Polski
The Russian dwarf hamster (Phodopus sungorus) is native to eastern Kazakhstan and southwestern Siberia. It is also called the Siberian dwarf hamster or the Dzungarian dwarf hamster.
Head-body length : up to 13 cm
Body weight : between 45 and 65 grams depending on body length
Life expectancy : 1.5 - 2 years
Russian 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.
How do you tame a Russian Dwarf Hamster?
Always do your research before deciding to get a Russian dwarf hamster. They make wonderful pets that are often awake, meaning they can be seen during the day as well. This can be especially enjoyable for children. Although the Russian dwarf hamster looks very cuddly, it doesn't always enjoy being cuddled and can be quite frightened of being picked up, especially at first. Because they have no depth perception, they can easily run away from your hand if startled, so it's important that when children handle them, a parent is always present to help and support them.
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 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.
Tip! Russian Dwarf Hamsters love dried mealworms.
What does housing for the Russian Dwarf Hamster look like?
Russian dwarf hamsters need a spacious enclosure of at least 80 x 40 cm (LICG). A good enclosure allows them to dig. In the wild, Russian dwarf hamsters build beautiful 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 Russian 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.
Russian 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.
What is a good home for a Russian Dwarf Hamster?
Russian dwarf hamsters are lucky! Almost all hamster houses are a good size for this species. Russian dwarf hamsters are prey animals and don't like to roam freely in their enclosures. However, if they occasionally encounter a hiding place, they feel much safer. Therefore, we recommend having at least two hamster houses: one where the hamster can sleep and one where it can hide. At least one of the houses should be larger so the hamster can also store its food supplies. Being able to put food away can cause stress for the animals.
What is a good exercise wheel for a Russian Dwarf Hamster?
The hamster wheel is a crucial element of a dwarf hamster enclosure. Russian 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, it promotes digestion, and generally keeps them in good condition.
An exercise wheel for a Russian Dwarf Hamster should have a diameter of at least 20 cm and consist of a solid running surface.
What is good substrate for the Russian 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 , but also 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.
What is a good sand bath for a Russian Dwarf Hamster?
Russian 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).
What is Winter Paralysis in Russian Dwarf Hamsters?
If the ambient temperature is below 17°C for an extended period, these dwarf hamsters can enter a state of winter paralysis . This is different from hibernation, as it is shorter. The animals wake briefly each day, after which they return to the state of winter paralysis. This only occurs in Russian dwarf hamsters. It is very important to recognize this, as it is often assumed that the animals have died, with all the consequences that entails. A Russian dwarf hamster in winter paralysis feels cold and sometimes even a little stiff. Hold the animal in your hands and let it warm up and wake up.
Winter paralysis is triggered by a drop in temperature, but food shortages can also play a role. If the animals are malnourished and it is slightly colder, but warmer than 17°C, they may also hibernate. Day length also plays a role. If hamsters also start getting dark at 5 p.m., their bodies may receive a signal that winter has begun.
Are Russian Dwarf Hamsters Nest Builders?
Russian 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.
What is good food for Russian Dwarf Hamsters?
Russian 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, dwarf hamsters catch small insects, so it's beneficial for their diet to also contain animal protein .
Russian dwarf hamsters transport their hamster food in their cheek pouches. What you see is the 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.
What is good gnawing material for Russian Dwarf Hamsters?
Russian dwarf hamsters have a natural urge to gnaw. This is because dwarf hamsters 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 grow continuously, they need to be gnawed regularly to prevent them from growing too long and crooked.
Some Russian 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 have a 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.
How do you recognize dental problems in Russian 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.
How does the Russian Dwarf Hamster reproduce?
Russian dwarf hamsters are semi-solitary (they live in pairs 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
Russian Dwarf Hamster Health
Russian dwarf hamsters are generally quite healthy animals. The most common health problems are dental problems, diabetes, Parkinson's disease (tremors), and eye problems. Due to these dental problems, it's advisable to check them regularly to detect any dental problems early.
To prevent diabetes, it's important that the Russian Dwarf Hamster is purebred and not a hybrid (cross with the Campbell's). Furthermore, the Mandarin hamster has the highest risk of developing diabetes, so it should be well-bred. Animals already predisposed to diabetes (genetically, certain breeding lines) should not be given sweet treats.
Parkinson's disease, or trembling, in dwarf hamsters is particularly prevalent in black-related colours such as: Black, Russian Blue, Merle Black, Pearl Black, Merle Russian Blue, Pearl Russian Blue.
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, falling over, listless, different shape and color of the droppings
For extensive information on rodent care, see LICG
