General Information
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Common Names: Winter White Dwarf Hamster, Djungarian Hamster, Siberian Hamster
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Scientific Name: Phodopus sungorus
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Family: Cricetidae
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Origin/Range: Siberia, northern Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and northeastern China
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Habitat: Cold grasslands, semi-deserts, and steppes; dig burrows for shelter and warmth
Physical Description
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Size: 7–10 cm (2.7–4 in)
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Weight: 25–50 g (0.9–1.8 oz)
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Build: Small, rounded body with short legs and tail
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Coat:
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Summer: gray-brown with a dark stripe along the back and a white underside
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Winter: turns much lighter, sometimes nearly pure white, for camouflage in snow (color change may not occur indoors as pets)
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Lifespan: 1.5–3 years in captivity (shorter in the wild)
Behavior & Lifestyle
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Activity: Primarily nocturnal and crepuscular (active at night and twilight)
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Social Behavior: Can sometimes live in pairs or groups if introduced young, but fights are possible—many owners house them singly
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Personality: Curious, gentle compared to other dwarf species, fast-moving but fairly tameable
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Natural Habits: Excellent diggers, create tunnels and burrows for nesting and storing food
Diet
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Type: Omnivores
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Wild Diet: Seeds, grasses, grains, insects, roots, and small plants
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Captive Diet:
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Hamster seed mix or pellets
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Fresh vegetables (carrot, cucumber, broccoli, spinach in moderation)
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Occasional protein (boiled egg, mealworms)
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Avoid: Sugary foods (they are prone to diabetes), citrus, onions, garlic, and chocolate
Reproduction
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Maturity: ~2 months old
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Breeding Season: Typically summer in the wild; year-round in captivity
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Gestation Period: 18–21 days
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Litter Size: 4–8 pups (sometimes up to 12)
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Development:
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Born blind and hairless
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Fur at ~7 days
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Eyes open by ~12–14 days
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Weaned at 3–4 weeks
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