Campbell's dwarf hamster

Campbell's dwarf hamster (Phodopus campbelli)(phos/phodos (Gr), a burn, a blister – pous (Gr) the foot; the tubercles on the soles of the feet form a blister-like mass) is a species of dwarf hamsters living in Siberia and Dzungaria. It is also called Russian or Siberian dwarf hamster and sometimes Djungarian (or Dzungarian) dwarf hamster (the latter term may also refer to the Winter white Russian dwarf hamster). Another name is "Pouched Tuvan", since the species was originally encountered in that country. There has been some debate over the classification of Campbell's hamster and its closely related cousin, the Winter white Russian dwarf hamster, but now the two species are usually classified as Phodopus campbelli and P. sungorus, respectively.

The Campbell's was discovered by W.C. Campbell in Tuva, Mongolia, in 1902. The species may also be found in northern China, central Asia, and some parts of Russia.

General information

The Campbell's hamster inhabits the steppes of eastern and central Asia, digging burrows which may extend up to three feet underground. These burrows are commonly lined with scavenged sheep's wool and dry grasses; these burrows maintain an average temperature of 62 degrees Fahrenheit. Natural predators include various owls, foxes, falcons, and weasels.

Campbell's hamsters have an average lifespan of 18-24 months when raised in captivity. Becoming sexually mature at only 5 weeks, their litters usually consist of 4-6 pups, birthed after a gestation period of 18-21 days. The pair may mate again immediately after birth. Unlike other hamster species, especially the Syrian hamsters, the male plays an active role in birth and rearing. He may assist the female in pulling pups from the birth canal, cleaning them, and ensuring the new mother has enough to eat. He may also guard them while the female is away from the nest.

Unlike Syrian hamsters, Campbell's dwarfs are sociable and may be kept in colonies. If the hamsters are introduced at a young age, generally younger than 8 weeks, they will often happily coexist in same- or mixed-sex groups. (Note that mixed-sex groups should be avoided as hamsters are lively breeders.) They are crepuscular, meaning that they are most active at dawn and at dusk.

Diabetes is becoming a common problem in some breeding lines of Campbell's hamsters. With this in mind, it is advised that pet owners not feed sugary foods (including fruit, yogurt drops, and some mass-manufactured "treats") to their Campbell's dwarf hamster.

Like all hamsters, Campbell's dwarfs are rodents and therefore must gnaw regularly to keep the incisors from growing into the skin of the mouth and causing health problems. Some pet owners may provide dog biscuits to assist with this. Wooden chew toys should be used with care as splinters may injure the hamster.

Diet

In the wild, Campbell's dwarfs consume a variety of grains, seeds, and vegetables. However, pet owners may experience problems when attempting to approximate this wild diet. These hamsters should be kept away from many common foods, some of which may be suitable for other rodents.

They should avoid these foods:

almonds
celery
garlic (very poisonous to Hamsters)
potato tops
rhubarb
tomato
raisins (can get lodged in cheek pouches)

Additional Information for Pet Owners

Campbell's hamsters have extremely poor eyesight and even worse depth perception. Cataracts are also common in older hamsters. To compensate for this disability, Campbell's have many scent glands, which are located on the face, behind the ears, on the cheek pouches, and near the rectum and genitals. Many pet owners observe that the hamster may groom itself when in an unfamiliar location. This is done to scent the feet, creating a trail which would enable the hamster to find its way back to the burrow. This behavior may also be used to revisit a location with plentiful food. These scent trails may persist for up to eight days.

In addition to diabetes, hamsters can develop tumors (both benign and malignant), as well as glaucoma. It is possible to remove benign and malignant tumors with surgery. Unfortunately, there is not much one can do about glaucoma, as the eye will eventually prolapse.

Colors and Markings

Campbell's hamsters are born with one of two coat types: satin and rex. A hamster with a satin coat appears wet or greasy. In reality the gene only enhances the fur's color and gives it lift. The rex coat type is sleek, smooth, and glossy, and is found in the vast majority of hamsters.

They are available in three basic colors plus many variations thereof. There is also a mottled gene that can result in different markings.

Basic Colors include:

agouti (the normal wild color)

argente (cinnamon or sandy)

albino

Not all white hamsters with red/pink eyes are albino. Some are so heavily mottled or tinged with platinum that they will appear to be white. Furthermore, when two mottled hamsters are bred, approximately 25% of the litter will be anopthalmic whites, lacking eyes and teeth. This lethal mutation is the product of the interaction between already-mutated genes. These pups generally do not live past two months.

Marking types include:

mottled (also called banded, spotted, or collared, if the mottling is confined to the neck)

platinum (sometimes called pearl)

Interbreeding has produced new colors, including blue, blue fawn, lilac fawn, and black. Contrary to popular belief, the different colors and markings of hamsters do not indicate personality differences. Personality can be predicted, though, by a close examination of the bloodline and any neurological diseases its ancestors displayed.

References

External links

Hamsters