Siberian Hamster Characteristics

Natives of the cold wilds of countries such as Siberia and China, Siberian hamsters --- sometimes referred to as Russian dwarf hamsters or Dzhungarian dwarf hamsters --- are tiny creatures known for their unusual color-changing coats, an evolutionary adaptation that enables camouflage. Siberian hamsters are found in the wild but are also tamed and kept as pets in captivity.

  1. Physical Characteristics

    • As dwarf hamsters, Siberian hamsters are on the small side, averaging around only 3 or 4 inches in length when fully grown, and weighing roughly 1 ounce. These hamsters have particularly hairy feet, and this hair abundance extends to their tails, too. Their eyesight is acknowledged as being poorer than the average hamster's. Behavior-wise, Siberian hamsters are generally happy around human contact and socialize well with other hamsters.

    Coats

    • The coloring of a Siberian hamster's coat has much to do with the time of year, since these hamsters have the notable ability to shift their coat color in accordance with what's around them. Siberian hamsters possess white-colored coats in the winter, matching snowy environments, while during the rest of the year, their coats are typically more of a dark gray. This color change makes the Siberian hamster more difficult to spot in a winter environment, thus allowing the tiny creature to evade the eyesight of its predators while in the wild. The change in coats is brought on by the alteration in the intensity of light. In captivity, however, the Siberian hamster is less able to detect this shift in light intensity, and thus its coat is less likely to change color.

    In The Wild

    • In their natural habitats, Siberian hamsters tend towards activity during the times of dawn and dusk, though they do sometimes awaken at day for brief periods. Much of their time is spent foraging for food, banding together in small groups for survival. These hamsters don't hibernate, unlike many other kinds of hamster.

    Feeding Habits

    • In the wild, Siberian hamsters look for food such as green plants and various seeds, which can be replicated in captivity via hamster seed mixtures or bird seed, from which the hamster can take its pick of what it actually wants to eat. These hamsters also eat insects such as crickets and flies, and these bugs, as long as they're not too big, can be fed to Siberian hamsters kept as pets too. Siberian hamsters also eat fruit and vegetables, such as peas and broccoli; the hamster will peel fruits and vegetables before consumption.