Winter White Russian Dwarf Hamster (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The phrase dwarf hamster is commonly used to describe a group of hamsters that, although they share common traits, are quite unique in and of themselves.
All dwarf hamsters belong to the genus Phodopus, with the exception of the Chinese dwarf hamster - it belongs to a different genus altogether but is commonly referred to as a dwarf hamster because it shares so much in common with other dwarf hamsters.
The biggest difference between dwarf hamsters and Syrian hamsters is that dwarf hamsters tend to be far more social than Syrian hamsters. As you may already know you must never put another hamster in with a Syrian hamster, especially a dwarf hamster. The Syrian hamster is extremely territorial and will kill any other hamster that is introduced to its cage.
Dwarf hamsters do best when housed with one or two other dwarf hamsters of roughly the same size and breed. This means that although you can house a Campbell's Dwarf hamster with a Winter White hamster it will cause less stress on the hamsters to be housed with dwarf hamsters of their own breed.
A very important point to keep in mind is that unless you want to start breeding hamsters you must separate the male dwarf hamsters from the female dwarf hamsters. They are sexually mature at a very young age and will get pregnant early and often unless they are separated!
If you want to have several dwarf hamsters sharing the same cage it's best to get dwarf hamsters that were previously housed with other hamsters as they are used to the company. Be careful when introducing a new hamster to a cage previously occupied by a solitary dwarf hamster - he may have grown used to being alone and may challenge the new arrival.
If you do introduce a new dwarf hamster to a cage with an existing dwarf hamster then be prepared to hear some interesting hamster sounds and some minor scuffling. Don't be alarmed by this - it's likely due to the two hamsters trying to establish who's boss, and it rarely escalates into serious violence. Monitor the cage to make sure that the original hamster doesn't attack the new arrival - as mentioned above, sometimes they just get used to being alone and won't tolerate any new upstarts!
The most popular types of dwarf hamsters to keep as pets are the Campbell's Dwarf hamster, the Winter White hamster, the Roborovski hamster, and the Chinese hamster. The most popular of these is the Campbell's Dwarf hamster. The Cambell's Dwarf hamster was discovered in 1902 in Mongolia and is characterized by its trademark furry feet and a short tail. If handled properly the Campbell's Dwarf hamster can be quite tame and friendly.
Winter White hamsters are unique in the hamster world in that they can change the colour of their fur to a snowy white about once per year. In the wild, this usually occurs around September, but domestic Winter White hamsters can change colour several times per year based on the amount of sunlight they're exposed to.
Roborovski hamsters tend to be the smallest of the dwarf hamsters, reaching only about two inches in length when fully grown. They are very gentle and extremely fast, so try not to let one escape as you'll have an extremely difficult time getting him back!
Chinese hamsters are often called the rat-like dwarf hamster, owing to its long tail and thin body. They tend to be more aggressive than the other dwarf hamsters and are better off housed alone, except when you want to breed them. Once breeding is complete the male and female Chinese hamsters should be separated again.
A photo of one of my dwarf hamsters, Minica. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Anyone who has experienced the joy of owning a dwarf hamster knows that they make wonderful pets. But if you aren't familiar with them and are just now starting to research the possibility of adopting one of your very own, you'll probably want some basic background information on dwarf hamsters, where they came from, how they came to be domesticated, and what you can expect from these friendly and furry little critters sometimes referred to as "pocket pets."
Hamsters in the Wild
Contrary to what you might expect, dwarf hamsters are not a product of selective breeding of the more common Syrian or Golden hamster. They were once free-roaming wild creatures in their own right. There are no dwarf hamsters left in the wild today, but they do have wild cousins that are a nuisance to farmers on several continents.
These wild rodents - actually all hamsters wild or domestic - are members of the much maligned rodent family. But while the wild hamster and dwarf hamsters share a common scientific classification, they both belong to the subfamily of rodents, Cricetinae, they don't look very much alike.
Generally referred to as Common hamster, these wild rodents usually have a heavily flecked coat of black and brown, somewhat reminiscent of a raccoon's. They were once very prevalent in Russia and Central Europe. However, because they were viewed as pests by farmers (and rightfully so due to their love of vegetables, seeds, and grains) - their numbers are dwindling.
Varieties of wild hamster can be found in other parts of the world, too. There are hamsters in Asia, Africa, and regions of Western Europe. Most live in arid or desert regions and live the majority of their lives underground in a network of tunnels and burrows.
