Hi all, newbie question

[FlopsnWills]

I have been wanting a dwarf hamster or two for quite awhile now. I have been reading a bit about them and I've had 3 syrians and a teddy bear. I noticed an ad on Craigslist and there are babies available on the 22nd in my area. They're on pine bedding, so I know they're probably not in the best of hands. If I do adopt one, it would be in a 10 gallon tank with aspen shavings, should I get one or two and male or female?
Thanks for any replies

[FlopsnWills]

Also, the top I have for my tank is just a screen that doesn't lock. Do I need a lock for the top?

[Robocop]

I doubt dwarfs could climb out of a 10 gallon tank...I have 3 dwarfs, so definitely get more than one. They need a buddy! Just make sure they are from the same litter.

Females, males...just a preference IMO. Don't get one of both :p

[Ky86]

I have been wanting a dwarf hamster or two for quite awhile now. I have been reading a bit about them and I've had 3 syrians and a teddy bear. I noticed an ad on Craigslist and there are babies available on the 22nd in my area. They're on pine bedding, so I know they're probably not in the best of hands. If I do adopt one, it would be in a 10 gallon tank with aspen shavings, should I get one or two and male or female?
Thanks for any replies

First off "teddy bears" are Syrians... "Teddy bear" is just a fancy name petstores give long haired hamsters.

A ten gallon tank is too small even for a dwarf hamster and especially too small for two. If you do get two, males are a bit less likely to fit, but either sex is fine. The sex doesn't determine the personality, the hamster does.


I doubt dwarfs could climb out of a 10 gallon tank...I have 3 dwarfs, so definitely get more than one. They need a buddy! Just make sure they are from the same litter.

You don't have to get more than one, one is just fine to get. And you would really hate to get two and find out later that one wasn't the sex you thought it was and end up with inbred babies.

[ScarlettDesire2]

I always use clips just in case they figure out how to climb the water bottle. :D

[pinkpink33]

i've never had male dwarf hams, but i hear that getting 2 males from the same litter are less likely to fight than females, as the girls can get quite territorial - can anyone confirm this?
one of my females is territorial as hell, but the other comes running when i put my hand in her home to come play, and has only ever nipped once when i confiscated a wine gum she found on my bed lol.
dwarf hams can be lovely sweet things, that do fine in pairs or alone.
i would advise that when you go to collect them (or him/her) you put your hand in their home and see who is most curious about you. this'll be sure to get you a lovely ham :)
i agree with the others on cage size, they love to explore so toys,wheels and room for running about are necessary in a cage, which isnt possible in a 10g.
you should probably check the sex yourself too if you get 2, dwarf hams i find hard to sex, so mistakes are easily made.
good luck :)

[KOKKINIKLOSTI]

What kind of dwarves are they? Cambel's dwarves usually do better as pairs (of the same sex, just to avoid "accidents"), while Robowski's hamsters can be kept in groups! But if you decide to get more than one it would be great if you could get 2 more bin cages and connect them to each other so that each hamster has their own space but can play with the others at the same time!

[PetLuver21257]

A 10 gallon tank is fine for one dwarf. Opie lives in one, and it's big enough. You definitely don't need to get two, as there always is a possibility for the sexing to be done wrong, and you end up with babies, or fighting/squabbling to the point of bloodshed.

I have found that males are good for a beginner with dwarves. I personally think that all male animals are a little more laid back and calmer than the females. I have had both male and female dwarves, and, no offense to them, but I have liked the males much better. The males haven't bitten me, and they are always very calm.

You don't need to get clips for the cage, but you might want to put a rock on it, or the food bag; something heavy so that there is not a possibility for them to escape! Good luck! :)