winter white dwarf hamster lifespan in captivity

Usually, this is just communication – establishing who the boss is and submissive, or sometimes it is just their way of saying “stop standing on me” or “I want that piece of food!”. Winter Whites are best kept as pairs or groups in captivity and originate from areas that become covered in snow during the winter – hence the name! 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. In the wild, they are known to live as little as one year. When it comes to nesting material, soft and unscented tissue paper is fine to use, but you need to avoid any cotton wool bedding types as these are likely to get stuck in your hamster’s cheek pouches or wrapped around their limbs. Now that we know a little bit about their natural habitat, let’s find out where they were first discovered and how they became the much loved pets that they are today. With that being said, they can be tamed to sit in your hand and be petted gently. Winter Whites gained their name because, in the wild, the areas in which they live are covered in snow in the winter time, and so they change their coat to white so as to be camouflaged from predators. The male is usually larger than the female. Winter Whites are capable of living with Hybrids, Campbell’s and Winter Whites from other litters if they are introduced to each other correctly. While there are multiple species of hamster that are seen to thrive in the pet community, inbreeding has only come to become successful between Campbell's dwarf hamster and winter white hamsters. Their care is similar to all other species of Phodopus. Let’s have a look where they come from.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'hamstergeek_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_0',120,'0','0'])); Winter White hamsters come from areas of southwest Siberia and eastern Kazakhstan and live in relatively barren grassy steppe areas and in wheat and alfalfa fields. Winter Whites are native to parts of northwest China, Kazakhstan and Mongolia. eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'hamstergeek_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_13',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. They are usually about 3 to 4 inches in length. Severe fighting (to the death) is usually a quiet affair but not always the case. It’s very important that you repeat this for five minutes or so twice a day if possible which will help you to build and maintain a bond with your hamster. You can offer your hamster dried mealworms for extra protein. I breed for temperament, but I also breed for show qualities. Where do Winter White dwarf hamsters come from? They come in three main color varieties – sapphire pearl, sapphire, and natural pearl. Life Span – How long do Winter White Hamsters Live For? These glands stick out, are sometimes hairless, and often look covered in an oily secretion. Just a month after they are born, the young become sexually mature themselves. Although hybrids can make suitable pets and look perfectly healthy in pet shops, they are prone to health problems. 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. Behavior – Typical Winter White Behavior and Character. The coat of the winter white dwarf hamster is less woolly than that of Campbell's dwarf hamster, and apart from the normal colouring, they can be coloured sapphire, sapphire pearl, or normal pearl. It may weigh less in winter and more in summer. Syrian hamsters have different specifications as compared to other hamsters that live in different regions and areas. Campbell's dwarf hamster (Phodopus campbelli) is a species of hamster in the genus Phodopus.It was given its common name by Oldfield Thomas in honor of Charles William Campbell, who collected the first specimen in Mongolia on July 1, 1902. 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. In the wild, Winter Whites typically have a lifespan of around 12 months however when kept in captivity and provided with excellent care and nutrition they can live for two years plus. How often do you feed a Winter White hamster? A hybrid hamster is produced when two different species of hamster, that have the same number of chromosomes, are bred together. Winter Whites are much softer to the touch and have a smoother and less wooly coat compared to the Campbell’s. Dwarf hamsters have an even shorter lifespan. Sometimes you will see Winter Whites advertised as ‘mushroom,’ ‘Mandarin‘ or other colors. Purebred Winter Whites hold many advantages to pet store bought pets. They also have plenty of fur on their feet to protect them from the cold. Closely related to the Campbells Dwarf Hamster they can interbreed and create hybrid offspring (Not Recommended). Hamsters are among the cheapest pets that you can find. By the Middle of the 1970s, some specimens appeared in the Netherlands and more came from scientific institutes in eastern europe. You can find more detailed information about Dwarf Hamster Care Here. Despite a drop in their metabolic rate, it is not enough to be considered hibernation. A hamster wheel will enable your hamster to exercise, but it’s important that this is not the only thing that you provide. The Winter White dwarf hamster is one of the most popular hamster breeds out there and makes a perfect first pet. Your hamster will then begin to realize that if it doesn’t bite, then it will be rewarded with a treat. This article is your one-stop resource for Winter White care. There are two types of Russian dwarf hamster – Campbell’s Russian Dwarf Hamster and Russian Winter White Dwarf Hamster. Once the Winter White hamster is pregnant, gestation is typically around 18 – 25 days, however, these hamsters have the ability to extend their pregnancy if they feel uncomfortable or threatened. these foods can be harmful to your hamster. Why Is My Hamster Filling His Tube With Bedding? eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'hamstergeek_com-leader-2','ezslot_5',141,'0','0']));Another thing to bear in mind is that although you’ll be wary and frightened of being nipped (at least for the first few times), when you first put your hand inside your hamsters cage, your hamster will be frightened too. They usually