, a large body of research has now established that CO2 is aversive to them. A multidisciplinary symposium organized by the Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office discussed the drawbacks...

Year Published: 2019Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Chinchilla, Gerbil, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Mouse, Other Rodent, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Axiak Flammer, S., Eskes, C., Kohler, I. et al. 2019. Alternatives to carbon dioxide—Taking responsibility for humanely ending the life of animals. Animals 9(8), 482.

Design by intravenous injection in the Syrian hamster

Repeated injections in rats and mice are typically done via the tail vein. For hamsters, the tail is not an option. In this paper we explore the development and refinement of IV dosing in the Syrian hamster via the jugular...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Drug/Substance AdministrationAnimal Type: Hamster, Rodent

Citation: Beamish, G., Chapman, C., Lomax, A. 2018. Design by intravenous injection in the Syrian hamster. Animal Technology and Welfare 17(2), 124-125.

Social housing and social isolation: Impact on stress indices and energy balance in male and female Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)

Although Syrian hamsters are thought to be naturally solitary, recent evidence from our laboratory demonstrates that hamsters may actually prefer social contact. Hamsters increase their preference for a location associated with an agonistic encounter regardless of whether they have “won”...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Hamster, Rodent

Citation: Ross, A. P., Norvelle, A., Choi, D. C. et al. 2017. Social housing and social isolation: Impact on stress indices and energy balance in male and female Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). Physiology & Behavior 177, 264-269.

The gingival vein as a minimally traumatic site for multiple blood sampling in guinea pigs and hamsters

Laboratory animals are still necessary in scientific investigation and vaccine testing, but while novel methodological approaches are not available for their replacement, the search for new, humane, easy, and painless methods is necessary to diminish their stress and pain. When...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Guinea Pig, Hamster, Rodent

Citation: Rodrigues, M. V., de Castro, S. O., de Albuquerque, C. Z. 2017. The gingival vein as a minimally traumatic site for multiple blood sampling in guinea pigs and hamsters. PLOS ONE 12(5), e0177967.

Exogenous and endogenous components in circadian rhythms

The running activity of hamsters is much higher at a light intensity of only 0.05 lux than 20 lux.

Year Published: 1960Animal Type: Hamster, Rodent

Citation: Aschoff, J. 1960. Exogenous and endogenous components in circadian rhythms. Cold Spring Harbor Symposium on Quantitative Biology 25, 11-28.

Activity measured by running wheels and observation during the oestrus cycle, pregnancy and pseudopregnancy in the Golden hamster

Golden hamsters run up to 9 km/24 h in running wheels.

Year Published: 1966Animal Type: Hamster, Rodent

Citation: Richards, M. P. M. 1966. Activity measured by running wheels and observation during the oestrus cycle, pregnancy and pseudopregnancy in the Golden hamster. Animal Behaviour 14, 450-458.

Assessment of environmental influence on the biological responses of animals

Hamsters housed in dark cages show poor reproductive performance.

Year Published: 1967Animal Type: Hamster, Rodent

Citation: Porter, G. 1967. Assessment of environmental influence on the biological responses of animals. In: Husbandry of Laboratory Animals. Conalty, M. L. (ed), 29. Academic Press, New York.

Food hoarding behaviour in the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus): effects of body weight loss and hoard-size discrimination

Two experiments investigated some of the factors that influence food hoarding behaviour in the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus). In Experiment 1, hamsters given limited access to food failed to increase the amount of food they consumed at each meal. Instead,...

Year Published: 1969Animal Type: Hamster, Rodent

Citation: Phillips, J., Robinson, A., Davey, G. 1969. Food hoarding behaviour in the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus): effects of body weight loss and hoard-size discrimination. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology [B] 41, 33-37.