What are the types of hamsters?

The beloved hamster is one of the most popular pet rodents in the United States and lives in the wild with over 20 different species. Domesticated hamsters come in only four types on the other hand and sometimes interbred to eliminate hereditary diseases. They are cute and furry with a variety of coats, colors, sizes and hair length. Their docile behavior towards humans and gentle nature makes them good pets for children. They have a life span ranging from 1 ½ to 3 years. However, not every species is appropriate for young children as you will learn in this article.

Syrian

Syrian hamsters are the largest in size having a length of 6-7 inches and are available in shorter and long hair kinds. These are the best option for children owing to their larger size which allows them to be held and petted easily like children love to treat their pets. They must be housed alone because they are extremely territorial. They love to climb over things so wire cages are a good idea. Females have been found to be active sometimes during the day but males are quite lazy. Their cage size must be considered according to how large they will grow to be once fully mature. Similarly, the exercise wheel that comes with most cages will be too small for them and give them back problems so purchase a separate one for your Syrian hamster when you bring it home. A number of rodent supplies can be found at good prices at US pet stores and online websites that sell quality pet supplies like www.lovemypets.com. 

Campbell’s

The rest of the hamster species like the Campbell’s hamster are dwarves in comparison to the Syrian breed. They grow from 3 -5 inches in length. These may be housed in duos or trios but only if they have the same gender otherwise you will have daily vicious territorial battles to deal with. Some lines of the Campbell hamster have known to carry hereditary diabetes. They have been known to be relatively aggressive or slightly anti-social when it comes to humans even resorting to biting. These are often gray with a white underbelly and short hair but other colors can also be found.

Winter White

The Winter White hamsters seem similar to Campbell’s but they have darker coloration and have a different attitude altogether. They are much more social towards humans than the Campbell’s and they are up to 4 inches long. They can easily be kept in same sex groups and are not as territorial as the Campbell’s. The diet and accommodation requirements of both species are similar however.

Roborovski

These are the smallest dwarves growing under 4 inches in length which are native to Mongolia and also famous for being the fastest of the lot. Their small size and speed makes them unsuitable for young children because they will be unable to catch them or hold them or pet them. These are very fun loving and entertaining because they enjoy going through obstacle courses and need lots of toys to keep them happy. Their cage size must be selected according to how much they love to roam not their small size.

Chinese

This variety can be quite social and grow from 4-5 inches in length in between the Syrian and dwarves. They are not very common because of their origin which is China. Therefore, they are illegal in some US states. They have the longest tail amongst the domestic hamster species and are also known as rat-tailed hamster. Chinese hamsters love to hid behind objects so they can be provided such toys with lots of places to hid in.