Types of Hamsters

There are 5 types of hamsters.  These are the Syrian hamster, Dwarf Campbell Russian Hamster, Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamster, Chinese Hamster and the Roborovski Hamster.

Syrian Hamster

The Syrian Hamster lives alone in the wild and it feels much happier when it’s alone in captivity too.  Syrian Hamsters can be aggressive with each other and can seriously hurt each other.  Never keep Syrian Hamsters in a pair or a group.  Syrian Hamsters are the most commonly found in pet stores.  The Syrian Hamster is sometimes referred to as the 'Golden Hamster' due to its original wild golden colouring although today there are many different colour and coat mutations. It is also sometimes referred to as the Standard or Fancy Hamster and Long Haired Syrian hamsters are sometimes referred to as 'Teddy Bear Hamsters'.  Female Syrian Hamsters are larger than male Syrian Hamsters.

Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamster

The Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamster is also known as the Djungarian Dwarf Hamster.  It originates from the steppes of Northern Kazakhstan and Siberia.  When kept outdoors it gets a white winter coat.  This is a natural protective colour during a period when its original habitat is covered in snow. Hamsters are most comfortable at temperatures between 65 ° F / 18° C and 80°F / 26°C and should always be housed indoors.  Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamsters can be housed in a group, preferably of the same gender.  They can only be housed in groups if brought together from a young age.

Dwarf Campbell Russian Hamster

Dwarf Campbell Russian Hamsters are closely related to Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamsters.  Because of its thicker coat, the Campbell’s appears somewhat larger than Dwarf Russian Hamsters, but in fact it’s not. Campbell’s tend to become fatter in captivity than the Russian Hamsters.  The Campbell’s coat is yellow-brownish with a thin, sharply lined dorsal stripe.  Its coat turns slightly greyer in winter.  Dwarf Campbell Russian Hamsters can live in groups of the same gender.

Chinese Hamster

The Chinese Hamster is a long-tailed dwarf hamster and not closely related to the other dwarf hamsters.  Chinese hamsters should also be housed alone; one per cage.  The Chinese Hamster’s coat is not as woolly as that of the other species.  Its fur lies close and dark-brown dorsal stripe on its back is not always clearly visible and its belly is light grey.  The Chinese Hamster has dark ears, lightly edged.  The male has a strikingly large scrotum.

Roborovski Hamster

The Roborovski Hamster is also a short-tailed dwarf hamster, but its yellow-brown colouring and striking whiskers lend it a totally different appearance to the other two short-tailed species of dwarf hamsters.  Roborovski Hamsters are much less well knows and they breed very few young.  The Roborovski Hamster.  Is the smallest dwarf hamster.  Its body measures only seven to nine centimeters in length and its tail is barely visible.  Its back is a brownish-yellow with grey under colouring.  Sometimes the yellow on its back appears somewhat rusty in colour.  Roborovski Hamsters don’t have dorsal stripes.  Roborovski Hamsters can live in groups of the same gender.