Chinese hamster (Chinese striped hamster) (Cricetulus griseus)

Short answers

Chinese hamster (Chinese striped hamster): How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 120×50×60 cm (bmt hamster leaflet 2025: minimum length 120 cm for the particularly agile Chinese hamster, plus climbing opportunities; general dwarf hamster minimum 100×50×50 cm, TVT leaflet no. 162). The Austrian legal minimum is only 60×30×40 cm. Wheel at least 25 cm with a solid running surface.

Chinese hamster (Chinese striped hamster): What temperature does it need?

Daytime 18–24 °C room temperature (bmt hamster leaflet 2025); in the cold activity drops to near immobility, above 26 °C heat stress is likely.

Chinese hamster (Chinese striped hamster): Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Not needed – nocturnal mammal; normal daylight in the room with a regular day-night rhythm is enough; do not place the enclosure in direct sun.

Chinese hamster (Chinese striped hamster): How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 1.5–3 years.

Chinese hamster (Chinese striped hamster): Is it suitable for beginners?

Yes – it is considered suitable for beginners (difficulty: Beginner).

Climate

Daytime temperature

18–24 °C room temperature (bmt hamster leaflet 2025); in the cold activity drops to near immobility, above 26 °C heat stress is likely.

Humidity

40–60 % (normal indoor air, no extra humidification).

UVB

Not needed – nocturnal mammal; normal daylight in the room with a regular day-night rhythm is enough; do not place the enclosure in direct sun.

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 120×50×60 cm (bmt hamster leaflet 2025: minimum length 120 cm for the particularly agile Chinese hamster, plus climbing opportunities; general dwarf hamster minimum 100×50×50 cm, TVT leaflet no. 162). The Austrian legal minimum is only 60×30×40 cm. Wheel at least 25 cm with a solid running surface.

Substrate

At least 20 cm, ideally 30–40 cm deep bedding of small-animal litter with hay and straw for digging, plus a sand bath with low-dust chinchilla sand (essential for coat care). Do not place heavy objects on the deep bedding – risk of collapse.

Feeding

Food

Fine seed mix with grass seeds and dried herbs, hay, a little fresh food daily (herbs, vegetables). High-quality protein is particularly important: several times a week dried insects, mealworms or low-fat quark. It does not tolerate sugary fruit and vegetables well.

Feeding interval

Feed daily in the early evening and scatter the food; remove fresh leftovers the next morning.

Key facts

Adult size

Head-body length 8–13 cm, a tail of 2–3 cm that is long for a hamster; weight 30–45 g; slender, mouse-like build.

Life expectancy

1.5–3 years.

Origin

Dry steppes and semi-deserts of northern and north-eastern China, Mongolia and adjacent regions; pets mostly originate from laboratory lines.

Protection status

No wildlife-protection papers needed, not on the EU invasive species list; not threatened according to the IUCN.

Brumation

None – keep at a steady room temperature indoors. Short torpor in cold and short days is possible but undesirable for pets.

Cohabitation

Solitary. The Chinese hamster is a loner and can seriously injure other hamsters (bmt hamster leaflet 2025: keep all dwarf hamsters alone).

Notes

Naming: in the pet trade this usually refers to Cricetulus griseus. Some authors treat it as a subspecies of the striped dwarf hamster (Cricetulus barabensis griseus), others as a separate species; both names refer to the same animal here. It climbs very well and uses branches and levels; the tail serves as a support when climbing.

Do you keep this species?

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Look for Chinese hamster (Chinese striped hamster) (Cricetulus griseus) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Campbell's dwarf hamster (Phodopus campbelli) – Beginner
• Djungarian hamster (winter white dwarf hamster) (Phodopus sungorus) – Beginner
• Golden hamster (Syrian hamster) (Mesocricetus auratus) – Beginner (but not for children under about 12 – nocturnal)
• Roborovski dwarf hamster (Phodopus roborovskii) – Beginner (purely an animal to watch)
• Fancy mouse (Mus musculus) – Beginner
• Fancy rat (Rattus norvegicus) – Beginner
• Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) – Beginner
• African pygmy mouse (Mus minutoides) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Chinese hamster (Chinese striped hamster) (Cricetulus griseus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 120×50×60 cm (bmt hamster leaflet 2025: minimum length 120 cm for the particularly agile Chinese hamster, plus climbing opportunities; general dwarf hamster minimum 100×50×50 cm, TVT leaflet no. 162). The Austrian legal minimum is only 60×30×40 cm. Wheel at least 25 cm with a solid running surface.), substrate (At least 20 cm, ideally 30–40 cm deep bedding of small-animal litter with hay and straw for digging, plus a sand bath with low-dust chinchilla sand (essential for coat care). Do not place heavy objects on the deep bedding – risk of collapse.), a heat source with a thermostat, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.