Breeding Dwarf Hamsters

Tips on Breeding Dwarf Hamsters
By Emily Brock

The main difference between breeding dwarf hamsters and breeding Syrian hamsters is that Syrian hamsters do best when they live alone, and dwarf hamsters can successfully live in social groups as long as they are introduced to each other while young. So a colony of dwarf hamsters could start breeding naturally at around 5 weeks of age, if the sexes are not separated.

It is always best to separate the sexes unless you are intentionally breeding your hamsters. Do no make the mistake of thinking you can automatically sell baby hamsters to pet stores. If you allows a colony of hamsters to breed and end up with 20 babies, the overcrowding could cause the older hamsters to eat the young.

Also, once they become fertile (at anywhere from 1 to 3 months old) males hamsters are always fertile. And females hamsters are in heat about every 4 days during breeding season (April through October). Gestation takes about 2.5 to 3 weeks for Russian hamsters, and about 3 to 4 weeks for Roborovski hamsters. The litters can be as large as 14 pups, and breeding females can normally produce 2 to 3 litters. So a colony could potentially become overpopulated very quickly. For that reason, it is always a good idea to keep males and females separated unless you have a clear plan for taking care of their offspring.

Another very important thing to keep in mind is that a responsible hamster breeder will research the genetic history of both the male and female hamsters before deciding to breed them. This is because genetic abnormalities could occur in the offspring that are not obviously visible in the parents. For instance, anophthalmic whites (also called "eyeless whites") can be born when two hamsters which have white bellies and which carry the anophthalmic gene are bred together. There offspring are born with no eyes (or undeveloped eyes) and are usually also deaf. Although they can survive for up to a year, no responsible breeder would intentionally allow this to happen.

Hamster experts advise against breeding pet store hamsters together because of the lack of genetic histories. Breeding live animals (including hamsters) is not just a "fun game" to try when you have nothing more interesting to do. You will need to commit your time to studying hamster genetics and health issues, and you will need to make a financial commitment to buy the extra cages to house your colonies so that they do not overpopulate and become cannibalistic, as well as to buy the litter, toys and food to give them a healthy life.

Emily Brock is a hamster enthusiast. For more great tips and advice on baby dwarf hamsters visit http://HamsterLifeAnswers.com/

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Dwarf Hamster Care

Dwarf Hamster Care - Points to Consider For Proper Care
By Jim Renfro

Dwarf hamsters are much more skittish and delicate than their normal sized cousins and find it much easier to escape their cages. So when it comes to caring for your dwarf hamsters you need to ensure that their enclosure is a secure one. Also it is important that when it comes to Dwarf Hamster care that you learn as much about their natural habitat as you can.

In this article we look at the kind of environment that would be best suited to these types of hamsters should you choose to own some.

Because Dwarf Hamsters dig tunnels in the sand and dirt then one of these tubular type cages would be the perfect option for you to keep yours in. However, you need to make sure that you buy those specifically designed for this type of hamster as they will find moving around in a traditional one difficult because they are too big for them to climb on. If you are having problems obtaining one through your local pet store there are plenty of places online where such enclosures can be purchased.

Another thing that is important is that you provide them with a wheel as these hamsters are very active. Again make sure that it is one that is a size specifically designed for Dwarf hamsters. Although you may not realize it but studies carried out show that those hamsters that have a wheel in their enclosure will run for around 5 miles each day.

As mentioned above when it comes to Dwarf hamster care you need to allow them the opportunity to use their burrowing instincts. So it is advisable that you use wood shavings in the base of their enclosure which are absorbent but also free of dust. However, it is important that you don't use wood shavings made from cedar or pine as these contain properties which may result in respiratory problems for your Dwarf hamster.

To further ensure that your hamsters remain fit and healthy it is crucial that their enclosure is cleaned out completely each week. This means removing all of the shavings or other substrate in the base and washing it down a mixture of warm water and white vinegar. Not only does this help to remove mineral deposits in the base of their enclosure it acts as a natural odor neutralizer.

Another thing that you should do which will help when it comes to Dwarf hamster care is every time you are refilling their water bottle wash it out beforehand. This you must also do with their food bowl and again water and white vinegar will help with ensuring that bacteria levels are kept to a minimum.

Jim Renfro has bred and raised dwarf hamsters for over 10 years. He is an authority on Dwarf Hamsters and has written a free 10 day mini course raising dwarf hamsters here, Dwarf Hamster Care. Also, go here for more detailed information about Proper Dwarf Hamster Care.

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What Is a Russian Dwarf Hamster?

Russian Dwarf Hamster
By Russ Fleederman

Dwarf hamster lovers - even so-called pet experts - are often completely confused by the designations and differences among those species of dwarf hamster known collectively as the Russian Dwarf Hamster. This article will attempt to dispel some of that confusion, and illustrate some of the endearing qualities of these diminutive creatures.

First off, people referring to Russian Dwarf Hamsters usually mean one of three distinct sub-species: Roborovski's Dwarf Hamster, the Winter White Russian Dwarf Hamster, and the Campbell's Russian Dwarf Hamster. Of these three, the Roborovski's (AKA the "robo") is by far the smallest, measuring a scant 4 to 5 cm at maturity. The other two reach approximately twice that size, that is 8-10 cm.

While the Winter White is the hardest to find of the three, it is by no means rare, and a little diligent searching will turn up sources. The search is definitely worthwhile, for the Winter White Dwarf Hamster is known as a friendly, easy-to-tame pet. Often, these beautiful animals are found in same-sex pairs living happily together - something of an anomaly for hamsters, which often are known for fights between animals of the same sex. Not so the Winter White, which gets it's name from its unusual ability to change color from gray to white in the colder seasons of the year. Since this is due to a drop in hours of daylight, animals kept under artificial light often don't go through this color change.

The Campbell's Russian Dwarf Hamster is also known as the Djungaria Hamster, for the Djungaria region of Mongolia from which it hails. These are the most common Russian Dwarf, and if you find a hamster labeled a "Russian Dwarf" in a pet shop, most likely it will be a Campbell's. Due to the large numbers of breeders, the species has developed a large variety of color patterns, and everything from mottled brown to grayish-blue to spotted is within the "normal" range.

Native to the Mongolian desert regions, and therefore colored a sandy-tan on top, the Roborovski's Dwarf Hamster is uniquely outfitted to burrowing in sand by virtue or it's slightly elongated legs, longer than either the Winter White or the Campbell's. Because these hamsters are so very tiny - and quick - they are among the most difficult to keep as pets. They can squeeze between all but the most tightly spaced bars, and into the smallest nooks and crannies imaginable, and are therefore master escape artists. They are also extremely active!

Get to know these species of Russian Dwarf Hamster. They will assuredly bring a smile to your face!

Russ Fleederman is a dwarf hamster expert. For more great tips on the Russian dwarf hamster and a FREE dwarf hamster mini-course, visit http://www.dwarf-hamster.com/

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