come quickly on their own and can be picked up. So, rather than clawing your hamster to get your hamster out of the cage, here is a better way to achieve the same goal which will help to build trust with your hamster. These hamsters breed all year long, there is no particular season. Care The recommended minimum size is 450 square inches of floor space but you should go as large as you can afford. Winter White Hamsters can change their coat to blend in with the snow in their wild native habitats to hide from predators. Dwarf hamsters or Phodopus are classified further into three sub-species: P. campbelli or Cambell’s hamster, P. sungorus or winter white hamster, and P. roborovskii or dwarf desert hamsters.. Phodopus are smaller than Syrian hamsters and are generally more agile and more difficult to tame.. An even better idea is to get rid of the food bowl and scatter food around the hamster’s cage. Winter Whites are very social animals and do the best living together with another same-sex hamster or in small even number groups. Compared to other hamsters, winter whites have a rounder oval looking body shape with fur covered feet and legs. Gestation – How long is the Winter White Hamster Pregnant? Winter White Hamster lifespan. 2. 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. You should go for a wheel that is at least 8.5 inches for Winter White hamsters, although due to their small size, the size of their wheel isn’t quite as important as it is for Syrian hamsters which grow much bigger. Why Do Hamsters Have Bumps On Their Feet? Winter White hamsters are quite placid animals and can be tamed very easily making excellent pets. It is distinguished from the closely related Djungarian hamster as it has smaller ears and no dark fur on its crown. Do Winter White hamsters need sand baths? You can find purebred Winter Whites from finding an accredited breeder from your country. Winter White Russian Dwarf Hamsters, along with most rodents, are prone to tumours. They can be quite noisy when living together, often squeaking at each other. Though the hybrid offspring of these two species are living creatures that makes very becoming pets, the fact cannot be avoided that interbreeding is a dangerous liaison to undertake. Winter white hamster lifespan in captivity. The average life span of this species is between 1.5 to 3.5 years. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'hamstergeek_com-sky-1','ezslot_20',134,'0','0']));In the wild, Winter White hamsters aren’t afraid of people and most are very curious and are often fairly tame from the start. They are more tolerant of handling than other types of hamsters and are less likely to bite or nip; however, this breed can be squirrelly and sometimes may be too quick and challenging to handle for younger children. We’ll come onto colors in the next section, however native Winter Whites tend to have greyish fur which is heavily ticked with black. You can maintain good relations between Winter Whites by providing them with a large cage with plenty of room and making sure they have many wheels, toys and food bowls to prevent them fighting over the use of them. eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'hamstergeek_com-netboard-1','ezslot_15',144,'0','0']));It’s normal for your hamster to bite and nibble you at first, but if this continues, then I would advise wearing a pair of gloves until it gets used to being picked up and handled. Some owners have reported their hamsters have lived up to 4 years. Winter Whites have smaller litters when they are in their winter coats, but they still do have the urges to breed. Consider adding houses, tunnels and even children’s toys to the cage which will allow your hamster to climb into them and hide. If squeaks all of a sudden become louder, more pronounced and longer sounding check up on them as one of them might be getting bullied. Facts – Some Interesting Facts about Winter White Hamsters, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Djungarian_hamster, http://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-Winter-White-Dwarf-Hamsters, Pearl – Mainly white coated hamster with the ends of the hairs. You can use different substrates in different areas of your hamsters cage. Like Syrian hamsters, Winter Whites are burrowers and live together with other hamsters in large underground burrows. They are very social and more receptive to being held by humans. She is my baby. They are more timid animals compared to their closely related Campbell’s hamster. The key to getting to this stage is of course time, effort and patience. This is because in the wild, hamsters are a source of food to birds of prey, such as owls that come swooping down towards them. You can read more about hamster bedding in my hamster care guide. The door on the hamster house maze is around 5 cm in diameter so it is big enough for a dwarf and Syrian hamsters to slip through comfortably. In terms of substrate, you can use anything that is paper-based such as Carefresh (Amazon, #CommissionsEarned) or Kaytee Clean and Cosy (Amazon, #CommissionsEarned). When your hand approaches their territory inside their cage, they associate this with a predator and become very defensive and frightened and therefore have a tendency to bite. The Winter White Hamster, also known as the Winter White Dwarf Hamster, Djungarian Hamster or the Siberian Hamster, is one of three different species of hamster in the Phodopus genus. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'hamstergeek_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_10',148,'0','0']));When it comes to hamster wheels, choose one that is completely closed on one side and open on the other. You should also opt for a plastic wheel instead of a metal one because your hamster can get its limbs trapped between the rungs. The domesticated Winter White hamster lifespan is on average 2-3 years. The Russian dwarf hamster is small in size, measuring between 7 and 11 cm (2.7 - 4.3") in length and can weigh between 35 and 50 g.Their tail is short and the body is plump, which is adorable to many people. This website is a free resource designed for Dwarf Hamster owners. Learn more. Winter White dwarf hamsters are about half of a Syrian hamster‘s size, and a bit larger than Roborovski hamsters. Winter whites have an egg-shaped or oval body, a broad head and largely spaced prominent black eyes which are larger than the Campbell’s hamster. A hamster can also be classed as a hybrid even if two species of hamster haven’t been bred together, but have had genes from either species in their ancestry at some point in time. Thank you if you use our links, we really appreciate it! In the wild, Winter Whites typically have a lifespan of around 12 months however when kept in captivity and provided with excellent care and nutrition they can live for two years plus. 