Hybrids can develop diabetes later on in life. Also, take a look around the enclosure. This is something to consider when deciding where to keep the cage as hamsters can be quite noisy! In general, the Winter White is larger than the Campbell’s hamster and they are the largest species of dwarf hamster. Hybrids are prone to mild to severe neurological problems similar to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in humans. There are always exceptions to this rule of course. In fact, researchers Lesley Castro-William and Kathleen Matt found that when the hamsters were paired for three weeks, then separated, the males demonstrated body and behavior changes that are similar to human depression. It all really depends on how rare it is to see this breed in your area. Most hamsters raised in captivity are relatively docile. eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'hamstergeek_com-leader-1','ezslot_21',130,'0','0']));The Winter White came to the US pet market later still in the early 1980s, but they weren’t widely adopted because anti-vermin laws in some states prohibited them as pets. Scientific Name: Phodopus sungorus. Personally, I like large hamster wheels – this 12 inch wheel on Amazon (#CommissionsEarned) is ideal. (Includes Syrian & Dwarf Hamster Life Span), How Much Do Hamsters Cost? When not working on the computer Simon will be outside with the dogs mowing, pruning or weeding the garden. These dwarf hamsters are known for having the longest lifespan out of all varieties of dwarf hamsters. Interacting with Your Pet Give your hamster at least a day to settle in before you handle it. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'hamstergeek_com-narrow-sky-2','ezslot_11',146,'0','0']));Inside your cage, it’s a good idea to add platforms for them to climb onto and tubes to climb through. The Campbell’s dwarf hamster (also called Russian dwarf) is a relatively small and quick hamster that’s social enough to live in pairs or small groups of the same sex. Welcome to Hamster Geek! Not only that, but bathing can remove beneficial oil from your hamster’s fur. The key to hamster longevity is good nutrition and plenty of enrichment. Winter White hamsters reach a maximum length of 3” and can squeeze themselves through surprisingly tight spaces. You should also opt for a plastic wheel instead of a metal one because your hamster can get its limbs trapped between the rungs. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'hamstergeek_com-narrow-sky-1','ezslot_10',145,'0','0']));Despite being small animals, in the wild they cover vast distances, so you need to be able to mimic this environment as much as possible by providing them with a large cage. You can read more about hamster bedding in my hamster care guide. Hybrids have shorter lives, on average living between 12 and 18 months. You can find Winter White’s readily available at most big-name pet stores. As mentioned, the average lifespan for a Winter White dwarf hamster is 1.5-2 years. Posted by John J. Melvin April 24, 2019 in Dwarf Hamster Read more about hamster cages and how much it costs to set one up…. In the wild, hamsters dig down underneath the ground to create tunnels which lead to their burrows and climb onto rocks and plants when foraging for food. As a rule of thumb though, you should go for as much substrate as your cage and budget will allow. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'hamstergeek_com-leader-2','ezslot_3',142,'0','0']));A simple alternative way to pick up your hamster is take a glass or a cup and lower it into your hamster’s cage and let it climb inside it. Dwarf hamsters (Campbell's and winter white Russian hamsters, Roborovski hamsters) are more social and are probably better kept with others of the same species, but they should be introduced as a pair at a young age. Where do Winter White dwarf hamsters come from? This will encourage healthy chewing while preoccupying your hamster throughout the day. You’ll want to avoid using pine or cedar bedding as they contain oils that are toxic for hamsters as well as anything that is scented. Large tubby base offers room for exercise and accessories, 2 large entry doors - one on top and one on the side, 32 ½’’ L x 19’’ W x 17 ½’’ H with 3/8’’ wire spacing. You also need to do this without making any sudden movements and making any loud noises. Adults are normally in the 4-4.5″ region, can weigh 30-45 g, and live for 1.5-2.5 years. Some hamsters are interbred with Campbell’s hamsters (also known as Hybrids) and these won’t change color. You need to avoid substrates that contain Pine or Cedar wood shavings as they are bad for your hamster respiratory system. Lifespan: 2-4 years. