Last Updated on March 8, 2023 by Woody Pet
Types of Hamsters: Hamsters are some of the most popular rodents that people keep as pets. These small animals come in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and personalities. One interesting fact is that all hamsters are nocturnal animals.
This means that they sleep during the day and come out mainly at night. Initially, this was a strategy to keep them away from predators. Although the hamsters you have at home do not have predators to get worried about, they still follow this pattern.
Each hamster has its own individual characteristics that may vary across the board. It is important that you find out about the different types of hamsters that are available before you settle on one to take as a pet.
Syrian Hamster
When it comes to the different types of hamsters, the Syrian hamster also known as the Teddy Bear hamster or Mesocricetus auratus is the most popular of them all.
These hamsters are the largest which makes them easier to handle than other hamsters. The Syrian hamster has a length of about 15 to 17 cm and a lifespan of about 2 to 3 years.
This type of hamster comes in a variety of colors, ranging from yellow, grey, black, golden brown, or a mixture of one of these colors with white.
These hamsters like to live alone as they are not very social with each other. If you put two or more Syrian hamsters together, these tiny animals will fight and they may even harm each other. Should you get more than one Syrian hamster, make sure you have separate cages for each of them.
Chinese Hamster
This type of hamster is agile and quick. It is 10 cm in length and has a lifespan of about 2 to 3 years. They can be found in colors white, gray, and black. One distinct feature of Chinese hamsters is that they have longer tails compared to other hamsters.
They are not very social with others of their kind and may be more hostile if they are the same gender and age. These hamsters are happy to be alone, so having a separate cage for each of them should be a priority.
Dwarf Hamster
A dwarf hamster has a length of about 10 cm and a lifespan of between one and a half and two years. They are either gray or gray-brown in color. Dwarf hamsters may not be the easiest hamsters to handle.
When they feel threatened with getting frightened, these hamsters are known to bite the person handling them. Unlike Syrian hamsters, these hamsters can be sociable and can be kept with others of their kind in the same cage when they are younger.
However, it is not recommended that you keep two hamsters in the same cage if they are of the same gender. When it comes to temperament, dwarf hamsters may vary in their needs. These hamsters are often more active during dawn and dusk.
Raborovski Hamster
This type of hamster has the scientific name Phodopus roborovskii and is brown in color. They have a length of about 5 cm and a lifespan of about 3 to 3 and a half years.
They are the smallest hamsters and can only get slightly higher than 5 cm long when they are mature. These tiny animals are very adorable and they are also known to be sociable, fast, and curious.
You may keep them in the same cage with others of their kind as long as they are of the same gender and age.
Winter white Hamster
The winter white hamster is also known as the Siberian hamster and has the scientific name Phodopus sungorus. This is one of the smallest hamsters and they can get to a length of about 4 inches long.
They often have a gray-brown stripe that runs down their back which becomes a white coat during winter. These hamsters are social and they can live together. They have a lifespan of about 3 to 3 and a half years.
Chinese Hamster
The Chinese hamster has a length of about 4 to 5 inches. These hamsters are also known as rat-tailed, gray, or striped hamsters.
These types of hamsters have a length of about 4 to 5 inches and a lifespan of about 2 and a half to 3 years. This rodent can make a great pet as they are cute and gentle which makes them easy to handle.
Campbell Hamster
A Campbell Hamster is a type of hamster that is either gray or gray-brown in color. The scientific name of a Campbell hamster is Phodopus campbelli.
These hamsters can get to a length of 10 cm and they can live for a lifespan of one and a half to 2 years. They are quick rodents and they may not be the easiest hamsters to handle.
They are however quite sociable so you can put two or more Campbell hamsters together. Remember, it is not recommended that you put hamsters that are not of the same gender in one cage.
These hamsters are friendly and bold, and they can be really fun to interact with as long as they are gently handled.
Conclusion
Just like other animals, different types of hamsters have different characteristics. When you are looking to purchase a hamster, you should consider the individual characteristics of each hamster before you make a choice.
The majority of hamsters, they are not social and they therefore should not be kept in the same cage. Mature hamsters that are of different genders tend to be quite hostile and aggressive toward each other.
The different factors given above should guide you when deciding which type of hamster is best suited for you and your family. Their different varieties give you a number of options that you can choose from.
Your choice may be defined by the looks or characteristics you want in a pet hamster. Despite their differences, all types of hamsters are cute and they make adorable pets.
