Campbell’s Dwarf Hamster Care Guide

Setup

Campbell’s dwarf hamsters are small prey animals, so they can become stressed in open or exposed enclosures. Their habitat should feel safe, enclosed, and enriched with plenty of clutter and cover such as hides, cork logs, tunnels, wooden pieces, and cardboard structures. A busy, complex environment helps them feel secure and encourages natural behaviors.

Provide at least 4 inches of bedding minimum, though 6-8+ inches is recommended. Deep bedding allows for burrowing and nesting.

A water bottle is preferred over a bowl, since hamsters often bury open dishes in bedding. If a water bowl is used, it should be heavy, shallow, and checked frequently, but a bottle should still always be available as the primary water source.

Wheels must be solid-surface (no bars or mesh). Flying saucers should be at least 7 inches in diameter, while upright wheels should be at least 8 inches to prevent back strain.

  • Minimum size: 7-8 inches
  • Ideal size: 8–10+ inches (prevents spinal strain and improves comfort)

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Feeding

Campbell’s dwarf hamsters typically eat a small but frequent amount each day. Their diet should be based on a high-quality lab block or balanced dwarf hamster pellet mix, which provides consistent nutrition. 

They require at least 23% protein in their diet. If their primary diet falls below this level, it should be supplemented with high-protein foods such as quality dog food or other appropriate protein sources.

Food should be refreshed daily to ensure freshness. Any uneaten fresh foods should be removed promptly to prevent spoilage. If using a food hopper, it should be cleaned and refilled weekly to ensure the food stays fresh and sanitary.

For enrichment, you can offer small additions such as:

  • Millet sprays or oat sprays
  • Seed mixes (in moderation)
  • Dried vegetables
  • Occasional protein sources like mealworms or small pieces of boiled egg

Treats should be kept limited, as Campbell’s dwarfs are prone to blood sugar sensitivity.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Bedding

Proper bedding is extremely important due to their sensitive respiratory systems and burrowing behavior. Safe options include:

  • Aspen Shavings
  • Hemp bedding
  • Kiln-dried pine

These materials provide good odor control and safe ammonia absorption when maintained correctly.

Avoid heavily scented or dusty bedding, as well as materials that do not properly control ammonia buildup over time.

Back to blog