Dwarf Hamsters & Breeding Problems

There are four varieties of dwarf hamsters that are popular in the pet market--the Russian (also called Siberian or Campbell's), the winter white, the Chinese and the Roborovski. However, dwarf hamsters do not breed as easily as the largest species of pet hamster, the Syrian (or golden). All species of hamsters are prone to eating their offspring and are picky about choice of mates.

  1. Pairing

    • Unlike Syrian hamsters and the Chinese dwarf hamster, the other three species of dwarf hamsters like to live in pairs or small colonies. But when to introduce the dwarf hamster of the opposite sex is key to whether the male and female will get along and then mate. According to co-authors Gerry Buscis &Barbara Somerville, potential mates need to be introduced and housed together before either dwarf hamster is eight weeks old or they will fight. Even if they have been living together since they were less than eight weeks old, they can still develop hatred towards each other and will fight. In that case, they need to be housed separately and may not mate, even if the female is in heat. With Chinese hamsters, the male can only be introduced when the female is in season and then removed after mating.

    Mating

    • It is very difficult to tell when a female dwarf hamster is in season, but she may clean her genital area more often and her urine may have a stronger scent. Dwarf hamsters tend to come in season once or twice a week. According to the Midland Master Club, dwarf hamster breeders usually just leave the pair together and hope the hamsters can figure out. Since all hamsters are nocturnal, mating is done at night. This is especially difficult with the Chinese dwarf hamster, which needs total darkness in order to mate. However, the larger female often attacks and eats the male before fertilization. In order to check on the couple, the Chinese hamster breeder needs red light illumination in order to see the pair without disturbing them. According to Dwarf Hamsters (Sharon Vanderlip, DVM; 1999) Chinese hamsters usually breed within two hours of sundown.

    Other Problems

    • Although winter whites and Russian dwarf hamsters will eagerly breed together, any offspring will be infertile. Russian dwarf hamster litters rely on both the male and the female working together to raise them. If the female is alone, she will most likely eat the babies soon after giving birth to them. This is one reason why having the breeding pair get along is so crucial. Any mother and babies of the dwarf hamster species should be left alone for one week or the female may eat the babies.