Feeding Dwarf Hamsters
As an instinctively hoarding animal by nature it’s often hard to tell how much your dwarf hamster has eaten, as they also enjoy removing food from their feeders and bowls and hiding it away. On average the adult hamster will eat 1/4 of an ounce or 5 to 7 grams of food and up to one teaspoon or 5ml of fresh water daily.
This may not seem like a lot of food however considering the size of the dwarf hamster isn’t very large either! As Dwarf hamsters are more active in the evening through to early morning is a great time to have fresh food and water available to them.
What is fed to them daily plays an important role in their health and longevity:
- Pelleted hamster daily diet that is commercially available with a 14 percent protein content or higher is ideal. Laboratory rodents have a diet around 18 to 19 percent protein and this closely resembles the hamsters nutritional requirements.
- Be sure to check the expiry or date of manufacturer of pellet food and that it is hasn’t expired a store in a sealed container.
- Fresh water that chlorine and chloramine free like a commercially bottled drinking water
- Hamsters enjoy birdseed and insects as a occasional treat. Pet store bought insects of meal worms or small crickets are the safest.
- A small occasional amount of fresh veggies for a special treat once in a while, but be sure not to overdue it and keep it in very small quantities. As they much prefer to eat these types of food over their nutritiously balance pellets and too many fruits and vegetables can cause intestinal upset leading to diarrhea. Some fruit and veggies can also can cause dry skin and food allergies.
- Fresh hamster food pellets with an occasional special treat of raw vegetable makes an interesting and nutritious meal for your pet!
What can be harmful to feed your dwarf hamster:
- candy, dried fruits and sticky stuff or dry foods
- cooked or processed foods
- chocolate, caffeine or any type of “junk food”
- If your unsure of the nutritional content of any food, best not to feed it to them
- Avoid water that is distilled, de-mineralized, deionized or carbonated spring water
- hamsters have a tendency towards diabetes and best not to feed them sweet foods
Remember to check your pets water sipper tube is clean, unblocked and easily accessible and remember to change the water supply daily always giving them more than they can drink. Also having more than they can eat readily available for feeding dwarf hamsters.
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Siberian Hamster
Why is a Siberian Hamster called a White Russian?
The Siberian hamster is often referred to as white Russian dwarf hamster as part of it’s coat in the winter season changes from gray to white in color. Although not all of the coat changes to white and some gray color is maintained. The number of daylight hours prompts this color coat change along with temperature drop.
You can expect the color change to start about half way through September and is completely changed over by mid November.
Bonding Behavior
This dwarf has big eyes, a body that is compact and males at maturity are approximately 4 inches long, weighing in at 1 to 2 ounces. The Siberian Hamster likes to bond with it’s mate and the bond can become so strong that if separated behaviour changes can arise. The male can become totally inactive, eat more and become what resembles depressed and even their hormone levels can change. They are so close to depression behaviour in humans that they are studied by researches to understand depression.
Handy Dandy Cheeks
This little dwarf has rather large cheek pouches for carrying food and bedding. When necessary it can fill these pouches with air and use them as a flotation device to assist in swimming!
Keep the males apart!
Generally they are sociable and good natured hamsters, it is recommended however that mature males are not grouped together as often tempers will flare and tendency to fight. When comparing the Siberian hamster to all the other types of dwarf hamster they tend to be the slowest and sluggish. They tend to be less active in the evenings, don’t mark scent as much and the father participates in raising the pups.
What is the life span of a White Russian?
The life span of the Russian white can vary depending upon the care and nutrition it receives, however on average they span 1.5 to 2 years. They tend to be more active in November and less active from February to March based on the photo period of light.
Variety of exercise is the spice of a Dwarf Hamsters life!
A variety of exercise options is sought out by the Siberian, including sitting, standing, running, jumping, grooming, digging and climbing. Some types of activities you can provide to your hamster include solid wheel (strongly recommended), exercise secure area, ladders and even tube tunnels.
If a tunnel is placed between two adjoining cages for the hamster’s habitat, this resembles the burrows in the wild. When considering purchasing exercise equipments, consider the size of your pet and purchase in size scale appropriate for your Siberian Hamster.
Super Cute Winter White Siberian dwarf hamster video
Robo Dwarf Hamster Care
Robo Life Span
If the robo dwarf hamsters are raised with other members of it’s kind, from an early age they will tend to be peaceful and tolerant of each other. The male robo dwarf plays an important role in the raising of the newborn pups. the Roborovskii is reported to have the longest life span of 2 to 3.5 years.
Robo dwarf – What do they look like?
Consider their small size when buying supplies!
