Chinese Dwarf Hamster: Pictures, Temperament & Traits 

Although they’re not true dwarf hamsters, the Chinese hamster is often called a dwarf hamster because of their petite size. Weighing 1–2 ounces, these small creatures measure between 3–5 inches from head to tail. These guys are nimble and quick and like having a place in their enclosure to hide. Chinese hamsters are usually shyer than the Syrian hamsters that are more frequently kept as pets.

As long as you handle them carefully from a young age, the Chinese dwarf hamster may allow you to pick them up, but they aren’t particularly snuggly.  They make a great roommate for older children or adults who’d like a low-maintenance pet to observe.

Chinese Dwarf Hamster Characteristics

How Much Do These Hamsters Cost?

Chinese hamsters are relatively common. They usually cost around $20 at the pet store. Check your local animal shelter and rescues first, though, to see if there might be one in need of a home waiting for you.

Note that in addition to the cost of the hamster, you will also need to purchase supplies such as a cage, bedding, water bottle, hamster wheel, food, etc. So, although the hamster may only cost $20, you can easily spend over $100 on the hamster plus supplies if you don’t already have some of the supplies at home. You can check out secondhand stores or online marketplaces to see if you can save a little money on used supplies.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Chinese Dwarf Hamster

A hamster wheel will keep this little guy entertained. The Chinese dwarf hamster likes to scurry around and keep moving. Since they’re nocturnal, their high energy is something to consider when deciding where to put their enclosure. You might want to watch them play while you relax on your bed, but keep in mind that they may also keep you awake spinning their squeaky hamster wheel at 3 AM.

Do These Hamsters Make Good Pets?

As long as you’re okay with having a pet that may or may not like to be held, Chinese dwarf hamsters make great pets. They’re fun to watch and super active, especially at night.

If holding your pet is important to you, a Syrian hamster usually does better with human interaction than the Chinese dwarf. However, with patience and consistency, most Chinese dwarf hamsters will tolerate being held if they’re used to it from a young age. Be sure to sit on the floor when you hold them or keep them directly above a soft surface to avoid accidentally dropping them from a significant height. Since they only weigh a couple ounces, an accidental crash to the floor can spell disaster.

Does This Hamster Get Along With Other Pets?

While some hamsters tolerate living in community, Chinese hamsters definitely prefer to keep to themselves. They can get snippy with each other when housed together, so it’s definitely preferable to keep them in separate enclosures.

Be sure to keep your Chinese hamster away from your other pets, such as cats and dogs, at all times. These larger animals are natural predators to hamsters. Even if they don’t mean to, they can accidentally hurt or kill a 2-ounce hamster quite easily.

Things to Know When Owning a Chinese Dwarf Hamster:

Here are some important things to keep in mind in order to properly care for your hamster.

Food & Diet Requirements

In addition to a commercial diet, Chinese hamsters like to nibble on safe fruits such as apples and leafy greens. Try to feed them produce at night so they have a chance to eat it while they’re awake. Since they’re so small, you should avoid giving them a diet that’s heavily seed-based since those are high in fat. Always keep a fresh supply of water in their enclosure.

Habitat & Enclosure Requirements

As small as they are, Chinese hamsters still require an enclosure that’s at least 2 feet long by 1 foot high and 1 foot wide to have room to move around. An aquarium or other solid-bottom enclosure works well. If you choose a cage with wire bars, make sure that the bars are close enough together to where your hamster can’t escape. Finding a cage with a solid bottom is important because it makes it much easier to change out their bedding, which you’ll need to do at least once a week.

Investing in toys such as hamster wheels and a hiding place can help your hamster stay healthy and stress-free. Ideally, you should let them run outside of their enclosure for a short time every day. Only do this if you have a secure environment for them, however, that’s clear from dogs, cats, small children, or anything else that might accidentally hurt them. Letting them run inside a hamster ball can help you keep track of them and prevent them from darting underneath furniture, but it won’t completely protect them from predators.

Exercise & Sleeping Needs

Your hamster will likely rest while you’re at work or school during the day. At night, they’re live balls of energy. Thankfully, these low maintenance pets pretty much keep track of their personal fitness goals on their own, as long as they have a wheel to run on.

Training

Hamsters pee and poop freely in the bedding in their enclosure. While you may be able to get them to pee and poop in only one area of their enclosure, there’s no way to completely housebreak a hamster, so socializing them is the extent of training for these rodent friends. You should begin socializing your hamster as soon as you bring them home. Never force the interaction, though. If your hamster squirms and clearly doesn’t like being held, put them back in their enclosure where they feel safe. Your hamster is more likely to let you hold them in the future if you build up trust with them now.

Grooming

Hamsters give themselves baths and usually stay fairly clean. If they do get dirty for some reason, you can use a moist cloth to gently wipe them down.

Lifespan and Health Conditions

If your hamster experiences signs of illness, such as diarrhea, sneezing, or watery eyes, you should take them to the vet. Hamsters actually lack the ability to vomit and are susceptible to bacterial infections and other illnesses. Wet tail is a common name for diarrhea that’s caused by bacteria. It doesn’t take long for them to become dehydrated, due to their small size, so diarrhea is a pretty serious issue.

Since hamsters have ever-growing teeth, they need something to crunch on in order to grind down their teeth. Overgrown teeth can impair your hamster’s ability to eat their food. Carrots can help them keep their teeth in check. If they become seriously out of control, you can take your hamster to the vet to see if they can grind down their teeth.

Male vs Female

All Chinese Hamsters are relatively tiny, so it can be nearly impossible to tell their sex by size. The best way to tell the sex of your hamster is to take them to a vet. As far as differences in temperament, some people say that males are generally friendlier than females, but it also depends on the personality of the hamster in question.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Chinese Dwarf Hamster

1. They were originally desert-dwellers.

This hamster hails from the desert regions of China and Mongolia.

2. Hamsters are omnivorous.

Although meat isn’t a staple in their diet, Chinese hamsters can eat insects and even small amounts of chicken.

3. Chinese dwarf hamsters are usually brown with a black stripe down their back.

Their appearance earned them the nickname Chinese striped hamster.  They also have a lighter belly and unusually long tail.

Final Thoughts

Like any pet, the Chinese dwarf hamster makes a great companion as long as you know what their requirements are. They usually want to live by themselves and don’t always like to be held but are fascinating to watch. With patience and persistence, some Chinese dwarf hamsters may eventually warm up to you. Otherwise, consider it love if they decide to play on the side of the cage that’s closest to you.

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Featured Image Credit: Adam Langdon, Shutterstock