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'hamstergeek_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_2',132,'0','0']));Winter Whites also have tails, although it is short like that of a Syrian hamster (about ⅓ inch) and it is usually tucked into their fur, so you can hardly see it. Once you have handled your hamster a few times, your hamster will trust you more, won’t be as lively and will happily sit on your lap whilst you stroke them. Winter white hamster lifespan in captivity. You can find high-quality hamster food locally at most major pet stores. Winter whites were first catalogued in 1773 by Peter Pallas. So it’s important that you can mimic this environment in their cage as much as possible. Winter white hamsters are very similar to Campbell’s Russian dwarf hamsters with a handful of unique differences. researchers Lesley Castro-William and Kathleen Matt. Learn more. Hamster Geek is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Alternatively, there is an alternative type of wheel you can buy that looks a bit like a satellite dish like this on Amazon (#CommissionsEarned), which your Winter White will enjoy running around on. Here are some of the issues: The widespread breeding and distribution of hybrids poses a threat to the two different species as the hybrids could be bred so much that the pure species would begin to die out. Robo Dwarf Hamster Lifespan: 3 – 3.5 years. Good choices include shredded paper or most commercial small animal bedding. Some people choose to use a glass reptile tank to avoid this issue, but then you will have to deal with poor air circulation and the potential health conditions to follow. There is also another color variation; the white-faced Roborovski, or husky Roborovski, which has a completely white face. Pure species are also hard to identify so it becomes even easier for hybrids to breed and then go on to produce infertile litter. eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'hamstergeek_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_0',119,'0','0']));The Winter White dwarf hamster (Phodophus Sungrous) is one of three species of hamster in the genus Phodopus and confusingly, is sometimes referred to by one of the following names. We’ve also learned how to care for a Winter White, learnt what a hybrid hamster is and how they threaten the pure Winter White species. Winter white hamster lifespan in captivity. Adult Size: 3.5 to 4 inches. You can use different substrates in different areas of your hamsters cage. Hybridization can cause problems at birth for the mother due to the size of her hybrid pups. See more ideas about Winter white hamster, Dwarf hamster, Cute hamsters. In these areas, during the winter months there are fewer hours of daylight, low temperatures and persistent snow cover. But the pet Winter Whites that we know today stem from several animals captured in 1968 in western serbia. You can offer your hamster dried mealworms for extra protein. Most burrows have about six entrances and lined with moss in the summer. He spent 6 years exploring Siberia, the Urals and China between 1778 and 1774. Aspen (Amazon, #CommissionsEarned) is also a good option to use on the floor of your hamster’s cage. They have become more common. Hamster Geek is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Water dishes are best avoided with Winter White hamsters because of the risk of drowning due to their small size. In the wild, White Russian hamsters have the ability to change their fur to white as winter approaches, in order to hibernate. Another unique feature about these hamsters are that the body keeps fluctuating throughout the year with the weight being its lowest during the winter. Many preserved specimens dating from 1947 onwards can be seen in the Siberian zoological museum. LIFE SPAN: 2-4 years. Two pairs of these hamsters were brought to the Max Planck Institute in Germany and were successfully bred in captivity. These should be kept one to a cage (they will fight if kept together). Because Winter White hamsters are so small, it is possible for them to squeeze through wire cages so it is much safer to go for a glass tank or aquarium to prevent them from escaping. eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'hamstergeek_com-sky-3','ezslot_23',149,'0','0']));Additionally, you can offer them fresh fruit and vegetables, plants such as dandelions though these should be treated as a supplement and given to your hamster in small portions. Feel free to get creative with this. For a hamster, you’ll want to buy a 5” hamster ball, anything larger will be too difficult for them to move. To ensure the survival of the Winter White in these areas, they lower their body temperature to use less energy and draw on their fat reserves which causes them to lose up to 15 grams in weight. Each female hamster will often live together with two males whereas male hamsters will share with at least two females. Feeding Points of Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamster. Hybridization of hamsters does not happen naturally in the wild because Winter White and Campbell’s hamsters don’t occupy the same ranges, so they would never have the chance of meeting. Winter whites in the wild are fairly outgoing, and unlike Syrians, they are social animals and live well in small groups especially if they have been brought up together or in family groupings. This will help your hamster feel calmer when you approach it the next time. Find Winter White hamsters for sale at your local PetSmart store! These little critters are often confused