Robo dwarf hamster care is very much the same care as the other hamsters, however because of their small size there are a few things to keep in mind when buying supplies:
- Housing should be chew proof and escape proof
- Ten gallon aquarium with a secure breathable lid is an deal home for 2 full grown adults in a well ventilated draft free area, never in sunlight or near heaters and fans.
- Purchase wooden, non stained, chewable toys, not plastic
- Exercise wheel geared for dwarf hamster size that has NO bars
- Prepackaged designed bedding material consisting of pine or alder shavings, never use cedar shavings as that could make your dwarf ill
- Dust free bedding as possible - bedding material as dust can be irritating to your pet.
- Robo dwarf hamsters really like to have a bath and not just any bath -a special dust bath! This helps them clean the oil from their coat by rolling around in the dust.
Their bedding should be changed at least once a week and if a few are grouped and living together, change at least twice a week or more.
Dwarf hamsters are true hoarding animals and enjoy removing and then hiding their food. Use clean non toxic feed bowls and feeders made of stainless steel or ceramic, placed within easy reach for you Robo.
Feeding your Robo good healthy food is important!
Proper nutrition plays a important role in the life, reproduction and health of your pet. Here are some of the many things robo’s enjoy eating:
- Pelleted hamster diets of more than 14 % protein content
- Occasional small treats of bird seeds or insects or meal worms purchased from the pet store
- Occasional raw vegetable in small amounts
- Fresh clean water access
Foods to avoid feeding your Robo:
- Candy, dried fruits, raisins, sweets, they have a tendency towards diabetes
- Cooked or processed foods
- Chocolate, junk food
This pet can suffer nutritional disorders if not fed a balanced nutritious diet. Please make sure that the commercial hamster diet you purchase is fresh and not out of date that you are providing for your robo dwarf hamster care.
Learn more about robo dwarf hamster info
Mom with week old Pup
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Robo Dwarf Hamsters Info
The Roborovski (Phodophus roborovski) or affectionately known as Robo hamster. The Robo is originally form the deserts of western and eastern Mongolia, China and Russia. A natural burrowing creature that can dig down three to four feet through the sand to build their nest.
Size full grown:
- adult weight is approximately 1 to 1.5 ounces
- 3.5-4 inches in length
Consumption of food and liquid daily:
- 1/4 to 2/5 of an ounce of dry food daily
- 2 to 2.5 teaspoons of fresh water
always have more food available
-always have more water available to them
Special Characteristics
- Huge internal cheeks pouches for carrying large quantities of material and food
- On it’s belly are mid-ventral scent glands
- 34 chromosomes, 17 pairs, indicating that the Robo is more primitive when compared to the Djungarian or the Russian White dwarf hamster
- Their life spans from 3 to 3.5 years on average.
Color of Robo Hamsters Fur
Their color ranges from brown to brown-apricot, with no stripe down the back and there is a white patch above each eye. They have large eyes and tend to be a stocky and compact build with a broad head.
Tidbits
They are the most active in the evening from 9 to 10 p.m. They are easy to handle and breed in captivity and tend to be quick and jumpy. They are impeccable at keeping themselves clean and really enjoy specialized dust baths.
About Breeding, Baby Robos and their family life
The breeding season is from April till September. Gestation is 20 to 22 days and a female can produce four litters in a season. The litter size ranges from 1 to 9 however on average from 3 to 6 pups. Pups at birth are only about one gram. They are hairless with eyes and ears shut and sealed toes. Babies grow at a tremendous speed, after 5 days they have their body hair, two more days the toes have separated and at two weeks can hear with open eyes.
Before the ripe age of three weeks they have all fur an are no longer need their mothers care as they are fully weened.
The male hamster is involved in the raising of the pups and stays involved in the family unit of the robo dwarf hamsters.
Robo dwarf Picture Video
Learn more about Robo dwarf hamster care.
Dwarf Hamster Behavior
Often the dwarf hamster has been given a bad reputation for being ill-tempered and quick to bite, but this behavior is usually a result of mishandling or sudden disturbance. Dwarf Hamsters can be tamed with a little practice and patience.
When starting this process of taming, it’s best to progress in ideal circumstances, when your not in a rush and in the evening when the hamster itself is in a happy playful mood. How do you know when your hamster is in a playful mood? Luckily they show communication through their body language and voice signals.
Here are the some of the behaviors and body languages basics:
Curious and interested
Running around their cage, digging, climbing are signs of a healthy and happy hamster.
Interested and Curious
Sitting on their hind legs, relaxed and sniffing for periods of time. Front legs about level with their belly and it’s front toes are point towards the ground, they are in an overall relaxed position being curious.
