Russian Campbell's Dwarf Hamster Care Sheet

Russian Campbell's Dwarf Hamsters are wonderful pets.  They are animals who normally live in colonies and do well in small groups or alone. With proper care and gentle, frequent handling hamsters usually will not bite. However RCDs are not reccommended for small small children, as they are easily hurt and will more readily nip.

Housing

Hamsters need to be kept in well ventilated, draft free, solid bottom cages.  Wire bottom cages can seriously damage your hamster's sensitive feet.  Their cages must be kept clean and dry or your hamster may get sick.  Cedar and Pine shavings should be avoided as they have been found to cause liver damage and could kill your hamster. Fluffy cellulose type beddings should also be avoided because they can damage your hamster's cheek pouches, cause blockages and choking. A bedding made from paper, aspen shavings, kiln-dried pine, or hay is safer.  

Your hamster will also need a wheel. Hamsters are normally very active and need exercise otherwise paralysis could occur and your hamster will sit hunched up in a corner unable to move. Other things for them to exercise on, such as ladders and things to climb on are also reccommended.

Feeding

Hamsters need to be fed a diet of commercial hamster mix to get the proper nutrition.  It is best to avoid mixes for other animals as well as hamsters (for example food for hamsters, gerbils, AND Guinea Pigs should be avoid).  The mix should be made especially for RCDs because Diabetes is common in the species. With proper diet, this illness can be controlled without any problems. A dog biscut given to your hamster once a week will help to wear down his teeth.

Hamsters need a clean, constant supply of water.  This is best given with a hanging water bottle so the hamster does not soil it's water.  The water bottle should be cleaned regularly with a small baby bottle brush.

Grooming

Hamsters only need baths if they get particularly dirty otherwise they keep themselves clean.  Your hamster may be brushed with a soft tooth brush to remove loose hairs. If you keep their cage clean, hamsters truly don't require any grooming, as they spend a great deal of time grooming themselves.

Handling

Always hold your hamster with two hands securely and supporting its body.  Children should be supervised while handling any animal.  Hamsters should only be allowed out of their cages and allowed to play under supervision and in enclosed "hammy safe" areas. They may also be placed in small hamster/mouse balls and allowed to run all over your home. However, they will still need to be supervised, as on occassion the balls have been known to pop open and the hamster will escape or could be injured.  

Also for further information feel free to join the Ham-Hams Untie! Yahoo! Group and talk to other hamster owners from around the world. 

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ham-HamsUntie/

Copyright © 2005 Ham-Hams Untie!