Dwarf Hamster Care & Instructions

Dwarf hamsters are suitable for children but also popular with adults because they're small, personable and relatively easy to care for. Pet stores commonly carry three types of dwarf hamsters: the Russian Dwarf, the Desert Dwarf and the Winter White Russian Dwarf. All of these types require the same habitat and care.

Things You'll Need

  • Hamster cage, wire or plastic
  • Pine bedding
  • Hanging water bottle
  • Food dish
  • Hamster food
  • Shelter
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Instructions

  1. Housing

    • 1

      Place a hamster cage in an area where it will get a lot of sunlight and stay warm.

    • 2

      Cover the bottom of the cage with a layer of pine bedding about an inch and a half thick. Dwarf hamsters love burrowing and will often make themselves beds out of the pine.

    • 3

      Place a shelter, which can be a manufactured wooden shelter from a pet store or something as simple as a tissue box, somewhere in the cage.

    Water and Feeding

    • 4

      Fill a hanging water bottle with fresh water and attach it to the cage. There are many variations of hanging water bottles, so consult the bottle's packaging for exact hanging instructions. Having a hanging water bottle instead of a water bowl ensures that the dwarf hamsters cannot defecate in their drinking water. Empty out the water bottle and refill it every morning.

    • 5

      Fill a food bowl with hamster food, which is typically a type of seed, and place it in the corner of the cage.

    • 6

      Skim empty seed shells and remove pine shavings off the top of the food bowl every day. Hamsters are messy eaters and tend to get crumbs and debris in and around their bowl.

    Taming and Upkeep

    • 7

      Handle a dwarf hamster gently and regularly. Hamsters may become aggressive if they are not regularly held. Normal handling will tame most hamsters.

    • 8

      Clean the cage at least once a week. Take the hamster out and put it in a separate container, along with its food bowl and any cage accessories. Throw away all of the pine bedding, wipe down the cage with soap and water, and add new pine. Return the hamster and its accessories to the cage.

    • 9

      Clean food bowls and water bottles at least once a week using soap and water. You can put glass bowls and bottles in your dishwasher.