Russian Dwarf Hamster BLOG

Top 10 Best Dwarf Hamster Cages – Big, Large and Cheap

Cage, aquarium or bin?… Stop searching around, below you are going to see the Best dwarf hamster cages, tanks and our Top 10 with the places to buy them with up to 60% discount.

Let’s face it, your pet needs a proper home. But what defines “proper living quarters” and which is better… Cage or an aquarium for dwarf hamsters?

Stick through to the end and RussianDwarfHamster.Org will also show you why we adopted over buying a dwarf hamster at the pet store and our TOP 10 dwarf hamster accessories to go with your new home.

“It will be their kingdom for the next 2-3 years”

Most important aspects of your habitat should be:

– Safe/secure
– Well ventilated
– Entertaining
– With PLENTY of space

What is better, Cage or Aquarium?


This is completely up to you, your available space and your budget.

Dwarf hamster Aquariums – Aquariums generally are an more expensive upfront cost, but usually will save you more money long term as they are versatile, safe and spacious. For example, it can be used for many other projects like fish tanks, amphibians or storage.

The visibility is perfect for children, adults, and guests too. Watching your fascinating hamsters playing and exploring is the best part!

Glass Dwarf Hamster Cage

We say “Aquariums” – But they are more designed for hamsters. Just look similar!

Dwarf hamster Aquariums also look modern, keep the house cleaner and are generally easier to clean. A 5-star example of this would be the ECO Hamster Cage Habitat from Zooplus 5% offer here.

Large Dwarf Hamster Cages – These are normally your go-to option when purchasing a hamster, but the pet stores sell cheap and small-sized cages for dwarfs which are usually not big enough to keep a full-grown Russian, Roborovski, Siberian, Chinese or winter white dwarf hamster.

The benefits of having a big dwarf hamster cage are:

  • Customizable, many cages come with floors, tubes that can be rearranged and other fun accessories, a good example of this is the Ferplast Duna Cage
  • Usually 25-40% cheaper than aquariums/hamster tanks and come with accessories included (Food bowls, water bottles, hamster houses, and a wheel.
  • Friendlier for children and colorful cages are exciting for youngsters. Large dwarf hamster cages make great Instagram/Pinterest photos.
  • Are known to reduce boredom a little more than aquariums and less ammonia builds up from the better ventilation

Small cages are not suitable for long-term homes because they get dirty quickly, do not provide enough space for a healthy lifestyle and hamsters become bored quickly and start chewing the bars trying to escape… Which is annoyingly loud and will keep you awake all night!

Small dwarf hamster cages should only be used as a hospital cage, travel or taming cage (What is a taming cage?)

A XL large dwarf hamster cage or large hamster tank will be your best options for keeping your new hamster happy and healthy, and will make your hammie easier to tame!

What your dwarf hamster needs inside and outside its cage


The necessities needed inside your dwarf hamster’s environment are fully laid out here.

Make an image with all the needed accessories with Russiandwarfhamster.org logo

  1. Bedding (Carefresh is recommended)
  2. Suitable wheel (Quieter ones are less annoying at night like the silent spinner)
  3. At least 6 accessories (See our top 10 here)
  4. An exercise ball, reframe from using this more than 15 minutes a time.
  5. Food and added fresh fruit and veg (Which Fruit and Veg?  Care Guide Explain! )

Recommended Size Requirements 

The bigger the floor space, the better. A basic recommended rule is 1 square ft per dwarf hamster. Do not ignore this!

TOP 10 Best Dwarf Hamster Cages and Aquariums – Big, Large and Cheap!



Let’s get stuck into the Top 10 Best Dwarf Hamster Cages and Hamster Tank/Aquariums:

Number 10 – Ferplast Laura cage – This exciting habitat is a great home for observing, handling and playing with your pet.

It comes with 2 floors and just enough space, this is one of the smaller cages, however. Cheapest place to buy in the UK here, and the rest of the world here.

The Ferplast Duna is fairly easy to clean, everything is removable making it ideal for children and young adults looking to be creative with their hammie.

