Common Hamster Species

Hey there, in here you will find some stuff about some different varieties of hamster species. This page is helpful for those that are going to buy a hamster and want to figure out how it's personality and appearence might be. Or it's also for those just wanting to find out about the different kinds of hamsters and their different characteristics.

Please be aware that there are different colours of the Syrian Hamster - eg the Golden Hamster which is the natural wild colour, the Black Eyed Cream Hamster which is a mutation that is quite common, and the Teddybear which is the long haired variety.

Type of Hamster + pic Appearance Characteristics

Golden Hamster

Photo by permission of The Hamster Socitey Homepage Size: 15-20 cm
The original wild colour of the Syrian Hamster. Golden-brown in colour with white underparts. Lively & robust; easily tamed; solitery - females in particular are more aggressive towards eachother.

Cream-colored Hamster

Photo by permission of The Hamster Socitey Homepage An early mutation of the Syrian Hamster. Even beige color; the underparts somewhat are paler Lively; becomes friendly quickly; also even-tempered.

Teddy Hamster
(Longhaired Syrian Hamster)

Photo by Pet View Magazine Longhaired has silky, shiny fur; Males have longer fur than females. Becomes friendly quickly; longhaired needs to be groomed with a toothbrush.

Albino Syrian
(Flesh Eared White or Synthetic Albino) Mutuation of Syrian Hamster although they are not "true albinos". White all over with pink-red eyes. Lively & robust; easily tamed; solitery - females in particular are more aggressive towards eachother.

Banded Syrian Hamster

Photo by permission of Miguel Mascarenhas Pattern mutation of the Syrian Hamster. White band over center of body and white belly. Lively & robust; easily tamed; solitary - females in particular are more aggressive towards each other.

Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamster
(Djungarian or Siberian)

Photo by permission of Jon's Dwarf Hamster Page Size: 8-10 cm
Has dark grey fur with dark markings on nose, ears, tail, and feet; has a black stripe that runs from between the ears down to the tail; more delicate than wild-type golden hamsters, can turn white in winter Becomes tame quickly; gets along with others of its kind; limited vision.

Dwarf Russian Hamster
(Campbells)

Photo by permission of The Complete Hamster Site Size: 10-12 cm
Mid grey with a dark grey stripe from between the ears to the tail; white belly and slightly cream on the sides; has black eyes It is sociable and will live with other hamsters of its own kind.

Albino Dwarf Campbells Russian Hamster

Photo by permission of The Complete Hamster Site Size: 10-12 cm
A mutation of the Dwarf Campbells Russian. Pure white with red eyes. It's good-natured, even toward others of its kind.

Dwarf Hamster
(Chinese)

Photo by permission of The Hamster Socitey Homepage Size: 11-12 cm
Young have gray, older animals have brownish, thick, and soft fur; dark stripe down the back from forehead to tail Young animals become tame easily, older ones only rarely; timid; lives with others with its own kind butfemales are aggressive toward the males.

Type of Hamster + pic	Appearance	Characteristics
Golden Hamster Photo by permission of The Hamster Socitey Homepage	Size: 15-20 cm The original wild colour of the Syrian Hamster. Golden-brown in colour with white underparts.	Lively & robust; easily tamed; solitery - females in particular are more aggressive towards eachother.
Cream-colored Hamster Photo by permission of The Hamster Socitey Homepage	An early mutation of the Syrian Hamster. Even beige color; the underparts somewhat are paler	Lively; becomes friendly quickly; also even-tempered.
Teddy Hamster (Longhaired Syrian Hamster) Photo by Pet View Magazine	Longhaired has silky, shiny fur; Males have longer fur than females.	Becomes friendly quickly; longhaired needs to be groomed with a toothbrush.
Albino Syrian (Flesh Eared White or Synthetic Albino)	Mutuation of Syrian Hamster although they are not "true albinos". White all over with pink-red eyes.	Lively & robust; easily tamed; solitery - females in particular are more aggressive towards eachother.
Banded Syrian Hamster Photo by permission of Miguel Mascarenhas	Pattern mutation of the Syrian Hamster. White band over center of body and white belly.	Lively & robust; easily tamed; solitary - females in particular are more aggressive towards each other.
Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamster (Djungarian or Siberian) Photo by permission of Jon's Dwarf Hamster Page	Size: 8-10 cm Has dark grey fur with dark markings on nose, ears, tail, and feet; has a black stripe that runs from between the ears down to the tail; more delicate than wild-type golden hamsters, can turn white in winter	Becomes tame quickly; gets along with others of its kind; limited vision.
Dwarf Russian Hamster (Campbells) Photo by permission of The Complete Hamster Site	Size: 10-12 cm Mid grey with a dark grey stripe from between the ears to the tail; white belly and slightly cream on the sides; has black eyes	It is sociable and will live with other hamsters of its own kind.
Albino Dwarf Campbells Russian Hamster Photo by permission of The Complete Hamster Site	Size: 10-12 cm A mutation of the Dwarf Campbells Russian. Pure white with red eyes.	It's good-natured, even toward others of its kind.
Dwarf Hamster (Chinese) Photo by permission of The Hamster Socitey Homepage	Size: 11-12 cm Young have gray, older animals have brownish, thick, and soft fur; dark stripe down the back from forehead to tail	Young animals become tame easily, older ones only rarely; timid; lives with others with its own kind butfemales are aggressive toward the males.

Please note that all of the above information is from "Hamsters" by Otto von Frisch and Lorraine Hill of The Complete Hamster Site.

Last Updated: Tuesday, October 31/00

slovacek@echo-on.net

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