Chinese dwarf hamster information – care, cage, food & behavior

Chinese dwarf hamster – care, housing, nutrition & behavior

The Chinese dwarf hamster ( Cricetulus griseus ) belongs to the long-tailed dwarf hamster family . You can recognize it by its slender, slightly longer body and, of course, its longer tail . This tail helps it balance, for example, when climbing or moving nimbly through its surroundings. Many people find this "little Chinese" a surprisingly enjoyable pet: curious, active, and often eager to forage, dig, and explore. With a gentle approach and a well-designed enclosure, you can enjoy observing and building bonding opportunities. DRD Rodent Shop® has been a specialist since 2011 and helps you choose based on well-being and safety.

The Chinese dwarf hamster was initially considered a subspecies of the Daurian dwarf hamster ( Cricetulus barabensis ). They are very similar, but are now considered separate species.

Head-body length: male 11 – 12.5 cm · female 9 – 11 cm
Weight (guideline): male ± 45 g · female ± 38 g (build and condition count)
Life expectancy: 2 – 3 years

Directly to the Hamster shop: Hamster (all) · Hamster cages & enclosures · Bedding · Sand & sand bath · Exercise wheels · Hamster food

Behavior & daily routine

Chinese dwarf hamsters are crepuscular : you'll see the most activity in the evening and early morning. They often sleep in short bursts (cyclical), so you'll also see them awake regularly during the day. They're generally somewhat shy hamsters, but with a safe environment and a calm approach, they often exhibit very attractive behavior: foraging, digging, running, and (carefully) climbing.

Taming & Handling (calm and friendly)

The goal of taming isn't to "pick them up as quickly as possible," but to build trust . Many Chinese dwarf hamsters find it nerve-wracking when your hand suddenly enters their enclosure. If you follow their pace, you'll often see them become curious and eager to sniff. Their longer tails often help them maintain their balance well, and some Chinese hamsters later even enjoy walking across your hand and moving between your fingers.

• Start with a routine: feed and groom at set times, talk softly, move slowly.
• Hand = something positive: put your hand down quietly and let your hamster come by itself (don't "chase").
• Short bursts of success: reward calm sniffing and stepping up; only pick up your hamster when it is relaxed.
• Low and safe: when handling, always stay low over a soft surface; avoid making startled movements.

Tip: Train with very small rewards. This keeps it fun, without your hamster getting "full" or only coming for snacks.

Looking for the right products for calming contact and enrichment? See: Play & Foraging .

Keeping them together? (Chinese dwarf hamsters are solitary)

The Chinese dwarf hamster is solitary : in the wild, they generally only come together during mating season. In housing, this means: don't keep them together . Keeping them together carries a high risk of stress, hunting, and biting. Solitary keeping is usually the calmest and safest option for this species.

Housing & hamster scaping

Chinese dwarf hamsters need a spacious enclosure of at least 80 x 40 cm . A good enclosure primarily provides floor space and a deep digging layer, as well as some safe climbing opportunities. In the wild, they build extensive burrows; therefore, digging remains a basic necessity.

Hamster scaping is therefore very suitable for Chinese dwarf hamsters: you furnish the enclosure with natural zones (digging, hiding, foraging), which makes the animal feel safer and allows it to show more.

Many owners choose a terrarium because it allows for easy storage of deep substrate and a stable setup. Ensure good ventilation (preferably multiple vents). Shop: Hamster Cages & Enclosures

A good starting point is: first the basics (ground, houses, exercise wheel), then enrichment (tunnels, foraging areas, safe climbing routes).

Safe climbing: how to organize it smartly

Chinese dwarf hamsters enjoy climbing and balancing. That doesn't mean you should build "heights." The safest approach is: low, wide, and stable , with multiple descents and soft "fall breakers" (e.g., bedding and hiding places).

• Choose low platforms and sturdy bridges rather than narrow, high structures.
• Create routes along walls and hiding places (prey = likes cover).
• Avoid open “jumps” downwards: make steps or slopes.

Additional inspiration for natural interior design: Hamsterscaping

Temperature & humidity

Chinese dwarf hamsters do not tolerate high temperatures combined with high humidity. A practical guideline is often a temperature of around 20-24°C and humidity below 70% . Measurements can be made with a digital thermohygrometer .

