How to care for dwarf hamsters?

Have to agree with DP, get a regular or maybe a teddy bear hamster....the dwarfs are mean little buggers! They are cute yes, but they bite like crazy. They are extremely territorial of their homes. I let my daughter get one and learned first hand how they are. Now once you are able to get it out of it's cage, they are fine, but hers would jump at your hand and attack as soon as you reached in the cage...this was rather we were going to pick it up, change it's food/water or clean it's cage. I ended up flinging the silly thing across the room and into a wall one time (OMG, I thought I killed it), I reached in to get fill it's food bowl and it raced over and bite onto my finger, when I jumped and swung my hand out, it was still attached to my finger...sending it flying right into the wall!!! It was just so territorial, bit if we opened one if the side "doors" where you can attach tunnels and we let it walk out on it's own...once out you could pick it up no problem.
As for how many in one cage...just one, they will end up fighting to the death if more then one.
Bally is right though about the aquarium not being the best place for it.
 
wow, this is about russian dwarf hamsters right? I've seen a ton of people on youtube and across the interent saying that these guys are docile and will do fine in a aquarium.

Well, I think that I might want to get something else, what do you guys reccomend setting up for mice? (I feel weird about putting a full size hamster in a 10g.)
 
I've had two dwarfs when I was in middle school. First one took about a week to get hand trained...used a glove to handle him and eventually I decided to pick him up bare handed one day and he was completely fine with crawling all over me. Never was bitten again. The second one was a complete 180. No matter how hard I tried it just wouldn't stop biting. Needless to say I wasn't exactly sad when it eventually passed.
 
I work in a pet store and I have handle a lot of hamsters in my 4 years and before when I had my own. At work they jokingly call me the hamster whisperer. I actually prefer the dwarf hamsters. The key is to work with as soon as you can and the younger the better. In the beginning they will roll over on their backs and give you a threat display and will make a noise at you, for me the key is to show no fear. If they bite you, they bite you . You aren't going to die from it just make sure that you properly treat the wound. When they find out that you are the boss they usually settle down. I find if you pick them up with your fingers under their front legs they have a hard time biting you. Also they are very cage defensive, but I would be too if a giant hand came out of nowhere to wake me up out of a sound sleep. I roll them over on their backs and give tummy rubs to wake them up gently. Another trick is use something to get them out of the main cage. We have igloos that are their homes, but when you use them to scoop up the hamster the hamster will calm down .

I actually think the aquariums are a better cage for them, especially the glass critter cage because they have a sliding screen top. Aquariums are much easier to clean and disinfect and they are chew proof. I have used the wood shavings and I have to say that I am a complete convert to the paper bedding (Carefresh) because it absorbs the urine and smell much better. If you clean the cage once a week there really isn't much odor. I agree with the lab blocks for their main diet and with fresh veggies and grains. Be careful on giving too many carrots/peas as they are very high in sugar and dwarfs are prone to diabetes.

The thing about dwarfs is that you can put two together, as long as you buy them at the same time. If you wait till later they may or may no get along. Of the different types of dwarfs the Robo's are the least likely to bite, are smaller and fairly faster then any of the other hamsters. With the Syrian Hamsters you can only have one as they mature. With these I have found that the male teddy bears seem the most calm. The Syrian Hamsters are also prone to wet tail (usually from stress but it can because of parasites) and if left untreated can lead to death.

With any animal, if it has a mouth it can bite.
 
great info there, I'm going to try and find a breeder to get some, unless the Petco/Petsmart robo's are just as healthy. How often should I feed them, and how often for treats and veggies? (Is 6 days a week of staple food good, and then veggies twice and treats once? They won't get any food on saturdays, as I won't be around.)
 
Katschamne is right on the money. I also work at a pet store, and I've had plenty of experience with all types of hamsters... dwarf, fancy, teddy bear, golden, panda, black bear. I like the dwarf hamsters best too (ours are usually the Siberian variety). As for bedding, my favorite is a mix of Carefresh and Kaytee Soft Sorbent. The hams love the Carefresh because it's soft and holds it shape well (great for digging in!), but I personally don't think it's very good at odor control. The Soft Sorbent is, in my experience, the absolute best at odor control, but it's loose and static-y by itself. Mix them together and voila! It's the perfect mix. We actually use that mix of bedding in all of our small animal cages at the store.

As for feeding, I feel it's best to have food available at all times. Keep the bowl full; they'll eat when they want. No need to worry about portions per day or anything. Plus then they won't be going hungry on Saturdays. Throw some treats/veggies in every now and then and you're good to go.

A few other notes: I would do a pair, but only if you can get littermates. In my experience, putting 2 older hamsters from separate litters doesn't always work out. However, if you can get a couple young littermates, you'll do well. Handle them often, especially when they're young. Oh, and you'll never need to throw away a toilet paper tube again... It's their favorite play thing!

Good luck!
 
If I get 3 would it help curb any aggression? I'm planning on incorporating tubing that leaves the aquarium and travels to a smaller cage on the other side of the room. Will PVC pipe work for this, if it's a short distance and I put little holes in it for air?
 
Is there a way to build a DIY cage while still being able to view them from at least one side? (Preferably made out of glass.)
 
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