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Head-hull length : up to 14 cm Campbelli Dwarf Hamsters are crepuscular, meaning they are most active in the evening and early morning. However, the animals sleep cyclically, which means that a few hours of sleep is alternated with a few hours of being awake, so these dwarf hamsters are also regularly awake during the day. Tame and familiarize yourself with the Campbelli Dwarf HamsterAlways read carefully before you decide to get a Campbelli Dwarf Hamster. They are very nice pets that can be kept together and are also regularly awake, so that they can also be seen during the day. Although the Campbelli Dwarf Hamster looks very cuddly, he does not always like to be cuddled and is especially scared in the beginning to be picked up. Because the animals do not see depth, they can run off your hand if they are startled. Campbell's are sometimes referred to as "pit bull hamsters". They owe this name to the territorial behavior that can be displayed especially by the females. The animals attack the hand in the enclosure to protect their territory. This behavior is hereditary and cannot be unlearned. It is therefore very important to know if territorial behavior runs in the bloodline. A new resident should be approached calmly, especially at first. The animal must first become familiar with its own enclosure, feel safe in it before it dares to approach people. Of course there are also daredevils who immediately approach you and are social, but most hamsters are a bit shy at first. Give the animal time and try to make contact calmly by talking to the hamster. Handing over some treats often also works well to gain the trust of the animals. Campbell's can "box" this is the defense behavior of the animals. They stand on their hind legs and use the hands to, for example, beat our hand away, we call this behavior "boxing". It is a sign of fear, but can also be a sign of territorial behavior.
Housing of the Campbelli Dwarf HamsterCampbelli Dwarf Hamsters need a spacious enclosure of at least 80 x 40 cm ( LICG ). A good stay gives the animals the opportunity to dig. In the wild, Campbell's Dwarf Hamsters build beautiful tunnels and they would like to continue to do so in captivity. A castle in the wild is at a depth of at least 1 to 2 meters and is about 1 meter long. The depth of the castle depends on the ambient temperature. When the temperature rises, the dwarf hamster digs deeper underground to reach the cool earth, a kind of natural air conditioning.
At our house this translates into a spacious stay with digging possibilities! A terrarium is the best choice because of its closed nature. It is important that a terrarium allows good ventilation, so preferably has two grids (top and bottom). This is especially important in summer when temperatures rise above 25°C. Campbelli Dwarf Hamsters cannot tolerate high temperatures in combination with high humidity, so a temperature between 20 - 24°C is recommended and a humidity below 70%. You can use a hygrometer to measure these values. Campbelli Dwarf Hamsters are social animals that can be kept together with conspecifics. However, this is not entirely without risk. The dynamics within the group are constantly changing and can cause problems if the animals want to determine the ranking within the group. Things can go wrong if a dominant animal attacks a weaker member of the group. A little bit of bickering is not a problem, but as soon as the animals in the group are chasing each other and really biting, they should be separated. House for a Campbelli Dwarf HamsterCampbelli Dwarf Hamsters are lucky! Because almost all houses that are made for hamsters have a good size for this Dwarf hamster species. Campbelli Dwarf Hamsters are prey animals and do not like to walk open and naked through the enclosure, if they come across a shelter now and then they already feel a lot safer. Our advice is therefore to have at least two houses for the Dwarf Hamsters. A house where the Dwarf Hamster can sleep and another where he can hide. At least one of the two houses must be larger so that the Dwarf Hamster can also dispose of its food supplies. Not being able to put away food supplies can cause stress for the animals. If the animals are kept together in a group, there must be proportionally more houses or hiding places available. Running wheel for a Campbelli Dwarf hamsterThe hamster running wheel is a very important part of the furnishing of the Dwarf hamster home. Campbelli Dwarf Hamsters are active animals that like to run, often at night. This is because they naturally run a lot at night in search of food. This is, as it were, in their DNA. In addition, scientific research has shown that running in a running wheel makes hamsters happy, this promotes digestion and the animals generally remain in good condition by running.
It is wise to place several running wheels as the group grows to prevent the animals from arguing about the running wheel. Ground cover for the Campbelli Dwarf HamsterIt is important that the ground cover for Dwarf Hamsters can be dug, ie that they can make holes and holes in it, which preferably remain standing. This can be achieved by choosing ground cover that is digable in itself or by mixing ground cover to make it digable. Examples of excavatable soil cover are, for example, the Humus and the Holenzand , but also Cotton & Cotton . A nice mix is, for example, the mix of Cotton & Hemp Fiber , Cotton & Wood Fiber or a mix of Wood Fiber, Hemp Fiber and Hay. Ground covers such as Back 2 Nature are not suitable because the animals cannot dig in them. An ideal height of the ground cover to dig in is around 20 cm.
