Russian dwarf hamsters: Winter White, Campbell's and how to care for them

Russian, Siberian, Winter White, Djungarian or Campbell's: which is which?

Five names cover two species. "Russian dwarf hamster" is the loose pet-shop name for both. PetMD's vet-written breed guide lists the Winter White Russian Dwarf, also called Djungarian or striped dwarf, and the Campbell's Russian Dwarf as separate species. Crittery's species guide gives the Winter White's scientific name, Phodopus sungorus.

A Roborovski is a third dwarf species with no stripe: see our Roborovski hamster guide. A "Russian teddy bear hamster" isn't a real type, because teddy bear hamster means a long-haired Syrian, covered in our teddy bear hamster guide.

How to tell a Winter White from a Campbell's

It can be hard, and with hybrids it is often impossible. PetMD gives these clues: the Campbell's has a back stripe that is generally darker and narrower, less hair on its feet and smaller ears. Both are 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 in) long. PetMD gives Campbell's a weight of 40 to 60 g (1.4 to 2.1 oz), with males larger than females.

Winter White hamster colours

Crittery's colour guide lists four Winter White colours. Any other colour suggests a hybrid.

• Normal. Dark grey with a black stripe and a white belly. This is the colour that can turn white in winter.
• Sapphire. Smoky blue-grey with grey ears and black eyes.
• Pearl. White with black guard hairs and black eyes.
• Sapphire pearl. A cross of sapphire and pearl.

Sapphire and pearl don't change colour in winter. Crittery adds that mandarin, orange, brown and mushroom "Winter Whites" are believed to be hybrids, not pure Winter Whites.

Hybrid dwarf hamsters

Winter Whites and Campbell's can breed together, and many pet-shop dwarfs in the UK and US are crosses. Wood Green's hamster guide treats the common pet "dwarf hamster" as a Winter White and Campbell's hybrid and gives it the same care as both parents. A hybrid makes a perfectly good pet. The one thing to know is that a hybrid may carry the Campbell's tendency to diabetes, so feed any Russian dwarf as if it is diabetes-prone. Don't breed from hybrids.

Russian hamster diet: what do Winter White and Campbell's hamsters eat?

A good hamster pellet or complete dry food as the base, a little fresh vegetable each day, and almost no sugar. PDSA says Russian dwarfs are prone to diabetes and that sugary fruit and vegetables should be limited. Wood Green suggests 5 to 8 g (about one teaspoon) of dry food a day for a dwarf, and PetMD's care sheet keeps fresh food and treats to no more than 10% of the diet, with about a teaspoon of vegetables a day.

PetMD's general dwarf hamster care sheet allows about a teaspoon of fruit one to three times a week. We'd go lower than that for Campbell's, Winter Whites and hybrids because of PDSA's diabetes warning. PDSA also says muesli-style mixes shouldn't be the only food, because hamsters pick out the sugary pieces. Our hamster diet guide and safe food list cover every food.

Diabetes in Russian dwarf hamsters

Diabetes is the health problem that sets Russian dwarfs apart. PetMD's dwarf care sheet lists it among the common illnesses of dwarf hamsters, and PDSA singles out Russian dwarfs as prone to it.

Our hamster health guide covers other signs, including wet tail, which needs a vet the same day.

Russian hamster cage size and setup

A Russian dwarf needs at least 100 × 50 cm (40 × 20 in) of unbroken floor, the minimum PDSA and Wood Green use for every hamster, and Wood Green asks for at least 40 cm (16 in) of height. Small hamsters still run and dig a lot.

1. Choose the enclosure. A big tank, bin cage or wide cage with bars no more than 7 mm (about ¼ in) apart, as Wood Green advises for dwarfs.
2. Fill it deep. PDSA asks for bedding at least 25 cm (10 in) deep. Use paper-based bedding, not cedar or unprocessed pine, which PetMD warns against.
3. Add a 20 cm (8 in) solid wheel. PDSA and Wood Green both give 20 cm (8 in) as the minimum for dwarfs. See our hamster wheel size guide.
4. Add a sand bath. PetMD suggests a weekly sand bath. Our sand bath guide lists safe sands.
5. Add hides, tunnels and chews. A multi-room hide, cardboard tubes, cork, hay piles and untreated wood chews.
6. Keep it steady. PDSA recommends 18 to 21°C (64 to 70°F), out of draughts and direct sun.

Our hamster cage size guide, bedding guide and best hamster toys have more.

Can Russian dwarf hamsters live together?

This is where good sources disagree most. The RSPCA says Campbell's and Winter Whites can share a cage in same-sex pairs or trios if the group is formed early in life, ideally young littermates, and that they don't need company to be happy. PDSA says Russian dwarfs should not be housed together because dominance disputes and fights often happen. Wood Green advises all hamsters live alone.

We'd follow the cautious line: one hamster per cage. If you already have a bonded pair, give them a large cage with two of everything, check for wounds every morning, and separate them for good at the first real fight. The RSPCA strongly advises never mixing species or sexes.

Temperament and handling

Russian dwarfs are lively and curious, and many tame well. Wood Green says Winter Whites and Campbell's hand-tame easily and suit families once socialised. PetMD is more cautious: it says Winter Whites can be a bit more nippy than Syrians, Campbell's may nip until comfortable, and neither is ideal for young children. Hold them low over a soft surface, never by the tail or by squeezing, as PetMD advises. Our guide to taming a hamster shows how.

Weekly care checklist

• Daily: check the water bottle level, so you notice if drinking rises
• Daily: remove uneaten fresh food, which PetMD says should go within 10 hours
• Daily: spot-clean the toilet corner and note if it is wetter than usual
• Weekly: weigh your hamster on kitchen scales and note it down
• Weekly: check eyes, nose, teeth and bottom
• Weekly: sift the sand and swap one toy or forage item
• Every few weeks: partial bedding change in a big setup

PetMD advises a check with an exotics vet within one to two weeks of getting a new hamster, then once or twice a year, with weight and teeth checked each time.

Winter White hamsters for sale: where to get a Russian dwarf

Start with rescues: the RSPCA, Wood Green, Blue Cross and local small-animal rescues in the UK, and shelters and rescues in the US, rehome dwarf hamsters and can tell you about each one's temperament. If you buy from a breeder, ask:

• Is it a pure Winter White, a pure Campbell's or a hybrid?
• Have the parents or any relatives had diabetes?
• Has it been sexed by someone experienced?
• Is it living alone now, or with littermates of the same sex?
• What food is it eating now?

A healthy Russian dwarf has bright eyes, a clean dry bottom, a clean nose, a full coat and an alert manner. Avoid one that is hunched, wet underneath, very thin or living with the opposite sex. Our guide to where to get a hamster has the full checklist, our Syrian or dwarf guide helps you choose, and the complete hamster care guide covers everything else. We share our home with a dwarf hamster, and the low-sugar rule is the one we'd never bend.