From Reviled to Revered
So how did an animal once detested as vermin become such a popular pet? The hamster was first brought to the attention of the "modern" world by George Waterhouse, a British zoologist, in 1829. He discovered the curious little rodent which he named, Cricetus auratus - the now familiar Golden or Syrian hamster - in Aleppo, a city in Syria.
He introduced them to the United Kingdom where they quickly become a popular pet. But the craze was short-lived and the hamster quickly faded back into obscurity. Then, in 1930, zoologist Israel Aharoni from Hebrew University in Jerusalem discovered one in the Syrian Desert - a female with a litter of twelve. His discovery dispelled the common belief among the scientific community that hamsters were extinct.
But the hamster didn't immediately regain its status as a trendy novelty pet. They were bred for use as laboratory animals. And so it remained for many years.
The Four Species of "Dwarfs"
There are four species of hamster commonly referred to as dwarf hamsters: the Chinese hamster (although toxonomically speaking, he's not a dwarf), the Siberian or Winter White Russian, the Campbell's, and the Roborovski. Of course, there is a very good reason why they are called dwarfs. With the exception of the Roborovski, which averages a diminutive two inches, they are only about four inches long when fully grown. Contrast that with their Syrian cousins which are generally eight inches in length. While dwarf hamsters are relatively new to the pet store scene - their popularity spiked in the 1990's - they have been known to zoologists for more than a hundred years.
Physical Characteristics of the Dwarf Hamster
Unfortunately, animal behaviorists don't know as much as they would like about the dwarf hamster's wild relatives. Naturally a burrower, the untamed hamster spends much of his time underground hiding in the cool recesses of tunnels, far removed from the scorching sun.
However, you can tell a lot about an animal's habits and natural environment just by studying its physical characteristics; the dwarf hamster is no exception. Large eyes indicate that he needs to see in the dark. Since these creatures originally dwelled in arid regions, they were most active at night when it was cooler.
The hamster doesn't have very good eyesight so he relies quite heavily on his whiskers, called vibrissae, as "feelers" to aid in navigation. The ears are positioned high on the head, indicating a keen sense of hearing. His sense of smell is quite well developed as well.
Believe it or not, a hamster's very survival depends on its sense of smell. He relies on it to lead him to food and water. His nose also warns him of impending danger, helps him identify other animals, aids him in finding his way back to his burrow, and tells him when it is time to breed.
He also creates smells. Hamsters have scent glands that produce a musk-like fluid, which is primarily used to attract the opposite sex. It's also used to mark and identify his territory.
The Need for Speed
Dwarf hamsters are quite swift and agile. The scarcity of food in his natural habitat required it. In the wild, he needed to travel vast distances, amazingly, as much as five miles nightly, in order to find enough food which he then stored in underground chambers. In the desert, where food can be hard to come by, storing what you do find is tantamount to survival.
Like squirrels, the dwarf hamster stores food in his mouth. He does this through the use of pouches in his cheeks. He stuffs these pouches with an enormous quantity of food - sometimes in an amount almost the equivalent of half his body weight. It's how he collects and delivers, not only food, but also nesting material from one location to another.
Although this trait is of little use in a caged environment, it was of extreme importance and safety to the feral hamster. It allowed him to gather and keep food through the winter months when the supplies were hard to find. In fact, the word hamster comes from the German word, "hamstern", which means to hoard.
Habitual Behaviors
If you've never owned a dwarf hamster before, you'll want to consider some well-established hamster behaviors that you will have to accommodate in order to ensure that your new pet lives a long, healthy life.
Saying that hamsters love to chew would be an understatement. However, it's not just a nervous habit; his physical health depends on it because his teeth never stop growing. In order to keep them trimmed, he must gnaw constantly. You'll need to ensure he has plenty of safe chew toys or he'll find something on his own. This could prove to be quite destructive or actually dangerous for the hamster.
Hamsters also love to run - a lot. An average hamster, in fact, will run as much as two to five miles a day. It's part of their genetic make-up. But some hamsters have been known to become obsessive about this habit. They'll run themselves to the point of exhaustion. Generally this happens if the hamster is not getting enough stimulation. In other words, he's bored.
This is a fact that you will have to take into consideration when deciding whether to purchase a hamster. Will you be able to provide your pet with enough entertainment to keep him from becoming addicted to his exercise wheel?
Most pet hamsters are confined to their cages at least twenty-three hours a day. In order to prevent him from running obsessively, you will need to give him a variety of toys to play with and explore. Additionally, and most importantly, you'll want to be sure that your furry friend gets at least one hour of out-of-cage play time once a day. Not only does this keep him physically fit, but it also stimulates him mentally.
