Black Bear Hamsters

Black Bear Hamsters are a type of teddy bear hamster that were first bred in 1985. They're predominantly known for their black fur and are incredibly popular for the unique shading and fun-loving temperament.

These hamsters are far more laid back than most other hamsters - with the exception of their exercise regime. In order to maintain proper weight, a black bear hamster should have a hamster wheel or some other form of entertainment to keep it from becoming fat. A plastic hamster ball is strongly recommended when they're outside of their cage.

Black bear hamsters are extremely simple to handle and only grow up to 5-6 inches long at adulthood which makes them very easy to manage. It's only nicknamed 'The Black Bear' because of it's glossy black coat that resembles a bear. Be sure to keep it down though, these hamsters hate noise and they live up to 3 years so be prepared to keep it down for awhile!

Once you buy your hamster be sure to give it some space before you handle it regularly. Most people recommend waiting about a day before you begin playing with your new black bear hamster so it can become acclimated to it's environment. They're not naturally aggressive but they may accidentally nibble your finger thinking it's food.

There are some great store-bought black bear hamster foods that you can use like 'Hazel Hamster'. Be sure to only give them a small amount or they'll just hide the excess and get fat off it. These hamsters are very clever and will try to steal food whenever possible and stash it away. You can also give it some piece of string cheese or egg but be sure to tidy up after feeding and don't let anything uneaten rot in their cage.

Be sure to give your hamster plenty of salt blocks that it can munch on to avoid it chomping on your cage and damaging it's teeth. Black bear hamsters often like to nom nom nom on something and it you don't provide it with mineral blocks it'll use the cage which is very bad for it.

Other than that, be sure to clean it's cage and change it's water regularly - the general rule of thumb is once a month you'll need to completely remove everything from the cage and wash it out. Be sure to let the entire cage dry before placing new saw dust inside to prevent mold or mildew from forming.

Other than that, enjoy your awesome black bear hamster and make your friends jealous!

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Robo (Roborovski) Dwarf Hamsters

Whilst they are small in size, they are not small in character and their energetic and playful nature can make it difficult for them to be tamed. However they are social creatures and the Roborovski dwarf hamster is fond of company and therefore it is recommended that they be purchased in pairs. Many worry that they may fight and injure themselves, but this is not always the case as normally injuries or fighting only occur when they are placed with groups. They will actually eat, play and sleep together and they look extremely cute when they cuddle up to each other. Obviously if you were to buy a pair, then you would need to ensure you buy a pair of the same sex other wise it will be highly likely you will have many dwarf hamsters running around as they can breed very quickly.

They are small in stature and are generally between about 4 and 5 centimeter long and weight about 25 grams which makes them a very delicate pet. They will live for between 2 and 3 years as long as they are nurtured and kept healthy.

The natural coloring of the Robo dwarf hamster is typically described as sandy with a darker undercoat, although their underbelly is all white. Captive breeding has changed some of the colors available and it is not unusual to find the Roborovski hamster with mottles or spots on their body.

Due to their size and their fast and energetic nature, they are not particularly suited for younger children as they are extremely delicate and children, although not intentionally can be a bit clumsy and rough. Therefore it would be recommended to purchase these for children over the age of 10. You still might want to supervise your child when they are being handled.

If you go to a pet shop to purchase one or two if you can then make sure they are alert and ask yourself. Do they look healthy and full of life? Because these animals are generally nocturnal they can often be sleeping when you visit the store, so try to go later in the evening if possible and ask the store owner to check the sex. Generally the Robo dwarf hamster loves a mate and two females are generally better than two males. Ask their age and if possible ask if you can take some of their existing bedding for them to travel home with. This will smell familiar to them and make their journey a lot let stressful.

Once you have them home, take them to their new cage immediately and allow them time to get used to their new surroundings before being handled. If they have fresh food and water and lots of bedding they should be more than happy with their new home. The Roborovski dwarf hamster can and does make a wonderful pet to own for you and your family.

