There are many reasons why hamsters make such popular pets. These tiny, furry animals have been a must have pet over the last few decades in the United States. There are several types sold in stores. The most popular breed was discovered in Syria. The Syrian hamster was the first to be used in a laboratory lab, and first to be tamed and kept as a pet. The Syrian hamster is known as the fancy hamster, golden hamster or "teddy bear" hamster. It is the largest of the pet hamster species, at an average adult length of 6 inches long. It is a solitary animal and should never be housed with another hamster. Golden hamsters that are housed together are prone to fight.
Dwarfs
After the original discovery of the Golden hamster, new types were found in other parts of Asia and the Middle East.
The Chinese hamster, Roborovsky's dwarf hamster and Campbell's dwarf hamster are all 'dwarf ' hamster breeds and are all popular pets. These species are not technically 'dwarfs' but are known as such because of their smaller size relative to the Syrian hamster. Campbell's midget hamster has tiny 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 dwarf breeds. It has white fur patches above both eyes and does not have the dorsal dark fur stripe found on other tiny 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 is also the sole hamster species that have a long prehensile tail.
Other Breeds
Different strains of Syrians also exist, such as. the Angora, which is famous for the males of the breed having a longer, thick fur coat. The black bear is closely related to the Angora, differing in the sense that the coat colour is black, and personality is much more friendly.
Pet Hamster DifferencesDifferences between species and breeds is essentially the size, coat and color. The basic biology and behavior are consistent between the many types of hamsters, with 1 or 2 exceptions. The biggest difference between the Golden hamster and the dwarf breed is size. The Syrian hamster reaches a typical size of 6 inches in length. The dwarf breeds only grow to, on average, 2-3 inches in length, making them half the length of the Syrian. The other significant difference between the Golden and the dwarf breeds is that, while the Golden is a strictly solitary and shouldn't be housed with others, the dwarfs are more social and will like being caged with other dwarf hamsters. However,, all hamsters should be observed closely for aggressive behaviour when housed together, especially when originally introduced.
Dwarfs
After the original discovery of the Golden hamster, new types were found in other parts of Asia and the Middle East.
The Chinese hamster, Roborovsky's dwarf hamster and Campbell's dwarf hamster are all 'dwarf ' hamster breeds and are all popular pets. These species are not technically 'dwarfs' but are known as such because of their smaller size relative to the Syrian hamster. Campbell's midget hamster has tiny 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 dwarf breeds. It has white fur patches above both eyes and does not have the dorsal dark fur stripe found on other tiny 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 is also the sole hamster species that have a long prehensile tail.
Other Breeds
Different strains of Syrians also exist, such as. the Angora, which is famous for the males of the breed having a longer, thick fur coat. The black bear is closely related to the Angora, differing in the sense that the coat colour is black, and personality is much more friendly.
Pet Hamster DifferencesDifferences between species and breeds is essentially the size, coat and color. The basic biology and behavior are consistent between the many types of hamsters, with 1 or 2 exceptions. The biggest difference between the Golden hamster and the dwarf breed is size. The Syrian hamster reaches a typical size of 6 inches in length. The dwarf breeds only grow to, on average, 2-3 inches in length, making them half the length of the Syrian. The other significant difference between the Golden and the dwarf breeds is that, while the Golden is a strictly solitary and shouldn't be housed with others, the dwarfs are more social and will like being caged with other dwarf hamsters. However,, all hamsters should be observed closely for aggressive behaviour when housed together, especially when originally introduced.
About the Author:
Cathy "cat" Doggins has authored multiple articles on rodents. 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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