Campbell's Dwarf Hamster - Social Aspects

Social Aspects

Unlike other hamster species, especially the Syrian hamsters, the male may play 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. Since the pair is likely to mate again quickly, the male should be separated from the female before birth unless more pups are desired and the female is fit enough for a repeat pregnancy.

Like other hamsters, Campbell's dwarf hamster will eat its young in certain emergency (or perceived emergency) situations, such as a protein deficiency in the mother or a threat toward the young. "Threat" may include anything from a predator (including a re-introduced father) to a habitat that the parent hamster does not believe will provide adequate size, covering, food, or water for its new inhabitants.

Unlike Syrian hamsters, Campbell's dwarf hamsters are sociable and may be kept in colonies. If the hamsters are introduced at a young age, generally younger than eight weeks, they will often happily coexist in same- or mixed-sex groups. (Note that mixed-sex groups should be avoided because hamsters are lively breeders.) Contrary to some claims, as long as the dwarf hamsters are the same breed they will hopefully live together peacefully. It helps to have the same gender hamster together that was born together. The two hamsters may fight if they did not grow up together. Some Campbell's dwarf hamsters live together for long periods of time, such as over a year, only to eventually and unexpectedly end up fighting to the point of requiring separation. Pet owners should plan for the possibility of providing additional accommodations should this occur.

Campbell's dwarf hamsters are crepuscular, meaning that they are most active at dawn and at dusk.