A dwarf hamster can sit in two cupped palms, and getting it there calmly is a large part of dwarf hamster care. This post covers what dwarf hamsters are, how their night-time habits shape handling, and a calm way to go from a new, nervous animal to one that steps onto your hand. The advice comes from the RSPCA and Blue Cross, two UK animal welfare charities.
Which hamsters are the dwarfs
Blue Cross says the Syrian, or golden, hamster is the largest type kept as a pet. Alongside it are four dwarf species: the winter white, the Campbell’s dwarf, the Chinese and the Roborovski. It adds that each species has different traits and needs. The RSPCA describes hamsters in the wild as burrow-digging rodents of dry, rocky plains or lightly-vegetated slopes, which build nests inside their burrows.
Two details are worth knowing before you handle one. Dwarf hamsters have their scent glands on their stomachs, and Blue Cross says these can look like little belly buttons, sometimes with a waxy, yellow deposit, which is normal. Dwarfs are also not very agile and struggle to climb, so Blue Cross advises against elaborate tube systems and notes that dwarfs often struggle with tunnels on a steep incline.
Night animals, day owners
The RSPCA says wild hamsters are usually only active at dusk and at night. It recommends a room where the lights aren’t left on until late and regular hours are kept. Blue Cross makes the link to handling directly: hamsters are nocturnal, so if they are disturbed during the day and become alarmed, they may bite. Its advice is to make sure the hamster has properly woken up before you try to pick it up, and never to put your hand into its bed while it may be asleep.
The RSPCA agrees. Hamsters should not be handled while resting or sleeping unless it is absolutely necessary, because they can find it stressful. That points handling towards the evening, once the hamster is up and moving about on its own.
The first few days
Blue Cross suggests preparing the cage before the hamster comes home, then leaving it undisturbed except for feeding for the first two or three days. After that, go slowly. For a nervous hamster, check it is properly awake, then rest your hand in the cage without trying to touch it, so your presence and smell become familiar. The RSPCA puts the same idea another way: let hamsters investigate your hands in their own time.
If the hamster is worried about hands coming towards it, Blue Cross suggests coaxing it into a tunnel or hide and lifting it in that instead. It also says hamsters rarely bite if they are used to being handled sensitively and correctly from an early age.
Picking up and holding
Both charities describe the same scoop. The RSPCA says to cup the hamster with two hands, then gently open them so the hamster is sitting on your joined palms. Blue Cross describes forming a cup with both hands either side of the body and scooping gently. Hold the hamster no more than a few inches above a stable surface, such as a table. The RSPCA warns that a hamster can be injured if it falls from a height.
The RSPCA also says hamsters can be easily injured by rough or careless handling, and that an adult should always be responsible for making sure they are handled and cared for properly. Blue Cross notes that most hamsters won’t enjoy being picked up, so children may get more out of watching and helping with care than holding.
A daily routine beats a weekend session
The RSPCA’s advice is to interact with your hamster every day and handle it as often as you can, while respecting its sleep. It recommends a routine, ideally daily, rather than long sessions at weekends that don’t happen during the rest of the week. A few minutes each evening, at about the same time, fits that advice.
For dwarfs that share a cage, Blue Cross says Roborovski hamsters are sometimes kept in same-sex sibling pairs but don’t need company to be happy, and it is easy for them to fall out. If they begin to fight, they need to be separated into different cages permanently.
Time outside the cage
The RSPCA says to let a hamster out of its cage only once it has become tame, always supervise it, keep it safe from dogs and cats, and never leave it out unattended or overnight. Blue Cross recommends a play pen with tall sides that is fully secure, and if it is made of wire, the bars should be vertical so the hamster cannot climb out.
Treats for taming, and where dates fit
If you offer food while taming, keep to what the charities list. The RSPCA diet page lists small quantities of greens, cleaned root vegetables and pieces of fruit, and says not to give grapes or rhubarb. Blue Cross says portions of fresh food should be as small as your hamster’s ear, that hamsters enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables but like to bury their food, and that uneaten food should be removed daily. It says Syrian hamsters can have small pieces of fruit as an occasional treat.
Neither page mentions dates. USDA FoodData Central lists 66.5g of total sugars per 100g for Medjool dates against 10.4g for raw apples with skin, so a date is about six times as sugary as the apple the RSPCA names. For a hamster’s ear-sized portion, the vegetable choices are the closer fit.
Keep the dates for the people in the house. Pemborong Kurma Green Diamond describes itself as a supplier and wholesaler of dates (pembekal dan pemborong kurma) in Shah Alam, Selangor. On this site, the about page mentions retail and wholesale (runcit & borong) and delivery across Malaysia, the contact page takes questions on quotes, stock and delivery, and older posts are on the blog.