The 'original' colour of the Dwarf Campbells Russian Hamster in the wild is brownish-grey with an ivory belly and a darker line down the centre of the back (dorsal stripe).

Occasionally a mutation occurs resulting in a new colour. In the wild these mutations may not survive but in captivity such hamsters are kept and bred from in order to maintain the mutation. As a result in captivity a number of additional colours to the original wild brownish-grey have been established.

Some colour mutations are referred to as Agouti colour mutations whilst others are referred to as Self colour mutations. Agouti means that the hamster has the original wild markings, that is the coat is a darker colour at the roots (undercolour) than on the top, the belly is off-white and the hamster has a darker dorsal stripe. Self coloured hamsters are the same colour all over (top and belly).

In addition to the agouti and self colour mutations that occurred over the years a variety of additional colours can be created by combining the different colour mutations together.

Agouti Colour Mutations
Descriptions and photos of agouti colour mutations of the Dwarf Campbells Russian hamster.

Self Colour Mutations
Descriptions and photos of self colour mutations of the Dwarf Campbells Russian hamster.

Colours Derived From Combining Mutations
Descriptions and photos of colours created by combining colour mutations of the Dwarf Campbells Russian hamster.