My Winter White Hamster
Dwarf Hamsters
Here are the four species of dwarf hamsters that are kept as pets.
|
Phodopus sungorus |
Phodopus campbelli |
Phodopus roborovskii |
Crisetus griseus |
|
| Earlier scientific names | Mus sungorus Mus songarus Phodopus sungorus sungorus |
Cricetulus campbelli Phodopus crepidatus Criscetiscus campbelli Phodopus sungorus campbelli |
Cricetulus roborovskii Cricetulus bedfordiae Phodopus praedilectus |
Cricetulus barabensis Barabensis griseus |
| Common names |
Winter white dwarf hamster |
Campbell's dwarf hamster |
Desert hamster Roborovski's dwarf hamster Robo hamster Robby hamster
|
Chinese hamster Chinese dwarf hamster Chinese striped hamster Grey hamster |
| Origin | Siberia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia | Russia, China, Mongolia (Djungaria) | Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia | China, Mongolia |
| Natural habitat | Sand dunes, steppes and grasslands, dark winters | Solid ground, mud flats, clay soil, cold winters | Sandy desert, semi-arid with little vegetation | Dry, open country, desert borders |
| Tail | Short tail (1 cm) | Long tail (2 to 3 cm) | ||
| Unique characteristics | Dark grey dorsal stripe, grey (or white) back, dark patch on head, white abdomen. Dark line separating grey back and white abdomen (triple arch line). Fur color changes to white in winter (but not always in captivity, and not every year). Densely furred, silvery white feet. Can go into a deep sleep (torpor) for several hours in cold conditions. | Thin, dark dorsal stripe ending 2.5 cm above base of tail (except albinos and pure whites which have no dorsal stripe). Comes in a variety of colors. | No dorsal stripe, large white patch above each eye | |
| Lifespan | 1.5 to 2 years | 1.5 to 2 years | 3 to 3.5 (up to 5) years | 2 to 4 years |
| Body length | 8 to 10 cm (7.6 cm for females, 10 cm for males) | 8 to 10 cm | 5 to 7 cm | 10 to 13 cm |
| Puberty | 3 months | 3 months | 7 to 8 months | |
| Chromosomes | 28 | 28 | 34 | 22 |
| Handling, taming, other characteristics | Easier to tame than Campell's dwarf hamsters. Less likely to bite. Holding two hamsters of the same sex (especially adult males) can be a problem unless they have been raised together, are about the same age, and live in big cages. | Can be quick and more likely to bite than winter whites. | Most difficult to tame, but can be done with patience. Quick and easily startled. More of a pet that one can watch rather than hold. Most obsessed with grooming. | Easy to handle and friendly. |
| Social behavior | Can live in small groups or pairs, but tend to be more territorial than other dwarf hamsters. | Can live in small groups or pairs, but have to be introduced to each other at a young age. | Can live in groups. | Often solitary. Can live in groups, especially if kept in a large cage. Otherwise, tend to be aggressive and best kept one animal to a cage. |
| Breeding | Male hamsters help take care of their young but not necessary for pup survival. | Males help take care of their young; very important to surivival. | Males help take care of their young. | Most difficult to raise. Pregnant females are very aggressive. |
*Djungarian is also spelled zjungarian, dzhungarian or dzungarian.