with the Campbell’s hamster as they are also known as the ‘dwarf’ or ‘Russian’. In the wild, Winter Whites survive on food that they have hoarded and whatever they have managed to find from the frozen landscape – usually grasses, herbs and insects. Common Name: Dwarf winter white Russian hamster, Siberian hamster. Along with exercise, you will want to offer wooden chew toys marketed towards small animals. Yes, Winter White hamsters are friendly and quite placid, they’re very easy to tame and make good pets. Although these two hamsters can be bred together, they are in fact different species, unlike two types of dogs for example, which are the same species but different breeds. Life Expectancy: 1.5 to 2 years A winter white hamster will grow white fur in the winter changing their overall appearance to camouflage in the snow. If you’re buying one from a pet shop or a hobby breeder, then it’s probably safe to assume that it’s a hybrid. Winter White hamsters are quite easy to tame, but you do need to make sure that when you pick them up, that you do so gently. It’s worth noting that the color changing characteristic of Winter White happens can still be observed today, but this only occurs in pure bred Winter White hamsters and in the absence of any artificial light. Care – What does a Winter White hamster need? When your hamster gets used to you and you gain a little more confidence, you can remove the gloves and maybe give them a little treat. This will help reduce odors and the buildup of ammonia. Not only are hybrid hamsters unnatural, they’re unethical too. You can gently brush your hamster’s fur, but you should avoid bathing them with water unless absolutely necessarily. This will help stop the hamster from getting too fat and will prevent them from being bored. A Winter White Hamster has an average life expectancy of 2 – 4 years when living under ideal conditions. This is an indication of the importance of the role of the male in the family rearing. Make sure that your hamster can reach the bottle easily without having to overreach or bend down. During the winter all of the entrances are shut apart from one and they’re often lined with animal fur or wool to help keep them warm. The dwarf hamster is also known as the winter white hamsters. In optimal surroundings the average lifespan for a pet hamster is 2 2 5 years. Syrian hamsters are the most common type kept as pets. Like all animals, Winter White hamsters need accessible fresh water daily. Finally, don’t forget to include hiding spots and things to climb! May 7, 2014 - Explore victoriagrim's board "winter white hamsters" on Pinterest. These hamsters have a distinctive Roman nose and are oval shaped which easily sets them apart from other species. Luckily, there are cages designed for hamsters like the Lixit Savic Hamster Heaven or the Prevue Small Animal Home that are the perfect size for a White Dwarf hamster with minimal spacing between bars. In terms of substrate depth, you’ll need at least 6 inches because Winter Whites in particular like to burrow and this will be sufficiently deep enough for them to burrow without leaving gaps on the floor of the cage. How often do you feed a Winter White hamster? Once your hamster is in your hands, let it walk on your hands, smell you and climb on you and realize that you aren’t a threat. Like Syrian hamsters, Winter Whites are burrowers and live together with other hamsters in large underground burrows. Now it’s the turn of the Winter White, which is another of the ‘dwarf’ hamsters. Hamster balls are another popular choice for promoting exercise. Read more about what hamsters can and can’t eat…. When choosing a hamster to bring home, look for signs of good health like clear eyes, eating, active, and no bald patches on their body. Winter whites, like Roborovski hamsters are also very entainering to watch as they run around their cage and exercise on the wheels at an extremely fast pace! We are animal lovers and we have a new addition to our family, Richmond the Hamster. Although hybrids can make suitable pets and look perfectly healthy in pet shops, they are prone to health problems. Hamster Geek also participates in affiliate programs with Bluehost, CJ, Rakuten Marketing and other sites. Scattering food around your hamster’s cage will prevent them overeating and will also encourage them to forage for their food which they would do naturally in the wild. So if you are looking for the best diet for the dwarf hamsters or the best diet for the Winter white hamster you are actually looking for the same thing. these foods can be harmful to your hamster. As a pet, they love spending time exercising on their wheels and are generally more tolerant to being handled than other hamster species and are less likely to bite. Be sure to stay away from citrus fruits such as Clementines and foods such as tomatoes, onions and garlic as these foods can be harmful to your hamster. White Winter Dwarf Hamsters tend to have a small and narrow – or Romanesque – profile type of nose, which differs from the round and flat nose of nose of most hamster. 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