 |
Different Hamster Breeds
Did you know that what looks like many, many different hamster breeds is actually two main groups? Hamsters are among the most popular types of rodents kept as pets? Hamsters are mammals in the rodent family who have large incisor teeth that grow continually -- this means your hamsters must gnaw constantly to keep their teeth from growing out of control! Most species of hamsters have expandable cheek pouches that can carry food or bedding materials to their burrows. As I'm sure you can see - this is a very new section of useful information on different hamster breeds. Please bear with us while we make it look as good as the rest of our site! We will be adding in useful pictures on the many different hamster breeds that you can have and some fun products - bookmark this page so you can come back and check us out. Better still, access our RSS feed so you don't miss out on a single thing to do with different hamster breeds!
Two Types of Pet Hamsters If you have never owned a hamster before, you may not know that there are two main kinds of different hamster breeds: Syrian hamsters and dwarf hamsters. As you may guess from the name, dwarf hamsters are smaller, reaching a maximum length of three to four inches (eight to ten centimeters). Syrian hamsters are nearly twice the size, reaching maximum lengths of six to seven inches (fifteen to seventeen centimeters) when fully grown. Syrian hamsters are also known as golden hamsters, although they come in many colors. Dwarf hamsters come in fewer colors but have a distinctive dorsal stripe running down their backs from head to tail. Dwarf hamsters have an average lifespan of two years, though some varieties may live as long as three years. Syrian hamsters may live between two and three years on average. The main difference between Syrian hamsters and dwarf hamsters is that dwarf hamsters may live in pairs or small groups while Syrian hamsters are solitary. Unless you have baby Syrian hamsters on your hands, they must be housed individually. Syrian Hamsters In the wild, Syrian hamsters originally had a golden color -- this is why the breed is sometimes referred to as the golden hamster. Syrian hamsters may also be known as Standard or Fancy hamsters. Long-haired Syrian hamsters are also known as Teddy Bear hamsters. Hairless ones are called Alien hamsters. Another variety is the Black Bear or European Black Bear hamster -- a black Syrian hamster. The Syrian hamster is the most common type of pet hamster. Identifying characteristics of the Syrian hamster: Between six and seven inches long Short tail Hairless feet with four toes on the front feet and five toes on the back feet Expandable cheek pouches If you are planning to keep a Syrian hamster for a pet, plan to keep it alone. These hamsters will not tolerate the presence of another hamster much past the age of eight weeks. More than one Syrian hamster caged together will fight, often to the death. However, these hamsters are gentle with humans and can be handled by young children under adult supervision. Dwarf Campbells Russian Hamster This type of dwarf hamster comes from the steppes and semi-desert areas of central Asia. You may also see it incorrectly called the “Siberian” hamster in pet shops. This type of hamster is also called the Furry Footed or Hairy Footed hamster. Identifying characteristics of the Dwarf Campbells Russian Hamster: Approximately four inches in length Plump, rounded body Expandable cheek pouches Furry feet Like other dwarf hamsters, the Campbells Russian Hamster is sociable and will live with others of the same breed in single sex or mixed sex groups -- as long as the hamsters are introduced to each other at a young age. This breed of hamster may be difficult for small children to handle because of its smaller size. Dwarf Campbells Russian hamsters may also be less tolerant of clumsy handling, and may nip when annoyed. Beware -- this hamster is known as an escape artist, squeezing between the bars of a cage to wander. You may want to use a glass or plastic aquarium for housing instead. Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamster This type of hamster comes from the grassy steppes of Siberia. It has a very similar appearance to a Dwarf Campbells Russian hamster, and the two species can interbreed. Winter White Russian Hamsters are seen more rarely in pet shops, and are less common than Dwarf Campbells Russian hamsters. Identifying characteristics of the Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamster: Between three and four inches in length Prominent eyes A bullet shaped body Expandable cheek pouches Furry feet This hamster gets its name from a tendency to turn white in the winter months, due to the lack of sunlight. Like other dwarf hamsters, the Winter White Russian Hamster is sociable and will live with others of the same breed in single sex or mixed sex groups -- as long as the hamsters are introduced to each other at a young age. This breed of hamster may be difficult for small children to handle because of its smaller size. Dwarf Winter White Russian hamsters may also be less tolerant of clumsy handling, but is not as likely to nip as the Campbells Russian hamster. Beware -- this hamster is known as an escape artist, squeezing between the bars of a cage to wander. You may want to use a glass or plastic aquarium for housing instead. Chinese Hamster The Chinese hamster is grouped with the dwarf hamsters because of its size, but it is technically a member of the group known as “rat-like” hamsters. It looks more like a mouse than other dwarf hamsters, and is not widely kept as a pet. Identifying characteristics of the Chinese hamster: Approximately four inches long Noticeable tail Distinct scrotal sac in males Most often dark brown on the back and off-white on the belly Although Chinese hamsters tend to be timid, they rarely nip and are generally good tempered. They may not be very active when handled, and may be a disappointment to a person who wants a pet they can play with. If you prefer to simply observe, a Chinese hamster may be a good pet for you! Give this type of hamster a large environment with lots of things to climb and explore for a good show. Roborovski Hamster This type of hamster comes from Mongolia and China and is the smallest of the domestic hamster species at approximately two inches in length. Roborovski hamsters are not widely kept as pets because they can be difficult to handle. Identifying characteristics of Roborovski Hamsters: Approximately two inches long Sandy-gold in color with a white belly Distinctive white eyebrow markings The size and speed of the Roborovski hamster makes them a poor choice for people who want pets they can handle and play with. However, if you want to observe a fascinating little creature, this may be the right hamster for you. Give your Roborovski hamster an interesting space to live in and you’ll have instant entertainment on your hands. You may need to go to a hamster breeder to obtain this type of hamster; they are not often seen in pet shops.
Your pet hamster will give you hours and hours of fun – provided you spend the time with him, allowing him to get to know you and feel really comfortable with you. You will find a huge selection of hamster supplies to choose from. A hamster bed can be something as simple as a non-chewable plastic box or something as way-out as the Tardis! You’ll also find cute little girlie hamster beds or one in the shape of your favourite car – the choices are endless! You can expand your hamster cage into an adventure playground by adding various hamster tubes for your little friend to explore. Just make sure you get the right size – normal sized ones for your normal sized hamsters and mini tubes for your tiny breeds. Also, look for a good range of hamster water bottles. Choose one which is big enough to last for a while so you’re not having to worry about topping it up all the time. Don’t forget to bookmark this page so you can come back as often as you need to. You can also subscribe to my Perfect Pets Blog so you have all the newest updates brought directly to you. You can do this simply by clicking on the little orange RSS button in the highlighted light green box along the left margin of this page - and following the directions from there.
Also do not miss the other useful articles available to you – check out the links at the bottom of this page for free information and help with all your pet queries and concerns.
Click here for help and advice on choosing general hamster care Click here for help and advice on caring for a pregnant hamster Click here for the best advice on caring for baby hamsters Click here to return from Different Hamster Breeds to our Home Page
|
Blink
Del.icio.us
Digg
Furl
Google
Simpy
Spurl
Technorati
Y! MyWeb
