Dwarf Hamsters Life Span

Dwarf hamsters as pets are becoming increasingly popular, for their appearance as well as sociability. They belong to the genus Phodopus (short-tailed dwarf hamsters), and can be categorized into Campbell's dwarf hamster, Winter White Russian (Dzhungarian) dwarf hamster and Roborovski's (Desert) dwarf hamster. People are often unable to distinguish between the first two, due to the similarity in size and color. Chinese hamster, though similar in appearance, belongs to the Genus Cricetulus (ratlike hamsters).

Dwarf Hamsters Life Expectancy
The average dwarf hamsters life span is between 1.5 to 3.5 years. The Winter White Russian dwarf hamster and Campbell's dwarf hamster both, on an average, live upto 1.5 - 2.5 years, in which time they grow to a length of about 8 - 10 cm. The Roborovski hamster, which is the smallest, at 4 - 5 cm, lives for 3 - 3.5 years. The Chinese hamster usually lives to 2.5 - 3 years and grows to 10 - 12 cm.

Dwarf Hamsters Home
Since, dwarf hamsters are pretty small, they do well living in cages and equipment intended for mice. One should line, a dwarf hamsters cage with pine shavings, but never use cedar. Some dwarf hamsters can be very sensitive to cedar oil and exposure to cedar can even lead to its death. You can expect a hamster to try to dig, thus wire-sided cages will leave shavings scattered everywhere. One option is a ten-gallon glass aquarium, for a pair of Dwarf Hamsters. You should put in a water bottle, an exercise wheel, and a salt block, at least. If possible, throw in paper towel/toilet paper tubes for them to use as tunnels. A lid is not required, but may be a good idea if you have any other pets. Some of them, especially dwarf hamsters babies are very small, and can squeeze out of tiny openings. Ensure that the cage is without gaps, and clean it once a week.

Dwarf Hamsters Diet
In the wild, a dwarf hamster's food comprises mostly of seeds and other plant materials. In captivity, one may feed them pellets that are usually fed to rats and mice, such as Purina Rodent Chow. A likely outcome of feeding them seeds, is that they will pick and choose the tastiest seeds and leave the rest. This will lead to nutritional deficiencies and reduced dwarf hamsters life span. You can however use them as a special treat. If you feed your dwarf hamster fresh vegetables, ensure you keep the quantity of greens to a minimum, or ideally avoid them altogether, as they can cause severe digestive upsets. Carrots and potatoes are enjoyed. Expect your dwarf hamster to hide food in a corner of the cage, or in the nest.

Dwarf Hamsters Behavior
Dwarf hamsters are very active in the evening, and continue to be active throughout the night. Daytime activity is sporadic. An owner is advised to speak to the hamster before handling it as they are very nearsighted. Also, ensure your hands are clean and do not smell of food or you can expect a nibble. Bites are usually more startling than painful. The best way to pick up a hamster is to pin it down and scoop it up with a handful of its bedding. Once a hamster is cupped in your hands, it usually settles down. They are also known to walk right off the edge of anything, so handle them carefully. It has been noticed that they prefer stepping down into a hand than being picked up from the top.

Read more on:

• Facts about Dwarf Hamsters
• Hamsters Life Span

Dwarf hamsters make great pets, as they are easy to care for and get along very well in family groups. If you put in a stranger, you are likely to see dwarf hamsters fighting with the newcomer, in a manner that resembles boxing! If you are one to get very attached to a pet, then think twice before bringing home one of these fur balls, as a dwarf hamsters life span is a short one.