Dwarf Hamsters – Should I Get One or Two?

baby russian dwarf hamstersYou want a hamster but the pet store does a special deal if you buy two, or you want one but you do not want it to become lonely on its own?

The question that goes through most minds when buying a dwarf hamster is “Should I get one or two hamsters“. Today I am going to help you decided whether having one or two hamsters is right for you and help you prepare what you will need plus what to expect.

Having One or Two Hamsters?


Dwarf hamsters are great pets for children (9+), teenagers and adults.

Having hamsters as pets can be entertaining to watch, handle and play with. Like their bigger relatives Syrian hamsters (also known as golden hamsters) they require a cage/tank, bedding, plenty of room (cage floor space is 65×45 but more is recommended), bedding, water, food, mineral blocks, wheels and accessories.




Unlike Syrian hamsters, dwarf hamsters like the Russian dwarf hamster can be kept together in pairs or groups under certain circumstances. However this may not always be the case as you will learn below.

Can you keep different breeds together?2014+-+1.jpeg

Unfortunately you cannot keep a Syrian hamster with any other type of hamster. Nor can you keep a Russian with a Chinese dwarf hamster, Roborovski with a Chinese or Russian or Syrian. You should never put different breeds together because this can lead to fighting, injuries and death.

You can keep two Russian dwarf hamsters together of the same sex, from the same litter and if with plenty of space between them they may get a long. Click here to see our how to introduce two Russian dwarfs together.

Keeping a male and a female together will result in babies and this is not advised.

Why Having Two Hamsters Living Together is Risky


Whilst keeping two dwarf hamsters together you should always be prepared to split them up. This is because dwarf hamsters can turn from friends to enemies within seconds.

This is mainly due to their age, territorial behaviour and cage/tank size.

Fighting is common in males as they become territorial when they grow up. Females normally live more peacefully within the same cage/tank as they do not have scent glands. Males use their scent glands on their undersides for marking territory.

What is Required for Keeping Two Dwarf Hamsters Together:

  1. Space – This is very important to avoid fighting between pairs. When keeping two or more dwarf hamsters together, a long fish or reptile tank is recommended. A 30 gallon tank or this cheap solution because it is easy to clean, maintain and suitable for two or more Russian dwarf hamsters or Roborovski hamsters.
  2. Toys & Accessories – These are very important for any hamster as they prevent boredom, attempting to escape and keep your hamster happy. The more the better when keeping one or two dwarf hamsters together. See our TOP 10 dwarf hamster accessories.
  3. Individual Requirements – To avoid fighting over food, toys and accessories it is advised that you give each hamster their own food bowl, wheel and house to sleep in. This can greatly reduce any fighting between hamsters.




Keeping a Male and a Female – Pros and Cons


Two Dwarf Hamsters TogetherDepending on species, either Chinese, Roborovski, Russian or Hybrid their gestation periods are different. Keeping a male and a female together from a young age will normally result in new pups being born. This is not advised as this may cause future problems.

Russian dwarf hamsters can become pregnant at the age of 3-4+ weeks. Once they deliver new pups they can become pregnant again within 24 hours.

It is advised to keep the same species together IF you are going to keep two together. However it is recommended unless the 3 points above are used.

Can you Keep Dwarf Hamsters on their Own?


Many people think that keeping two dwarf hamsters together will keep hamsters occupied and friendly, however dwarf hamsters can live happily on their own.

Giving a dwarf hamster enough space, accessories and handling, they will live a happy life as they would with a companion.

Keeping two dwarf hamsters together can be risky, especially if they become enemies and begin to fight. By caring for one you eliminate the chance of fighting this and will save money on purchasing a new cage in the future.

What Exactly will you Need to Care for One Dwarf Hamster:

  1. An Environment – A Ferplast Duna Cage (Our Top 10 Best Dwarf Hamster Cages) Or A 20 Gallon Tank (Click Here to See More Reviews)
  2. Supplies – Suitable bedding, foods and a water bottle. See our care guide for more on this.
  3. Activities – A good wheel and accessories. 

 

Is it Better to Have One or Two Hamsters?


Dwarf hamsters can be unpredictable and if you are considering keeping two together then be prepared to split them up and separate into different cages, even if you never have to. It is common for hamsters to not get a long even though some say they do.

Every Hamster is DifferentTame Russian Dwarf Hamster

Example Story: We had two male Russian dwarf hamsters that lived happily together for a year and a bit. Then one day one began squeaking and we noticed they were fighting more. After a couple of days it became worse and they were separated into their own cages. 

Who knows what could of happened if we didn’t split them up

If you do decided to keep two hamsters together, most pet stores & vets would recommend to keep Russian dwarfs together as they are known to be the sociable and able to live in pairs under certain circumstances.