See full review here

Number 9 – Ferplast Kios – Yep.. Another Ferplast! They do make great cages, they are sturdy and are known to not fall apart even after years of use, unlike other ones on the market.

This cheap dwarf hamster cage has a cage space of 70cm x 47cm meaning its a good size and will give your hamster some space to make every day different whilst also being cozy.

The good points about this cage:

  • Comes with a nest/house, feeding bowl and water bottle included
  • High base surrounding helps keep all the bedding from escaping and can hold large amounts of bedding which hamsters enjoy, promoting natural foraging.
  • Easy to connect with other cages like the Ferplast Laura cage or other Ferplast products, great when more than one dwarf are living together and families that have multiple dwarfs.
  • Easy to clean and make, also one of the cheaper dwarf hamster cages to buy in the UK and Europe here

Number 8 – Prevue Pet Products Universal Home 

Easily one of the best value for money habitats available!

This big dwarf hamster cage is mainly available around the world but not in the UK. It comes with a whopping 91cm x 48cm which is a good size for not under $70.

The good points are:

  • The wire spacing is narrow making it perfectly safe for Roborovoski dwarf hamsters and all small dwarf rodents in general
  • An extra floor adds more creativity and fun but can easily be removed
  • Easy to open, maintain and access your hammie
  • Lots of ventilation from the bars and easy to add wheels
  • Very sturdy base and well made

The Prevue Pet Universal Home is currently rated 4.5 stars by over 120+ reviews. If you’re anywhere but the UK, this is definitely worth a closer look here on Amazon.com

Number 7 – Seapora 59207

Our first aquarium for dwarf hamsters on the list!

This spacious aquarium is one of the cheaper aquariums available online that looks visually fantastic in any home.

It does not come with any necessities, however, do be sure to see our Top 10 Hamster Accessories first!

This Aquarium does not come with a lid also, make sure to keep animals like cats away from the opening or simply put a mesh over the top.

Easy to clean, will keep your house tidier whilst giving your hamster a great view.

Number 6 – Savic Hamster Heaven Metro https://amzn.to/2Rjx4SW

This fun hamster habitat is by far the most customizable and is an exciting cage for children AND very spacious. It comes with everything you see in the picture and all the necessities too. It’s a perfect first cage.

The wheel in this cage is fairly quiet and fast similar to a silent spinner.

Good points about this page:

  • Comes with adjustable tubes to connect other cages or just be creative
  • Children friendly and very colorful design
  • Does not need many extra accessories, but more is always fun!
  • Has a large base size and handles to move easily
  • Everything is detachable making cleaning easy

Why we recommend this cage – It saves a large amount of money upfront. If you were to purchase all of the accessories included with Savic Hamster Heaven Metro it would cost you over $50 extra! It’s really interesting what some people do with theirs. Photo/video reviews here.

Number 5 – Small Pet Terrarium Kerry

Zooplus have created a cheap Terrarium for dwarf hamsters that look smart and clean, comes with a bunch of wooden accessories that are good for hamster teeth also.

For under £65, (which is really cheap for a glass tank) it includes everything in the above picture except bedding, a water bottle, and a food bowl. These can easily be picked up, however.

The awesome part about the Zooplus Terrarium is that you will never have to worry about your hammie escaping or any mess outside the tank. It also provides good sound insulation at night.

You can get this on at Zooplus for cheaper than anywhere else online with free delivery here to most countries.

Number 4Ferplast Hamster Cage Black

Ferplast has some excellent cages, this one encourages hamsters to be hamsters.

In the wild, dwarf hamsters generally, awaken at night and begin burrowing new tunnels and foraging for food. They love making big nests and feel safer underground.

The Hamster Cage Black’s bottom floor is very spacious and provides an excellent area to fill with bedding, accessories, and food. Then just watching your pet create a fantastic natural home.

This fun dwarf hamster cage is also customizable for the owner giving you the choice of making it a burrow and digging area or… whatever you want!

