The Campbell’s hamster is of Asian origin and is one of the most common dwarf hamsters, but it is not as easy to find for purchase as a pet as the Russian or the Golden. Not sure which is the Campbell? We will discover everything about this beautiful ball of hair in this post. Keep reading!
Characteristics of the Campbell’s hamster
Campbell’s hamster is similar to the Russian, only a little chubbier; it usually weighs between 30 and 50 grams and measures 12 cm at most.
As is general in hamsters, the Campbell has storage space in the cheeks; they are able to accumulate and transport piles of food to take to the burrow.
The Campbell’s hamster has silky, smooth, medium-length hair, which can be of a variety of colors. The nominal, the black and the gray are the most frequent, but at the moment there is a great variety due to the crosses with other races. The color can be solid or have different patterns: a stripe on the back, a band around the body (which is called panda), white spots …
Campbell’s hamster temperament
If you are inexperienced in having hamsters as pets or if you have children, it is better that you opt for another breed, because the Campbell’s hamster is quite aggressive towards humans and can be difficult to handle. This does not mean that all Campbell hamsters have this character, there are more tame ones, but it is more likely to find a specimen with a difficult character than in other breeds.
They also have quite a territorial instinct, so it is better to have one per cage or mixed pairs. Same-sex couples tend to have more confrontations. If you are going to have several, it is best that they learn to live together as soon as possible, once they reach sexual maturity it is more difficult for them to tolerate others of their kind.
As we say, mixed couples do not usually have territorial problems, but they do have babies! Campbell’s hamster, like all the others, reproduces incredibly fast, you could see yourself with lots of babies before you want to know it. If you want to avoid it, it is best to have only one hamster.
Campbell’s Hamster Care
To feed Campbell’s hamster, you must get a specific feed for these rodents , which consists of seeds and cereals. This will be the base of your diet, but not 100%, it is necessary to supplement it with some servings of fresh vegetables and some protein. Also, remember to always have fresh water available.
Ideally, you should vary and give different vegetables each time. In addition, you will have to adapt it to their needs. For example, if you have a pregnant female, she will need extra protein, or if it is summer you will have to give her fruit so that she does not dehydrate. But watch out for the fruit! If you overdo it, you could be giving it too much sugar, and hamsters are prone to diabetes.
Your hamster will need a place to live. It may be a cage, but make sure it is of good quality, not too high and with horizontal bars. Other options are terrariums or methacrylate cages. In either case, you will need gravel to cover the bottom, a nest to sleep in, and a wheel to exercise. Multi-story cages with climbing possibilities are also a good option to spend all their energy.
Take care of your hamster’s comfort: keep the cage in an appropriate place, neither too hot nor cold and away from drafts, it could get sick! Hygiene is very important, remember to clean the cage often, change the material on the bottom and remove the pieces of fresh food that you give it every day, do not let it eat it spoiled!