Categories: dwarf robo hamster how to take care of a robo dwarf hamster robo dwarf hamster robo dwarf hamster care robo dwarf hamster facts robo dwarf hamster food robo dwarf hamsters

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Dwarf Hamster Names

So you're naming your hamster and you've been scratching your head to come up with a good one. Here are some I came across that work well for both boy (male) and female) girl) dwarf hamsters:

A Ally Axel B Baby Bilbo Biscuit Brownie Bubbles Buffy Buster Butterball Buttercup Butterscotch Button C Caramel Cheeky Chewy Chip Chloe Chubby Cindy Cinnabons Coco Cocoa Cookie Dough Cream Puff Crisco Crouton Cuddles Cupcakes Curry D Daisy Disco Domino Doughnut DumplingE Ebi Einstein Elvis Emeril F Flick Fluffy Fritter Furball Fuzzball Fuzzy G Gizmo H Hamham Hamlet Hammy Hampton Hank Hazel Henry Herman Hershey Houdini I

J Jellybean Jojo Jukebox K Karma Kernel Kitkat Kiwi Kobe Kujo L Latte Licorice Lilly Lucky M Macaroni Marble Melonball Mimi Mini-Me Missy Mocha Muffin Muffles Munchkin N Nemo Nibbles Niblet Nugget O Obi-wan Odie Olly Oreo Orlando P Panda Pauly Pebbles Pedro Perogy Pepperoni Ping-Pong Pinky Pooky Popcorn Poptart Q Q-Tip R Rambo Ravioli Ringo Rocky

S Scooter Scrabble Scruffy Shaggy Sherlock Shrimp Skippy Skittles Sleepy Small Fry Snowball Snowflake Snuggles Sparky Speedy Spiderman Spike Stinky Stitch Sugar Bear T Taco Tater (tot) Teddy Thimble Tinkerbell Tiny Tippy Trixie Tofu Toffee Turbo U Uni V Versace W Waffles Whiskers Wrinkles X Y Z Ziggy Zippy ZZ

Hamster Duo Names

Paris & Nicole Coke & Pepsi Batman & Robin Bonnie & Clyde Nut & Bolt R2D2 & C3PO Venus & Serena Fred & Barney Betty & Wilma Barbie & Ken Pinky & The Brain

Cain & Abel Salt & Pepper Chip & Dale Tom & Jerry Ben & Jerry Mario & Luigi Tic & Tac Biscuit & Gravy Spock & Kirk Thelma & Louise Bert & Ernie

Anthony & Cleopetra Hugs & Kisses Ping & Pong Zig & Zag Fish & Chips Dolce & Gabbana Itchy & Scratchy Mary-Kate & Ashley Bits & Bytes Mac & Cheese Henry & Hank

Categories: chinese dwarf hamster names cute dwarf hamster names dwarf hamster names female dwarf hamster names names for dwarf hamsters robo dwarf hamster names russian dwarf hamster names

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Dwarf Hamster Supplies: Cages, Bedding & Toys!

Like any pet you buy, dwarf hamsters also need certain items to live happy, healthy lives. Whilst some supplies are essential there are also items that are nice to have but not absolutely critical.

The most vital item you will need to purchase is their home, a safe and comfortable environment for which they can thrive in. Whilst many choose the obvious and that is a wire cage, you may also want to consider other options, for example an aquarium or a plastic tank or cage. The reason being is that many wire cages are not always suitable for dwarf hamsters, because of their size they can often squeeze through the bars of cages and get stuck or worse escape entirely. If you do want to by a wire cage then make sure the bars are small and close together to avoid this.

A plastic tank or aquarium is a great alternative and not only will your dwarf hamster not be able to escape but you will also find you have a great view of them to watch them runaround and play. Obviously you will also want to make sure their home is big enough. The Chinese dwarf hamsters and the Russian dwarf hamsters love to exercise so you will want to ensure they have plenty of room. Especially if you buy a pair and keep them in the same cage or tank.

Bedding is relatively cheap to purchase and is vital to make your hamster happy. This can be in the form of wood shavings which is the most common and you will want to put down a layer of about one to two inches in the enclosure, covering the entire area and you can also layer it up in certain areas of their home as dwarf hamsters love to play and climb.

Dwarf hamsters love to nest, so you will need to buy a hamster house. This gives the shy creatures a place to hide away either from their dominate mate or just to get some piece and quiet.

A litter box for hamsters can also be purchased, although this is not critical. Dwarf hamsters tend to litter in a certain area of the cage and once you notice this you can then insert a litter tray. Filled with hay or newspaper this will mean you can empty it out on a regular basis and this will help keep their home clean. Never use cat litter in their litter tray as this has been known to cause problems to the hamsters and should be avoided at all costs.

