Polski
The Campbell's Dwarf Hamster (Phodopus sungoris campbelli) is native to the steppes of Altai, Tuva, Northern Mongolia, and Manchuria and is closely related to the Russian Dwarf Hamster . The Campbell's Dwarf Hamster was previously thought to be a subspecies of the Russian Dwarf Hamster. Both dwarf hamster species even shared the same Latin name: Phodopus sungoris. This was later changed when it was discovered that they were, in fact, two distinct species. The Campbell's was then given the addition "Campbelli."
Head-body length : up to 14 cm
Body weight : between 55 and 65 grams depending on body length
Life expectancy : 1.5 - 2 years
Campbell's dwarf hamsters are crepuscular, meaning they are most active in the evening and early morning. However, these animals sleep cyclically, alternating between a few hours of sleep and a few hours of wakefulness, meaning these dwarf hamsters are also regularly awake during the day.
Taming and familiarizing the Campbell's Dwarf Hamster
Always do your research before deciding to get a Campbell's Dwarf Hamster. They make wonderful pets that can be kept together and are often awake, meaning they can be seen during the day as well. Although the Campbell's Dwarf Hamster looks very cuddly, it doesn't always enjoy being cuddled and is quite nervous about being picked up, especially at first. Because they have no depth perception, they can run away from your hand if startled.
Campbell's hamsters are sometimes called "pit bull hamsters." This name comes from the territorial behavior that can be displayed, especially by the females. In this behavior, the animals will attack your hand in the enclosure to protect their territory. This behavior is hereditary and cannot be unlearned. Therefore, it is very important to know whether territorial behavior runs in the bloodline.
A new resident should be approached calmly, especially at first. The animal needs to become familiar with its own habitat and feel safe there before it dares to approach people. Of course, some daredevils will immediately approach you and be sociable, but most hamsters are still a bit shy at first. Give the animal time and try to gently establish contact by talking to it. Giving a treat from the hand often works well to gain the animals' trust.
Campbell's can "box," a defensive behavior. They stand on their hind legs and use their hands to swat away our hands, for example. We call this behavior "boxing." It's a sign of fear, but can also be a sign of territorial behavior.
Tip! Campbell's Dwarf Hamsters love dried mealworms
Housing the Campbell's Dwarf Hamster
Campbell's dwarf hamsters need a spacious enclosure of at least 80 x 40 cm ( LICG ). A good enclosure allows them to dig. In the wild, Campbell's dwarf hamsters build magnificent burrow systems, and they prefer to continue doing so in captivity. A burrow in the wild is at least 1 to 2 meters deep and approximately 1 meter long. The depth of the burrow depends on the ambient temperature. When the temperature rises, the dwarf hamster will dig deeper underground to reach the cool earth, a kind of natural air conditioning.
Hamsterscaping is therefore great fun for Campbell's Dwarf Hamsters.
In our home, this translates into a spacious enclosure with plenty of room for digging! A terrarium is the best choice for this, thanks to its enclosed nature. However, it's important that a terrarium allows for good ventilation, so preferably with two vents (top and bottom). This is especially important in summer when temperatures rise above 25°C.
Campbell's dwarf hamsters do not tolerate high temperatures combined with high humidity, so a temperature between 20 and 24°C and a humidity below 70% are recommended. You can use a hygrometer to measure these values.
Campbell's Dwarf hamsters are social animals that can be kept with others of their own kind. However, this is not entirely without risk. The dynamics within the group are constantly changing and can cause problems if the animals try to establish hierarchy within the group. Things can sometimes go wrong if a dominant animal attacks a weaker member. A little bickering isn't a problem, but if the animals in the group start chasing each other and actually bite, they should be separated.
House for a Campbell's Dwarf Hamster
Campbell's Dwarf hamsters are lucky! Almost all hamster houses are a good size for this species. Campbell's Dwarf hamsters are prey animals and don't like to roam freely in their enclosure. However, if they occasionally encounter a hiding place, they feel much safer. Therefore, we recommend having at least two houses for your Dwarf hamsters: one where the Dwarf hamster can sleep and one where it can hide. At least one of the two houses should be larger so the Dwarf hamster can also store its food supplies. Not being able to put food away can cause stress for the animals. If the animals are kept together in a group, there should be proportionally more houses or hiding places.
Exercise wheel for a Campbell's Dwarf Hamster
The hamster wheel is a crucial element of a dwarf hamster enclosure. Campbell's dwarf hamsters are active animals that love to run, often at night. This is because they naturally run a lot during the night in search of food. It's essentially in their DNA. Furthermore, scientific research has shown that hamsters enjoy running in a wheel, which promotes digestion and generally keeps them in good shape.
An exercise wheel for a Campbell's Dwarf Hamster should have a diameter of at least 20 cm and consist of a solid running surface.
It is wise to place several running wheels as the group grows to prevent the animals from fighting over the wheel.
