Comparison of hamster growth based on a Sunflower

seed/Alfalfa diet

Nicolás Sánchez
Matías Arce
Julián Deheza
Alessandro Bazán
Jorge Santisteban
 Introduction

• We decided to research about hamster’s diet. There are different type of diets for the
hamsters, like vegetables, seeds, grass, etc. That’s why we wondered if it’s possible that
different diets affects the hamster’s growth.
 Data
• Hamsters are small rodents mostly raised as mascots.

• There are 24 different species.

• The first ones were found on Syria.

• They come from warm and dry habitats.

• They were domesticated in 1936 in USA.

 Diet

• Hamster’s diet is based mostly on seeds and herbs, because it is an herbivore.

• Alfalfa: belongs to the family of legumes, has a high energy and protein value.

• Sunflower seed: It is a nut, natural food with highly nutritional properties.

 Research question and hypothesis

How does the consumption of sunflower seeds compare with the consumption of alfalfa in the
growth of Cricetinae (hamster)?

The consumption of sunflower seeds influences the growth of the hamster compared to the
consumption of alfalfa.
 Materials

• Cages • 6 hamsters
• Drinker • Sunflower seeds
• Balance • Alfalfa
• Notebook • Water
• Pen • Viruta
 Results

Starting Mass Final Mass

Food Hamster
0, 01 g . 0, 01 g .
Hámster T01 22.4 71,9
Alfalfa Hámster T02 24,9 66,5
(T0) Hámster T03 28,7 -
Sunflower seeds Hámster T04 25,2 66,4
Hámster T05 26,3 90,5
(T1) Hámster T06 36,8 88,6
 Sunflower seeds

Starting First Second Third Fourth Final Mass

Hamster Mass Week Week Week Week Mass Variation
0,01 0,01 0,01 0,01 0,01 0,01 0,01

T01 25.2 26.6 44.8 51.5 60.2 66.4 41.2

T02 26.3 28.8 50.3 65.8 72.2 90.5 64.2

T03 36.8 38.1 49.4 57.8 71.3 88.6 51.8

Mass 88.3 93.5 144.5 175.1 193.7 245.5 157.2

Average
29.43 31.16 48.16 58.36 64.56 81.83 52.4
Mass
 Alfalfa
Starting First Second Third Fourth Final Mass
Hamster Mass Week Week Week Week Mass Variation
0,01g 0,01g 0,01g 0,01g 0,01g 0,01g 0,01g

T11 22.4 27.3 46.9 49.9 58.4 71.9 49.5

T12 24.9 28.1 49.7 59.0 57.8 66.5 41.6

T13 28.7 35.3 48.2 41.9 37.5 59.4 30.7

Mass 76 90.7 144.8 150.8 153.7 197.8 121.8

Average
25.33 30.23 48.26 50.26 51.23 65.93 40.6
Mass
 Conclusion

• It was observed that there was a mass increase of (0g) in the alfalfa group but
this was overcome by the group of sunflower seeds with (0g) so it can be stated
that the group of sunflower seeds obtained better results in comparison with
the alfalfa group this helps to verify the hypothesis, that the consumption of
sunflower seeds, influences the growth of the hamster compared to the
consumption of alfalfa.