The Winter White dwarf hamster is more rare then the Campbell’s dwarf hamster among pet shops. They are usually sold in pairs of the same sex and are friendly. What is so amazing about these little creatures is their ability to change colour in the winter. In their native homelands, Winter Whites change from their normal dark grey colouring to white in order to camouflage themselves and escape from predators in the snow. It is a trait that has followed them even into captivity. The process of their colour change has to do with the amount of natural sunlight they receive on a daily basis. The shorter hours of day light prompts them to change to white. Winter Whites that are exposed to mainly artificial light will most likely not change their colour.

Campbell’s Russian dwarf hamsters are also known as Djungaria hamsters because they come from a region in Mongolia called Djungaria. It is this type of dwarf hamsters that are commonly found in local pet shops. Along with the growth of their popularity came the growth of creative breeding and the increase of their colour combinations and markings. In addition to their natural or normal wild colour, those wanting to own these hamsters can find them in with spots, mottled, or even colours like cinnamon, black or even shades or blue or lilac.

Roboroski dwarf hamsters were found in their natural habitats of the desert dunes of Western and Eastern regions of Mongolia and some parts of Northern China. Although they are smaller than their White Winter and Campbell’s dwarf hamster cousins, they have slightly longer legs. They naturally have a coat that is sandy brown in colour with a slate grey undercoat. Because of their high actively level they can be sometimes hard to keep as pets and they are too small for most wire cages. Most of these small creatures can squeeze themselves through the bars. But the Roboroski hamster is an extremely clean animal. It spends most of its time grooming itself and they love a good dust bath.

Even though there are different kinds of Russian Dwarf Hamsters, they all require about the same amount of care. Since most dwarf hamsters can be very fast to escape a good idea is to give them time and exercise outside of the cage to use a hamster ball. These balls are specifically made so that the hamster is able to run around the floor without getting lost. Just make sure that the hamster is not near stairs they might be able to fall down when using the ball.

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The most important supply when it comes to caring for a dwarf hamster is the cage. Dwarf hamsters do well in a few different cages including wire, aquarium tank, or plastic. The important thing is to ensure that they will have enough room to run around in it. This is especially important if two hamsters are purchased together and are going to be housed in the same enclosure or if you purchase a baby that will grow to be slightly larger. The most important aspect to the hamster cage is the substrate. You should place about one to two inches of substrate upon the entire floor of the cage. By building up the substrate to five or six inches on one or both sides of the cage allows the dwarf hamster an interesting area to climb and dig. Something else that most people do not know about dwarf hamsters is they can be trained to use a litter box. Look out for droppings that are all found in one area of the cage. A “hamster potty” can be found at some pet shops. Place the potty in the same place that you noticed the droppings. You will need to fill the potty with hay or pelleted newspaper cat litter but you should never use clay or clumping cat litter. They can cause digestive or respiratory problems for your dwarf hamster.

Another important dwarf hamster supply is chew toys. Most people associate chew toys with a pet dog rather then a pet hamster but, chew toys are an important part of the hamster world. Hamsters’ teeth never stop growing. If they don’t constantly file them down, they would grow so large that the hamster would no longer be able to close its mouth and could starve to death. Chew toys for hamsters come in a variety of sizes, colours, and shapes. They are almost all made of soft wood. These toys need to be checked on a daily basis to ensure that they stay safe and unsoiled for the hamster’s use.

In order to ensure that your hamster stays healthy and hydrated you will need to supply your dwarf hamster with a fresh water supply. A water bottle that hangs on the side of the cage is perfect for these small rodents. Most learn early on how to use these bottles and they keep the cages tidy lowering the risk of substrate ending up in a water bowl or a bowl getting knocked over and spilled. Keep an eye on the water bottle on a daily basis. Make sure that the hamster is receiving fresh water and that the bottle is free of leaks or cracks.

Another important dwarf hamster supply is a house that the hamster can make a nest in. They are normally shy creatures and appreciate a place to hide. With no concerns with humidity or temperature, the supplies needed to keep your dwarf hamster are limited and easy enough to supply.

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Dwarf hamsters can often be more delicate, skittish, and faster to make an escape. Their small size allows them to fit into small cracks and spaces so they need a secure enclosure. Hamsters make their homes in tunnels that they dig themselves in the sand and dirt of their native homelands. In a home environment, they thrive in the plastic tubular habitats that are available to purchase at most pet shops. But, because of their small size, the hamster habitats might be too large for them to be able to climb and manoeuvre in properly. Luckily, they now make tubular habitats that are built smaller and specifically for mice. These types of enclosures are better suited for dwarf hamsters. They will also do well in a 10-20 gallon tank or a wire cage. Hamsters are naturally active creatures. So a wheel that can be placed inside the cage and can be used to run on is extremely important. One study found that a typical hamster could run up to five miles on their wheel. There are smaller wheels specifically made for dwarf hamsters.

A substrate on the bottom of your dwarf hamster’s cage will satisfy their natural burrowing instincts. Owners need to use a dust free and absorbent material like wood shavings but not cedar or pine based products due to the respiratory problems these materials can cause. The substrate in the hamster’s cage should be completely emptied out and replaced every week. Hamsters like to make nests out of the substrates in their cages. Owners can also offer their hamsters a number of other nesting materials like paper towels, cotton, shredded paper, or tissues. Sometimes they like to construct their nests in a small space like a nesting box. Because they are naturally shy animals, they like the privacy that these boxes offer.

