The ears are blackish, with white on the inside. The sides of the muzzle, upper lips, lower cheeks, lower flanks, and limbs, as well as the tail and ventral surfaces, are pure white. Sometimes there is a dark dorsal stripe. Phodopus has a robust body, prominent ears, and internal cheek pouches. The feet are short, broad, and densely haired throughout.
Females have eight mammae.
These hamsters appear to inhabit somewhat arid areas, where there is stiff grass on plains and sand dunes. They seem to be most active in the evening and early morning but somewhat active throughout the night. Dwarf hamsters are quite clean. Undoubtedly their feeding habits are somewhat like those of other hamsters, for they eat seeds and any available plant material. Observers report that they will fill their pouches, seemingly almost to the bursting point, with millet or grain seeds, distorting the shape of the body.