Which Type of Hamster Is the Friendliest?

A hamster is a small rodent that is native to many parts of the world. They are most active during the evening and at night. They have a life expectancy of only a few years. Some hamsters are kept as pets. They require very limited space and housing, such as a wire cage. Pet owners find them manageable as they require little effort to care for, feed and water.

  1. Friendliest Pet Hamster

    • Of all the hamster species, the two that are commonly household pets are the Syrian hamster and the dwarf hamster. The Syrian hamster, also known as the golden hamster, is one breed that prefers to be kept alone. If kept together with another hamster of the opposite sex, it will fight. A breed that does not have this problem of being unfriendly to other rodents of the same sex or type is the dwarf hamster, which is suitable if you want more than one hamster as pets.

    About Dwarf Hamsters

    • The best time to adopt a dwarf hamster is when it is a few months old. At that age, it can be tamed and trained. Pet owners will find the hamster sleeping in the morning hours, hiding away during the day and more active and sociable later in the day, when it will come out to play in the evening. They will eat pellets, seeds and dried fruits and vegetables. They will chew on hay and twigs and will also eat grain and grass. Dwarf hamsters also need water, and a gravity-fed water bottle can provide them some.

    Characteristics

    • Dwarf hamsters are small, delicate creatures that have an average lifespan of one to two years. They are shy but also social and playful and like to live in pairs. Dwarf hamsters are big on exercising and entertaining pet owners. They dig, scratch, roam in cardboard tubes and boxes, play and run in wire hamster wheels, bed in shredded paper and chew on cardboard toilet paper rolls to keep their teeth healthy. Because of their tendency to bite or nip, they are not appropriate pets for families with small children.

    Health Care and Breeding

    • Dwarf hamsters do require health care and possible vet visits. They need fresh water and food every couple of days, pesticide-free chewing toys and a clean cage, so you need to remove their droppings and uneaten food. Pet owners can identify a healthy-looking hamster by checking to see if it has clean eyes, nice fur and an energetic disposition. Dwarf hamsters can breed at a very young age, so when housing a male and female dwarf hamster together, be prepared for the female to breed litter after litter, with the average litter being five or six.