To learn more about keeping Russian dwarf hamsters, you can find everything you need to know on RussianDwarfHamster.Org

Still have questions or need help? Leave a comment below

 

Best Cage For Russian Dwarf Hamster – How To Save Money!

If you are like me, a “Bargain Hunter” you will probably looking for the best cage for Russian dwarf hamsters without paying an arm and a leg for it. What you need is a push in the right direction to save you money on a recommended Russian dwarf hamster cage.Best Cage For Russian Dwarf Hamster

Dwarf hamsters are becoming more popular as household pets in America, United Kingdom, Canada & Japan. This is because they are easy to maintain, look after and generally inexpensive to keep. Being so cute and cuddly they make good pets for children (9 years of age +), teenagers and adults.

Today I am going to help you choose the best cage for your Russian dwarf hamster and save money doing so.

Most Common Problems with Russian Dwarf Hamster Cages


Unfortunately, not every cage is perfect and most people learn this the hard way. Here is a list of things that will make a good cage for dwarf hamsters:

  1. Ground floor space should be at least 65×45
  2. More than one floor helps with space
  3. Is ventilated with either bars or mesh somewhere on the cage.

Cages that provide these are great for Russian hamsters. However you will have to do some extra shopping for water bottles, wheels, houses, tubes and food bowls.

But what if there was a cage that has all of these?

A Cage that will Benefit you & is Highly Recommended


Buying a cage and then looking for all the extras that it will need can be frustrating, time consuming and expensive. Here is a cage that will benefit you… It’s called the Ferplast Duna Cage.

This cage is cheaper online than in some of the Big Pet stores. It takes a 2-5 days to arrive and comes with everything you need for any dwarf hamster.

How This Cage Will Benefit You – It is easy to think that because a dwarf hamster is small it will need a small cage. This is entirely wrong.

If you keep a dwarf hamster within a small cage, they will start trying to escape, climbing on the bars or biting you when attempting to pick them up. This is because they will be unhappy. 

The Ferplast Duna Cage comes with tubes, a food bowl, house, water bottle, wheel and also platforms. This cage will keep any dwarf hamster happy, healthy and space to roam/forage. While it is on offer, get yours today for cheaper above.

Buying a Dwarf Hamster Cage - How To Save Money & Time

Ferplast Duna Dwarf Hamster Cage – Inside View

True Story  We used to have one of our Russian dwarf hamsters called Hewbert within another cage that was smaller than his current Duna cage. He settled in within a couple of days however after 2-3 weeks, he began climbing the bars at night and waking us up. This became quickly annoying.

When I found the Ferplast Duna cage on offer online, I immediately invested in it. Since our hamster has been within this new cage we have not been woken up by biting the bars. This cage really helped us sleep at night and we recommend it!

Get yours today and save money clicking here?

Have a problem, question or suggestion? Leave a Comment Below

What is a Fancy Russian Dwarf Hamster?

The name “Fancy Russian Dwarf Hamster” comes from Pet stores around the world.

Russian dwarf hamsters are one of the most popular dwarf hamster pets worldwide and are becoming more popular as pets for children and young adults.

What is the Difference Between Fancy Russian Dwarf Hamsters & Normal?


Fancy Russian Dwarf HamstersA Fancy Russian dwarf hamster is basically a Russian dwarf hamster that has a different fur pattern, colour and different feature to Campbell’s Russian dwarfs and Winter Whites. Fancy Russian dwarf hamsters are normally hybrids (mix between Campbell’s & Winter White hamsters).

Fancy’s are roughly the same price but sometimes more than normal Russian dwarf hamsters and can be bought from big brand pet stores.

If you are looking to buy Campbell’s or Winter whites, individual breeders are the best place to get them and they generally are harder to find because rare and hard to obtain.

What Do Fancy Russian Dwarf Hamsters Eat, Need & Play With?


Fancy dwarf hamsters just like any dwarf hamster eat the muesli, nuts, seeds, fruit, vegetables and dried mill worms. They enjoy a balanced diet and prefer to eat nuts that are higher in fat like sunflower seeds.

In terms of environment, they need a large dwarf hamster cage, bedding and accessories to play with. Being nocturnal, they awaken at night and sleep within the day only waking up to get foods every few hours.

They love running in a wheel and this is a great way to help them burn of energy. A better option for your dwarf hamster is the Flying Saucer. Learn more about it here.

Along with a loving owner they will also need fresh water at all times, a cage clean out every 4-7 days and handling once a day to build up a strong relationship with your hamster.

Why Buy A Fancy Russian Dwarf?


Dwarf hamsters are great pets to have and require hardly any maintenance. They look after them selves and love human attention once tamed. They make great pets for children but better for young adults and adults.

If you decided to buy one or have one already, RussianDwarfHamster.Org will always be here to help you with any problems, questions or queries.

Have a problem? Leave a comment