Dzungarian dwarf hamster portrait
The Jungle Deer Hamster is one of the most popular hamster breeds in German-speaking countries and is especially suitable for inexperienced owners due to its calm character.
Now you can find out what you should keep in mind.
Steckbrief
| Size | 9 – 11 cm |
| Color | Brown and white |
| Age | 1.5 – 2.5 years |
| Character | good-natured, calm, tame |
| Enclosure type | Solitary |
Character
Dsungarian Dwarf Hamsters are considered calm and curious. They do not have a great shyness towards humans and can therefore be accustomed and tamed very quickly.
Perfect for beginners!
Nevertheless, they are active animals that need a lot of space to move around sufficiently. A large cage or hamster home with a large footprint is ideal. Alternatively or additionally, the accommodation can also consist of several floors.
A running wheel and climbing facilities are useful in any case.
Due to the pronounced curiosity Dsungarian dwarf hamsters also need a lot of variety. If you decide for this hamster breed, you should therefore always offer new stimuli and activities.
These can consist, for example, of bringing in toys, setting up fresh twigs and branches as climbing opportunities and integrating a sand bath.
Hidden food is also useful.
Tubes made of cork are also gladly accepted and serve the occupation and species-appropriate attitude.
Attitude
Even though the Djungarian Dwarf Hamster is friendly and interested towards humans, it does not behave this way with other hamsters. The otherwise calm animals can engage in serious fights when kept together and only get along during the mating season. After that, they want to go their separate ways again.
Therefore it is better to keep your hamster alone.
If you decide to keep several animals, you should have several cages. Because even young animals that get along without problems in the beginning can develop conflicts over time.
Alternatively, there should be a lot of space available in one cage. Also create several bottles, water bowls, sleeping houses and toys. By doing this, the animals will not get into a fight due to lack of resources and can retreat very easily.
This reduces the potential for stress.
Also, make sure you put in enough bedding.
The higher the floor covering, the better. Because this allows your Djungarian hamster to create underground tunnels, just like in nature, and thus provides occupancy and hiding places.
Because as tame and curious as the animals of this breed normally are, they also need places to retreat. In case of fear or stress, they represent a refuge and provide relaxation.
Bedding and substrate are also other options to provide variety for the Dsungarian Dwarf Hamster. Sand, wood chips, hemp bedding and straw or hay are possible as well as stone slabs.
Other than this, keeping them is very simple. As long as your Dsungarian Dwarf Hamster has enough space and occupation possibilities available, he is busy and content.
To further avoid unnecessary stress, you should choose a quiet location for the hutch.
With the nutrition you should pay attention to a balanced ratio. In addition, you should avoid food with a high sugar content. Dwarf hamsters are prone to diabetes, so overweight and sweet foods are not recommended.
Life expectancy
The Dsungarian Dwarf Hamster can live between one and a half and three years.
Of course, some animals still die younger, while others live much longer.
While you can’t directly extend life, you can consider some criteria that will improve health and well-being.
These include:
- choose an animal from a breeder
In pet stores you often find animals that are not pure Dsungarian Dwarf Hamsters or may be the result of inbreeding.
On the one hand, this makes it more likely that diseases will occur.
On the other hand the behavior of the rodents can be estimated less. With respectable breeders, however, controls and examinations take place, so that the risks for problems are smaller and the age can increase.
- species-appropriate keeping
Dsungarian dwarf hamsters and hamsters in general are extremely popular.
They are considered easy to care for, do not take up much space and have a short lifespan. They are also cute and often considered ideal for children.
Unfortunately, a species-appropriate attitude is often not provided.
Hamster cages are usually much too small and offer neither space nor variety. For your Dsungaren you should change that. Because happy and relaxed animals live longer and usually have fewer health problems.
- diet
Pellets and grain food are convenient and last a long time. However, it can cause obesity, increase the risk of diabetes and other diseases.
It is better to feed a large portion of grasses, seeds and insects.
This will give your hamster all the nutrients it needs, provide a high fiber diet, and reduce the risk of disease.
- utilization
If a Djungarian hamster is not properly exercised, even the otherwise peaceful and calm animal may show aggression.
It also has a negative effect on lifespan.
- controls
Dsungarian dwarf hamsters can also develop various diseases, injure themselves even in a secure cage, or become infested with parasites, for example.
Therefore, check the animal daily to detect problems early and have them treated.
- veterinarian
Examinations at the veterinarian in case of complaints or sudden changes in behavior can prolong the life considerably.
Here you should note that the Dsungarian dwarf hamsters or hamsters in general on the one hand are very sensitive and on the other hand are rarely presented to a veterinarian.
This means that veterinarians are rarely familiar with the rodents.
Therefore, it is best to choose specialists who keep hamsters themselves and are therefore much more concerned with them.
Colors
Dsungarian dwarf hamsters can be found in a variety of colors. Among them:
Agouti (wild colored)
Sapphire
Pearl
Merle
Umbrous
Imperial
Agouti is the wild color, which is composed of black, gray and brown. Typical is in any case a dark “eel line” on the back, which runs from the neck or the shoulder blades to the tail.
In purebred Dzungarian Dwarf Hamsters, sapphire is also found. Here blue-gray and silver are typical.
However, the intensity of the color varies greatly and can change in the course of life.
All other colorings show a mutation or crossbreeding from other breeds, such as the Campbell Dwarf Hamster. Therefore, the coat color can range from white to dark gray.
Frequently asked questions
- when are Dsungarian dwarf hamsters fully grown?
This is not an easy question with Dwarf Hamsters, as they continue to grow into old age.
However, this happens very slowly and the size only increases by a few millimeters, so you will hardly notice it.
The noticeable growth is completed at about 15 weeks.
2) When are Jungarian Dwarf Hamsters awake?
Djungarian Dwarf Hamsters, like most other breeds, are active primarily at dusk and dawn.
In between, they sleep ten to 14 hours, mostly during the day.
However, they may also take breaks and rest during the night. The periods of wakefulness depend on the environment, age and season. In nature, their purpose is to protect the animal. Because in the twilight there are less predators on the hunt.
However, because of this, Dsungarian dwarf hamsters are not suitable for children. They sleep during the day and then wake up when children need to go to bed.
3) What do Djungarian Dwarf Hamsters like to eat?
Dsungarian Dwarf Hamsters feed on grasses, seeds, herbs and insects. Silkworms, mealworms but also egg and dairy products are therefore readily accepted.
The ratio should be 60 percent plant food and 40 percent animal food.
- how much may weigh a Dsungarischer dwarf hamster?
An adult Dsungarian Dwarf Hamster weighs about 30 grams.
If he is significantly heavier, you should check the diet. If he loses a lot of weight, you should consult a veterinarian.
In hybrids or crossbreeds, the weight can be much more than 30 grams. On average, up to 50 grams are possible. Therefore, do not rely solely on the weight, but look at the whole animal.
It should be well muscled and vital as well as slim and must be able to move well.
5) How many babies do Djungarian Dwarf Hamsters have?
The Dsungarian Dwarf Hamster has about four to seven babies per litter.
The gestation period is 19 to 23 days each.
Because of this short time, and because hamsters can become pregnant again immediately after giving birth, they should be separated by sex as a matter of urgency.
Fertility also begins in the young within a few weeks, so the number can increase extremely in a short time.
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