Of course, there is a lot more to keeping a dwarf hamster than just understanding its history, habitat and habits, and there are some key points that you should mull over carefully before deciding to take on the responsibility of any pet. Even though you may have decided that you can live with the habits of a hamster, does everyone in your household agree? More importantly, is each member of your family committed to assuming the responsibilities of pet ownership?
Don't assume that small, fuzzy and cute is equivalent to low maintenance. Along with the hours of pleasure and amusement that you will undoubtedly experience with your dwarf hamster, you - and preferably your whole family - will have daily obligations to this pocket-sized pet.
Nancianne Beetleman is an author, avid animal lover and dwarf hamster enthusiast. Over the past 37 years she has owned and cared for everything from hamsters to boa constrictors to cockatiels. Nancianne is passionate about teaching pet owners how to foster fulfilling relationships with their pets through understanding their instinctive behaviors and providing proper care.
By Nancianne Beetleman
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The Syrian hamster is the most recommended hamster for children because they are a bit larger than the dwarf species and are also easier to tame. However, there are still many particulars with each type of hamster that you should be prepared for if you are considering getting one for a pet.
Most parents believe that getting a hamster is a good opportunity for children to learn about responsibility and how to care for an animal. Parents also find that children definitely develop a great bond between themselves and their Syrian hamster. Many are surprised to find out just how much personality each hamster displays.
A photo of one of my dwarf hamsters, Minica. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Syrian hamster grows to about 6 inches long and is sometimes referred to as the Golden hamster or teddy bear hamster. Because of their size, they are easier to handle than the smaller dwarf species, which grow to only 3 or 4 inches in length. The dwarf hamster's size and quickness allows it to escape from small children quite easily and is, therefore, a better choice of pet for older children.
Hamsters sometimes can get a reputation for nipping, but only when they are not being properly cared for. For instance, hamsters are nocturnal so they are awake most of the night and tend to sleep throughout the day. If small children try to handle them when they are supposed to be sleeping, they might find they get bit.
Because hamsters are nocturnal, you might want to consider your child's schedule. Hamsters can be great pets because they do not need a lot of care during the day. When your child is at school or at extracurricular activities, their hamster will most likely be sleeping. As long as there is a quiet area of the house for the hamster, he will be quite content.
This also means that at night, your hamster will be playing in his cage, spinning his wheel and making noise. Keeping the cage away from sleeping areas can be helpful in making sure this does not disturb your child's sleeping.
Another note to consider regarding the Syrian hamster and housing is that Syrian hamsters should never be placed in the same cage with each other. They are extremely territorial with other hamsters and will sometimes fight to the death. In nature, these hamsters are loners so you should keep them solitary in your home as well. Despite their independent nature, they do still form very deep bonds with humans.
Dwarf hamsters, on the other hand, will do well with two in a cage, as long as they have been together since they were pups. Make sure that hamsters in the same cage are of the same sex, unless you intend to breed them.
Choosing the hamster species you desire before purchasing supplies for your pet is important, as dwarf hamsters can be injured if they live in wire cages made for the larger Syrian hamster. The smaller size cage for a dwarf hamster will, necessarily, require the other supplies to be of a smaller scale.
Hamsters tend to live an average of two to three years, which is a short lifespan compared to other pets. Among hamsters though, the Syrian hamsters tend to live longer than the dwarf species. Especially with a child, you will need to consider how you will handle your pet's passing. Again, this can be another learning opportunity to discuss loss, grieving, and disappointment as your child grows.
Once you have decided whether a Syrian or a dwarf hamster will make the perfect pet for your child, find a reputable breeder or rescue mission. You can also buy a hamster from a pet store. In either case, make sure your hamster is healthy before bringing him home.
One thing to check for is a condition called wet-tail. Just like it sounds, wet-tail is moisture around the behind but it can indicate a very serious problem. Also look for dull eyes, a matted coat, diarrhea, and trembling. Of course, you should always have your new pets checked out right away by a veterinarian.
Finally, you should spend some time and effort to really investigate all of the details of each particular breed. Either the Syrian or dwarf hamster can be a great pet for your children and your entire family.
For more information on Syrian or dwarf hamsters [http://www.dwarfhamstersite.com/hamster-types/], check out DwarfHamsterSite.com [http://www.dwarfhamstersite.com]. Liz Andrews has been a hamster enthusiast for nearly 20 years. Her newest book, 'Dwarf Hamsters In a Nutshell,' teaches hamster owners absolutely everything they need to know about caring for their pet.
