How To Care For A Dwarf Hamster
It's very exciting when you head to the pet store and figure out the perfect Hamster Dwarf as your new pet. You have several choices available, but just because they are smaller than their Syrian cousins, the dwarf hamster care is still the same.
The first thing to understand about Dwarf Hamster Care is they are delicate, skittish, and always looking for an escape route. Since they are extremely small they are able to fit through cracks, and even a wire cage if you own one. You have to make sure they are always secure or they will get loose. In order to eliminate some of this you should give them the best home environment as possible. They love tunnels, sand, and dirt, so purchase those plastic tubular habitats. You should also consider the size, because cages that are too big will make their maneuvering more difficult and if it's too small they won't be able to roam. The perfect size is around 10 to 20 gallons. Make sure you place a wheel in their cage as well. It's possible that this will wear them down a bit, especially since they can run 5 miles in one session. So when you go to the pet store ask someone about cages for dwarf hamsters. Most of them have ones that are specifically built for the dwarf versions.
You should also be aware of the substrate that covers the bottom of the cage. Dwarf hamster care starts here and you have to provide a dust free offering by using absorbent materials. Wood shavings are a great choice as long as it's not cedar or pine, because it can cause your dwarf hamster to have repertory problems. You should also change it every week since these hamsters make their nest out of it. There will be times when you notice them making a huge pile so they can stay warm and sleep comfortably. Another thing to consider is that dwarf hamsters are very shy and love their privacy. A great way to add to their comfort is by setting paper towels, cotton balls, or even tissues in the cage. If you go to the pet store you can find square shaped cotton they can shred apart and fix it perfectly for their new little home. If you have a nesting box they will most likely use it, so check your pet store for those as well.
One thing to note about dwarf hamsters is they are extremely fast. The best thing you can do to control their escape instincts is to add an exercise wheel in their cage. If you want to bring them out you can let them roll around in a ball. However, you must make sure they can't unlock the opening (this has happened to me in the past), because they will easily get loose. If you do use a ball they can only stay in there for a certain period of time. When you offer these options they will calm down a bit. Just remember that it's not a crazy thought for a Russian dwarf hamster like this one to run 5 miles in one session. Who knows, it might help you come up with the perfect name for your new pet.
Make sure you don't give them any less food than you would a Syrian hamster. Dwarf hamster care revolves around knowledge, and you should know they have extremely high metabolism rates. So feed them just as much food and try to stick with pellets, seeds, dried fruits or veggies, and even a couple treats along the way. We understand hamsters love to hoard their food, but this doesn't mean you should stop feeding them daily. They will also need chew toys that usually look like wooden sticks. The perfect choice can be found at the pet store, but they need these to file down their teeth. One thing you may not know is their teeth are always growing and if they gnaw on the wrong thing it could bring forth injuries or even death.
When it is time to clean the cage you have to wash everything. All you need is some light soap and water to get the job done, but make sure you rinse everything thoroughly. The best time to do this is when you change the substrate. Make sure you dry everything as well and DO NOT use any chemical based cleaners. This will do nothing more than irritate the dwarf hamster's skin and body. In the beginning all this information sounds like too much to bear. However, dwarf hamster care is very easy if you know what you're doing.
It's very exciting when you head to the pet store and figure out the perfect Hamster Dwarf as your new pet. You have several choices available, but just because they are smaller than their Syrian cousins, the dwarf hamster care is still the same.
The first thing to understand about Dwarf Hamster Care is they are delicate, skittish, and always looking for an escape route. Since they are extremely small they are able to fit through cracks, and even a wire cage if you own one. You have to make sure they are always secure or they will get loose. In order to eliminate some of this you should give them the best home environment as possible. They love tunnels, sand, and dirt, so purchase those plastic tubular habitats. You should also consider the size, because cages that are too big will make their maneuvering more difficult and if it's too small they won't be able to roam. The perfect size is around 10 to 20 gallons. Make sure you place a wheel in their cage as well. It's possible that this will wear them down a bit, especially since they can run 5 miles in one session. So when you go to the pet store ask someone about cages for dwarf hamsters. Most of them have ones that are specifically built for the dwarf versions.
You should also be aware of the substrate that covers the bottom of the cage. Dwarf hamster care starts here and you have to provide a dust free offering by using absorbent materials. Wood shavings are a great choice as long as it's not cedar or pine, because it can cause your dwarf hamster to have repertory problems. You should also change it every week since these hamsters make their nest out of it. There will be times when you notice them making a huge pile so they can stay warm and sleep comfortably. Another thing to consider is that dwarf hamsters are very shy and love their privacy. A great way to add to their comfort is by setting paper towels, cotton balls, or even tissues in the cage. If you go to the pet store you can find square shaped cotton they can shred apart and fix it perfectly for their new little home. If you have a nesting box they will most likely use it, so check your pet store for those as well.
One thing to note about dwarf hamsters is they are extremely fast. The best thing you can do to control their escape instincts is to add an exercise wheel in their cage. If you want to bring them out you can let them roll around in a ball. However, you must make sure they can't unlock the opening (this has happened to me in the past), because they will easily get loose. If you do use a ball they can only stay in there for a certain period of time. When you offer these options they will calm down a bit. Just remember that it's not a crazy thought for a Russian dwarf hamster like this one to run 5 miles in one session. Who knows, it might help you come up with the perfect name for your new pet.
Make sure you don't give them any less food than you would a Syrian hamster. Dwarf hamster care revolves around knowledge, and you should know they have extremely high metabolism rates. So feed them just as much food and try to stick with pellets, seeds, dried fruits or veggies, and even a couple treats along the way. We understand hamsters love to hoard their food, but this doesn't mean you should stop feeding them daily. They will also need chew toys that usually look like wooden sticks. The perfect choice can be found at the pet store, but they need these to file down their teeth. One thing you may not know is their teeth are always growing and if they gnaw on the wrong thing it could bring forth injuries or even death.
When it is time to clean the cage you have to wash everything. All you need is some light soap and water to get the job done, but make sure you rinse everything thoroughly. The best time to do this is when you change the substrate. Make sure you dry everything as well and DO NOT use any chemical based cleaners. This will do nothing more than irritate the dwarf hamster's skin and body. In the beginning all this information sounds like too much to bear. However, dwarf hamster care is very easy if you know what you're doing.