Dwarf Hamsters Care Tips

If you are planning to own a Chinese dwarf hamster, you have made a wonderful choice. These little creatures are fun and entertaining to watch and care for, plus they are quite low-maintenance pets. Scientifically known as Cricetulus griseus, they are not actually part of the dwarf hamster species. But because of their size, which averages 10 to 12 cm in height, they have been adopted by the dwarf hamster family. They have a lifespan of 2 to 3 years, and mature early on too, around 1.5 months.

In appearance, they look like rats. However, for a hamster, they have slightly longer tails and their bodies are more elongated. Their color is brownish-gray with black stripes in the spine area. Males have scrotal sacs that are larger than that of other dwarf hamsters, and this part is easily affected when male Chinese dwarf hamsters engage themselves in a fight. It may be a little difficult to tame your pet so training them at a very young age is recommended.

Proper Care for Chinese Dwarf Hamsters

Older kids, teenagers and adults are best suited to care for these pets. They require more attention and this entails more responsibility than other dwarf hamsters but the amusement you get from these little guys are amazing. Here are the ways you can care for your Chinese dwarf hamsters:

First, find a suitable home for him. Solid tanks or plastic cages would be a good idea; you do not want to place him in a wired cage as baby dwarf hamsters are tiny enough to slip through the bars.

Second, he will need to drink water constantly. As a note here, you must put water in a bottle and not in a bowl as this could be hazardous for your pet, they might slip and drown. Adjust the water bottle low enough so they can reach it without a problem.

Third, feed your pet with healthy food such as a mix of dried fruits, pellets and seeds. You can buy this at any pet shop. Moreover, make sure to use ceramic bowls as Chinese dwarf hamsters tend to chew on just about anything which means plastic and wooden bowls are a no-no.

Fourth, give them toys they can chew on. It seems that Chinese dwarf hamsters are always ‘teething’ so chew toys can be extremely helpful for them.

Housing Chinese Dwarf Hamsters

As mentioned, your pet’s home should be solid, without bars as they can easily slip through them as babies. You might also want to provide some ‘hiding places’ for him as these type of hamsters love to play around and hide in places. You may also want to embed his home with shredded wood as he loves burrows; it makes him feel safer and secure. Make sure however that whatever you put inside his home is non toxic for your pet; the oils that are naturally present in pinewood and similar types of wood are harmful.

Chinese Dwarf Hamster Breeding

Did you know that dwarf hamsters can breed as soon as they are 1 to 2 months old? They do. But of course, the ripe age for breeding is 6 months old. If you plan to start a family for your Chinese dwarf hamster, you should start while they are young. If you introduce an older dwarf hamster to his mate, it could be cause for a fight. Group them while they are young (but not too young) and breeding should come in naturally. However, be careful as they can breed every 3 weeks- you don’t want to have a huge family of dwarf hamsters! You might want to separate them every now and then.