NibblyGuides
CareHow to care for a Russian dwarf hamster: cage, food, cleaning, sand bath, exercise and earning its trust. Everything it needs to stay healthy and happy.
What they eatWhat Russian dwarf hamsters eat: the base of their diet, the vegetables and fruit they can have, treats and the foods they must never eat.
The cageWhat cage a Russian dwarf hamster needs: minimum size, bar spacing, how deep the bedding, which wheel and what to put inside. With a checklist to set it up.
Sand bathWhich sand to use for a hamster sand bath, which to avoid, what container to use and how often to clean it. Hamsters never bathe in water: they use sand.
ColorsRussian dwarf hamster colors: agouti, sapphire, pearl and the Campbell colors, why some turn white in winter, and the 21 coats in Nibbly.
Living togetherYes, two dwarf hamsters can come to live together, above all same-sex siblings raised together. When it works, how to do it and when to separate them.
Is it happyHow to tell if your hamster is happy: the signs it is content, stress signs such as bar chewing, and what to change in its cage so it does well.
Why it bitesWhy hamsters bite: fear, being woken up, hands that smell of food or rough handling. How to earn its trust so it stops biting, step by step.
LifespanRussian dwarf hamsters live 1.5 to 2 years, sometimes 3. What affects their lifespan, signs one is getting old and how to care for it as it ages.- Dwarf or SyrianDwarf vs Syrian hamster: how they differ in size, temperament, lifespan, cage and living together, side by side. And which one suits you best.
- NamesOver 100 hamster names: for boys and girls, by color, food names and funny ones, with tips on choosing one you will love.
The Russian dwarf hamster in brief
- It is 7 to 11 cm long and weighs 25 to 50 grams.
- It comes from the steppes of Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Siberia.
- It is crepuscular and nocturnal: it sleeps by day and wakes up at dusk.
- It carries food in its cheek pouches and hoards it in a larder.
- Two similar species are sold as "Russian dwarf hamsters": the winter white and Campbell’s.
Nibbly: care for dwarf hamsters in your browser
Nibbly is a 3D hamster care game with Russian dwarf hamsters that you play in your browser, on your phone or computer, with nothing to download. Adopt up to four, feed them, clean their cage, build tube galleries and watch them make friends.
Adopt your hamsters in NibblyFrequently asked questions
How big is a Russian dwarf hamster?
Between 7 and 11 centimetres long, weighing 25 to 50 grams depending on the species and the individual. It is one of the smallest hamsters.
Why does my dwarf hamster sleep all day?
Because it is crepuscular and nocturnal: it sleeps by day and wakes up at dusk and at night. Best not to wake it to play.