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You are here: Home / Hamster Facts / Russian Dwarf Hamster – Campbell’s, Winter White & Hybrids

Russian Dwarf Hamster – Campbell’s, Winter White & Hybrids

March 6, 2013 By Sarah Yee 95 Comments

The term “Russian dwarf hamster” is a common term for two species of hamster – the Campbell’s dwarf hamster or the Winter White dwarf hamster. It can also refer to a hybrid of the two. Russian dwarf hamsters are also known as Siberian hamsters or Siberian dwarf hamsters. The ones that are colorful and attractive are also labeled fancy Russian dwarf hamsters in pet shops. However, this is simply a marketing term and there is nothing different about a ‘fancy’ apart from its color.

russian dwarf hamster: winter white dwarf hamster

General information

Both Campbells’ and Winter Whites (and their hybrids) typically measure 3 to 4 inches in adulthood. Hybrids tend to be slightly bigger. Campbells’ and Winter Whites are frequently mistaken for each other due to their similarity. At one point, they were even confused for the same species by scientists. Their lifespan is between one to three years and most of them live for around 2 years.

Here’s a video of my winter white hamster, Oatmeal:

Russian dwarf hamster colors

Campbell’s dwarves and hybrids come in a wide variety of colors while winter whites have fewer colors. The table below lists each species and the colors they are available in. To see more colors, visit this page.

Campbell’s1 Winter White2 Hybrid3
Normal Normal Orange/pudding
Black-eyed Argente Sapphire Brown
Opal Pearl (pattern) Mushroom
Dark Gray Merle (pattern) Mandarin
Argente Imperial White (pattern) Moscow
Lilac Fawn
Beige
Blue Beige
Black
Silvering
Albino
Umbrous
Chocolate
Blue
Dove
Black-eyed Lilac
Dark Beige
Red-eyed Lilac
Champagne
Black-eyed White
Red-eyed White
Platinum (pattern)
Mottled (pattern)
Mosaic (pattern)
Satin (coat-type)
Rex (coat-type)
Wavy (coat-type)
Hairless (coat-type)

Care and feeding

As with other dwarf hamsters, you’ll require the right supplies, the correct diet, and to keep their cages clean. All these and more are covered in our dwarf hamster care page.

Taming your hamster

This is a great video on taming winter whites, but can also be applied to Campbell’s and hybrids.

Taming tips

  1. Start by giving your hamster treats so it associates you with rewards.
  2. When attempting to tame your hamster, have its wheel out too so it feels at home.
  3. Your hamster will run on the wheel a lot if when it’s nervous.
  4. Instead of grabbing your hamster, lift it up with both hands.
  5. Feed your hamster treats once it’s on your hand.
  6. Don’t be afraid if your hamster nibbles once in a while.
  7. If you can get your hamster to sit in your hand without trying to run away, you’ve successfully tamed it!

If you have any questions, comments, or tips, be sure to leave a comment. Thank you for reading!

Related Posts:

  • Siberian Dwarf Hamster
    Siberian Dwarf Hamster
  • Fancy Russian Dwarf Hamster 101
    Fancy Russian Dwarf Hamster 101
  • Diabetic Hamsters and Fruit
    Diabetic Hamsters and Fruit
  • How to Train Your Hamster to Do Stuff
    How to Train Your Hamster to Do Stuff

References and further reading:
  1. Purple Kat Kritters – Campbell Dwarf Colors [↩]
  2. Purple Kat Kritters – Winter White Dwarf Hamster Colors [↩]
  3. Purple Kat Kritters – Other Dwarf Hamster Colors [↩]

Filed Under: Hamster Facts, Types of Hamsters

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