Like the Terrarium, the top and bottom floor has crystal clear visibility and can easily be changed around weekly. Cheap Siberian Dwarf Hamster Cages

Good points about this big dwarf hamster cage:

  • Easy to assemble, maintain and clean
  • Comes with large food bowl, a good weel, house, water bottle
  • Can be easily connected to other Ferplast cages and accessories
  • 2 floors keeping hamsters entertained and preventing boredom
  • Fairly cheap to its competitors and larger
  • Very good wheel and well built

This cage is available all over the world with fast delivery here. Best Dwarf Hamster Cages

Number 3Alexander Small Pet Cage

What a joy to watch! The Alexander part wooden, part plastic cage makes a hamster lifestyle a fun castle.

The benefits of this Zooplus dwarf hamster cage:

  • Incredibly easy to set up and clean
  • 101 cm x 52 cm making this the largest cage so far, hamsters do not want to leave! 🙂
  • Wooden structures are great for hamster teeth and edible (the Alexander includes 6)
  • Plenty of ventilation and very secure

The wood included with Alexander Small Pet Cage is safe for all types of hamsters and will help keep teeth healthy. Did you know that a hamster’s teeth never stop growing?

For under £75, you really cannot get a larger cage that includes 6 wooden accessories, very safe and reassuring for owners and looks smart with lots of bedding.

Bad points about this cage:

Wheel – You will need to add a running wheel as it does not include one. This will be perfect. 

Water bottle – Add a water bottle to the cage, just make sure it’s not above a wooden section, as wood may be harder to clean when damp.

Damaged parts – Regularly check wooden parts for worn damage that may harm your hamster. Replace when needed.

Again, like the Zooplus Terrarium, it’s cheaper to purchase from their website directly and includes free shipping here.

Number 2Zoozone Hamster Cage Habitat 

Choosing between the top 2 was really hard, however, the Zoozone Habitat is the cheapest spacious cage money can buy. This really is cheap and available for shipping all over the world!

The Zoozone 2 habitat is the quiet, as tidy as a Terrarium/aquarium whilst having almost double the space for price compared to its rivals.

The best advantage that the bars are on top and not accessible to hamsters unless they can climb on something tall. This stops “chewing on the bars” read more here about it.

Hamsters are nocturnal, so it’s common for them to by up all night using all their energy running, climbing and playing. This cage is tall, if hamsters cannot reach the top bars, they cannot gnaw, waking you up at night.

Other benefits of this cage:

  • 72cm x 46cm meaning it’s not the biggest dwarf hamster cage, but its much cheaper whilst just inside the recommended standards!
  • Great visibility from above and sides
  • Easy to access and handle hammies
  • Easiest cage to clean out and good at keeping noise levels low
  • Can be ordered anywhere in the world
  • Very affordable, spacious and popular

The Hagen Zoozone Indoor cage is very popular with all types of small animals.

Bad points:

  • Does not come with a water bottle, many order this with it.
  • The top bars are spaced for small guinea pigs, it’s not advisable to put tall objects in the middle that give hamsters an opportunity to climb to the top white bars. Smaller hamsters are excellent escape artists and will try and escape.

Here is an image of the top, with mesh added, you can see how that it’s a good idea to prevent any unwanted burglars.

Best Dwarf Hamster Cages

We recommend adding your own mesh to the top bars just for extra security like this.

See more picture reviews from recently bought customers here.

Number 1– Living world eco-habitat 

Just wow… This cage is beautifully simple, stylish and safe. Just looking at the homes that customers have made are inspiring! The Living World Eco Habitat.

Largest Dwarf Hamster Cage - zoozone hamster cage

Why this cage is number one out of our Top 10 Best dwarf hamster cages:

  1. The floor space is over the national recommended and RSPCA guidelines
  2. Very easy to set up, clean and move (on wheels)
  3. It is the quietest and best dwarf hamster cage that provides excellent visibility
  4. No bars, no escaping and no bar chewing at night waking everyone up!
  5. Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook love this cage
  6. Available in 3 sizes to suit all needs. M and L are recommended
  7. Roof lid is tight and secure whilst access is not restricted. It’s easy to play with your hammie at the safely
  8. NO mess outside around the tank, glass saves time cleaning escaped bedding and easy to wipe down/clean.
  9. You can see everything your hammie does, children are always fascinated and enjoy interacting
  10. So much space makes customizing creative. These tanks always impress guests and are cheaper than XL aquariums of the same size.