Sand bath for Campbelli Dwarf Hamsters
Campbelli Dwarf Hamsters are nest buildersCampbelli Dwarf Hamsters are real nest builders, they always need nesting material so that they can line their burrows with it. Making a nest is therefore part of the natural behavior of a dwarf hamster. Therefore always give him 15-25 grams of nesting material. Nest material should be nice and soft, absorb moisture and have fragile fibers so that the animals cannot get entangled in it. Materials such as cotton, hemp, toilet paper and hay are ideal. Campbelli Dwarf Hamster foodCampbelli Dwarf hamsters are granivores (seed eaters). The diet of Campbelli Dwarf Hamsters consists mainly of seeds and a small amount of vegetable food in the form of herbs , but also animal proteins . Campbelli Dwarf hamsters catch small insects in the wild, so it is good if their diet also contains animal proteins. Campbelli Dwarf Hamsters carry their hamster food in their cheek pouches. What you see is that the Dwarf Hamster stuffs his food in his cheek pouches and quickly takes it to his house or pantry. Transporting food in the cheek pouches is also called 'Hoarding'. Thanks to the cheek pouch muscle, the food is retained in the cheek pouch and the hamster can transport it safely and quickly. Dental formula: 1013/1013 (Incisor ratio at the top - bottom = 1 : 2-3) Incisors keep growing The percentage of crude fiber in the diet must be a maximum of 10% for optimal digestibility and absorbability of the food. Some Campbelli Dwarf Hamster bloodlines are very prone to developing diabetes. These animals should have little to no sugar intake. Gnawing material for Campbelli Dwarf HamstersCampbelli Dwarf Hamsters have a natural need to gnaw. This is because Dwarf hamsters are rodents and have growing incisors. It is therefore necessary that they can gnaw on something to wear out the teeth. If Dwarf hamsters have too few opportunities to wear down the teeth, the teeth can become too long or grow crooked with all the consequences that entails.
Some Campbell's Dwarf Hamsters gnaw gnawing very actively and others don't at all. It is on the one hand a matter of taste, but on the other hand a matter of need. If a Dwarf Hamster has no need to gnaw because the teeth stay at a good length due to the food, hay or other nibbles, he will gnaw less on gnawing wood. It is good to always offer natural gnawing wood so that the animals can always gnaw if they have a need to gnaw. Dental problems in Campbelli Dwarf HamstersIf you notice that your hamster is very eager to take the food, but then doesn't eat it, there may be something wrong with the teeth. Drooling can also indicate dental problems. If you suspect that you have dental problems, it is best to contact your vet. Reproduction of the Campbelli Dwarf HamsterCampbelli Dwarf Hamsters are social animals and in the wild also live together in small family groups. Once young are born, the parents care for the young together until they are old enough to leave the nest. The female is willing (in rut) and ready to mate every 4 days. This will take approximately 12 hours. If a successful mating has taken place on these days, the young are born after about 19 days. The difference between males and females can be seen in the distance between the genital opening and the anus. This distance is greater in a male than in a female. Sexual maturity : from 4 weeks Health of the Campbelli Dwarf HamsterThe biggest problem with Campbelli Dwarf Hamsters is diabetes. Unfortunately, many bloodlines in the Netherlands have been affected by this and the animals have become prone to developing diabetes. In addition, we regularly see dental problems, Parkinson's (tremors) and skin problems. In connection with the dental problems, we recommend that you check them regularly in order to discover any dental problems in time. It is not necessary to treat the animals preventively with anti-parasite. It is not necessary to give extra vitamins with a complete hamster food. If you have the following symptoms, it is advisable to consult a veterinarian: dental problems Drooling, moist nose and eyes, protruding teeth, not eating, losing weight, eating foreign materials that are softer than the food. Skin Balding spots, lots of scratching, scabs, wounds, bumps and nodules. Others Wet and dirty ass, drinking a lot, falling over, listlessness, different shape and color of the droppings. |
The Campbell's Dwarf Hamster (Phodopus sungoris campbelli) is native to steppes of the Altai, Tuva, Northern Mongolia and Manchuria and is closely related to the 
