Basillian Long-Tailed Hamster

The Basillian long-tailed hamster is an adorable creature that's become a popular pocket pet on The Isles of Basilla. They're mostly docile and easy to train, but their patterned fur makes them a target for smugglers from the mainland. Smuggling live animals from Basilla is illegal, though the royal families turned a blind eye to it for far too long. With the rise of the Basillian Council, less long-tailed hamsters have been subjected to such cruelty, allowing them to thrive in their natural environment.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Long-tailed hamsters are incredibly round with their chubby bodies and stumpy legs. They have four paws and are quadrupedal animals. Despite their size, they're capable of running great distances, usually up to seven miles per night. They have thick, rounded ears and a tail that's nearly the same length of their body. Like other species of hamsters, the long-tailed hamster has cheek pouches. These hamsters are known for their soft, plush-like coats that are adorned in calico splotches. The most common colors to see on a long-tailed hamster are orange, white, black, and sometimes chestnut brown. Their hairless tails are striped, usually brown or white.

Genetics and Reproduction

The gestation period for long-tailed hamsters is twenty to twenty-five days. They give birth to large litters, averaging at thirteen pups. Pups are born with their eyes open and are weaned after two weeks.

Ecology and Habitats

In the wild, long-tailed hamsters flourish in the underbrush of the Basillian jungles. While they're burrowers, their colonies can sometimes be found making homes in fallen logs as well. They're nocturnal animals for the most part and are able to navigate through even the most crowded jungles with ease. The long-tailed hamster can also be seen in the farmlands of Basilla and has become a nuisance to local farmers. They damage crops, especially cabbage and carrots.
In captivity, long-tailed hamsters should live in same-sex pairs and be kept in cages that are decorated to mimic their natural environment. Lots of bedding should be offered so the hamsters can burrow as much as they please. Acceptable bedding types are soil and wood shavings, as well as sand for them to bathe in. A cage should include multiple hideouts above ground, a large running wheel, and a food bowl for each pair of hamsters occupying the cage.
Their cages should be decorated with local flora and sprouts such as alfalfa, clover, flax, and millet. Surprisingly, the long-tailed hamster enjoys climbing, so small logs and rope ladders can be set up for that purpose or for chewing. The long-tailed hamster also needs a flat stone to keep their nails from becoming unruly.

Dietary Needs and Habits

These hamsters are omnivores, eating a wide variety of seeds, vegetables, and insects. Those kept in captivity are fed seed mixes and protein-rich snacks, such as mealworms and crickets. Occasionally, long-tailed hamsters can have poultry and a small amount of fish. Fruits, such as strawberries and bananas, make good treats for the hamsters, but should be fed sparingly due to their sugar content. The Basillian long-tailed hamster is unfortunately prone to diabetes. This risk is exacerbated by a poor diet and lack of exercise in domesticated hamsters.

Biological Cycle

Long-tailed hamsters only hibernate during times of great ecological stress. During dry seasons that lead into a period of drought, these hamsters can be seen during the day as they collect food to store during hibernation. When their storage chambers are filled up, the hamsters burrow deeper into the ground to avoid the heat and enter biological stasis. Every six days, the hamsters will wake to replenish themselves. The Basillian long-tailed hamster leaves hibernation once it's gone through the majority of its food or when there's a dramatic change in temperature.

Behaviour

Unlike other species of hamster, the Basillian long-tailed hamster is a social animal and in the wild, they live in colonies of up to a hundred hamsters. They're a burrowing species and live together in vast tunnel systems that they dug themselves. Some chambers are for storing food, others for bathroom usage, and then living quarters. Five hamsters share a living chamber comfortably and they sleep close together during the day.
If a predator is spotted near their burrows, long-tailed hamsters thump their tails against the dirt, using the vibrations it causes to alert the rest of the colony that danger is approaching. The long-tailed hamster isn't built for fighting and will flee from predators, usually ducking into its burrow to hide in the deepest chambers that are accessible. If a predator is able to enter their burrow, long-tailed brood mothers are the first to attack.
The hamsters attack in overwhelming numbers in a desperate attempt to push the predators out of the burrow. Long-tailed hamsters have powerful incisors for cracking into seeds, but these can become a deadly weapon when necessary. If they can't forcefully remove an intruder, the hamsters will continue fleeing, all of them scattering to the various exits they've dug for the burrow. In these instances, the surviving members of the colony reunite and begin building a new burrow as their previous home is compromised.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Several visitors to the isles of Basilla have attempted to smuggle long-tailed hamsters to the mainland. Even though they're not a federally protected species, taking them from the islands is illegal and presents a risk of them becoming invasive species in other lands. They're smuggled for many reasons; their plush fur is desirable for fashion or home decor, they're considered an "exotic" treat in some societies, and many people want them as pets.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

These hamsters can use their tails to sense vibrations through the ground, much like beings that have a supernatural tremor-sense. Their eyesight is poor, but what they lack with that sense, they make up for it with their incredible hearing. They use their whiskers for spatial awareness. The tips of the whiskers are sensitive and the hamsters use this as a means of judging whether or not they can fit into a small space.

by Frankie V. (Generated with OpenAI)

Lifespan

2 to 3 years (in the wild)
3 to 5 years (in captivity)

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Average Weight

8 to 10 ounces

Geographic Distribution

• The Isles of Basilla