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“I have recently owned a Russian Dwarf hamster, and I...”

written by djeva1 on 04/01/2007

Good Points
Cute, quite friendly and adorable, plus very easy too look after.

Bad Points
Tend to be more nocturnal and have short life spans, plus some are prone to developing tumours.

General Comments
I have recently owned a Russian Dwarf hamster, and I could not believe how soft and small it was compared to the size of Syrian Hamsters, and they're slightly quicker. I love the walnut patterned markings on their coats, with the stripe down the back, and when you first pick them up, they automatically flatten themselves onto your hand and you can carefully groom their coats with an old toothbrush, as I did with mine. I provided our Dwarf Hamster with a good size cage, plus I put down loads of sawdust, as they like to burrow, whereas Chinese Dwarf hamsters like to climb. I also put in some empty toilet and kitchen roll tubes for play. Unlike a Syrian Hamster, Dwarf Hamsters do not have as much strength in their jaws to enable them to chew up the cardboard tubes, and when my little hamster nibbled my finger, it just tickled; and it would lick my finger too.



When choosing a Hamster, it is best to get a male, as they are more docile than females (females get less friendly as they get older)! I have also owned a couple of Syrian Hamsters when I was much younger, and they seem to have a tendency to slide off your hand rather than to cling on to you with their feet, but they're just as soft and cuddly. As with all Hamsters, they need plenty of toys to chew on, as they like to try and gnaw some of their cage to help keep their teeth in good shape, and to wear their claws down. Good wooden logs with exit holes provides an excellent chew toy, plus a seed and grain honey chew stick treat. Other healthy treats include little pieces of broccoli, cucumber, courgette, carrot tops and even a small strawberries or raspberries. My little Hamster loved those treats. It was funny when I used to refill its food bowl, as it would only root out the sunflower seeds and throw the other contents around the cage. For some reason Hamsters really love sunflower seeds. Another good form of exercise for a Hamster, apart from a wheel, is an exercise ball, where it can run around on the floor and explore new spaces. Like all Hamsters, this one was more nocturnal, and tended to make a racket when playing in its wheel, but to stop the noises I added some Vaseline to the wheel axle and the noise stopped.



Sadly, as my little Hamster became old, it started to develop a couple of nasty tumours; one below its ear and the other in its stomach, so I took it to the vet and was told it had to be put down, which was rather upsetting. I had the Hamster for nearly 18 months. I buried it in my garden with a farewell note, all its toys, treats and bedding.



They are lovely pets, and I would love to get another Hamster soon.