Hamsters are as popular today as years ago. These small, furry animals have been a must have pet over the last few decades in the United States. There are several hamster species available for sale. The most popular breed was discovered in in the 1930's in Syria. The Syrian hamster was the first to be utilized in a laboratory lab, and first to be domesticated and kept as a household pet. The Syrian hamster is referred to as the golden hamster, fancy hamster or "teddy bear" hamster. It is the largest hamster breed, at an average fully grown length of 6 inches long. It is a solitary animal and should never be caged with another male or female. Teddy Bear hamsters that are housed together will fight.
Dwarfs
After the first discovery of the Syrian hamster, new species were found in other parts of the Pacific Rim and the Middle East.
Roborovsky's dwarf hamster, the Chinese Hamster and Campbell's dwarf hamster are all 'dwarf ' hamster breeds and are all commonly found as pet hamsters. These species are not technically 'dwarfs' but are referred to as such due to the smaller size relative to the Syrian. Campbell's midget hamster has little ears and a narrow dorsal stripe of dark fur down the back. The Roborovsky's dwarf hamster, or 'Robo' hamster, is the smallest of the dwarfs. It has patches of white fur above the eyes and does not have the dorsal stripe of dark fur found on other midget breeds. The Chinese hamster is extensive and thinner than the other types of hamsters and is more frequently compared to a mouse than a hamster. It also is the sole hamster species that have a long prehensile tail.
Other Hamster Breeds
Several strains of Syrian hamster also exist, e.g.. the Angora, which is famous for the males of the breed having a beautiful, thick coat. The black bear is compared to the Angora, differing in the sense that the coat color is black, and personality is more docile.
Differences Between the BreedsVariations between hamster species and breeds is primarily the overall size, coat and color. Biology and behavior are consistent between the many types of hamsters, with 1 or 2 exceptions. The biggest difference between the Syrian hamster and the dwarf breed is size. The Syrian hamster reaches a typical size of 6 inches in length. The dwarf species only grow to, on average, 2-3 inches, making them half the size of the Syrian. The other major difference between the Syrian and the dwarf is that, while the Syrian hamster is a strictly solitary and shouldn't be housed with others, the dwarfs are more social and will like being kept with others. Nonetheless, all hamsters should be watched closely for aggressive behaviour when kept together, particularly when originally introduced.
Dwarfs
After the first discovery of the Syrian hamster, new species were found in other parts of the Pacific Rim and the Middle East.
Roborovsky's dwarf hamster, the Chinese Hamster and Campbell's dwarf hamster are all 'dwarf ' hamster breeds and are all commonly found as pet hamsters. These species are not technically 'dwarfs' but are referred to as such due to the smaller size relative to the Syrian. Campbell's midget hamster has little ears and a narrow dorsal stripe of dark fur down the back. The Roborovsky's dwarf hamster, or 'Robo' hamster, is the smallest of the dwarfs. It has patches of white fur above the eyes and does not have the dorsal stripe of dark fur found on other midget breeds. The Chinese hamster is extensive and thinner than the other types of hamsters and is more frequently compared to a mouse than a hamster. It also is the sole hamster species that have a long prehensile tail.
Other Hamster Breeds
Several strains of Syrian hamster also exist, e.g.. the Angora, which is famous for the males of the breed having a beautiful, thick coat. The black bear is compared to the Angora, differing in the sense that the coat color is black, and personality is more docile.
Differences Between the BreedsVariations between hamster species and breeds is primarily the overall size, coat and color. Biology and behavior are consistent between the many types of hamsters, with 1 or 2 exceptions. The biggest difference between the Syrian hamster and the dwarf breed is size. The Syrian hamster reaches a typical size of 6 inches in length. The dwarf species only grow to, on average, 2-3 inches, making them half the size of the Syrian. The other major difference between the Syrian and the dwarf is that, while the Syrian hamster is a strictly solitary and shouldn't be housed with others, the dwarfs are more social and will like being kept with others. Nonetheless, all hamsters should be watched closely for aggressive behaviour when kept together, particularly when originally introduced.
About the Author:
Cathy "cat" Doggins has authored multiple articles on cool small pets. When not caring for her pets like these, Cathy helps as a volunteer at local pet shelters and cares for her growing collection of dwarf and golden hamsters.
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