Russian Dwarf Hamster

In the wild, the Russian hamster lives in steppes and semi-arid plant formations in Central Asia. It originates from sand deserts to the steppes of Siberia and Kazakhstan, where temperatures drop to −20°C and where it receives only a little over 300 mm of rainfall per year. Thus the Russian hamster and the Campbell hamster cannot coexist in nature. The Russian hamster is essentially a nocturnal animal, although it sometimes has short periods of activity during the day. It is in November that the Russian hamster is most active. It is least active in February and March. In its natural environment, the Russian hamster runs shorter and shorter distances than the Campbell hamster.

Only careful observation allows one to distinguish the Russian hamster from the two other species of hamsters of the genus Phodopus. Characteristics:

In the wild, the Russian hamster lives in steppes and semi-arid plant formations in Central Asia. It originates from sand deserts to the steppes of Siberia and Kazakhstan, where temperatures drop to −20°C and where it receives only a little over 300 mm of rainfall per year. Thus the Russian hamster and the Campbell hamster cannot coexist in nature. The Russian hamster is essentially a nocturnal animal, although it sometimes has short periods of activity during the day. It is in November that the Russian hamster is most active. It is least active in February and March. In its natural environment, the Russian hamster runs shorter and shorter distances than the Campbell hamster.

Although smaller than other hamsters, these dwarf hamsters need plenty of space to feel comfortable. They are very active animals that run and dig a lot. These hamsters therefore need a sufficiently large cage (7,000 cm² minimum without tiers or 120x60cm, 10,000 cm² with tiers of more than 3,000 cm²) to roam and deep enough to contain bedding—preferably poplar wood shavings, cardboard litter, or flaked cellulose.—whose depth allows them to burrow (30 cm minimum). The hamster is an omnivorous rodent, which means its diet must contain animal protein in addition to seeds and vegetables. Russian dwarf hamsters, like all hamsters, are strictly solitary.