Even the small version of this tank is a good size for a Roborovski dwarf hamster or other baby dwarf hamsters.

The bad points about this cage:

  • The Living World Green Eco does not come with the necessities. Simple shop online
  • It takes around 10 minutes to set up, not long but is longer than some cages
  • Generally sold-out from high demand (check here for availability)
  • More expensive than most, however, it does not have ONE bad review
Best Dwarf Hamster Cages Big Cheap and Russian Dwarf Hamster Friendly

Check availability on the Eco Habitat here.

A fantastic cage that will have perfect visibility, easy to clean and will keep the house tidier! What more could you ask for?

You will need to buy extra accessories, so why not check out our TOP 10 Dwarf Hamster Accessories here.

New orders at Zooplus get 5% off here.

Haven’t got a dwarf hamster yet? See our adopted one and why you should adopt too!

If you have any suggestions for our next top 10 Best Dwarf Hamster Cages 2020, let us know below.

Siberian Dwarf Hamster Care- #1 Guide You Will Need

Siberian Dwarf HamstersThe Siberian Dwarf Hamster is one type of dwarf hamster alongside the Russian Dwarf Hamster, Chinese Dwarf Hamster and Roborvoski Dwarf Hamster that you can buy within most pet stores around the world.

In this #1 Guide, we will jump into the fascinating world of Siberian Dwarf Hamster Care including:

  1. Who they are suitable pets for (which ages)
  2. Recommended diet and favorite food
  3. Price and where to buy Siberian Hamsters
  4. Most active times in the day and what to expect
  5. Life Expectancy of a Siberian Dwarf Hamster
  6. How to Care for your new pet
  7. Breeding and what to do with unexpected babies
  8. Find out if Siberian Dwarf Hamsters live together
  9. Suitable and best cages for Siberian hamsters
  10. Learn more about their personality

In a rush? Click any of the above to skip to what you are looking for!

With that out of the way, let’s dive into our first pointer

Siberian Dwarf Hamsters make great pets, but who for?


These loveable creatures are fascinating to watch, play with and bond with. But, not great pets for children under 7 years old.

Siberian Dwarf Hamster FoodThis is because young children do not always understand how gentle they need to be with such a small animal. We want everyone to be safe!

The averages age that own dwarf hamsters as pets are between 9 and 55 years of age which tells us that hamsters are great pets for children, teenagers, and adults.

This being said, it’s completely up to you on whether you think you’re ready to own your first dwarf hamster, or if you already do, make him/her famous with our gallery here 🙂

Remember, these are little living creatures who want your love, not to be neglected.

What Food do Siberian Dwarf Hamsters Eat?


A Siberian dwarf hamster diet in the wild consists of seeds, fruits, vegetables, small insects, grains, some nuts, and other smaller animals.

We are not saying you need to feed them insects!

No, not at all… That’s the diet they eat within the wild.

Your pet will mostly enjoy fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts. However, a balanced diet is very important for the health of your hamster.

It is recommended to give your dwarf hamster pellets that contain a balanced diet, mixed into one pellet. An example of these branded foods is Oxbow Fortified Food.

Using this food as a normal daily source of goodness and then adding mixed dried vegetables, fruits, nuts, and muesli will keep your pet’s diet varied. An example of this is Hazel Hamster Tasty Mix. This will give your hamster a happy healthy lifestyle.

Dwarf hamsters are prone to diabetes and obesity, a healthy and balanced diet will help prevent this.

Directions for pellets foods – Simply add 1-2 tablespoons of pellets every day and what we recommend you do every 2-3 days sprinkle your fruits/vegetable treats or muesili around the cage. If you really want to keep your hamster entertained, hide bits in places like under bedding, or accessories where they can find them.