Houses & shelters

Chinese dwarf hamsters are prey animals and feel safer when they don't have to roam freely. Our recommendation: at least two houses (a sleeping house + an extra hiding/storage area) and several hiding routes (tunnels, cork, bridges). At least one house should be a bit larger to accommodate food.

The safer your hamster feels, the more likely he is to show himself more often and become calmer in contact.

Running wheel: size & safety

The exercise wheel is an important part of the setup. Chinese dwarf hamsters are active animals that love to run, often in the evening/night. Choose an exercise wheel with a closed running surface so that paws and nails can't get caught.

Guideline: an exercise wheel for the Chinese dwarf hamster has a minimum diameter of 20 cm and a closed running surface .

View: Hamster exercise wheels

Ground cover & excavation layer

The substrate must be diggable : your hamster should be able to create tunnels and burrows in it, leaving as much of it intact as possible. An ideal depth for digging is often around 20 cm (more is always acceptable if your enclosure allows it).

Examples of diggable soils: humus , burrowing sand , and fiber-rich soils such as cotton and cotton . Many people make a stable mix, for example: cotton and hemp fiber or cotton and wood fiber . A combination of wood fiber , hemp fiber, and hay can also work well.

View all in: Hamster Bedding

Sand bath

Chinese dwarf hamsters enjoy taking a sand bath occasionally. Sand has a degreasing and cooling effect, but it is also drying. Monitor their bathing behavior and temporarily remove the sand bath if they develop skin problems (red patches, bald spots, scabs, or wounds).

View: Hamster sand & sand bath

Nesting material

Chinese dwarf hamsters are excellent nest builders. Always provide enough nesting material for your hamster to line the nest (practically: 15-25 grams ). Choose material that is soft, absorbent, and easy to work with.

View: Hamster nesting material

Power supply

Chinese dwarf hamsters are granivores (seed eaters). Their diet consists primarily of seeds, supplemented with herbs and seed mixes. Animal proteins are a small part of their natural diet (such as insects), but for this species, that's usually a minor component.

Useful categories: Hamster food · Herbs & seeds · Animal proteins

Chinese dwarf hamsters transport food in their cheek pouches: they stuff it inside and quickly transport it to their storage area. This is normal hamster behavior and part of their "hoarding." A fun way to encourage this natural behavior is foraging (scattering some of the food around the enclosure).

Dental formula: 1013/1013 (incisors continue to grow)
Teeth don't grow
Stomach: consists of two chambers (ante- and glandular stomach)
Small appendix: limited ability to process crude fiber

In practice, it is often assumed that the proportion of crude fiber in the total diet of dwarf hamsters does not need to be very high; a guideline: below 10% is often mentioned for good digestibility.

Gnawing material & teeth

Chinese dwarf hamsters have continuously growing incisors. Therefore, they always need suitable gnawing material to wear down their teeth. Some animals gnaw vigorously, others less so; always offer it so your hamster can choose for itself.

Gnawing wood helps keep growing incisors at a healthy length. Therefore, offer it regularly in the enclosure.

View: Hamster gnawing material

Recognizing dental problems

For example, watch out for: enthusiastically wanting to grab food but not eating, drooling, a wet chin, weight loss, or visibly abnormal teeth. If in doubt, it's wise to consult a veterinarian.

Reproduction (basic information)

Chinese dwarf hamsters are solitary and, in the wild, mainly congregate during mating season. After birth, the mother cares for the young until they are independent. Practical advice for pets: prevent unplanned litters by keeping your Chinese dwarf hamster solitary.

Sexually mature: from 4 weeks
Ready to breed: females from 12 weeks
Litter size: average 7 (max. 10)
Gestation period: ± 19 days
Weaning time: from week 3

Health & signals

Chinese dwarf hamsters are generally quite healthy animals. Common concerns include dental problems , diabetes , and eye problems . A calm environment, appropriate nutrition, and early detection of changes help identify problems early.

For general background information you can also consult the LICG .

✓ Calm, practical explanation (also for beginners)
✓ Smart housing with excavation layer + safe climbing options
✓ Selection aid and shopping links from specialists since 2011