Because of their high metabolism, dwarf hamsters eat as much as the larger Syrian hamster. They eat different types of pellets, seeds, dried fruits and vegetables. Although hamsters tend to hoard their food in their nests rather then leaving it in their bowls, they still need to be offered a constant supply of fresh foods and a fresh water supply. Another important aspect that owners need to be concerned about is ensuring that their hamsters receive chewing toys. Hamsters’ teeth never stop growing so they feel the constant urge to gnaw on anything that is around them. Without soft wooden toys to keep them busy they are liable to chew on plastic accessories which could injure them if chewed to become rough and broken.

In addition to replacing the substrate of the hamster’s cage on a weekly basis, the cage and all of its accessories need to be washed weekly. Owners can use a light solution of soap and water and make sure to rinse everything thoroughly. The cage should also be completely dry before new substrate is added to the cage. Never use harsh chemicals because this can irritate hamsters. Although they require a moderate amount of care, the joy of owning a dwarf hamster far out weigh the amount of effort that needs to be put into the care of these amazing creatures.

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Chinese hamsters can look more mouse-like then most hamsters. Although they are smaller than Syrian hamsters they are not actually dwarf hamsters. Chinese hamsters are part of the rat-like family of hamsters. They typically have a longer tail and a longer mouse-like body then other hamsters. They can grow to be about 10 to 12 centimetres in length when full grown. Normally Chinese hamsters are greyish brown with a black strip down its spine and a white underside. Even though they have been kept in captivity longer the Syrian hamsters there have only been two other colour mutations beyond the normal or wild type which is the dominant spot and the black eyed white.

It is thought that dwarf hamsters typically do very well in pairs but the Chinese hamster is the exception to the rule. Two females introduced at an early age have the possibility of getting along better then a male and a female. Females are the dominant sex with a Chinese hamster community so the male might end up seriously injured or dead. Housing two hamsters together requires twice as much room within the cage. More then one level and plenty of places to hide are also good things to have when housing a pair of Chinese hamsters together. The less dominant hamster has a chance to get away from the more dominant one with more places to go. These hamsters are normally kept in plastic or aquarium tanks due to the fact that they can squeeze through bars that are too wide on a wire cage. It is possible for them to escape completely or to become stuck in the cage bars resulting in a traumatic experience for both the owner and the hamster.

The feeding requirements for the Chinese dwarf hamsters are typical to other hamster species. They do well on a diet of seeds and pellets. They also enjoy fruits and vegetables. Owners can also offer wheat bread or Cheerios as a special treat in small amounts. Some owners also feed their Chinese hamsters crickets or mealworms as treats but never too many at one time. And, like other hamster species, Chinese hamsters need to have access to a fresh water supply. Water bottles do better in these circumstances because water bowls can get littered with substrate.

Although Chinese hamsters can live between two and three years, they are not always easily tameable or trainable. They are thought to be on the aggressive side, skittish and extremely agile. They can jump from very high heights, are very fast, and can escape from cages if they are not overly secured. They are also expert climbers. Because of these remarkable traits Chinese hamsters are not always good for children under the age of twelve and sometimes make better pets when they are not handled at all. They are also not recommended for beginners.

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From birth to about 10 days after, owners should leave their baby dwarf hamsters alone with their mother. You don’t need to change the cage and you should not touch them. The babies will get pigment in about four days and they will get their fur in about seven days. After ten days they will open their eyes and begin crawling around. It is at this point that you may start to handle them for brief periods of time. But take cues from the mother. She might be over protective and not like it if her babies are handled. Take extra special care when handling baby dwarf hamsters. They can be very jumpy and are at risk to be seriously injured if fell from a high height. By continuing to handle the babies regularly it helps them to become tame. After about two weeks the babies will start to eat regular potions of solid food. Dwarf hamster babies should get regular and fresh portions of oats, oatmeal, wheat germ or small birdseeds. They can also eat lab blocks from when they are about 3 weeks of age but they can not thrive on them until they get older. Babies will grow faster and healthier if they are offered small grains. Some owners even offer their dwarf hamster babies slices of cucumber or red apple. When they get to be about 10 days old they are finally able to reach the water bottle. Once they are able to find other alternatives to nursing, their mother will naturally start to nurse them less often.

After about four weeks the babies should be fully weaned and ready to be moved to their own cage. If the male stays with the mother she will most likely be pregnant while she is nursing this litter. In that case, the babies should be removed after 18 to 20 days when the mother has another litter. Separate the babies by gender; males in one cage and females in another. This prevents any unwanted inbred pregnancies.

The care that is required for baby dwarf hamsters is the same that would be given to any other hamster. Owners should clean their cages about once a week unless there are a lot of babies in one cage. Cleaning requirements might be more if the cage is getting dirtier faster. They should also be offered fresh food and water on a daily basis. It is important to constantly check on the well being of the baby hamsters in your care on a regular basis. Make sure that they are all getting enough food and water, that they have not become injured through fighting with litter mates, and that they are staying physically healthy. Now that the baby dwarf hamsters are four weeks of age, they can be sold or given away as pets.

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