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Are you trying to decide whether or not a dwarf is right for you? Maybe you are already the proud
owner of one. Either way, you have come to the right place! In general, these little guys make great pets. Dwarfs have a bad
reptuation for nipping and being agressive, but I can assure you that this is not the case when they are handled regularly
and bred correctly (without being poorly inbred) with healthy stock. With proper love and care, your furry friend can live
from 2-3 years (1-2 if frequently bred).
There are four different types of dwarfs. The Campbell's (most popular in
this area), Roborovskiis, Winter Whites (their coats change from grey to greyish/white), and the Chinese (they have slightly
longer tails). These species should never be mixed. They are similar, but also very different. If they lived together, they
would ignore each other and not breed.
Dwarfs are nocturnal animals, which means they are creatures of the night. They
will sleep most of the day, and become highly active as it starts getting dark. When trying to bond with a new hamster, I
would suggest doing it while he is awake. A sleepy hamster is also a cranky one.
They hardly smell! If you arn't much
of a rodent person, dwarfs are your best bet. They are the least smelliest of the other rodents (rats, mice etc.) and they
don't take up much room.
Syrians and dwarfs are classified under the same "hamster" catagory, but are not the same
species. They should never be put together, as this will absolutely result in fighting. If the pet is for a small child, I
would recommend the syrian over a dwarf because of how small and fragile dwarfs are (2-3 inches) in comparison with the Syrians
(commonly known as teddy bear hamsters).
Dwarfs love company! Unless you are interested in breeding, they should be
kept together and introduced at a young age. It is difficult (but not impossible) to introduce new hamsters to each other
after they have claimed their territory and are use to a certain scent. If you would like to try it anyways, your best bet
is to start off with a freshly cleaned cage with lots of distractions (toys, food, treats etc.). Make sure to monitor them
for a good 15 min in order to break up any fighting.
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