Substrate for the Campbell's Dwarf Hamster
It's important that the substrate for dwarf hamsters is diggable, meaning they can create tunnels and burrows in it, which preferably remain intact. This can be achieved by choosing substrate that is already diggable or by mixing substrates to make them diggable. Examples of diggable substrates include humus and burrowing sand , as well as cotton and cotton . A good mix is a mix of cotton and hemp fiber , cotton and wood fiber, or a mix of wood fiber , hemp fiber, and hay. Substrates like Back 2 Nature are not suitable because the animals cannot dig in them. An ideal depth for the substrate to dig in is around 20 cm.
Sand bath for Campbell's Dwarf Hamsters
Campbell's dwarf hamsters enjoy taking an occasional sand bath . Sand has a degreasing and therefore cooling effect. Because sand is degreasing, it also has a drying effect. Therefore, animals with skin problems should not be given a sand bath. If the sand dries out the skin too much, it can become itchy, causing the animals to bathe even more. It is therefore important to monitor the hamsters' bathing behavior and remove the sand bath if they notice any signs of skin problems (red patches, bald spots, scabs, or wounds).
Campbell's Dwarf Hamsters are nest builders
Campbell's dwarf hamsters are true nest builders; they always need nesting material to line their burrows. Building a nest is therefore a natural behavior for a dwarf hamster. Therefore, always provide them with 15-25 grams of nesting material.
Nesting material should be soft, absorbent, and have brittle fibers so the birds can't get tangled in it. Materials like cotton, hemp, toilet paper, and hay are ideal.
Campbell's Dwarf Hamster Food
Campbell's dwarf hamsters are granivores (seed eaters). Their diet consists primarily of seeds and a small amount of plant-based food in the form of herbs , as well as animal protein . In the wild, Campbell's dwarf hamsters catch small insects, so it's good for their diet to also contain animal protein.
Campbell's dwarf hamsters transport their hamster food in their cheek pouches. What you see is the dwarf hamster stuffing its food into its cheek pouches and quickly taking it to its home or pantry. Transporting food in the cheek pouches is also called "hoarding." Thanks to the cheek pouch muscle, the food is held in the pouch, allowing the hamster to transport it safely and quickly.
Dental formula: 1013/1013 (Ratio of upper to lower incisors = 1:2-3) Incisors continue to grow
Molars do not continue to grow: The large cheek pouches that extend to the shoulder blades are a flexible protrusion of the buccal mucosa
Stomach: consists of two chambers: the foregut and the glandular stomach
Small cecum: with limited ability to process crude fiber. Protein-rich cecal pellets are only eaten when food is scarce.
The percentage of crude fiber in the diet should be a maximum of 10% for optimal digestibility and absorption of the diet.
Some Campbell's Dwarf Hamster bloodlines are very susceptible to diabetes. These animals should be fed little to no sugar.
Gnawing material for Campbell's Dwarf Hamsters
Campbell's Dwarf hamsters have a natural urge to gnaw. This is because they are rodents and have continuously growing incisors. Therefore, they need something to gnaw on to wear down their teeth. If Dwarf hamsters don't have enough opportunities to wear down their teeth, they can become overgrown or crooked, with all the consequences that entails.
Rodents use gnawing wood to wear down their teeth. Because rodents' teeth are constantly growing, they need to be gnawed regularly to prevent them from growing too long and crooked.
Some Campbell's dwarf hamsters actively chew on gnawing wood, while others don't at all. It's partly a matter of taste, but also a matter of need. If a dwarf hamster doesn't need to chew because its teeth stay long thanks to food, hay, or other gnawing materials, it will chew on gnawing wood less. It's good to always offer natural gnawing wood so the animals can always chew when they feel the need.
Dental problems in Campbell's Dwarf Hamsters
If you notice your hamster eagerly trying to grab food but then not eating it, there might be something wrong with its teeth. Drooling can also indicate dental problems. If you suspect dental problems, it's best to contact your vet.
Reproduction of the Campbell's Dwarf Hamster
Campbell's dwarf hamsters are social animals and live together in small family groups in the wild. Once young are born, the parents care for them together until they are old enough to leave the nest.
The female is in heat and ready to mate every four days. This lasts about 12 hours. If a successful mating occurs 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. In males, this distance is greater than in females.
Sexually mature : from 4 weeks
Breeding ready: females from 12 weeks
Number of litters : 3-4 per year
Litter size : average 7 (max. 10) young per litter
Gestation period : 19-21 days
Birth weight : 1-2 g, nestlings
Weaning time : from week 3
Campbell's Dwarf Hamster Health
The biggest problem with Campbell's Dwarf hamsters is diabetes. Unfortunately, many bloodlines in the Netherlands have been affected by this, making the animals susceptible to diabetes. We also regularly see dental problems, Parkinson's disease (tremors), and skin problems. Due to these dental problems, we recommend regular checkups to detect any dental problems early.
Preventative treatment with parasite preventative measures is not necessary. Supplemental vitamin supplements are not necessary with a complete hamster diet.
If you experience the following symptoms, it is advisable to consult a veterinarian.
Dental problems
Drooling, runny nose and eyes, protruding teeth, not eating, losing weight, eating foreign materials that are softer than food.
Skin
Bald spots, lots of scratching, scabs, wounds, bumps and lumps.
Other
Wet and dirty bottom, drinking a lot, collapsing, listlessness, different shape and color of the droppings.
For extensive information on rodent care, see LICG
