Behavioral Differences in Hamsters

Several species of hamster are popular as small pets, including the Syrian or golden hamster, the dwarf Campbells Russian hamster, the dwarf winter white hamster, and the Chinese hamster. While hamster species have a number of things in common, like nocturnal tendencies and a solitary nature, their actual behavior varies. Knowing the differences in behavior between hamster species can make it much easier to choose the right pet.

  1. Solitary Nature

    • Most hamster species are solitary in the wild, and dislike the presence of other hamsters. However, some species tolerate communal cages better than others. For instance, according to Doctors Foster and Smith, Syrian or golden hamsters must be caged singly, especially the males, as they will not tolerate the presence of other hamsters after the age of 10 weeks. According to the Pet website, however, dwarf Campbells Russian hamsters, a much smaller species, will live with others of their own kind if the animals are introduced at a young age. Chinese hamsters are extremely solitary, and females may actually kill males if they are left in the cage after breeding.

    Timidity

    • As prey animals, all hamsters tend to be somewhat nervous, especially when exposed to loud noises or other unexpected stimuli. Some species are calmer than others, however. According to the Pet Web Site, Chinese hamsters are among the most timid of the hamster species, making them difficult to handle outside of their cages. These hamsters do best when left alone in a large environment and handled sparingly. The Roborovski hamster is similarly active and difficult to handle, but is not prone to biting. Winter white and Campbells Russian hamsters can be socialized to be docile and friendly to humans, but may bite unexpectedly. Doctors Foster and Smith note that golden hamsters are usually fairly docile, especially when socialized at a young age.

    Activity

    • All hamster species tend to be nocturnal, waking at dusk and foraging during the night. In captivity, some of them may adapt to be active during part of the day. According to Hamsterrific and Doctors Foster and Smith, the Syrian hamster is almost entirely nocturnal, possibly due to the high daytime heat in its native range. The dwarf winter white Russian hamster is still most active at night, but also moves around during the day. The hamster may be quite active during these periods. Dwarf Campbells Russian hamsters wake for only short periods during the day, and are not very active while awake.