Breeding Russian Dwarf Hamsters

Breeding Russian dwarf hamsters can be a very easy process, but there are some things that you should know before starting.

First of all, unlike Syrian hamsters, the male and female dwarf hamsters stay together in the same cage. They become sexually mature anywhere from 30-60 days old, and they need to be introduced at 4-6 weeks old. Click here for information on how to sex hamsters. A younger female can often be introduced to an older male, but never the other way around. It is usually impossible to introduce two adults.

Their gestation is about 18-21 days. Since you may not always know when mating takes place, it can be hard to determine when exactly a litter is due. If you want to continue to breed the pair, don't remove the male when the litter is born, because you probably won't be able to intoduce the pair again afterwards. He will help her raise the litter, and Russian Dwarf Hamsters can make wonderful parents if given the opportunity!

The babies will mature a little faster than Syrians do. At 6-8 days old they will be fully furred, at 11-12 days old their eyes will open, and at 21 days old they are ready to leave mom. The babies should be separated by sex, and kept this way for another week or two before going off to new homes. Since the parents can mate again within 24 hours of giving birth to one litter, you can also expect another litter at this time.

If you decide that you would like to separate your breeding pair of dwarfs, it is best to leave mom with a daughter and dad with a son, since they are happiest living in pairs.

Click here for a great guide to Campbell's Russian dwarf genetics!