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Old 09-20-2015, 02:16 PM   #1
ribeye
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Thumbs up Campbells vs Winter White

Hi guys! I'm new here. Still have yet to be a hamster owner, but I'm getting a dwarf hamster sometime next month, and I just wanted to ask what advice you can give me when it comes to choosing between the two Russian species of dwarf hamster.

Just for background, I've had hamsters before and I always took care of them as well as I knew how. I fed them everyday and changed their water and gave them a wheel, but there was a lot I wasn't aware of. I was not a very responsible owner back then, but I am more educated now and I know I'm ready for a new hamster.

I already have a 400 square inch cage, I've ordered a wheel and a few toys, and the food will be on its way in a couple of weeks. I'm just making sure I have everything ready before I take my hamster home instead of trying to buy everything all in one day and then having some of the things I need be out of stock.

I plan on getting either a Campbell's hamster or a Winter White hamster depending on what fits me best. From what I've read, it seems like these two species are quite similar to each other, but I'm sure there are a lot of differences between them as well.

I like interacting with my pets, so I want my hamster to be quite sociable with humans. I don't mind a not-so-easy taming process since I did have a hedgehog and it took months to tame her, but the easier the better. I want a more calm hamster, but I am not interested in getting a Syrian just because I don't have the space. The room I keep my pets in is quite small, so I'd prefer if they didn't smell so strongly, I'm not sure if hamsters have different scents.. Also should I get a male or a female?

If they're both almost the same, then please CONVINCE ME TO GET WHICHEVER ONE YOU WOULD SUGGEST.
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Old 09-20-2015, 02:36 PM   #2
Shannonmcn
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Default Re: Campbells vs Winter White

For a start you might not have a choice on which kind of dwarf you get. Any dwarf hamster you get in any pet shop is going to be a hybrid between the Russian Campbells Dwarf and the Winter White. That's how similar they are! The only way to get a pure RCD or WW ham is to find a breeder who breeds pedigree hamsters and depending on where you are geographically you might not have access to that. Finding a breeder is also a great way to find a hamster that is well used to humans and handling so I think that's your best shot. If you give a general idea of where you are in the world someone might be able to help you find a breeder local to you

If you can't find one that's okay! A hybrid ham is a wonderful little animal though they do need some special care. They are prone to developing diabetes as a result of being hybridised so they need a dwarf hamster specific diet and can't really have any high sugar treats regularly. Even then you need to be on the lookout for signs of diabetes like increased urination.

There's no difference between the space you need for a dwarf and a syrian though, dwarfs are extremely active and (this is purely a personal opinion and others will differ) 400 square inches isnt a great amount of space. Not going to focus on that but I will recommend you look at the "show us your cages" threads in the Housing subforum to see what kind of setups are common.

No hamsters should smell really if you do regular spot cleans, they are very easily potty trained so it's easy as pie to keep their cages fresh with small cleans and just change the bedding once every month or so. Sometimes a syrian female will have a musky smell when she's on heat every 4 days or so but not all do and I don't know if dwarf females smell as strongly. Personalities are all different and calmness and confidence depends a lot more on how a hamster is raised than its species or sex but in general males seem to be calmer.
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Old 09-20-2015, 02:40 PM   #3
ribeye
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Default Re: Campbells vs Winter White

Thanks so much, Shannonmcn! I appreciate it. (:
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Old 09-20-2015, 10:30 PM   #4
Nancy's Hamsters
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Default Re: Campbells vs Winter White

From breeding mostly Russian Campbell dwarf Hybrids, and rescuing a mostly Winter White Hybrid mom to be I can say that in the USA at least. The mostly WW Hybrids are much much more laid back and friendly compared to the many Mostly Campbell Hybrids.

I found the RC Hybrids would be more territorial and cage aggressive boxing your hand or Biting your hand to warn you off their turf. Where the WW Hybrids didn't mind even being awoke from in their nest with no aggressive territorial behaviors at all.

Both had to be watched for developing Diabetis, but I only had Glacoma in a Mostly RC Hybrid. Both need special care of their daily diet being careful to not feed to many sugar packed foods, and it has only been RC Hybrids here that developed Cushings, and have had old age caused Alopecia (Hair loss).
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Old 09-22-2015, 01:05 PM   #5
Bingo
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Default Re: Campbells vs Winter White

I have kept (and bred) both in the past and I personally favour Campbells but this is just a personal preference and as others have previously said almost ALL pet shop "dwarf Russians" are hybrids so direct crossed of winter whites and Campbells

You can get pure bred hamsters your best bet would be to pop along to a local hamster show, exhibitors sometimes bring surplus stock to sell

Alternatively contact the NHC and ask for contact details for reputable breeders

Ultimately though you can just as easily pop to a pet shop and ask to meet the dwarfs they have available, any decent shop will let you see them before you buy and as your pet, you'll probably find one will quickly choose you
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