About Hamsters

"Hamster" is an umbrella term referring to several species of rodent that look and act a lot alike. There are four species that are popular in the pet trade--the Syrian, the Russian Dwarf, the Chinese and the Roborovski. On the whole, these are incredibly intelligent, charming animals that are very good at training people to do their bidding. Their only flaw is that they are short lived, usually 1 to 3 years.

  1. Identification

    • Hamsters are a family of small rodents that have some common qualities. They have small or non-existent tails and huge cheek pouches. Their teeth grow throughout their lives. Their kidneys are so efficient that they do not need to drink much water. Females are larger than males.

    Geography

    • Wild hamsters live in the more arid regions of Asia, Europe and the Middle East. All pet hamsters are descended from wild hamsters captured less than 100 years ago. It is thought that all Syrian or golden hamsters are descended from one female caught in the late 1800s and brought to England. Since then, they have done quite well in captivity, especially the Syrian and the Russian Dwarf.

    Types

    • The Syrian or Golden hamster is the largest pet hamster about 4 to 7 inches long and a tiny pink nub for a tail. Originally, they were a golden brown and white. Now, they come in a wide variety of colors and length of fur. They need to live alone.
      The Russian Dwarf or Campbell's hamster is about 3 to 4 inches long and was originally a silvery-grey in color and short haired. Now, they also come in several color and coat variations. They can live in small colonies.
      The Chinese hamster is 4 to 5 inches long with a longer, more rat-like body than the other hamsters. However, they do have a short tail. They are silvery grey and white. They need to live alone.
      The Roborovski or Robo hamster is the smallest one in captivity at a mere 2 inches in length. They can live in colonies.

    Expert Insight

    • Hamsters lived in the wild by running around at night for miles, finding whatever food they could, stuffing it in their cheek pouches and running back to their burrows. This is why pet hamsters love running in a wheel. They have a ton of energy that needs to be channeled to a wheel or other toys. If denied this exercise, the hamster will develop behavioral problems, such as chewing on the bars of the cage all night long.

    Function

    • Hamsters in captivity have been kept as pets, to feed large reptiles and for scientific experimentation. They are now preferred to guinea pigs as a lab animal.

    Misconceptions

    • Hamsters are not vegetarians. They are omnivores and need a varied diet from all of the food groups.