Dwarf hamsters absolutely love to chew and although most people associate these chew toys with dogs, hamsters love them as their teeth never actually stop growing so allowing them to chew on certain items will maintain their teeth and keep them at normal levels. These types of toys can be commonly found at pet stores and come in all manners of sizes and colors. Generally they are made of softwood.

You will also need to purchase a water bottle for your pet hamster and whilst some owners supply water via a water bowl, this is not really ideal and these regularly become littered with bedding and food. With a water bottle the water will stay clean and healthy. They are attached to the side of the cage and are easily refilled with little or no spillage. You will need to make sure you check it regularly and ensure there are not cracks or splits in the plastic.

There are lots of toys available to dwarf hamsters and although they are considered as toys I think it would be wise to invest in a hamster wheel or/and a hamster ball. Considering their love of exercise and their active nature, this is a great way to ensure they get the exercise they need whilst being in a safe environment.

Dwarf hamsters are relatively cheap and easy to keep and once you have made the initial purchases the ongoing costs for food and bedding should be minimal.

Categories: best dwarf hamster cage chinese dwarf hamster cage dwarf hamster cage dwarf hamster supplies robo dwarf hamster cage russian dwarf hamster cage

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Dwarf Hamster FAQ - Common Questions

Our site covers a lot of information on dwarf hamsters and you can obtain information from reading the articles, however we have included some of the most common asked questions here.

Can I have more than one?

Yes you can, and we would actually recommend it especially if you are buying Robo dwarf hamsters as these is very sociable creatures. However it would not be recommended to have more than two as this can lead to fighting. One hamster is still perfectly acceptable as long as you can provide adequate stimulation in the form of toys and exercise.

How long will my hamster live?

Generally dwarf hamsters will live from anywhere between 2 to 3 years; however it is not unheard of for a dwarf hamster to live for 4. They typically have a longer life span than their cousins the Syrian hamsters.

How can I tell what sex my hamster is?

The hamsters have two openings on their underside and the female’s openings will be close together and the males will be further apart. The best way is to look and see if you can clearly see two openings; if you can then you have a male. If it is more difficult to decipher then you have a female. Sometimes they are so close together it actually looks as though they only have one.

Are they easy to tame?

Yes and no is the answer to that. They are not difficult in terms of how you tame them, however it does require patience. If you have your dwarf hamster from an earlier age then you are more likely to be successful as they have not got into the habit of being scared of humans.

Can I place my dwarf hamster with my other hamsters?

No most definitely not, they are not to be mixed at all as the larger varieties of hamster bully and most likely kill your hamster, they are not to be placed together and should be kept separate at all times.

Categories: chinese dwarf hamster lifespan dwarf hamster gender dwarf hamster life expectancy dwarf hamster life span dwarf hamster lifespan lifespan of a dwarf hamster russian dwarf hamster life span

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Chinese Dwarf Hamsters

A very rare breed of hamster are Chinese dwarf hamsters, primarily due to the fact that they have ownership restrictions in some states throughout America and they are notoriously hard to breed in captivity. Chinese dwarf hamsters originate from deserts in Mongolia and Northern China and these furry little creatures tend to have more mice like features compared to their counterparts.

Small in size though they are, they are not actually a dwarf hamster, but because of their small size they are often categorized as such. Generally they tend to be about 10 to 12 centimeters in length and whilst this is still very small, when you compare to a Russian dwarf hamster they are nearly double the size. Their body and their tails are longer than their relatives, which is why these look distinctly different. The coloring of the hamster is normally grey or brown in color with a distinct black stripe down the back of its body and a white underbelly. Although being kept in captivity has allowed other colors to be bred into them.

Generally dwarf hamsters can be found and kept in pairs, however for the Chinese dwarf hamster this is not necessarily the case. However if you were to have two baby females from a very early age this might work. Females being the more dominate will often cause friction when placed with a male and it has been known that males can become seriously injured when placed with a female. This could be the reason why they are difficult to breed in captivity. The female can become aggressive.

