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Head-body length : up to 14 cm Dwarf Campbell hamsters are twilight active, which means that they are most active in the evening and early morning. However, the animals sleep cyclically, that is, a few hours of sleep alternate with a few hours of being awake, which means that these dwarf hamsters are also regularly awake during the day. Tame and familiarize yourself with the Campbell's 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 awake regularly, so they can also be seen during the day. Although the Campbelli Dwarf Hamster looks very cuddly, he doesn't always like to be hugged and he certainly finds it very scary in the beginning. Because the animals do not see depth, they can run off your hand if they are frightened. Campbellis are sometimes referred to as "pit bull hamsters". They owe this name to the territorial behavior that can be shown, 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 whether territorial behavior occurs in the bloodline. A new resident must be approached calmly, especially during the first few months. 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 out some treats often works well to gain the trust of the animals. Campbellis can "box" this is the defense behavior of the animals. They stand on their hind legs and use their 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 the Campbelli Dwarf HamsterDwarf Campbell hamsters need a spacious enclosure of at least 80 x 40 cm ( LICG ). A good enclosure gives the animals the opportunity to dig. In the wild, Dwarf Campbell Hamsters build beautiful tunnel systems 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 home this translates into a spacious stay with digging possibilities! A terrarium is the best choice here thanks to its closed character. 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 withstand high temperatures in combination with high humidity, which is why a temperature between 20 - 24°C and a humidity below 70% are recommended. You can use a hygrometer to measure these values. Campbelli Dwarf hamsters are social animals that can be kept together with other species. 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 when a dominant animal attacks a weaker member of the group. A little bickering is fine, but as soon as the animals in the group start chasing each other and really bite, they should be separated. House for a Campbell's Dwarf HamsterCampbelli Dwarf Hamsters are in luck! Because almost all houses that are made for hamsters are a good size for this Dwarf hamster species. Campbelli Dwarf hamsters are prey animals and do not like to walk openly through the enclosure, if they occasionally encounter a shelter they feel a lot safer. Our advice is therefore to have at least two houses for the Dwarf Hamsters. A house for the Dwarf Hamster to sleep in and another one for him to hide in. At least one of the two houses must be larger so that the Dwarf Hamster can store its food supplies there as well. Not being able to put food supplies away can cause stress for the animals. If the animals are kept together in a group, there must be proportionately more houses or hiding places. Exercise wheel for a Campbelli Dwarf HamsterThe hamster running wheel is a very important part of the design of the Dwarf hamster enclosure. Dwarf Campbell hamsters are active animals that like to run, often at night. This is because they naturally run a lot during the night hours in the search for food. This is, as it were, in their DNA. In addition, scientific research has shown that running on a running wheel makes hamsters happy, digestion is promoted and the animals generally stay in good shape by running.
It is wise to place several exercise wheels as the group grows to prevent the animals from fighting over the exercise wheel. Ground cover for the Campbelli Dwarf HamsterIt is important that the bedding for Dwarf Hamsters is diggable, that is to say that they can make corridors and holes in it, which preferably remain. This can be achieved by choosing ground cover that is already diggable in itself or by mixing ground cover crops with each other so that they are diggable. Examples of excavable 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 for digging in is around 20 cm.
Sand bath for Campbell's Dwarf Hamsters
Campbelli Dwarf hamsters are nest buildersDwarf Campbell hamsters are real nest builders, they always need nesting material so that they can line their hole 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. Nesting material must be nice and soft, absorb moisture and have fragile fibers so that the animals cannot become entangled in it. Materials such as cotton, hemp, toilet paper and hay are ideal. Campbell's Dwarf Hamster foodCampbelli Dwarf hamsters are granivores (seed eaters). The diet of Campbell's Dwarf Hamsters consists mainly of seeds and a little vegetable food in the form of herbs , but also animal proteins . Dwarf Campbell hamsters catch small insects in the wild, so it is good if their diet also contains animal proteins. Campbell's Dwarf hamsters carry their hamster food in their cheek pouches. What you see is that the Dwarf Hamster stuffs its food into its cheek pouches and quickly takes it to its house or storage room. Transporting food in the cheek pouches is also known as 'Hoarding'. Thanks to the cheek pouch muscle, the food is held in the cheek pouch and the hamster can transport it safely and quickly. Dental formula: 1013/1013 (Ratio upper - lower incisors = 1 : 2-3) Incisors continue to grow The percentage of crude fiber in the diet should be a maximum of 10% for optimal digestibility and absorption of the diet. Some bloodlines of the Dwarf Campbell Hamster are very prone to developing diabetes. These animals are allowed to consume little or no sugar. Gnawing material for Campbell's Dwarf HamstersCampbell's Dwarf Hamsters have a natural need to gnaw. This is because Dwarf hamsters are rodents and have growing incisors. So it is necessary that they can gnaw on something to wear down 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 Dwarf Campbell hamsters chew very actively on rodents and others do not at all. On the one hand it is a matter of taste, but on the other hand it is a matter of need. If a Dwarf hamster has no need to gnaw because the teeth stay long due to the food, hay or other nibbles, it will gnaw less at rodents. It is good to always offer natural rodent wood so that the animals can always gnaw when they have a need to gnaw. Dental problems in Campbelli Dwarf hamstersIf you notice that your hamster is very excited to take the food, but then won't eat it, there may be something wrong with the teeth. Drooling can also indicate dental problems. If you suspect that there are dental problems, it is best to contact the vet. Reproduction of the Campbelli Dwarf HamsterDwarf Campbell hamsters are social animals and also live together in small family groups in the wild. 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 heat) and ready to mate every 4 days. This takes about 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 the female. Sexual maturity : from 4 weeks Health of the Campbelli Dwarf HamsterThe biggest problem with Campbell's Dwarf Hamsters is diabetes. Unfortunately, many bloodlines in the Netherlands have been affected by this and the animals have become susceptible to developing diabetes. In addition, we regularly see dental problems, Parkinson's (trembling) and skin problems. In connection with dental problems, we recommend regular checks to detect 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 diet. With the following symptoms, it is wise to consult a veterinarian Dental problems Drooling, moist 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 ass, drinking a lot, falling over, lethargy, different shape and color of the droppings. |
The Campbell's Dwarf Hamster (Phodopus sungoris campbelli) is native to the steppes of the Altai, Tuva, Northern Mongolia and Manchuria and is closely related to the 
