Dwarf Hamsters
Appearance and Behavior:
Dwarf hamsters are smaller than commonly kept Syrian hamsters. Adult males grow only to 8 cm or three inches. The dwarf hamsters are also social. They like to live in family groups and large colonies in the wild. As pets, they appear to live most happily in pairs or small groups of the same or different sexes.
They are talkative little fellows. They love to play and tackle one another. Don't panick if you hear a few squeaks, because they are most likely playing. However, If there is an ongoing fight, it is usually best to seperate them before one or all are injured or killed.
The 4 Species of Dwarf Hamsters:
Campbells Dwarf Russian hamster
Winter White Dwarf Russian hamster.
Roborovski hamster.
Chinese hamster(illegal in California)
Housing:
Because of their size, They can fit through the bars of many wire cages. They also have a hard time climbing tunnels due to the fact that they have hair on their feet, as Syrians do not. The best cage for dwarf hamsters, is a an aquarium. The minimum size should be 10 gallons. They seen to do best in these cages if they are kept busy with toys, etc.
Breeding:
If you get more than one dwarf hamster, be aware that there is a posibility that you end up with hamsters of a different sex. They can mate as young 6-8 weeks of age.
The gestation period is usually about 18-21 days depending on the species of dwarf hamster. Litter sizes average about 4-6, but can be as many as 16. At birth the babies are hairless and blind but they do have teeth and whiskers. Depending upon the color of the hamster, pigmentation will often begin to appear within a few days.
The fur begins toa ppears at six to eight days and the eyes open at 10-14 days. The pups will then begin to wander around at 8-10 days of age. They will begin eating solid food at around 8 days, but still rely on the mother's milk.
Pairs should not be separated after they have been living together for it's possible that they will not accept each other again. This is also true of new hamsters being introduced to an older hamster. The hamster may be territorial over his/her territory and will not accept a mate.