Campbells Hamster Environment
Campbells Dwarf Hamsters can live in barred cages, however the bar spacing on these may allow escapees - especially with juveniles or smaller animals. Cages with narrow bar spacing suitable for mice can be used or you can mesh across larger cages. Tanks or large enough bin cages can be used as an alternative, provided you add enough ventilation to these.
Although Campbells can live together if they have grown up together, it is not guarenteed that they will remain together peacefully longer term. You must supply multiple bowls, wheels and toys if attempting to keep them together and be alert for potential fallouts. Squabbles can turn into serious fighting very quickly and would require separating. If adults fallout it is very unlikely they can reintroduced. It is therefore recommended to keep them solo.
Cage Size
80 x 50cm is often considered the minimum cage space, with this being composed of unbroken floor space. Whilst bigger is often better, each hamster's individual circumstances should be taken into account. Some hamsters can become overwhelmed and stressed in larger cages, even if suitably filled with substrate, enrichment and hiding space.
Keep an eye on your pet's behaviour and be alert for signs of stress such as freezing, disjointed movements, excessive hiding and staying close to cage edges. Sometimes it can help to have a new or young animal in a smaller cage and increase the size of this once you have worked with them on their confidence and they have become familar with the noises and scents of their wider environment.
Pet shops woefully underestimate the suitability and size requirements needed for rodents so please do not be conned into buying tiny tanks or modular systems. Rotastak is not suitable for any rodent. For reasons why see our article on Why Modular Systems are Bad for your Pet.
Cage Types
- Wire cages: these give excellent ventilation and are good for climbing. You can hang plenty of toys from various positions and can interact with your animal through the bars. They can be quite difficult to clean. They provide much better opportunities for taming and enrichment. Bar spacing needs to be 1cm or less to prevent escapees and much less for smaller adults and juveniles.
- Glass tanks: - needs work to allow climbing material and are much more difficult to interact with your hamsters as they will consider hands from above very predatory. Very easy to clean but have poor ventilation. Do not use these with the standard heavy lids for fish - a staple gun, some 1mm wide wire mesh and bits of wood can easily make a decent lid to allow more air to pass through.
- a RUB: - if you are taking in rescues or money is an issue a plastic storage box can be converted into a RUB container for rodents. You must mesh top and all sides to allow adequate ventilation and ensure you go for a size that meets minimum unbroken floorspace requirements.
Substrate and bedding
Sawdust, or anything pine or cedar based should not be used since it can affect the lungs of mice and cause respiratory problems. Items such as Carefresh are quite good and absorbent, whilst still allowing space for burrowing. A cheaper alternative for this is to get a horse bedding such as MegaZorb.Other suitable substrates include Ectopetbed, Bedmax, bedexcel and finacard.
Timothy hay can be given to hamsters as it is soft enough to be safe for cheek pouches and contains high fibre. Do not offer other types of hay or straw as these can damage cheek pouches.
Fluffy bedding is extremely dangerous for hamsters as it can tangle in limbs and causes problems if eaten. Recycled shreds of paper or strings are good for nesting.
Toys and Nests
Wooden and plastic toys are suitable for hamsters, providing you don't have an obsessed chewer. Wooden items retain scent more and do need more frequent cleaning but they will provide better enrichment as they are safer to chew than plastic.
Bendy bridges, ladders, cardboard and plastic tubes are all good additions. Some hamster enjoy a shallow dish with a sandbath in for washing. This needs to be offered once a week or cleaned regularly if left in fulltime.
Some commercially available toys are not suitable for pets as they are composed entirely of sawdust which is dangerous for your pet to digest.
Your hamster must have multiple nesting sites available, coconut shells, wooden houses and fabric items are also fine. You can also hang fabric ropes and pet-safe hammocks. These must be washed regularly and checked frequently and trimmed of any dangerous loose threads.
Wheels
Wheels must be solid-based and not have spokes. Your hamster needs to be able to run easily without an arched back, with 8 inches being a good size for this. Hamsters benefit greatly from wheels and can also enjoy flying saucer type wheels. Occasionally, a hamster can develop an obsession and run on the wheel so much that it loses weight - if your pet develops this habit it may be a sign that they do not have other alternatives for enrichment. It would be important to reduce the time that the wheel is located in the cage and add interesting alternatives until the habit is broken.
