How to Pick the Perfect Hamster

Doing a little research into the different species of hamsters and how they differ from each other can stop unexpected problems before they arise. Bringing a hamster into your home can be a wonderful experience as long as you know what to expect.

Hamster Species

Even though it may seem like there are dozens of hamster species to choose from, there are actually just a few that are kept as pets. Although they are all rodents, some have specific needs and some need to be kept alone or they will fight. The most common hamsters kept as pets are the Syrian, Chinese, Winter White, Dwarf and Roborovskis.

Syrians

Syrian hamsters are often referred to as Teddy Bear, Golden and Fancy hamsters. The Syrian hamster is what most people would think of when a person brings up hamsters. Syrians usually live anywhere from 2-4 years but some can live longer. I've had Syrians that lived past their fourth birthday.

Syrian hamsters are solitary animals which means they have to live alone. They like to be alone in their cage. They do not like to live in a cage with a cage mate. If these hamsters are housed together with another hamster they will fight and it may be to the death. They are very friendly and won't bite if they are tamed and comfortable with you. They average 6-7 inches in length.

Chinese Hamster

These hamsters are often called Chinese Dwarf hamsters, but they are not true dwarf hamsters. Chinese hamsters have a longer tail than a dwarf hamster that they use to help them balance while clinging onto things, they also look longer and thinner than a dwarf hamster will. Chinese hamsters will live anywhere from 2-3 years but with care can live a little longer. These hamsters are usually a light grey color with a darker stripe down the middle of their backs, which is why they are sometimes referred to as a striped dwarf hamster.

Chinese hamsters are very friendly which makes them kid friendly and a good first pet. These hamsters can be kept with a cage mate and are social animals. But like with any rodents, if fighting breaks out in the cage, you should separate them before real damage is done. They average about 3-4 inches in length.

Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamsters

Winter white hamsters are sometimes called the color changing hamster because in the wild they will hibernate and their coats will get a lighter color. In captivity if they are kept in warm rooms they usually don't hibernate but their coats do sometimes still get lighter shades of grey to almost a white color.

These hamsters do not always get along with other hamsters and are more likely to fight with one another. If you adopt two that have been in the same cage since birth they are less likely to fight, but if they do you may have to give them separate cages.

These hamsters are usually between 3-4 inches long and can live anywhere between 1-2 years.

Campbell's Dwarf

These dwarf hamsters are what most people think of when they hear dwarf hamster. They are social and can live in small groups up to three or four hamsters in a cage if it's big enough to house them all.

The best time to introduce hamsters to each other is when they are very young. Hamsters that are put together as adults may fight even if they are the same species. Campbell's can live anywhere from 1-2 years and are usually between 3-5 inches long.

These hamsters seem to be the biters out of all the hamsters I've had. Even after I've tamed them, they still seemed to nip now and again. They are usually a grey or a tan color. A lot of people get them mixed up with Winter white hamsters.

Roborovoskis

These hamsters are the smallest hamsters most people keep as pets, averaging about 2 inches long. They are also the fastest and hardest to handle. They can live anywhere from 2-4 years with proper care. They are often referred to as Robo's or Robo hamsters because of their name.

These small hamsters are so fast they can run across a couch and be on the floor before you can get up to stop them. They are so small that they can easily fit through some wire cages and therefore most wire cages are not good houses for them. A solid plastic hamster cage with an exercise wheel and enough room to put other toys inside the cage would be best for this hamster.

This hamster will need an exercise wheel because they run around their cage like crazy and need the exercise. Roborovski hamsters are not the best first pets for small children as they can get away so fast and are not easily handled.

No matter what type of hamster you decide to adopt, doing a little research can help a lot with this and help you not to regret the decision you made. No matter what kind of hamster you adopt you should give them at least one day to get used to their new home and the new smells around them before you try to handle them. You will be much less likely to get bitten if you take your time with your new pet.