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. As with all species of hamster, they are common as pets in Europe, Asia, and North America commonly kept as pairs or in a group in captivity. In this guide, we’ll keep things simple and simply refer to it as the Winter White. They are not pure Winter White (these color variations comes from their Campbell genes). Welcome to Hamster Geek! Young chicks are aggressive with each other trying to establish a hierarchy between them. Usually, they have the body shape of one and the color of the other. Water dishes are best avoided with Winter White hamsters because of the risk of drowning due to their small size. The body weightchanges dramatically throughout the year. In terms of sand, go for Chinchilla sand (Amazon, #CommissionsEarned) and put some in a small area of their cage or in a small dish and let them roll around in it. Interestingly, Winter White’s are thought to live longer in the wild than in captivity (it’s usually the other way around). If that sounds like a relatively short time span, consider that when they’re out in their wild habitat, these creatures may only live up to a year or less! Winter White Hamsters can change their coat to blend in with the snow in their wild native habitats to hide from predators. 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. 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. They can also receive injury in the cheek pouch by sharp objects damaging the fragile inner lining. Once the male hamster sniffs the unique ‘heat’ scent from the female, he will attempt to mate with her multiple times. Winter whites were first catalogued in 1773 by Peter Pallas. The Winter white dwarf hamster (Phodopus sungorus), also known as the Russian dwarf hamster, Djungarian hamster, striped dwarf hamster, Siberian hamster or Siberian dwarf hamster, is one of three species of hamster in the genus Phodopus.It is ball-shaped and typically half the size of the Syrian hamster, so is called a dwarf hamster along with all Phodopus species. You can expect the pregnant female to have anything from 1 to 9 pups per litter; however, 4-6 is the average. Pet stores are often miss informed about their animal stock making many surprise litters for new owners. eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'hamstergeek_com-sky-3','ezslot_22',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. Yes, Winter White hamsters do change color and this happens as the days go shorter when winter approaches. He spent 6 years exploring Siberia, the Urals and China between 1778 and 1774. You’ll be able to pick up a single Dwarf Winter White Russian hamster between $5-15 and a pair for $15-20. As amazing as this chameleon like change is in itself, some varieties of the Siberian hamster have also undergone a mutation. Is this true? Winter Whites as pets: Winter Whites originate from Kazakhstan & Siberia (hence why the species is occasionally referred to as the Siberian Hamster). I have two winter whites (though they may be hybrids since they're from petsmart). Care – How to take care of Winter White Hamsters, Breeding – Winter White Hamster Gestation and Reproduction. Hamster Geek also participates in affiliate programs with Bluehost, CJ, Rakuten Marketing and other sites. The hamster house maze is pretty big so make sure you have enough space for it in the hamster’s cage. Keeping a Winter White hamster is pretty simple and just requires a little bit of knowledge. Some owners have reported their hamsters have lived up to 4 years. Winter White Dwarf hamsters reproduce at a faster rate than. It’s also important that you call your hamster by its name and talk to your hamster, not because it can understand you, but it will also get it used to your voice. Pet stores tend to stock Campbell’s and Hybrids. Captivity. AAA Hamsters: Linda Price's Hamstery: Black and White Syrian Youngsters: Black Mottled Campbells Dwarf Hamster: Above all, I am a hamster hobbyist. The Winter White Russian and Campbell’s dwarf hamster, on an average, lives up to 1.5 – 2.5 years, in which time they grow to a length of about 8 – 10 cm. Dwarf winter white Russian hamsters are nocturnal but may be active for short times during the day too. My current focus is on understanding and documenting the color genetics It is speculated that over 80% of pets are hybrids because most pure preds are only available from reputable breeders rather than pet shops. Typical practice is to mount the female, try to mate.. then they will both clean their genitals and try again. Although the hamster wasn’t named after him (although perhaps should have been), several species of birds and mammals were named after him as a result of his explorations. This hamster is very easy to tame. In this guide to Winter White hamsters, we’ve learnt where they were first discovered, what they’re like in the wild and how they came to be our beloved pets. Winter white hamster lifespan in captivity In captivity, Winter White’s live between 1.5 – 2 years, which is a similar to the lifespan of the Cambell’s hamster. Winter White hamsters have the distinct ability to change the color of their fur to being fully white as winter approaches, hence their name “Winter White.”. The average lifespan of the Djungarian hamster is one to three years in captivity, though they can live longer. This is an indication of the importance of the role of the male in the family rearing. You also need to do this without making any sudden movements and making any loud noises.

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