Dwarf hamsters love foraging, tunneling and burrowing so make this something you do regularly!

Where to Buy a Siberian Hamster and How Much for?


Siberian Dwarf Hamsters can be bought at most pet stores around the world and the cost around $10-$30 depending on the location.

Many stores try to promote buying more than one for a discount, but be very wary of these schemes until you read pointer 8 – Can Siberian Dwarf Hamsters Live Together.

Do you Want to Save Money and Feel Proud About Your Hamster?

Adoption is always available in pet stores and most of the time, younger dwarf hamsters are still available. This means that you can adopt a hamster for half the price and they may be around the same age as the new ones! Here is a video when we adopted a 12 year old Russian Dwarf Hamster.

 

When is Playtime, Sleepytime and What to Expect


Siberian Dwarf Hamsters are nocturnal, which means they are most active at night.

Generally, they will be active for around 1-2 hours in the daytime. This time is normally made up from thirst, hunger, and hygiene.

Most of their energy will be used at night time, meaning the daytime will be rest time. But when they are thirsty or hungry, they will happily go fetch some.

Dwarf hamsters are surprisingly hygienic pets when they have the right accessories.Russian Dwarf Hamster Sand Bath

A sand bath is a really good way to keep hamster hygiene and odor control. Simply add a sand bath to their environment and they will naturally use it. Our recent post explains how to create a sand bath in 5 steps.

During the daytime, you should avoid holding your handle your hamster until its tamed. Consider playing with them before you go to bed. This will prevent aggressive behavior during the day.

Imagine if you were woken up to play at 4 am, you would be aggressive especially if a huge giant put its hand in front of your face. Just put your mind into a hamster 🙂

Siberian Dwarf Hamster Lifespan


The life expectancy of a Siberian Dwarf hamster is 1-2 years.

However, some have reportedly lived for up to 3 years old. Completely depends on the lifestyle of your pet, breed, lifestyle, and diet.

This breed is prone to getting diabetes and some forms of cancer around 2 years of age. When a hamster is in pain, it may affect the behavior towards the owner.

For example, if your hammie starts biting and showing aggression towards its owners randomly after 2 years of age, it may be time to take him/her to the vet. Could be a sign of a bigger problem.

 

Liberian Dwarf Hamster Care – Everything you will need


Caring for dwarf hamsters you will need:

Cage or Tank –  This will be their perimeters for your hamsters home. Tanks are generally far better environments for these small pets because they are safer, show more visibility and quieter at night. Its known that dwarf hamsters bite and knaw on cage bars when they are unhappy or trying to escape. This removes the headache of being woken up at night.

What Size Should It Be? Many people think that because it’s a small animal, it will not need much room. This is completely and utterly incorrect information!!

A good size home would be something like the one of these two below. A good starting point as these are both over ground floor 60cm x 60cm.

The more space you provide for your hamsters, the fewer problems you will have taming, biting and being woken up by an unhappy hamster in the middle of the night.

 

Dwarf Hamster AquariumBedding – This is the term for the material that layers in the inside of your pets cage/tank. It provides protection whilst helping natural foraging and borrowing.  The main purpose, however, is for maintaining a clean cage that your hamster feels comfortable in. 2014 - 20 3

A fantastic bedding that is fairly expensive, but if you but in bigger amounts online is cheaper than pet stores is called Carefresh Bedding. 

It soaks up hamster waste, masks odor and is edible at the same time. Its been around for a while and is recommended a lot throughout dwarf hamster communities!

 

Accessories – These are the fun in your cage/tank. Accessories probably are the most important part for in your hamster’s eyes. These toys will prevent your pets from biting the bars, prevent boredom and keep them exercised and in better health. The more of these, the happier your hamster will be. For some example of these, see Top 10 Accessories They LOVE here

Breeding and unexpected babies – What you should do!


We get comments and emails every day about unexpected babies and what to expect.

