the campbell hamster

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Campbell's Russian dwarf hamster (Phodopus campbelli) is a species of dwarf hamster. It was discovered by W.C. Campbell in 1902 in Tuva, an area that has historically been geographically linked with both China and Russia. The Campbell's dwarf is also native to the steppes and semi-arid areas of Central Asia, the Altay mountains, and the provinces of Heilungkiang and Hebei in Northeastern China.

This hamster is sometimes referred mistakenly to as the Djungarian hamster (or Dzungarian hamster), or simply Russian, and often labeled as a Winter white Russian dwarf hamster. (See Winter White/Campbell's Dwarf Hybrids below.) In Tuva the species is called Pouched in the Tuvan language, referring to the well-known physical characteristic of most hamsters. There has been some debate over the classification of Campbell's dwarf and its closely related cousin, the Winter White, but now the two species are usually classified as Phodopus campbelli and P. sungorus, respectively. It has been claimed that the Campbell's hamster is less friendly in temperament (to humans) than the winter white and is consequently more likely to bite or nip.

The average lifespan of the Campbell's dwarf hamster is 1½ to 2 years, although they can live longer.

- Length of 9-12 cm, when already mature.

- Kind of  Campbell hamster:

1. Albino

2. Panda

3. Black

4. Argente

5. Opal

6. Blue

7. Lilac

8. Dove

9. Etc.

- Campbell hamster pregnancy: 18 - 21 days.

Breeding Dwarf Russian Hamsters is much simpler than breeding Syrian Hamsters as they will live together in mixed sex pairs or groups and breed naturally. Pairs or groups are best established at a young age as introducing older hamsters can often result in fighting. Males will naturally mate with the females if kept together and when in season the female will allow the male to mount her. He will thrust a few times before dismounting and washing himself and then often will remount and mate again. The male will usually mate with the female several times. Not all unproven males will get a female pregnant after the first mating and some males may need to mate several times before a successful pregnancy occurs. The actual mating may not always be observed.

The following items should be avoided:
kidney beans
onions
garlic
potato tops
raw potatoes
rhubarb
rhubarb leaves
tomato leaves
anything sweet unless diabetes has been ruled out

Problems in hamsters Campbell:
Anophthalmic - Homozygous Red Eyes Mottleds (without eyes, white fur, and without teeth) usually die at the age of 14 days (weaning age), as a result of marriage between Red Eyes Red Eyes Mottleds Mottleds X, this is because they have the gut can not digest food properly.
Neurological - a type of gene abnormality type of obsessive / compulsive disorder, which often salto, pacing back and forth and round and round, the hamster is unable to stop himself. It is a derivative of disease caused by inbreeding.

Basic colors include:

agouti (the normal grey brown wild color with white belly and black eyes)
argente (cinnamon or sandy with white belly and red eyes)
black eyed argente (dull brownish orange with white belly and black eyes)
albino (white with red eyes)
opal (blue grey with white belly and black eyes)
black (black all over with black eyes)

Marking types include:

mottled (irregular white patches or spots - also called banded, spotted, or collared, if the mottling is confined to the neck)
ruby-eyed mottled (mottled with ruby eyes which usually appear black)
platinum (white hairs mingled in the coat ranging from a few to almost total coverage - sometimes incorrectly called pearl)

Albino & Argente Campbell's Russian Hamsters

- albino -

- argente -