Russian hamsters - info please?

[adara]

I was in a pet shop today and just out of interest I asked to look at the Russian hamsters. They were sooooo sweet and I'm thinking about getting a couple - maybe not right now but when I think I know enough about them.

They were 2 males; one was white and one was that sort of agouti colour with the black stripe down it's back - are these both the same species? Might be a stupid question but I know nothing about dwarf hams

Also what sort of environment would be best for them? I know there are those new mini habitrail/crittertrails but would they actually be any good for them? I have an empty Crittertrail One but I guess the tube up to the petting zone would be too big for them to get up? How big would their set up need to be optimum?

[Hamsters82]

Yes, Russian hammies can be different colors & have the stripe down their back. They can live in pairs or alone. A CT1 is fine, we kept our dwarves in the CT Classic, tubes are fine for them. They are fast little critters though, make sure you have fast hands! They're really not much different then taking care of a syrian except you have to get smaller stuff. I've had 3 dwarves & its exactly like taking care of my syrian I have now except tubes are smaller & Sophie is slower.

Well, the environment would be basically something not too cold, nor too hot. I think your cage for them should be fine. If they do fight & draw blood, please separate them & do not put them together. A lot people don't think dwarves can live alone, but they can. Mine had too b/c Theo had dominance issuses with Benny & they fought & had to be separated. And they loved being alone.

I hope I answered what you wanted to know. If you go to a book store, you can get the manuel of Dwarf Hamsters (there are good books on them out there I've seen). It will tell you all about them! Good luck in getting them & if you have any more questions don't be shy to ask them!

[jeannie]

A ten gallon tank is fine to use also.

I have 2 Campbells hamsters, who both live alone, and they are very happy that way.

Calvinator has one in a Space Station, which seems to work well for her little guy. She's on vacation right now, so I thought I would mention it...

[adara]

Are they as likely to chew on bars as Syrians?

[dosergirl]

I have three.....all housed seperately....the girls each have their own space station and digweed has his habitrail mini. The mini isn't any smaller, just the add ons are scaled down which makes it easier and more accessible for digweed as he is small.

[adara]

Are they housed seperately because they fight? How likely is it that they will fight? Also what about introductions, are they even possible?

[Die Fledermaus]

Keep the info coming, please, as I am reading all this closely. My new bunny came in a 20 gallon long tank, which she is obviously, and thankfully, out of. That tank is intended to be the new home for those two degus I have been promised, but, if that does not pan out, I can consider either dwarfs or cavies (unless another rescue appears). I don't even know if cavies can (or should) be kept alone, or if a tank is suitable.

[Hamsters82]

Yes, dwarves will try to gnaw their teeth down anyway they can. Since the CT Classic didn't have bars, ours chewed on the plastic, but it wasn't a long time. I don't know, all dwarves are different on how long they spend trimming their teeth down. Benny was funny with hers, half her body would be up a tube biting & the other half would go up & down as she bit! It was funny to watch!

Not all dwarves fight with each other. Some get along peacefully as I've read in other forums. But sometimes they will go through a " dominance issue" thing where, you know, one wants to be the strongest & the other has to obey the stronger one. Well, fights break out b/c of this. Fights could break out on other things, but that's what got our dwarves separated. Theo, who was bigger then Benny, always fought with her (talk about keeping me up in the night).

But you never know, yours may not fight at all & get along great! It kinda depends on the dwarf I think. Well, hope that helped!

[dosergirl]

Mine are housed seperately because they were all rescues that i got seperately. Originally i was going to put my two girls together but they didn't really get along so i just kept them seperate.
I think they get along well if they are litter mates...or tank mates already when you get them.

mine never chew their bars....they all get wood chews and Hamsteroids which they chew to shreds. they never chew the plastic.

just like every other animal it's all about their individual personality.

[Die Fledermaus]

That what has struck me the most about my hams and gerbs - their distinctly different personalities!