Fun Facts About the Chinese Dwarf Hamster

The deserts of northern China and Mongolia are the birth place of the Chinese dwarf hamsters. They are vastly different from their counterparts and have certain characteristic traits which group them under the category of rat-like family of hamsters. However, they can be a lot of fun to have as pets if you know how to take care of them properly.

The life span of the Chinese dwarf hamsters is usually 2-3 years. They have a longer body which measure approximately 10-12cm. An interesting fact associated with the Chinese dwarf hamster is that the females are more powerful and larger in size than the males. The Chinese hamsters, unlike the other hamsters have a long tail of 3cm. They have a body color that is grey and brown. All Chinese hamsters have a black strip running down their spine, a white base and a spot on the head. They are one of the more beautiful of all hamster species.

The Chinese dwarf hamsters can never get along in pairs, contrary common belief. Instead, two female Chinese dwarf hamsters, when introduced at an early age, will have a greater chance to become fiends than a male and a female Chinese hamster. Another striking fact about the Chinese hamster is that the female is more dominant than the male. As a result, the females will sometimes harm the male dwarf hamsters and leave them injured or dead. That being another reason to be careful when pairing two of these hamsters together.

If you are interested in housing a Chinese dwarf hamster, then there are certain things you need to keep in mind. Chinese dwarf hamsters need a lot of space for themselves to execute various kinds of activities. A place having more than one level and lots of hiding places is preferable. Also, Chinese hamsters are very active and often good at escaping. Because of this they may look for opportunities to escape from their cage. Keeping this in mind, you should get a plastic or glass aquarium type cage rather than a bar cage. It is very likely that they will try to escape through the bars of the cage. Or, they you run the risk of them being stuck in between the bars. Either way, you have a loose hamster, or a stuck hamster. So, avoid bar cages.

A balanced diet including such things as seeds, pellets, fruits, vegetables, and wheat bread. These foods should be given on a regular basis. You also need to supply them with fresh drinking water. Most people suggest a daily water cleaning to ensure adequet care.

Although they have a life span of 2-3 years, they cannot be trained. They are very lively and active. Because of these activities, they indulge themselves in, it's hard to train them to do something different. They are skilled at jumping, climbing, running, and hiding. Keeping them as pet is not as great an idea if you're interested in an easy pet without a lot of work. However, if you'd like a pet that's fun to watch and is very active, this would be a great fit.

Mary Wilbur is a Dwarf Hamster expert. For more great information on Chinese Dwarf Hamster, visit http://www.dwarfhamsterscare.com