Help a hamster newbie!?

[Mikaela P]

I'm thinking about getting a Russian Campbell's dwarf hamster. I need help! I've done research online, but I want to hear advice from people who have (or had) these kinds of hamsters. I plan on making a bin cage, if it helps any. P.S. This would be my first hamster.

 

[NaNnErS!]

I love the breed Campbell Russian dwarf hamsters, also known as the Fancy dwarf hamster. I've had two females. They are very fuzzy, and usually fat (which I love!). They're also very nice, and love to be handled and played with.

They're very active. If this is your first hamster, you'll also have to know the basics about owning hamsters, not just about their breed. You'll have to change their food and water every other day. Give them 2 teaspoons of food each time you change it. Change their bedding once a week, and do not use cedar or aspen wood bedding - it causes lung and breathing problems. I use Carefresh Natural - it's extremely healthy for them. Never use tissue paper, toilet paper, paper towels, or newspaper as their bedding. Hamsters are curious and will try to eat everything. Newspaper, paper towels, toilet paper, and tissue paper will make the hamster sick if they try and eat it (which they most certainly will). I won't make a list of everything hamsters can eat, but they certainly cannot eat citrus fruits, sugar, human salt, almonds, coffee, or toffee. There are many more things they cannot eat. You may feed them fresh fruits and vegetables daily. Remove any fruits and vegetables from the cage if they are not eaten in 24 hours.

When looking for a hamster, make sure there is not crust around the eyes, patches in the fur, cuts or bruises, holes in the ears, no fluids leaking from their nose or eyes, there bottom is clean, and not red or swollen. I would recommend looking to adopt your new hamster in the evening. Hamsters are nocturnal, and will most likely be awake in the evening, so you can get a better look at them. Most pet shops have a 60 day 'trial', so if your hamster has a health issue after you buy it, you can take it back and get a new one if you would like.

Campbell Russian dwarf hamsters cannot get wet tail, since they are dwarf hamsters, and dwarfs are immune to wet tail, unlike Syrian hamsters, Panda hamsters, Teddy Bear hamsters, etc. Wet tail is a deadly disease found in regular sized hamsters that kills quickly if not treated by a vet.

When you take your hamster home, leave him or her alone in the cage for a while until they get used to their new surrondings. Moving cages is a very stressful thing for the hamster, and you should try to make it as easy as you can. Some hamsters take 7 days to adjust to their new home, some take 2 days. When they seem comfortable and happy, you may pick them up. Most usually bite when you try to pick them, and you have to understand why. Imagine, just minding you own business, then a huge hand reaches in and tries to scoop you up. You'd do whatever you could to defend yourself, right? So, instead of reaching your hand in to scoop them up, put a cup in the cage. Get them to climb into it, lift the cup out of the cage, than gently empty them into your lap, hands, or wherever they need to be. This is a less scary and stressful way to handle your hamster.

Good luck! Hope I helped.

 

[Arctic Thunder]

I have a russian, a boy named Bradley (nicknamed Bradders).
he is very fat and fluffy, and has never bit anyone. i adopted him, after his previous owners had to get rd of him because they thought he was a girl. his original name was Molly! I named him after my awesome geography teacher in the end! He is a great hamster, who is sometimes active during the day. he is curious and inquistive, and responds to his name. i often have him sitting on me when i watch tv.
if i get another russina i'll name them: boy- Rimmer. Girl- Scout.
owner of 5 hamsters, a gerbil and 2 degus.

 

[PinoyPogiman]

well, owning a Campbell Russian Dwarf Fancy hamster. which i happily named Pickles.

they're pretty active hamsters, pretty small in size, which is why its called a dwarf hamster.
a Roborovski hamster is pretty much the smallest hamster species known.

but keep mind, that Dwarf hamsters have a 50/50 chance of living together in pairs. or fighting.

they are smaller, which is why they're pretty easy to transport they're cage. since they need a nice sized cage, 10 gallon tank(which im using currently)
and the wheel+ball+hiding house can be small.

but another thing to keep even greater mind of...
is that they bite.. they bite more than Syrian hamsters

you'd have to constantly tame your Campbell everyday so it doesnt get wild.

if you want to hold your campbell. you'd have to treat it with food first to get its trust