LIFE SPAN OF A DWARF HAMSTER By Christina Stephens

Hamsters seem to always have cheeks full of food; after all, their name does come from German word “hamstern,” which means “hoard.” Dwarf hamsters, the tiniest in the hamster species, are similar in size to mice. Despite their small stature, these nocturnal cuties are popular pets for children and human night owls alike.

Average Lifespan
The average lifespan of a dwarf hamster is one to two years. However, each species and individual hamster is unique. Growing up to 2 to 3 inches and tipping the scales at up to 2 ounces, dwarf hamsters come in three different species: Russian, Chinese and Roborovski. Chinese dwarf hamsters can live up to three years, while Russian and Roborovski tend to live only two. Providing the proper care as an owner can help ensure the longest, healthiest life possible for your dwarf hamster.

Housing
Dwarf hamsters are social creatures and enjoy living in pairs. Make sure to get two same-sex hamsters to prevent breeding, though. Since dwarf hamsters are much smaller than traditional, or Syrian hammies, it’s important to get a cage with little space in between the bars — lest they slip out. Mice cages are a good option. Dwarf hammies are active, and those with the most space to play and climb will seem happy and healthy. Cover the floor of their habitat with wood shavings and paper bedding for nesting and staying warm; Russian dwarf hamsters are particularly sensitive to the cold. These little guys also love a separate bedroom area where they can cuddle and feel more secure as they snooze. Clean the cage once a week to ensure optimal, hygienic conditions.

Proper Nutrition
Dwarf hamsters do well on a quality hamster mix containing seeds, grains, cracked corn and pellets. You may supplement their diet with small amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables, like apple, spinach, lettuce and carrot, however not too much. An abundance of fresh foods can cause upset stomach. The ASPCA recommends giving your hammy fresh food every two or three days and fresh, clean water daily. Avoid feeding raw kidney beans, onions, raw potato, rhubarb, chocolate or candy, as they’re unhealthy and even toxic.

Potential Health Problems
Hamster teeth are constantly growing, so provide wooden toys, mineral stones or treats for them to grind on. Without these, their teeth may grow so long they irritate or even start growing into their chins. Dwarf hamsters are also prone to respiratory problems, including colds, which they can catch from their owners. Signs of illness include dull-looking eyes, matted fur, weight loss, shaking, runny nose, prolonged inactivity and diarrhea. Seek veterinary care if your hammy shows signs of illness.

HOW TO INTRODUCE A FEMALE HAMSTER TO A MALE…

If you want to give your boy hamster a female companion, you have to follow certain protocols. Otherwise you could create a dangerous situation. Hamsters can be territorial little critters and, while they may not pose much of a threat to you, they can do serious damage to one another. The breed, sex and place of introduction are all important things to consider when introducing two hamsters, especially ones of opposite sex.

Let your hamster go on living the bachelor life if he is of a breed that doesn’t appreciate company. Syrian hamsters, namely, are territorial; they simply refuse to live with others. If you want to give him a companion, the pair will have to live in separate cages.

Place your female hamster in the male’s cage and monitor them as they interact. Generally, females are more aggressive than males, so putting a female in with a male makes him less of a threat — he is in his own territory, not invading hers. The hamsters may fight a little at first, but if it seems excessive or one-sided, remove the female and cage her separately.

Set up a new, fresh, never-used cage for the hamsters to share. Sometimes, when one hamster is introduced to another in an existing habitat, territorial fighting can prevent them from cohabiting. If the environment is neutral ground, however, it makes this type of fighting somewhat less likely. Hide a few small treats in the cage and introduce both hamsters at the same time. By the time they’re done hunting treats, they’ll have become used to one another.

SIBERIAN HAMSTER CHARACTERISTICS By Jackie Carroll

Also called winter white Russian dwarf hamsters, Siberian hamsters are one of the two types of Russian dwarfs. It is difficult to distinguish between Siberian hamsters and their close cousins, the Campbell’s Russian dwarf. Campbell’s Russians are more common in the pet trade, and if you bought your hamster at a pet store, chances are that you have a Campbell’s Russian dwarf. The best way to make sure that you get a Siberian hamster is to buy your pet from a professional breeder.

