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.