Dwarf Hamster

Dwarf hamsters are a group of hamsters smaller than 4 inches long. They often have a lifespan of 2-3 years, though some live less than this. They are incredibly smart, and some species hibernate underground during the winter months. If you want to take a little extra time with this furry pet, you may even be able to train them to do different tricks.

5 Incredible Dwarf Hamster Facts

Here are a few fun hamster facts.

• Dwarf hamsters, like other types of hamsters, are nocturnal. They tend to play noisily at night with their many toys.
• When dwarf hamsters are stressed, they’ll squeal, squeak, and even scream instead of cry. They’ll also make these noises when they are hurt or afraid.
• Dwarf hamsters are born naked, blind, and deaf. Their fur doesn’t come in until they are about five days old, followed by their sight (14-18 days old), and finally their hearing (18+ days).
• Even though dwarf hamsters cannot burp, they can pass gas.
• Some dwarf hamsters lick and groom owners as a way to show their affection.

Scientific Name

Dwarf hamsters are a group of small hamster species, primarily from the genera Phodopus (including Campbell’s dwarf hamster, winter white dwarf hamster, and Roborovski dwarf hamster) and Cricetulus (such as the Chinese hamster). Each species has its own scientific name. For example, the Chinese dwarf hamster’s scientific name is Cricetulus barabensis. The name “barabensis” refers to the Baraba steppe region in Siberia, which is part of the native range of this species.

Evolution and Origins

Winter white dwarf hamsters are native to Siberia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Manchuria, where they reside in meadows, fields, and birch forests, but they also inhabit semi-arid regions in Central Asia.

The evolutionary past of dwarf hamsters is documented by 15 extinct fossil genera that date back to the Middle Miocene Epoch, which ranges from 11.2 million to 16.4 million years ago in Europe and North Africa and 6 million to 11 million years ago in Asia. Four of the seven current genera comprise species that are now extinct.

Furthermore, during the late 1700s, naturalists documented the Syrian hamster, which is also referred to as Mesocricetus auratus or the golden hamster, and this marked the start of its domestication. In 1930, Syrian hamster breeding stock was captured by medical researchers for animal experimentation, and additional domestication eventually resulted in its widespread popularity as a pet. There are four main species of dwarf hamsters commonly kept as pets: Russian Campbell, Russian winter white, Roborovski, and Chinese.

Appearance

Dwarf hamsters are named for their incredibly small size, though their overall appearance changes from one species to the next. They typically only grow to be 2-4 inches long, but the smallest of them all is the Roborovski dwarf hamster (or the robo dwarf hamster) at just 1.5-2 inches long. The largest species, the Chinese dwarf hamster, grows to a length of 4 inches long, although it can grow larger, which is why it is technically not considered a true dwarf.

Winter white dwarf hamsters go from gray and white to brown and white, based entirely on the season. It allows them to hide from potential predators. Campbell’s dwarf hamsters have incredibly small ears and are covered in grayish-brown hair. Grey dwarf hamsters look more like mice than hamsters, and they can be gray, grayish brown, or sandy gray.

Chinese dwarf hamsters have white bellies with a dark stripe on their back against gray-brown fur. Roborovski dwarf hamsters are fairly similar, although they look as if they have eyebrows with white spots above their eyes.

Behavior

Dwarf hamsters are rather solitary creatures, except during mating periods. They travel far to find resources and protect them at all costs from other rodents in the area. They are quite shy, unless they are regularly exposed to human contact.

Habitat

The easiest places for these animals to thrive are in dry environments, like deserts, scrublands, mountains, some forests, and desert edges. Dwarf hamsters can be purchased as pets throughout the United States, but in the wild, they are native to regions of Central Asia, Siberia, Mongolia, northern China, and Kazakhstan. Each dwarf hamster species has different adaptations to thrive in its local climate. For instance, winter white dwarf hamsters’ fur changes color during colder months to conceal themselves from predators in the snow.

When temperatures get colder, Roborovski dwarf hamsters may stay in their underground habitats and reduce activity, but they do not truly hibernate. They stockpile food in warmer months to prepare for periods of cold weather. Russian dwarf hamsters and other types of dwarf hamsters are more accustomed to cold weather.

Diet

The typical dwarf hamster diet largely consists of grains and pellets, which can be easily found in pet stores and grocery stores. It is safe to give them other foods like vegetables, fruits, grass hay, and grains, but the food offered in these pet stores is often all they need to be healthy. However, they should avoid chocolate and caffeine as these substances are highly toxic to them.

Though dwarf hamsters primarily rely on a vegetarian diet, they will seek out more “meaty” treats occasionally. Crickets and mealworms are common elements of their diet. Their eating habits are greatly varied due to their territorial nature.

While insects are these hamsters’ prey, dwarf hamsters serve as prey for a number of small mammals and birds, including kestrels, falcons, foxes, owls, and eagles.

Reproduction and Lifecycle

In order for dwarf hamsters to mate, females must be in heat, meaning they are in their estrous cycle. It is generally safe to keep the mating pair together throughout pregnancy, which lasts 3-4 weeks. On average, dwarf hamsters deliver six babies.

The babies of dwarf hamsters—called pups—must stay with their mother until they are weaned at 3 weeks old. Their eyes won’t open until they are about 2 weeks old, and they are color-blind from birth. By their 18th day of life, their little ears pop up (as they’ve previously laid flat on the head). They are deaf and hairless when they are first born, though their fur will start to come in when they are about 5 days old.

However, unlike other species that might eat their young, these pups can stay with their mother for a little longer. Since the pups reach sexual maturity as early as 4 weeks old, they will need to be separated by sex into different cages.

The average lifespan of dwarf hamsters is two to three years, though it will vary by species. Winter white dwarf hamsters typically live one to two years in the wild and up to two years as pets, while Campbell’s dwarf hamsters can live up to 2-2.5 years in captivity.

The most common health issues that these rodents face include skin diseases (mites or ringworm), hair loss, digestive issues, diabetes, teeth issues, and respiratory infections. With the right care, they should be able to live to their projected old age. Proper identification of your hamster will give greater insight into its potential lifespan and health issues.

Population

Due to the frequent sale of dwarf hamsters as pets, experts believe that the total population is at least 57 million. Of that 57 million hamsters, approximately 11 million are kept as pets. The IUCN considers dwarf hamsters to generally be of least concern.