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| Hamsters, gerbils, and mice are among the most popular small pets. Hamsters get their name from the German word "hamstern" which means to hoard. This is a reference to a their food gathering habits. Hamsters are capable of building a food stash the size of 100 bags of sugar! Another interesting fact is that all pet golden hamsters are thought to be descendants of just a very few kept as pets in the 1930's in Syria. That means if you and a friend each have a golden hamster, then they are probably cousins! Gerbils were discovered by Pere David who also discovered the giant panda. The gerbils' sense of hearing is so acute they can hear the beating of an owl's wings. Another interesting adaptation of gerbils is their feet. They have fur on the bottom of their paws that protects them from burning on the hot desert sand. The fur also prevents the gerbils from sinking in the sand. It's like they have their very own beach sandals! Your gerbil won't need its "sandals," though, when it moves into its CritterTrail home. CritterTrail homes are perfect for keeping hamsters and mice too. All of these little critters love to chew so providing them with Hamster Bites will satisfy your pet's need to gnaw. Besides chewing, these animals love to exercise. You can have hours of fun watching your pet take a jog in its Comfort Wheel or go exploring around the house in the safety of its very own Run-about Ball. Mice can run a quarter of a mile in one night, so they will appreciate any exercise. All of these animals are very friendly when given a lot of attention. That, plus their simple care and small size, makes them perfect beginner pets for children and in school classrooms. |