Hamster - Chinese

Even though the hamster Chinese - also called the striped hamster - is small enough to be considered a dwarf hamster, it’s not really even a true dwarf. They rarely reach more than four inches in length, and are small enough to squeeze through all but the most closely spaced cage bars. This explains why you should keep them in a plastic house or glass aquarium.

Normally, they will live for about two or three years, their short life span being accounted for by their fast metabolism and high activity level. Because they are so active, be sure to provide them with a large enclosure and plenty of room to play. Being nocturnal animals, these little hamsters are primarily active after nightfall, but will often have a brief period during the day when they are active as well. Good natured by temperament and often timid, these little hamsters rarely bite or nip, but because they are so small they can be quite hard to handle, especially for children.

The female of the species is known to become increasingly aggressive as she ages, and therefore should be kept separate from the males, who she will fight with. Some owners have found that they can train this trait out of their females with patience and perseverance, but it’s best to keep them separate until you are certain they won’t fight. They are also known to have very poor bladder control, and often urinate all over everything, including their keepers!

The Hamster Chinese

The hamster Chinese has unique coloration and marking, sporting light and dark bands, as well as a dark brown back and a black dorsal line, occasionally a dark spot on white background. They have really short, hairless tails which give them an almost rat-like or mouse-ish appearance, thus distinguishing them from normal hamsters.

They don’t really have any special care requirements, and can be kept much as you would any other hamster. You must, however, make sure you keep in mind how tiny they are when you are choosing an enclosure for them. Make sure it’s escape-proof. Keep their house clean and moisture-free, and don’t use wood shavings from pine or cedar trees. The fumes may cause respiratory and other health problems.

The hamster Chinese has been used in the past as a laboratory animal, but that all changed when they were replaced by mice and rats. Now, few laboratories worldwide still use hamsters for their experiments. Some places, notably California, view these animals as pests and require permits to possess them. Others, like New Jersey, also require permits, but for a different reason. They list them as exotic pets.

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