Environmental Enrichment for Hamsters

I. Introduction/Purpose

The goal of environmental enrichment for hamsters is to maximize activity while increasing species-specific positive behavior and enhancing the animals’ well-being. The components of environmental enrichment for hamsters include social housing and nesting/hiding materials.​

II. Procedures

A. All hamsters shall be provided with environmental enrichment, unless:

1. The investigator provides scientific justification to the IACUC as to why enrichment is not compatible with the goals of the study and the IACUC approves the variance.
   OR
2. If, in the opinion of the Attending Veterinarian or designee, environmental enrichment will adversely affect the health or well-being of the animals.

Husbandry Special Services Request form must be completed and turned in by the responsible party (Investigator group or Vet Services) to the facility supervisor if environmental enrichment is to be restricted or absent.

B. Social housing

1. Adult males or females may be housed in breeding groups or with other littermate adults of the same sex if breeding is not intended. As hamsters typically fight with other hamsters, only littermates should be housed together. Before group housing, you must consult with Vet Services and submit a Special Service Request (SSR).
2. Single housed animals will receive extra environmental enrichment, a ‘food puzzle’.
3. If fighting occurs between cage mates causing injury, the aggressor should be removed from the group immediately and singly housed. Report injuries to Vet Services per SOP B.1018 Identifying and Reporting Sick Animals.

C. Nesting/hiding materials

1. Hamsters are to be provided with enrichment items for hiding such as polycarbonate or cardboard tubes or huts.
2. The polycarbonate and cardboard tubes/huts need to be changed every 2 weeks or when they become excessively soiled or beyond use.

D. Treats/enrichment

1. Hamsters will be provided with Hay Puzzle once weekly. (Hay puzzle consists of a paper tube packed with timothy hay or orchard grass.)
2. Hamsters will be provided with autoclaved sunflower seeds once weekly.

​​i. Single housed hamsters receive extra environmental enrichment: provide a food puzzle, (hay puzzle with sunflower seeds hidden in the hay.)
ii. Group housed hamsters: sprinkle sunflower seeds onto the floor of cage.

E. New environmental enrichment items can be added with the approval of the Chair of the Environmental Enrichment Committee and the Attending Veterinarian.

IV. Approval/Review Dates

SOP Created: 05/14/2012
Last Reviewed/Revised by the IACUC: 09/19/2024