Unquestionably, hamsters have become the most common pets kept in homes today. But what types of hamsters are there?
They are an excellent choice for all households and ages because of their relative ease of care, adorable appearance, fun personality which needs to paired with a cute hamster name.
If you have been wondering, ‘what types of hamsters are there?’
You should acknowledge that there are various factors to be considered when figuring out if a hamster is a right pet for your family.
There are different types of hamsters, and they all vary in appearance and characteristics.
As much as all hamsters require the same kind of care and have a similar lifespan, you should ensure that you choose the hamster that will best fit you and your family.
Most people only know of the Syrian hamsters, but four different types of dwarf hamster breeds also exist.
These are the Winter White Hamsters, Campbell’s Russian Hamster, The Chinese Hamster, and Roborovski’s Hamster.
Compared to the Syrian hamsters, these are smaller in size.
Types of Hamsters
There is a variation to these dwarf hamster breeds because some are slightly bigger than others.
Syrian hamster
This is one of the most common breeds of hamsters found in many adoption locations.
They range between sizes six and seven making them bigger than the other hamsters. Their colors vary depending on their genetics.
They are considered to be curious creatures and kept best as solitary pets.
This is because they get territorial, making it difficult to mix well with the other hamsters.
Most of them usually have a golden brown color with darker marks around their cheeks.
They get along well with their owners provided there is proper interaction and provision of regular entertainment.
Campbell’s dwarf hamster
This hamster is commonly found for sale in different pet stores falsely identified as Siberian dwarfs.
They are named after William Campbell, who first caught one in Mongolia in 1904.
Most dwarf hamsters are limited in their colors, but these hamsters come in different colors and sheens.
They are attributed to being active, very bold, and fun to watch, and friendly.
They are best kept in small groups, meaning they are kept in large hamster cages, but they can also become territorial.
Moreover, they are the species that are genetically predisposed to diabetes.
Roborovski dwarf hamster
These tiny hamsters initially roamed throughout the deserts of central Asia but have become popular only recently due to their tiny size and fun temperament.
They are considered small because they reach an average length of two inches.
They have fluffy fur that comes in different colors, and that makes them highly appealing.
It is not an excellent fit for children or people that wish to handle their hamster frequently because they are a wide species that is very energetic.
Hence, they are best just to observe, considering they put on quite a show.
But you can find out simple ways how to train a Robo dwarf hamster .
Notwithstanding their small size, they ought to be kept in large hamster cages and a plethora of different toys.
Winter white dwarf hamster
This hamster resembles Campbell’s dwarf hamsters only that it has a different body shape and comes in different colors.
Compared to Campbell’s hamsters, they are pretty reserved and mild-mannered.
They get their name because, during winter, their gray fur turns white to disguise them from predators.
These cute animals can easily crossbreed with unique Campbell’s hamsters, making finding a pure breed of the winter white dwarf hamster challenging.
Chinese hamster
This is a tiny hamster but not a true dwarf as it grows up to three inches in length.
The fact that they are tiny and energetic makes them very difficult to handle. They require large enclosures with plenty of room to run around.
There are several states, however, that have labeled this pet as a pest.
This means one would require a permit to be own, sell or breed them.
Chinese striped hamster
This hamster is native to central and eastern Asia and makes a home in the arid and semiarid grasslands and steppe.
They live in long burrows and emerge in the early hours of the night to forage for seeds.
Their average body length is 3.9 inches with a short snout, dark rounded eyes, and wide-set eyes.
It is primarily light greyish-brown with a faint stripe on the spine in terms of color.
Ciscaucasian hamster
It is also referred to as the Georgian hamster as it is found only in Georgia and Russia.
This Hamster breed is found in both the mountain or grassy areas, a large hamster that grows up to 11 inches.
Has a beautiful coat of yellowish-brown look, a white throat and black around its stomach with some cute round ears.
A cute hamster but considered an agricultural pest because it feeds on herbs, grasses, seeds, and other crops.
It has an extensive burrow where it stores large amounts of food.
European hamster
This hamster is the only species in the genus Cricetus.
One that is native to a large area in Eurasia, this is from Belgium, Russia to the famous Altai Mountains.
It is an agricultural pest and is hunted for its fur.
It is considered endangered in several western European countries and is crepuscular, eats seeds, insects, legumes, vegetables, and grasses, and is frequently solitary.
Grey dwarf hamster
This common hamster species is commonly found in the middle East, Eastern Europe, Central Asia Russia, Western China and Mongolia.
It has an average body length of 4 inches with a furry tail about a third of its size. It has brownish-grey fur with white underparts.
Other than that, it has large ears with a flattened skull.
It is a hamster that digs burrows deep as 5ft beneath the ground and does not hibernate, so all year round, it forages for roots, seeds, plants, and hunts insects.
Kam dwarf hamster
This type of hamster is only found in the mountains of western China, specifically in grasslands, steppes, and shrubby marshes.
It has an average body length of 4 inches and a tail that is 2 inches long.
It has a greyish-brown coloring that could either be streaked or spotted with some black.
Its underside is greyish-white.
Like the grey dwarf hamster, it digs burrows to an average depth, stays active both day and night, forages for grain and seeds, and hunts insects.
The Hamsters you should avoid
If you have cats or terrier dogs, it is best if you avoid all hamsters if your pets seem to be very curious about small furries.
Plus, if your household is very noisy then a hamster might not be for you.
If you also have an active home during the day, you need to find a dedicated spot for its cage. Probably take some time and understand how long hamsters sleep.
If there is not quite spot for your Hamster, then consider getting a Guinea pig.