Information on Russian Dwarf Hamsters

The Russian Dwarf Hamster is a "relative newcomer in the world of domestic pets," according to AFRMA.com. This hamster has only been available in the United States since the 1980s. There are two types of Russian Dwarf Hamster: the Campbell's Russian and the Winter White.

  1. Size and Coat

    • The Russian Dwarf Hamster is roughly three inches long and the male hamster is slightly larger than the female. This hamster comes in several colours, including argente, opal, platinum and albino.

    Human Contact

    • Russian Dwarf hamsters enjoy human contact. They tend to be near-sighted, however, and the hamster-owner should "speak to the hamster before handling it," as the hamster will get accustomed to the voice and will become calmer, according to Jean McGuire at Netvet.wustl.edu.

    Housing

    • Russian Dwarf Hamsters are generally smaller than other hamsters and can live in cages or aquariums usually intended for mice.

    Biting

    • The Russian Dwarf hamster goes through a "nibbling" phase at one or two months of age. After this stage, the hamsters will sometimes bite if frightened or if the owner's hands smell like food.

    Activity

    • Russian Dwarfs, like other types of hamsters, are largely nocturnal. They enjoy running on a stationary wheel or in a hamster ball and can run up to eight miles in one night, according to Animal-world.com.