Unfortunately, this is a big problem for many as pet stores do marketing campaigns for buying 2 dwarf hamsters for the same price as one. But after, do not explain or inform customers that

If you put two hamster together, they may not live together

If a male and a female live together, they will have babies. This is just nature. The problem with this is the aftermath.

Being rodents, hamsters will breed over and over again. Meaning that the female can get pregnant the same day she gives birth to a litter.

What should you do if your hamster has babies?

Do not panic, you will need to separate the original male and female quickly though.

The mother will look after the young and raise them, but you MUST not interfere during the first 4 weeks. If your scent gets onto the babies or even close, the mother will either eat her pups thinking a predator has been involved with them or abandon them.

You must just let her be ensuring you put twice the amount of normal food and water in the cage. She will need more than normal…

Here is a video of unexpected babies we once had.

For the full guide on bringing up, pups see #1 guide for health dwarf hamster babies.

Can Siberian Hamsters Live Together?


There is a big debate about this topic and has been for many years. Some say that Siberian Dwarf Hamsters cannot live together period. Others say that with they can live together happily.

We believe that these types of hamster CAN live together happily, but only under certain conditions. These are:

  1. From the same litter. This means two brothers or two sisters
  2. With a large amount of space, I mean over 120cm x 120cm
  3. Their own accessories, food bowls, house, water bottles, wheels and toys
  4. They spend time away from each other and not always in each others space

These conditions have worked in the past, but it’s not guaranteed to work.

Females with females tend to be better together as males are far more territorial. Males gain scent glands on their undersides when they become adults which they rub on areas to mark territory. This is also how hamsters find their way around when they cannot see.

Marking their territory annoys the other male and these causes play fights which eventually turn into fights to the death.

Having one Siberian per cage is always a safer option.

Best cages for Siberian Dwarf Hamsters Online


As mentioned before, you will need a big cage.

Here are 3 recommended cages that are a reasonable price that should suit your needs.

Number 1 – Dark Grey 528 on Amazon

This cage is roughly 80cm by 45cm meaning its got enough room, however, more would be better. If you are on a budget, this low-cost cage may be right for you. See 106 five star reviews here.

Siberian Dwarf Hamster Cage

Number 2 Ferplast Hamster Black

This is a cheap Siberian dwarf hamster cage that provides a little less space than the above. Ideally, you should aim for at least 22 to 14 inches in length and width. This cage comes with a handful of accessories including a good wheel, water bottle, hamster house, 2nd floor, and a large food bowl.

This is one of the more recommended cages for new owners of dwarf hamsters. See what others are saying here.

Cheap Siberian Dwarf Hamster Cages

Number 3 Ferplast Duna

Now, this is a fantastic cage if you live in the UK, may fairly expensive anywhere else in the world. We did a full in-depth review and video review at Ferplast Duna Cage Review – Worth the Money?

Definitely check that out, our adopted hamster (from the video above) lived in that cage for 2 years very happily.

Siberian Dwarf Hamster Cages

Siberian Dwarf Hamster Personality – Behaviour and Taming


These cute and entertaining creatures love human interaction. They really do make fascinating pets.

Generally, dwarf hamsters can be bought after 8 weeks old. This normally means they will need to be tamed.

Siberian Dwarf hamsters are very active at night, being so small they can quickly run, hop and hide.

Once tamed, hamsters are friendly, very happy to be handled and comfortable roaming on your guest’s hands.

Here is a video guide on how to handle a Siberian.

Taming dwarf hamsters is fairly easy when you follow these 5 steps to success.

Here are 5 common normal behaviors to expect from your Siberian:

1 Sudden Bursts of Energy – With such little stomachs, dwarf hamsters digest food and then have sudden bursts of energy, which they burn off with exercising. It’s very normal for your hamster to be full of energy one moment, then sleepy the next.

2 Squeaking and Fighting Dwarfs – Like the saying “blind as a bat”, hamsters have poor eyesight, they use their very powerful nose to navigate. Siberian dwarf hamsters are very curious and they are known to play fight with siblings, parents other hamsters. When they play fight, squeaking or hissing are noises made when feeling scared, frightened or startled. However, if repulsive smells are sprayed and visible wounds you need to read this Why is my hamster hissing?

