Biological Care for Dwarf Hamsters

There are several dwarf hamster species in the pet trade, including the Roborovski, which is the smallest, the Chinese dwarf, the Russian dwarf (also called the Campbell's dwarf) and the winter white. They are called dwarf hamsters because they are all smaller than the first species of hamster to become a pet, the Syrian. All of the dwarf hamster species have similar needs for food, temperature and housing in order to be kept healthy.

  1. Food

    • Dwarf hamsters need a variety of seeds, greens, fruits and vegetables. Commercial food is available that is nutritionally balanced for hamsters, but hamsters should have a variety of food. If the pet shops stop stocking a particular brand of food that the dwarf hamster is used to, then the hamster may refuse to eat. Sharon Vanderlip, D.V.M., author of many hamster articles and books, notes that dwarf hamsters have a higher metabolism than Syrian hamsters, and so they should be given a mealworm or small piece of cooked chicken once or twice a week. "Hamsters," put out by the editors of "Critters USA Annual," notes that Russian dwarf hamsters can be prone to diabetes when they are part 4 months old. They need a high-fiber, low-carbohydrate diet excluding corn and fruit. Dwarf hamsters need access to food all of the time. They clean out their bowls but usually stash most of the food in hiding places throughout the cage.

    Temperature

    • Dwarf hamsters should be kept indoors in a temperature-controlled environment. Sudden extreme temperature changes may make a hamster ill. Dwarf hamsters can die of heatstroke from extremely hot and humid conditions. Hamsterific.com states that Russian dwarf hamsters in the wild live in burrows where the average temperature is 62 degrees F. Dwarf hamsters will not hibernate like Syrian hamsters. If temperatures become cold enough, though, they fall into a sleep that they may not wake from.

    Housing

    • Dwarf hamsters need to be in cages or habitats that they cannot squeeze out of. If they are in an aquarium, it should not be placed in direct sunlight or the temperature will rise quickly. Place a layer of bedding at least 1 inch thick in the cage because the dwarf hamsters like to tunnel and store food there. Take away uneaten fresh food after a couple of hours or it will begin to rot and introduce harmful bacteria to the environment. Also remove dry foods or seeds that are damp, sprouting or have a strange odor. Safe bedding material includes aspen wood and products made of recycled paper. Dwarf hamsters get tangled in the soft nesting material sold for Syrian hamsters. So give them unscented white toilet tissue instead.