Hamster Types
With the wide variety of hamster types available, you might be wondering which one will work best for you as a pet? There are five different types of hamsters to choose from. These are the Syrian hamster, the Winter White Russian Dwarf hamster, the Campbell’s Russian Dwarf hamster, the Roborovski hamster, and the Chinese hamster. There are both very distinct and subtle differences between the various species. These are important to take note of as they can mean the difference between a successful pet match and a regrettable experience.
The Syrian hamster is the most common of the hamster types. They are often found in pet stores and are also sometimes called Golden hamsters or “fancy” hamsters. Other trendy names lately include panda bears, black bears, honey bears, teddy bears, and Dalmatians because they can come in a wide variety of colors. There is even a long-haired version, which, of course, requires more care in the form of grooming than other hamster types.
The Syrian hamster is also the largest species of hamster with the average length being 12-16 centimeters thus making it the only hamster not truly considered a “dwarf.” However, many refer to them as dwarf hamsters nonetheless.
When it comes to owning a Syrian hamster, the most important thing you should know is that it should always be kept alone in its cage. Syrian hamsters prefer to be alone in the wild and need to be solitary as a pet as well. If you don’t do this, you could end up with aggression between hamsters, which can, unfortunately, result in death.
The first of the dwarf hamster types is the Winter White Russian Dwarf hamsters. Their coats include a stripe of dark down their backs (called a dorsal strip) and their colorations change with the seasons. In the winter their coats are white and in the summer they are a darker, almost gray, color.
These hamsters grow to be about 7-10 centimeters long and unlike the Syrian hamsters, they are social and enjoy living together. However, you need to make sure that they are raised together and not introduced to each other as adults.
These dwarf hamsters also require a lot of room in their cages so that they do not become territorial. Each hamster should have its own bowl, wheel, and toy. The last thing you want is for your hamsters to be fighting and become injured. One thing you can do is to slide a mesh divider down the middle of your cage. The hamsters will still be able to smell each other and interact but will not be able to fight. Remove the divider and monitor the hamsters for aggression.
The next hamster type is the Campbell’s Russian Dwarf hamster, which is a close relative to the Winter White Russian Dwarf hamster. They are so close that many pet stores often cannot identify the differences and they end up being house together and interbred. They appear to be slightly larger than the Winter White Russian hamsters because their coats are thicker, but in actuality, they are about the same size growing to 8-11 centimeters long.
With a body length of only 4 to 5.5 centimeters and a tail that you can barely see, the Roborovski hamster is the smallest of the dwarf hamsters. If you want to watch a very active and playful hamster for hours on end, the Roborovski hamster might be a good fit. They are very quick and love to explore their surroundings. However, due to their very small size and quickness, they are not ideal for handling or cuddling. This is something to consider especially if you are considering a hamster for a young adult or child.
Finally, there is the Chinese hamster which some have remarked looks more like a rat than a hamster. This is due to their long tail, which is lacking in the other dwarf hamster types. The Chinese hamster is easy to tame, as it tends to have a calmer personality. This does make it a good choice for a pet, however, in some states it is regarded as a pest and you might need a special permit.
No matter which of the hamster types sounds most appealing to you, it is important to do a lot of research to get prepared to take care of your new pet.