3 Chewing EVERYTHING? – No, they are not always hungry! Hamster teeth never stop growing, they control and maintain teeth by knawing, nibbling and biting on everything. Keeping chewable toys with their home will prevent them from biting the cage bars. On the other hand, if your being woken up at night or your hammie is trying to escape, see How to stop your hamster biting the bars in 3 simple steps

4 Itching and Scratching – This probably means your pet is happy! Grooming is a very important part to a hamsters day. They will spend overall around 2-3 hours a day doing so. Grooming shows that they’re calm, relaxed and comfortable.

5 Creating Nests and Digging – In the wild, these types of hamsters live in underground burrows and tunnels, sleeping in the day, foraging at night. If you put some tissue paper into your cage, you will notice that your hammie will stuff some in its cheeks and then take back to its burrow. Creating a bigger home. They are known to move nests around randomly and sleep in random places when they feel safe.

If you still have unanswered questions, please leave a comment below and we will get back to you! 🙂

Russian Dwarf Hamster Babies Care – Did You Know This?

Has your Russian dwarf hamster had unexpected babies?

It is more common than you may think but, sometimes young Russian dwarf hamsters are mixed with the wrong sex. This leads to pregnant dwarf hamsters that are sold on without the store or breeder knowing.

In this week’s post we are going to look at proper Russian dwarf hamster babies care, how to deal with unexpected baby hamsters and important advice on caring for baby Russian hamsters. This post is for unexpected, not breeding.

Guide to Russian Dwarf Hamster Babies Care

A Russian dwarf hamsters babies are hairless at birth and begin to grow fur within the first week. Here is a video of what to expect…

New-born are very cute however there are some very important rules you should abide by, if your hamster has unexpected babies.

RULE Number 1 – Do not touch the babies… Although they may seem very cute and cuddly, if you touch the young within the first 17 days (2 and a half weeks), the mother may abandon her young or worse eat them. Do not touch the mother and young within the first 3 weeks if possible.

2 Plenty of food water – The mother will care for her young, however she cannot do it all on her own. She will need almost double her daily amount of food and water. This is because her young will require milk that she should provide. Enough nourishment for the mother will be essential for healthy babies. Add extra food and change water daily.

3 Mother and child time – Caring for dwarf hamster babies is stressful for the mother. Be sure to give her as much time and space as possible. Disturbing her and the young may only cause future problems. Keep their cage/tank in a quiet location where disturbances are minimal. Music should also be kept low or off.

Here is a picture of Russian dwarf hamster pups from 2 days old up to 6 weeks old. Notice how they grow fur on their backs quicker than undersides and how their eyes develop to open.

Russian dwarf hamster babies guide care

 

Have Two Hamsters But Not Sure Which One Is Female?


Do you have two Russians, but not sure which one is male and which is female?

Pet stores and breeders sometimes may accidentally put different sex’s together thinking they both are the same gender. If you have two and one is pregnant then one may be a boy and the other may be a girl.Male & Female Russian Dwarf Hamster

The best way to find out is by taking them to a vet or seeing our “How to Determine the Gender of a Russian Dwarf Hamster” By Clicking Here.

If it appears that you have a male and a female, although males make great fathers and help bring up the young, they may reproduce within the first 24 hours of birth which will result in more babies within the gestation period (20-29 days).

We advise that you split the father into his own tank, cage or environment and allow the mother to bring up the young. Another reason for this is – The farther may mate with the baby females when they become 3 weeks old causing future problems.

 

What You Should Do – To Help The Mother Bring Up Healthy Pups


If your hamster has surprised you with new pups, there really is not much else you can do to help.

The mother will raise her young up independently and with the extra provided food, water and space she will do everything in her power to bring them up. RussianDwarfHamsterPictures

Allowing her to do her job is crucial and could save their lives.

Have you seen our 5 Steps to Success raising Russian dwarf hamster babies? Learn more here.

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