Appearance
A Siberian hamster with normal species color has gray fur with a white or cream-colored underbelly and a pronounced dark stripe down his back. They grow to about four inches in length from the tip of their nose to the end of their stubby little tail, which they keep hidden in their bottom fur. When compared to other dwarf hamsters, their feet are furrier and they aren’t quite as bulky. In the wild, Siberian hamsters turn white in winter in response to changing seasonal daylight patterns. Pet hamsters may not change colors, or may fade only slightly, unless they are exposed to natural daylight cycles.

Color Mutations
Captive breeding has produced two color types in addition to the normal gray color. The pearl color type has a white body with a darker head. Sapphire types have blue-gray fur with a dark stripe down their back, a white or cream-colored belly and dark eyes. These color mutations don’t change in winter.

Personality
Siberian hamsters are social animals that are happiest when kept in pairs or groups. Make sure your hamsters all are of the same sex to prevent a population explosion. Dwarf hamsters have a reputation for being nippy and hard to hand-tame, but Siberians are easier to handle than most dwarfs. With patience and daily interaction, you’ll soon have a pet that will enjoy your company and stand up on his hind legs to greet you when you approach the cage. These lively, active little hamsters have no fear of jumping out of your hand, so hold them gently but securely. Small children should sit down when holding them to prevent injury if the hamster leaps from their hands. Like all hamsters, Siberians are nocturnal and most active between 8:00 PM and 11:00 PM.

Pregnancy
Mother Siberian hamsters give birth to 4 to 6 young, called pups, after a gestation period of about 19 days. They can have another litter every 24 days, and the young begin breeding when they are only a month old. It doesn’t take strong math skills to see why you should keep these pets in same-sex pairs. If a female Siberian hamster becomes pregnant while she is nursing young, she can put her pregnancy on hold so that the fertilized eggs won’t mature until she weans the current litter. The only other mammals known to do this are bats. The male Siberian hamster helps to raise the young, and if he is killed after fertilizing her eggs, the female can choose not to become pregnant.

HOW TO FIND THE GENDER OF YOUR HAMSTER By…

It is not hard to separate the boy hamsters from the girls, if you know what to look for, though you may have to wait until they’re about a month old to be sure. If you’re getting a new pet, or a pair of them, don’t trust that the pet shop has sexed them properly; it’s always a good idea to check for yourself. Use a bit of caution when handling hamsters, as they may bite, and be careful not to squeeze or drop them when taking a look at their bellies.

Openings
Hold the hamster carefully and look at the underside, near the tail. There will be two openings, one of which is the anus. The other opening will be either the penis or the vulva. The most obvious difference between the two sexes is that there is more distance between the anus and penis, with a small but obvious space between the two. If the hamster is female, there is only a very tiny space, if any, between the vulva and anus. Often the two openings in a female are so close together that they are touching.

Testicles
In male hamsters, testicles will develop and will become quite obvious as he ages. When seen from underneath, they appear as noticeable swellings near the penile opening. As he matures, you can tell a male hamster from above because his testicles are large enough to give his rear end a pronounced pointed appearance. The female’s rear lacks these bulges, and instead looks smooth and rounded. The testicles are not obvious in very young hamsters, and the males also can retract them, so you may need to look closely at your hamster to be sure.

Nipples
Female hamsters typically have two rows of nipples on the belly. These can be seen if you hold her upside-down in your hand and run your finger gently along her underside, parting the hair so that you can see down to her skin. As with other sexual characteristics, the nipples become more pronounced as the hamster ages. If you happen to be looking at a female who already has had babies, the nipples will be quite obvious and much easier to see.

Considerations
The Michigan Humane Society recommends that you house hamsters individually, since adults of some breeds are known to fight and may injure each other. If you do decide to house your hamsters together, it’s best to determine the sex as early as possible if you don’t want to end up with a lot of babies. Females can breed as early as six to ten weeks of age, while males typically will breed by the time they are 10 to 14 weeks old. Young hamsters usually can be housed safely with others of the same sex until they are mature.

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