Advice on Caring for your Dwarf Hamster
Dwarf hamsters as pets
Dwarf hamsters make good family pets. They are easy to look after and with plenty of time and attention become very tame. Due to their small size, dwarf hamsters are ideally suited to older children and adults. Like Syrian hamsters they are nocturnal, spending most of the day sleeping, becoming active in the evening and at night. There are three different species of dwarf hamster available: Russian, Chinese and Roborovski:
Russian hamsters
There are two types of Russian hamster: Campbell's Russian and Winter White Russians. It can be difficult to tell the difference between the two Russian breeds but you will know when your brown hamster has turned white in the winter! Campbell's Russians can be beige, brown, black and white, but the Winter White spends the summer in their brown coat and often becomes totally or partially white as the days draw in. Russian hamsters are sociable and live happily in same sex pairs or groups and live for about 2 years. They are lively little hamsters and really enjoy being handled once they are used to you, although they are very sensitive to rough handling so are not suited to young children.
Chinese hamsters
Chinese hamsters tend to be slightly thinner than Russian hamsters, have a slightly longer tail than most hamsters and are usually either a grey/brown colour with a black stripe, or white with a grey stripe. They are very easy to handle, are great climbers and cling to your fingers with their tiny paws but they are fast and therefore not suitable for young children. Male Chinese hamsters often live happily in pairs or groups, but the females can be intolerant of each other and may be better living individually. Chinese hamsters live for about 212-3 years.
Roborovski hamsters
Roborovskis are smaller and quicker than both Russian and Chinese hamsters. They can be hard to handle until they are used to you due to their speed, but have a good temperament. They are usually happy living in same sex pairs or groups and can be very amusing to watch as they race around their cage! They are usually a sandy colour, with a white belly and have very cute white eyebrows and whiskers! Roborovskis live for about 2 years.
Do I like company?
Dwarf hamsters are generally sociable animals and like to be kept in pairs or groups, but Chinese females may fight and may be better off alone. If you choose to keep a pair or group, always buy them at the same time so they already know each other or are young enough to make friends, new individuals will not get on or be accepted into a group later on. As with all social animals it is possible that your hamsters will fall out from time to time so provide lots of hidey holes in their cage to allow them space to sleep separately if they wish
Where do I like to live?
Dwarf hamsters are much smaller than Syrians and special care should be taken when choosing a suitable cage, they will escape from Syrian hamster cages. There are specific dwarf hamster cages available to accommodate their small size; plastic topped cages make ideal homes for dwarf hamsters, as do Rotastak systems, but mouse ladders may be required in the vertical tubes.
Whichever style of cage you choose, make sure you buy the biggest you can afford, dwarf hamsters are very active and like to have lots of space to run around. Cover the floor of the cage with woodshavings and provide a paper bedding for nesting. Hay and straw should not be used for hamsters because the tough strands could hurt their cheek pouches. Make sure you provide a house or bedroom to act as a refuge, somewhere your hamsters can snuggle up and feel secure when they sleep.
What do I eat?
A good quality hamster mix, such as Pets at Home hamster food provides the basic diet for your hamster. Whilst in our care we feed our hamsters on Pets at Home food so we recommend you continue to do so to prevent any stomach upsets caused by a sudden change of food. You can supplement your pet's diet with very small quantities of fresh fruit and vegetables such as carrot and apple, but do not feed them too much fresh food as this can also cause an upset stomach. Vitamin supplements and mineral stones can also be added to their diet to help keep your hamster in optimum health.
It's nice to give your hamster a treat from time to time, such as popcorn or fruit sticks; some hamsters also enjoy a millet spray occasionally - it's as much fun to rip apart as it is to eat the seeds!
Food bowls should be sturdy and hard to tip over, ceramic bowls make a good choice, they are easy to clean and gnaw proof. Ensure that you remove any uneaten food and clean and refill bowls and bottles daily.
Playtime
Providing toys and stimulating natural behaviour by hiding treats around the cage will keep your dwarf hamsters amused and will stimulate natural feeding. Providing houses and tubes also allows them to have hidey-holes for food, as they would have in the wild. Hamsters’ teeth are constantly growing and wooden gnawing toys help to keep their teeth short as well as being fun too, so make sure there is always a gnaw toy in your hamsters' cage. As nocturnal animals, hamsters are very active at night and need lots of toys to play with while you are asleep.
Tubes and tunnels are good fun and a wheel allows them to burn off some energy. A mini hamster ball is also a great idea to give them some exercise out of their cage without the fear of escape
How to handle me
Regardless of species when you first take your dwarf hamster home they should be allowed to get used to their new surroundings for the first day or two without being disturbed. You should then start talking quietly to them so that they get used to your voice. The next step is to introduce your hand into their cage and perhaps offer a treat, soon they may climb onto your hand, or you can gently scoop them up. After that it is important that you handle them regularly to develop their confidence and maintain the relationship. On no account should a hamster be woken up rapidly and immediately picked up, this can be very frightening for them and may cause them to bite. Make sure your hamster is handled over a table or close to the floor in case of a fall and young children should be closely supervised when handling them.
Although handling is generally the same across the dwarf hamster types, they do have slightly different temperaments:
Chinese hamsters like to be handled and are usually very docile; they love to climb and will cling to your fingers.
Russian hamsters also like to be held, but they are sensitive to rough handling so must be treated gently. Roborovskis are very active, quick and wriggly and are therefore difficult to catch and keep hold of.
Keeping me clean
Your hamsters' cage should be thoroughly cleaned at least once a week using a pet safe disinfectant. If your hamsters use one area of their cage as a toilet this may need cleaning more often.
Keeping me fit and healthy
Providing a healthy diet and hygienic conditions are key to keeping healthy hamsters, but there are a number of potential problems that you should be aware of: Like all rodents your dwarf hamsters' teeth are constantly growing and it is important to provide them with wooden toys, mineral stones or treats to gnaw on. Hamsters can catch colds like humans, so keep the cage out of draughts to help keep them warm; if the weather becomes cold give them more bedding and perhaps move the cage into a slightly warmer room. If they get too cold hamsters can sometimes become inactive, a bit like hibernating, if this happens warm them up by holding them in your hands.
All hamsters are susceptible to severe diarrhoea known as 'wet tail'. This condition may be caused by illness but also by inappropriate foods or even stress brought on by moving house, or rough handling. It is important that you consult a vet immediately if your hamster shows these symptoms or any others which may indicate they are unwell.
Top tips for a healthy pet
Dental
Gnawing toys are an essential part of your pet’s dental routine to prevent tooth overgrowth and should always be available.
Grooming
Regular grooming helps to strengthen the bond between you and your pet and can highlight health problems too. Groom your pet once a week, or daily if it has long hair, to ensure a healthy skin and coat.
Fleas, mites & flies
Keep an eye on your pet’s skin and coat for signs of fleas and mites such as bald patches or irritation. Outdoor pets are vulnerable to fly strike during the summer months so make sure you keep them and their environment clean and dry.
Vitamins and Supplements
Vitamins can be added to your pet’s food or water supply to ensure it gets all the goodness it needs. Probiotic supplements can help maintain healthy digestion in small animals, and are especially useful in times of stress. Hay is a great source of fibre which is an essential part of the digestive process for rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas.
Cleaning and hygiene
Clean out your pet’s home at least once a week using a pet safe cage disinfectant.
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