Scared
Ear will be tilted back, standing with one or both front feet raised, often hissing or squeaking. This hamster when hamster is agitated and ready to bite. Do not touch and best to leave them alone as they are not bluffing.
Defensive Posture on guard to attack
Sometimes when frightened, will lie on it’s back and expose it’s belly and showing it’s large incisors and will use them if necessary. This is a serious attacking position, do not attempt to touch.
Different territory
Hamster will look like they have flattened themselves out because and this is because they can’t smell thier markings or something that is familiar to them. They use Scent markings to locate where they are and make your pet feel safe. Due to having really poor eyesight, they then rely on their sense of smell scent to locate a path that is familiar, and without the scent markings your hamster is feeling uncomfortable.
Sleeping Hamster
Often buried in the bedding material curled up in a ball. It’s best not to wake up a sleeping hamster, as it could startle them and then they could be in an BAD mood.
Vocalizations
If you hear a hamster talking, it’s for an important reason like your hamster feels threatened or is threatening an attack or expressing danger. Babies have the ability to call one another by using an ultra sonic range and some predators don’t have the ability to hear.
Scent marking
As they don’t really have good eyesight, an important thing for them for is to mark their territory. They use scent to locate paths, boundaries, their nests and breeding times.
Activity
At night time is when they tend to be most active. Daylight hours, shorter days and colder temperatures also changes their behavior, often requiring more more sleep!
Stashing Hamster
This is a natural instinct for them to stash food, and they love to stash far more than it can ever eat. Remember to move the stashed food daily, so your pet isn’t eating spoiled food.
Sheltered Hamster
Dwarf hamsters have natural instincts to burrow and love to tunnel and keep themselves covered. By also providing your pet with a hide home inside their cage will be appreciated by them.
Playful Hamster
Running, jumping, leaping and flipping are all signs of a healthy active playtime.
Hopefully that gives you a brief insight to Dwarf Hamster behavior.
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Dwarf Hamster Care
There are several different species of Dwarf hamsters and they all make wonderful pets. Although they are smaller then their Syrian cousins, they require the same amount of care.
Dwarf hamsters can often be more delicate, skittish, and faster to make an escape. Their small size allows them to fit into small cracks and spaces so they need a secure enclosure. Hamsters make their homes in tunnels that they dig themselves in the sand and dirt of their native homelands.
Housing for Dwarf Hamsters
- In a home environment, they thrive in the plastic habitats that are available to purchase at most pet supply stores. Consider their small size, the hamster habitats might be too large for them to climb and maneuver in properly.
- Avoid cages with bars, as Dwarfs are small and may escape easy or get stuck between the bars.
- Luckily, they now make habitats that are built smaller and specifically for mice.These types of enclosures better suited for dwarf hamsters.
- They will also do well in a 10-20 gallon tank Remember two double the cage size if two are being housed together. Be sure to have a secure screening top for the aquarium, that provides air flow and escape proof
- Keep the Dwarf hamsters cage out of sunlight,heaters, drafts and securely out of the way of other household pets such as dog, cats, birds etc.
- Hamsters are naturally active creatures. A wheel that can be placed inside the cage and can be used to run on is extremely important. One study found that a typical hamster could run up to five miles on their wheel. There are smaller wheels specifically made for dwarf hamsters and without bars.
Substrate
- Place a commercial substrate designed for hamsters on the bottom of your dwarf hamster’s cage will satisfy their natural burrowing instincts.
- Use a dust free and absorbent material like wood shavings but not cedar or pine based products due to the respiratory problems these materials can cause.
- The substrate in the hamster’s cage should be completely emptied out and replaced every week.
- Hamsters like to make nests out of the substrates in their cages.
- Owners can also offer their hamsters a number of other nesting materials like paper towels, cotton, shredded paper, or tissues.
- Often times they like to construct their nests in a small space like a nesting box. Because they are naturally shy animals, they like the privacy that these boxes offer.
Toys, Care and Cleaning
- Another important aspect that owners need to be concerned about is ensuring that their hamsters receive chewing toys. Hamsters’ teeth never stop growing so they feel the constant urge to gnaw on anything that is around them. Without soft wooden toys to keep them busy they are liable to chew on plastic accessories which could injure them if chewed to become rough and broken.
- In addition to replacing the substrate of the hamster’s cage on a weekly basis, the cage and all of its accessories need to be washed weekly.
- Use a light solution of soap and water and make sure to rinse everything thoroughly. Never use harsh chemicals as this can effect your hamster
- The cage should also be completely dry before new substrate is added to the cage.
What does a dwarf hamster eat?
Although they require a moderate amount of care, the joy of owning a dwarf hamster far out weigh the amount of effort that needs to be put into the care of these amazing creatures.
Dwarf Hamster Care video
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