Hello and a quick question

[Emma Marie]

Hi everyone
I have two one male Syrian hamster called Teddy- who is a long hair and a female Syrian called Tatty.
My hamsters live in zooplus cages - small pet terrarium kerry

I am currently studying from home due to medical problems and recently I have fallen in love with the winter white breed. I have plenty of room for another cage but the only thing is I am not 100% sure what a winter white looks like compared with other dwarf breeds. I understand they are quite difficult to tell apart from Campbell hamsters. The hamsters in the photo included are from my local pet shop? Despite this I won't be getting them from there as I adopt from pets at home when I can.
I was just wondering whether anyone could tell me if they are winter whites so I know what to look for. Thank yoo
Emma

[Fluffagrams]

Hi there and welcome to Hamster Central

Unfortunately 99% of the hamsters sold as 'Russian Hamsters' 'Russian Winter White Hamsters' or 'Russian Campbells Dwarf' in pet shops are not true Winter Whites or Campbells as they will have had at least one hamster of the other species in their genetic background. The only way you can be sure that you have a true Winter White is by getting your hamster from a club breeder who can provide you with a pedigree outlining the hamster's genetic background.

In terms of telling the difference, Winter Whites only come in a limited range of colours and their body shape is distinctive to that of the Campbells. A good example of a Winter White will have what is referred to as a 'roman nose' which basically means that the head should be softly curved and the forehead slightly domed. It's body type will be oval in shape. The Campbells will have a broad and cobby body shape, will have a broad skull with a blunt muzzle.

From looking at the photos you've provided, the colouring is closer to that of a Winter White.

[cypher]

Hi Emma & welcome to HC.

As Fluffagrams has said pet shop hams are almost always Russian hybrids, if you do adopt from P@H then I think you can pretty much guarantee you would be getting a hybrid.
If you do want to adopt rather than buy from a breeder then from a pet owners point of view there really isn't a great difference between owing a pure bred WW & a hybrid other than hybrids can be prone to diabetes & other health issues but many are fine & live happy healthy lives, I know I'm biased but they do make adorable pets

[Emma Marie]

Hi everyone thank you so much for your responses. At pets at home a little Russian dwarf is separate from the others as her owners brought her back because their young daughter got bored I first saw her about a week ago and she is still their so I am hoping to get her this week ☺️ she seems like a winter white but she is beautiful either way. I am hoping to see her soon as one of my friends works their - he sent me this picture of her. She is still very young as you can see in the picture

[cypher]

She looks adorable It would be lovely if you can give her a good home.

Don't be confused by appearances, most pet shops hams will be hybrids bred with hybrids & have mixed genetics, sometimes WW genetics can appear more dominant sometimes Campbell''s but they are all hybrids.

[dreamtree1234]

Aww, she is SO cute!!! I do hope that she will be able to find her loving home with you. What a precious, tiny cutie!

[Emma Marie]

My friend is going to deliver her tomorrow!
I know she is currently on a pet food store food and doesn’t look the best quality. Any recommendations for any good dwarf hamster food? I have my Syrians on Harry Hamster is that okay for a dwarf? Also should I slowly reduce her current normal food and add the new one slowly?
Sorry for all the questions!

[dreamtree1234]

I am so excited for you both. Congrats! I am a Syrian ham-parent and don't have any hybrids, but I understand that they are more prone to diabetes so you should take a little extra caution concerning her diet. From what other members with hybrids have mentioned, I would suggest avoiding any sugary/sweet treats including fruits. Stick to veggies but limit the sweeter veggies for a very rare treat. I believe many HCers feed their dwarfs a sugar/fruit free dwarf specific mix like Burgess Dwarf Hamster Harvest which I believe may be available in most pet shops & online. Also, hybrids tend to require a bit more protein in their diet than Syrians so you may want to try to supplement her diet with some mealworms. As far as how quickly to change her current food, I personally would make the change when you get her since you don't believe the one she is on is the best quality. I did that with my Eros, and she had no problem with the immediate change. I hope that this helps, and please don't ever feel concerned about asking questions. We all are here to help one another out as best as we can. Have fun with your new cutiepie tomorrow and just take the taming process one step at a time at her own pace. I look forward to getting to know her and seeing more pics whenever she is settled in more and you have a chance. Btw, Eros says hi and waves her tiny paw, too.

[cypher]

That's great news! Look forward to hearing more about her when she's settled in

As dreamtree said many dwarf owners use Burgess dwarf hamster harvest, it's a pretty good food although a bit lacking in variety, the only other really good dwarf food is the Bunny Dwarf HamsterDream Expert from Zooplus, either of those foods or both mixed together for more variety would be fine.
Those foods do have some mealworms in already but a few extra particularly for a fairly young ham would give a little protein boost & they really love them so they make a great treat too.
If she's currently on a muesli type of food then you don't need to make the transition too gradual, you could mix a little of the new with the old & increase the new over a week until it's all the new food.

[Emma Marie]

Hello everyone thank you so much for all your lovely and helpful replies! Little Sapphire arrived home today and I am already in love 😍 she came in a pet store cage so I transferred her over using a tunnel as I didn’t want to handle her yet - hope that’s okay.
Her cage was ready and waiting it is an Alaska cage. She is super friendly and has been out most of the day looking out and playing on her wheel. She is going onto burgess dwarf hamster food tomorrow and I know she doesn’t really like her food she currently had so I popped a tiny piece of cucumber in the bowl and she sat there and ate it as can be seen in the pictures. Then she gave herself a wash and even cleaned behind her ears. (Yep I was in awe).
I am going to chat to her but I am not going to start any hand feeling until the day after tomorrow so she can settle in.
I will post updates when I can!

Also she was in wood shavings which I was assured was dust extracted but she will be changing to my usual bedding (fitch) tonight.
Thanks again guys!