Russian Dwarf Hamster Care

Everything You Need to Know About Caring for Your Pet

Sep 18, 2009 Sarah Charmley

Russian dwarf hamsters are a popular pet due to their small size and bright-eyed curiosity. Unlike their Syrian cousins, they can be kept together, with extra care.

There are two species of Russian dwarf hamster available in the pet shops, especially in the UK. These are known as Winter Whites and Campbell’s.

The Difference Between the Two Species of Russian Dwarf Hamster

Sometimes the Russian Dwarf hamsters are grouped together, but they are separate species found in different parts of Russia. They are rounded in shape with bright black eyes. Their natural colour is brown with black tips to the fur and a dark brown stripe down the backbone.

Campbell’s Russian dwarf hamsters are a lighter brown with tan brown accents and are found in many different colours. Winter White dwarf hamsters are dark brown with black accents and their coat changes colour in winter to a pale or white colour, hence their name!

Some hamster breeders have bred hybrids to produce other colours. It is not recommended as health problems can be bred in too.

How to Keep Dwarf Hamsters

Russian Dwarf hamsters are usually sold in pairs, and can even live in colonies if offered a large enough space. In a colony however, the “law of the jungle” applies, and one or two individuals can be bullied. If you have animals which have been wrongly sexed, then there may be unwanted babies.

A pair of same sex hamsters is often recommended but such pairings may not last for life. Squabbling is normal, but if you have one hamster which is suffering bites and wounds, then it is better to separate them. Every Dwarf hamster owner should be prepared to split their hamsters into separate cages.

Do not buy one hamster and then go back for another. The hamster which has the cage already will see the new hamster as an intruder to be attacked. Buy siblings in pairs and look for hamsters which are roughly the same size. If one of a pair dies, then give the remaining partner extra attention, but it is unlikely to accept another mate.

Cleaned out fish aquariums make good homes for dwarf hamsters. It is simple to make a mesh top for the tank for ventilation. They require sawdust for the floor, and paper bedding.

Food

Russian Dwarf hamsters eat the same hamster mix as Syrian or Teddy Bear hamsters. They also like a slice of cucumber, carrot, tiny bit of lettuce or cabbage as a treat. Too many vegetables can upset their stomachs. Never give a hamster human chocolate. They need access to fresh water and they do not store their food as readily as their bigger cousins do.

Health

Russian Dwarf hamsters are reasonably healthy, but there are one or two known problems. Campbell’s can be prone to diabetes, which manifests itself as the hamster drinking heavily, losing weight and eventually dying young. It is a hereditary condition and there is not much you can do, apart from keep the water bottle refilled. Winter Whites can have problems with their eyes. Either can get cancer tumours in later life.

Russian Dwarf hamsters live for around two years. They live happy busy little lives and are usually happy to be handled. Care and patience will help your pet to become tame. Look for other articles on Suite 101 about taming your new hamster.

Russian Dwarf hamsters can be great fun as a pet due to their interactivity with each other but it is always useful to find out as much as you can before adopting a pet.

The copyright of the article Russian Dwarf Hamster Care in Pet Care is owned by Sarah Charmley. Permission to republish Russian Dwarf Hamster Care in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Normal or Wild Coloured Campbell's Russian Dwarf	Argente Campbell's Russian Dwarf Hamster	Sapphire Winter White Hamster
Normal and Sapphire Winter White Hamsters