If you were to have two hamsters housed together, bear in mind that they will require twice as much room and therefore some cages are not suitable. Ideally the Chinese dwarf hamster will need two levels and plenty of places for which they can hide. Especially when they are in pairs as the less dominate of the two will need somewhere they can hide. Due to their size the ideal home for them is a plastic aquarium, which will prevent them squeezing through the bars of cages which is not unheard of. Also this will prevent them becoming injured when trying to escape.

Hamster food for the Chinese dwarf hamster is generally the same as any other hamster. They will thrive with a diet of seeds and pellets and also the occasional raw fruit or vegetable. Some owners will offer cheerios or a small bite sized amount of wheat bread to their hamster as a special treat. But be cautious as remember, in the wild cheerios are not found in the deserts of china and their stomachs are very fragile. You could give them meal worms or crickets, if you have them available but this species of dwarf hamster will not require them. You will also need to ensure that fresh water is plentiful, due to their very dry diet, they can often consume large amounts of water and the best method is to use water bottles as opposed to water bowls, which can become littered with bedding and food.

If the dwarf hamster care is maintained properly you will find that your pet hamster will live for up three years. However you will need to be aware that the Chinese dwarf hamster is not very easy to tame. They can be aggressive and are known for their skittish and sometimes unpredictable behavior. Therefore they may not be a suitable option for a young child who likes to handle their pet. A Russian dwarf hamster may be more suitable for a young child as they are generally a lot friendlier and more accustomed to being handled by humans. Chinese dwarf hamsters although very cute, will not necessarily make the ideal pet.

Categories: chinese dwarf hamster chinese dwarf hamster care chinese dwarf hamster facts chinese dwarf hamster food chinese dwarf hamsters dwarf chinese hamster male chinese dwarf hamster

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How To Breed Dwarf Hamsters

Breeding dwarf hamsters can be an exciting and wonderful way to introduce the family, especially children to the joys of nature however there are many things to consider before embarking on the process.

The gestational period for a dwarf hamster is typically between eighteen and twenty days and the size of the litter or the amount of babies they have can vary quite dramatically and anything from one baby up to ten babies should be expected.

Once the babies are born it is especially important that owners leave the babies and their mother to get on with being a family. Owners should refrain from touching the babies and as hard as that may be it is critical that mother and babies are left to bond and learn about themselves and each other before being handled. Normally after a period of about ten days it will then be acceptable for owners to pet them and handle them, however not for too long as this could cause the mother to become anxious about her young and she may become distressed. Don’t worry about cleaning or changing the bedding for the first ten days, they will be absolutely fine and the mother will ensure they are kept clean.

It will take about seven days before any fur will be seen on the babies. When they are born they do not come out with fur but after a period of about four days you will notice the pigment on their bodies will start to develop and then fur will start to appear. It will take about ten days for their eyes start to open and they start wondering around. Only after they have reached this stage are they safe to handle.

Extra care will need to be taken when handling the baby dwarf hamsters as like their parents they are very jumpy and fast and can easily jump out of your hand. Now you have started handling them it would be wise to do this on a regular basis but only for brief periods. This will help to tame the babies and make them friendlier to humans.

Baby dwarf hamsters will start to eat hamster food when they are about two weeks old and small portions of oatmeal, wheat germ and tiny pieces of bird seed should be introduced regularly. The babies will develop a lot faster when given small grains and in turn they will become a lot healthier. You could even introduce very small amounts of fruit or raw vegetables.

At about ten days old you will notice that they will seek out the water bottle and start to take small amounts of water in. Once this happens the mother will start feeding them less and less and after about 4 weeks she will then stop feeding them altogether and the babies are now fully weaned and should be taking regular meals from the food bowl. It is at this point you will need to remove the babies and place them in their own cage. Especially if there are males in the litter because if they are not removed then it will be quite likely that the mother will become pregnant again and inbred pregnancies are not encouraged for various reasons. Place females in one cage and the males in another.

Now they are four weeks old the dwarf hamster care in the previous article should be followed as they are at the stage where they are now fully independent. However you should check on them regularly if you have more than one in a cage as they are prone to squabbling just like human children and because of their delicate frame they can become injured. It is also at this stage when they are ready to be given away to friends or family or sold in pet stores.

Categories: baby dwarf hamster baby robo dwarf hamster chinese dwarf hamster babies dwarf hamster babies dwarf hamster breeding dwarf hamster breeds dwarf hamster types pregnant dwarf hamster

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