Campbelli dwarf hamster
Campbelli dwarf hamster
The Campbelli dwarf hamster (Phodopus campbelli) is related to the Russian dwarf hamster and is native to the steppe regions of the Altai, Tuva, Northern Mongolia and Manchuria.
Name Dutch: Campbelli dwarf hamster
Scientific name: Phodopus campbellic
Origin: The steppe region of the Altai, Tuva, Northern Mongolia, Northern China and Manchuria
Age: 1,5 years
Height: 10-12 cm
Wearing time: approx. 18 days
Birth: viviparous
Nest Size: approx. 5 boy
Activity: Twilight and Night Active
Legislation: Bench?
Stay: Terrarium, Aquarium or Rodent Cage
Minimum size: 80x50cm for 1 or Campbelli or 100×50 for 2 Campbelli's
Food: The Campbelli dwarf hamster's diet consists of seeds, kernels, insects, herbs and flowers. Their digestive system does not tolerate (fruit) sugars well. So try to avoid them as much as possible.
The appearance of the Campbelli dwarf hamster
The Campbelli dwarf hamster is very similar in appearance to the Russian dwarf hamster. you have to look closely to see the differences.
However, these differences do exist! For example, the Campbelli dwarf hamster is slightly larger than the Russian dwarf hamster and weighs approximately between 50 and 70 grams.
The coat of the Campbelli dwarf hamster is a bit tousled and yellow / brown in color with a thin sharply defined dorsal stripe. The foot pads of the Campbelli are also hairy. This is not the case with the Russians.
The Campbelli dwarf hamster also has more color varieties than the Russian dwarf hamster. In addition to the wild color, the following color varieties are the most common: Black, Umbrous, Argente, Black-Eyed Argente, Opal, Gray, Chocolate, Solid Blue, Dove, Spotted, Platinum and Blue Beige.
The behavior of the Campbelli dwarf hamster
Campbelli dwarf hamsters are known for being a bit more fierce towards people than other dwarf hamsters. The females in particular can be very territorial. Outside the cage they are usually nicer and easier to handle. Males are often calmer and relaxed.
Campbellis live in small groups in the wild and in pairs again in the wild. The couples are often monogamous and raise the nests together. After this, the females stay in the family group and the males look for their own females. This is of course not possible in a cage and it is wiser to keep two (or more animals) of the same sex.
Housing
Campbelli dwarf hamsters are good diggers and need a good layer of bedding, at least 20cm. It is advisable to keep them in a cage with a deep bottom, but a terrarium or aquarium is also very suitable because you can really see the tunnels they dig! The minimum size for a pair of Campbelli's is 100×50 cm.
Hamsters keep their fur clean and healthy by taking regular sand baths. Therefore, place a container with rodent sand in the enclosure, so that the hamster can roll nicely in it.
Did you know that a hamster travels miles in the evening and at night in its search for food? To be able to imitate this behavior in the hamster house, a running wheel should certainly not be missing! The minimum diameter for a Campbelli dwarf hamster is 20cm.
Male or female
You can recognize a female Campbelli dwarf hamster by this:
- The genital opening and the anus are very close together. This creates a small bald area.
- The back of a female hamster is nicely round, you can see this best when you look at the hamster from above.
This is how you recognize a male Cambelli dwarf hamster:
- The sex organ of a male hamster is a little further away from the anus than that of the female. The hairs form a line in between.
- In adult males the scrotum is clearly visible
- In the middle of the abdomen, the Male Campbelli dwarf hamster has a visible scent gland that lets other hamsters know that he has been there
- Seen from above, the ass of a male Russian dwarf hamster is a bit more pointed.
What does the Campbelli dwarf hamster eat?
Campbelli dwarf hamsters eat about 10% of their body weight per day, which equates to about 3 to 6 grams of food per hamster.
Hamsters are mainly seed eaters (granivores) and in the wild they eat the seeds of about 50 different plant species, but they also need animal protein in their diet. These animal proteins can be added in the form of (dried) insects.
Dwarf hamsters are sensitive to diabetes and it is therefore recommended not to give a piece of fruit to the Campbelli more than once a week.
They also like small pieces of vegetables, make sure that the piece you give is no bigger than a grain of corn and that you remove everything that has not been eaten in time, so that it does not rot in the accommodation.
Hamster pellets or mixed food?
There are many different hamster foods. Some consist only of pellets. This means that each kibble contains exactly the same ingredients and nutritional value. As a result, the hamster can not only extract the tasty seeds and he always gets enough nutrients.
There are also foods that are composed of all kinds of different seeds and kernels, this is called mixed or mixed food. With this food, the hamster has more variety and he can choose what to eat first and what to save for later. The advantage is that this is more similar to the food the Campbelli dwarf hamster eats in the wild. However, the risk with mixed food is that the hamster will only pick out the seeds that he likes the most and leave the rest.
Is mixed food always bad? No definitely not! Mixed food is just as good as hamster pellets, but we should not spoil the hamster too much! If you give the Cambelli dwarf hamster a full bowl of food to choose from every day, he will certainly do that, but if you feed your Campbelli only 2 to 3 teaspoons of food per day (he doesn't need more) he will eat everything neatly.
You can also alternate it perfectly by, for example, giving hamster pellets during the week and a mixed diet or mix one day and pellets the next day.
What do you need to keep 1 or 2 Campbelli dwarf hamsters
How nice that you have decided to take care of 1 or 2 Campbelli dwarf hamsters! What do you need? To help you on your way, we have already prepared this handy shopping list for you:
• stay (80×50)
• ground cover
• nesting material
• at least 1 running wheel (ø 20cm)
• at least 2 houses
• food bowl
• water bowl/bottle
• sandbox + bath sand
• rodent material
• nutrition
• snacks
Shop here for your campbelli dwarf hamster