Campbells Hamster Diet
Hamsters are omnivores, which means that in the wild their natural diet includes insects as well as grains and seeds. It is important to give your hamster a balanced diet and pay attention to any new evidence that helps refine this. Many commercially available hamsters mixs are low quality and full of filler items, similarly avoid the overally sugary treats, especially for hamsters prone to developing diabetes.
Water
Should always be available and changed daily. A bowl or bottle is fine for this, if using the latter just keep a careful eye on them as they can get clogged.
Seed mix
A good quality hamster mix with a range of seeds.
Fresh
Small amounts of fresh fruit, vegetables or herbs. Foods that are high in water content should be given sparingly due to the diarrhoea risk. Items like cucumber can be placed in a hamster carrier during a long journey where other water sources cannot be given.
Do not feeds citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons or grapefruits.
Protein
A small amount of protein can be given on a semi-regular basis, items such as mealworms, cheese, monkeynuts and scrambled egg.
Hay
Timothy hay is a good quality variety of hay that is high in fibre and provides additional enrichment for small pets. Avoid other types of hay and never give straw, due to the danger of it damaging cheek pouches.
Treats
Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, mealworms, cooked soya beans (thought to reduce the likelihood of tumours), stale or toasted wholemeal bread as well as pet-shop treats that aren't too high in sugar.
Campbells Hamster Handling
Campbells hamsters are generally good natured, although quick. They can become tame with regular handling and rarely nip unless feeling threatened.
If your hamster has come from an ethical breeder or rescue, then they will have begun work on the taming process. Although this is easier if they have been handled from a younger age, with patience older hamsters can become excellent companion animals with regular work on building confidence through positive handling experiences.
Leave a new hamster to settle in before beginning this, as there will be many new sounds and smells for them to get used to - as well as their brand new cage and toys. When you feed them at a set time in the evening, you can start by talking to them in a calm voice to get them used to you. More confident hamsters may approach you at this point, and you can open a front-opening cage and let them climb into your hand.
Shyer animals, or those in a cage that opens from the top, may benefit from toilet-tube training. It is not helpful to approach a hamster from above, since this is what a predator would do and so does scare them. In these instances a toilet tube or box can be placed in their cage and then picked up, whilst blocking exit points. You can then open one side and let them walk onto a flat palm. Some hamsters like to walk across palms if you keep alternating them, others may like hands that are cupped together forming more of a tunnel. You may also find your hamster wants to snuggle into the crook of your arm, or climbers may decide that the very back of your neck under long hair is the most interesting place. As you hold them, make sure you are somewhere safe such as seated or over a surface to avoid risk of long falls.
If a hamster does nip you, you can gently blow on their nose and say 'no' in a firm but calm voice. It is important not to place them back in the cage at this point, otherwise they may learn to associate biting with you doing what they may want and returning them to their cage. Short but regular sessions are more important and try and finish on a positive note both for you and your hamster. See the kid-friendly guide to handling rodents referenced below for more ideas.
Campbells Hamster Behaviour
Campbells hamsters are generally good natured hamsters, though they can be quick and difficult to handle.
Campbells hamsters are sociable and would live in the wild in pairs or small groups until mature. In captivity, it can be possible to keep same-sex siblings together with extra care. This is only recommended for experienced keepers and does require careful management, such as ensuring there are multiple wheels and toys to reduce fighting risk. It is not advised to introduce adult animals together as this will lead to serious fights.
Campbells can live happily alone given enough space and enrichment. They can nip when nervous but will calm down with regular handling.
Most hamsters are not nocturnal, as is commonly thought, but actually crepuscular - meaning they are more likely to be awake and active at dawn or dusk. This is due to both them being prey species and having a high metabolism. As pets, this means that their sleeping patterns and activity can be rather variable - and they will still be active at night. Your hamster will learn to adapt to your routine, so it is helpful to feed at the same time.
Hamsters are keen burrowers and will benefit from a decent space for digging. If your cage does not have a deep enough base to allow this, you can add custom digging boxes to enable this. This can be good to add a different substrate than their normal one to give extra variety.
Hamsters can be surprisingly vocal, especially when younger. Vocalisations can be a sign of stress or pain, though occasional squeaking is not a concern. Hamsters can catch colds from their owners so it is important to take great care with hygiene and limit handling if you are ill.
An angry hamster may hiss or scream at you, especially if awoken from sleep or disturbed in their nest. It is important to let your hamster come to you when handling rather than disturbing their nest.