Introduction

Found in desert areas with little vegetation, Roborovski dwarf hamsters are able to survive on less water than other dwarf hamsters due to their ability to produce highly concentrated urine. Roborovski dwarf hamsters, scientific name Phodopus roborovskii, are the smallest and fastest of all hamsters. They also have high metabolism and are very active during evening hours (Roborovski Hamsters 2008). In the wild depending on where they live, their diet mainly consists of seeds, plants, and insects (Ross 1994). Since dwarf hamsters are nocturnal in nature, my hypothesis is that when the photoperiod decreases, the hamsters will consume more food and water.