Feeding a Campbell's Dwarf Hamster

Campbell's dwarf hamsters are often underfed or overfed simply because most feeding guides are written with Syrian hamsters in mind — and a Syrian can weigh three times as much. Before I give you a quantity, can you tell me how old your Campbell's is, roughly what they weigh if you know, and whether you're currently scatter-feeding in deep bedding or using a bowl? That changes the approach quite a bit.

A teaspoon is actually on the generous side for a Campbell's at 40g. The standard guidance for Syrians is roughly one to two teaspoons daily, but a Campbell's at that weight really only needs about half a teaspoon of dry mix per day — around 5 to 7 grams. They have a tendency toward diabetes (Campbell's are more prone to it than other dwarf species), so keeping portions controlled and avoiding sugary treats matters more for them than for most hamsters. Are you giving her anything alongside the dry mix — fresh veg, protein, anything like that?

Yes, the mix matters. A lot of hamster foods marketed as suitable for dwarfs still contain honey drops, yogurt pieces, or dried fruit — all of which spike blood sugar and are genuinely risky for Campbell's specifically. The one I'd point you toward is Supreme Tiny Friends Farm Harry Hamster Mix. It's a well-balanced seed and grain mix without the sugary extras, and importantly the pieces are sized appropriately for smaller mouths. It's widely available on Amazon UK and reasonably priced. Stick to roughly half a teaspoon daily, scatter some of it in her bedding if you can to encourage foraging, and her cucumber is fine — just keep carrots minimal since they're higher in sugar than people expect.

Absolutely — weekly weigh-ins on a small kitchen scale are one of the most useful things you can do for a dwarf hamster. At 40g she's in a healthy range for a Campbell's female (they typically run 40–70g, males slightly larger). If she starts dropping weight consistently, that can signal illness; if she's creeping up, dial back slightly on the mix. A sudden weight loss in a Campbell's is worth a vet visit sooner rather than later given their diabetes susceptibility. You're clearly paying close attention to her, which makes a real difference.

Perfect — you're set. Half a teaspoon of Harry Hamster Mix daily, scatter feed where you can, keep the sugary extras out, and weigh her weekly. She's lucky to have someone asking the right questions.