Dwarf Hamsters Rule! A Guide for Setting up a Dwarf Hamster in your Home

dwarf hamster

Getting a new Dwarf Hamster? Go for it, they are great little pets, easy to care for and not expensive to maintain. They are so cute, fluffy and sweet. If you handle them from the time you get them, they rarely bite either.

We’ve had Chinese dwarf hamsters, Russian dwarf hamster, Winter White dwarf hamsters and now we have an Albino Russian female named Peaches.

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To get your new friend set up, check out these simple, inexpensive supplies.

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Dwarf HamsterDwarf Hamster Supplies

  • Cage
  • Exercise Wheel
  • Water Bottle
  • Bedding
  • Food
  • Hideout for cage
  • Exercise Ball
  • Small Play Hideout
  • Wood Chew Toys

Dwarf Hamster Cage

Prevue Pet Cage on Amazon or at Prevue Pet Cage on Chewy

First off, you want a good cage for your dwarf hamster that is secure and easy to clean. This Prevue Pet Cage is our personal favorite. The wires are small enough apart to prevent escapes, yet open up from the front and the top to give really easy access to go in and get your hammy for play time.

This particular cage is multilevel to give some exercise opportunities for your hamster. I like to put treats on the top floor so it encourages our hamster Peaches to go exploring. This cage also comes with a quiet wheel and a hut.

The best feature for me is the simple way to release the bottom from the wire cage for simple cleaning.

Dwarf Hamster Exercise Wheel

Dwarf Hamster Wheel 5″ Pet Quiet Spinner 

Silent Spinner Exercise Wheel Mini for Dwarf Hamster

A place for your dwarf hamster to exercise is absolutely necessary to keep him healthy. A quiet spinner is absolutely necessary to keep your sanity. Dwarf Hamsters are nocturnal so they don’t even get going for the day until after 9:00 pm, and really get moving around 1-2 am. Not the time you want to hear a really loud wheel rattling.

Dwarf Hamster Water Bottle

Lixit Chew Proof Glass Water Bottle

Definitely get a no-drip water bottle so your bedding doesn’t get soaked, and keep an eye on the water for your dwarf hamster and make sure they don’t run out and that it is changed frequently.

We have this one: Lixit Chew Proof Glass Water Bottle We like the Lixit glass water bottle because it really is drip-free, it is so easy to install and remove from the outside of the cage to refill and because it is glass it’s perfectly clear so you can easily see if you need to refill the bottle. I also like that it is glass and not plastic, so the water remains safe for your pet reducing the risk of toxins. It also doesn’t hurt for me that the water bottle is made in the USA by a woman-owned company for the win!

Dwarf Hamster Bedding

Pet Bedding

I really like this Carefresh Small Animal Bedding, Natural because it absorbs urine and odor well.

It comes in a compacted package for shipping but it fluffs out to cover the bottom of the cage well with just a small amount of bedding.

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Dwarf Hamster Food

Vitakraft Vita Prima Sunscription Dwarf Hamster Formula Food

Peaches’ favorite food:

Higgins Vita Garden Hamster & Gerbil Food

Dwarf Hamster food is hit and miss sometimes depending on the taste preferences of your hamster. I know mine does not care for pellets, prefers seeds and nuts, and likes variety in her daily diet. This one has minimal pellets so there is less waste.

Dwarf Hamster Hideout for Cage

Igloo Hideout Mini

Peaches spends a lot of time sleeping in her igloo hideout. She fills it with bedding and this is usually where she can be found.

Dwarf Hamster Exercise Ball

Mini Exercise Ball

Every once in a while we let Peaches out for a run of the kitchen or living room. This doesn’t happen too often because we have dogs, but the safest way not to lose her under furniture or appliances is to put her in one of these mini exercise balls. Just keep clear of the stairs with these.

Dwarf Hamster Play House

PlayHouse Wooden Hamster Hideout House

Recently I have been thinking Peaches might need a more interesting place to play on occasion. This hideout placed inside a cardboard box or plastic box would be a great way to give your dwarf hamster a way to have some real playtime outside her cage.

Dwarf Hamster Wooden Chew Toy

Wooden Chew Toys

Your dwarf hamster must have something to chew on to keep its teeth healthy and worn down. Otherwise, its teeth could grow and grow. But their teeth don’t grow down, they grow up into its little brain. It’s essential to have wooden toys to chew on to help your hamster keep itself healthy.

Dwarf Hamsters make a great pet

When deciding to have a small pet, I think a dwarf hamster is fun and easy-to-care-for choice. They are so cute, are low maintenance, and are a great first pet. Some bite more than others so ask questions when you are selecting your hamster. But early and regular handling will help make your hamster “hand friendly.”

Precautions for families with Toddlers

If you have a toddler, you will want to be careful about where you put the hamster’s cage. Your dwarf hamster will be irresistible to your toddler, and a dwarf hamster could be hurt by a strong toddler’s grip and a tall fall. So be sure to turn your cage around to make it harder to access the door or put the cage on a high shelf where your toddler cannot reach it.

I hope these suggestions give you a head start to a happy, healthy life with your new pet.

Cheers,

Chandra's Signature

Chandra

P.S. Keep track of your gift list for your pets and the people in your life with this Essential Gift List for your Favorite People Trello board found in our FREE Resource Library and while you’re there grab the Shopping List Brainstorm Printable.

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