Hamsters are a cute little rodent species that are commonly kept as pets and are loved by small children.A hamster is a relatively affordable, agile, and lovable pet. However, which hamsters should you keep? Having knowledge of different species of hamsters will give you an idea of what type of species you should keep as a pet. Hamsters are a small rodent species that were first described by the Saxon anatomist, Fischer de Waldheim, in 1817. Hamsters belong to the class of mammals and the order Rodentia. A hamster is a member of the Cricetidae family. There are seven genera of hamsters under the category of this family.The most commonly kept hamster as a pet is the Syrian hamster or golden hamster. The other species kept as pets are dwarf hamsters named the winter white dwarf hamster, the Roborovski dwarf hamster, and the Campbell’s dwarf hamster. Hamster species are most active during the twilight period and are active during the night. Hamsters are short-bodied fur rodents which are a few inches long and appear to be like a furball. An image of a hamster might be confusing when it comes to recognizing the species.Generally, hamsters feed on vegetation, seeds, insects, and fruits. Food must be given in small amounts as excessive feeding could result in illness. Hamsters come in a variety of colors. It is believed that if many hamster breeds are kept together, they might get into fights with each other. Dwarf hamsters are known to be more tolerant of their own kind than other species.If you enjoy reading this article about types of hamsters, then do read some interesting and surprising fun facts about different types of goldfish and different types of turtles.What are hamsters?Hamsters are small animals that are from the order of rodents. Hamsters are differentiated on the basis of their features, such as short tails, small ears, and cute little legs. The hamster is furry, like a teddy bear.Hamsters are a small size rodent species that belong to the subfamily Cricetinae. Hamsters are often confused as being from the rat species, but they are not a species of rat and instead are from the same order of rodents. Hamsters can survive up to the age of two years to three years. There are 19 species of hamsters and seven genera of hamsters.Hamster breeds are nocturnal and are known to be most active during the twilight period. In the wild, hamsters search for food such as vegetables, seeds, insects, and fruits. If you have a pet hamster then you must have observed that it is more energetic and eat its food during the nighttime. Young Syrian hamsters are intolerant of each other and should not be placed together in a cage or should be provided with enough space in a large cage.A hamster is sensitive to sunlight and specifically ultraviolet rays, which can adversely affect their eyesight. Most hamster species are known to sleep during the daytime, with the exception of a few hamster species such as the Roborovski hamster. Hamsters are known to store food so that they can feed on this stored food when they feel hungry.It is advised to keep your hamster healthy by feeding it in small amounts as overfeeding can lead to diarrhea and wet tail in hamsters. The Syrian hamster or the golden hamster, the winter white hamster or the Russian dwarf hamster, the Chinese hamster, the Campbell’s dwarf hamster, and the Roborovski hamster are a few hamster species. They all come in a variety of colors such as dark golden brown, light gray, white, and cream.Characteristic Features Of HamstersHamsters are nocturnal, food hoarders, and are well known for their burrowing habits.Hamsters are nocturnal rodents who prefer to be alone and live their life in a cage in solitude. Hamsters are mostly lazy and spend their daytime sleeping. Hamsters are more familiar with living in dark corners and avoiding bright sunlight. Hamster cages must be kept in dark places so that your little cute pet is not troubled by the light. A dimly lit area is best suited for the small length pet hamster.Hamsters have the habit of collecting food and hoarding it in corners of their cage, in a hidden space. In the wild, hamsters are best known for their burrows. They search for food that can be stored for a longer period of time. In the autumn season, different breeds of hamsters or hamster species increase their movements. It is suggested you provide a wheel in your pet hamster’s cage for exercise. This increase in exercise tends to make them lose weight.Almost all hamster species spend their lives alone. Many times, chronic stress has been evident in hamsters when they are kept together in a cage. Dwarf hamsters rarely bear species of their own kind or same-sex, and at a young age, they are also known to be aggressive towards each other. Hamsters are known to use their scent glands and body gestures to show how they are feeling.Syrian hamsters with golden brown fur and winter white or Russian hamsters with white fur are known to mature quickly. Both these hamster species can breed children of their own when they are three to four weeks old, while Chinese hamsters breed at an age of two to three months. The Roborovski hamster is known to breed when it is three to four months old. The female hamster’s estrus period takes place every other day and lasts for four days. Campbell’s dwarf hamsters have the scientific name Phodopus campbelli. They can give birth to four to eight pups in a litter.List Of Different Types Of HamstersThere are 19 species and seven genera of hamsters. The most commonly hamsters kept as pets are dwarf hamsters, Syrian hamsters, winter white or Russian hamsters, Chinese hamsters, and Campbell’s dwarf hamsters. All these breeds are best known as pets.Syrian hamsters are a type of hamster that have a golden brown fur coat on their bodies that is either long-haired or short-haired in length. Syrian hamsters love to live in their own space and are pets who like to live their lives in solitude. Syrian hamsters are the best type of hamsters for children, as they are easier to handle and train.The Campbell’s dwarf hamster, the Phodopus campbelli, has better socializing skills, especially with the one who takes care of it. The Campbell’s hamster has a satin fur coat and is more energetic. The behavior of the Phodopus campbelli is aggressive when it comes to its territory and space in the cage. Ideally, Campbell’s dwarf hamsters are kept in pairs, but at times you might have to separate them as the Phodopus campbelli is a territorial breed of hamster. The Phodopus campbelli is more prone to diabetes, so it needs a diet with specific food.Chinese hamsters are not considered to be true dwarf hamsters. In California, these Chinese hamsters are illegal to be kept as pets. When provided with many things or objects in their large, spacious cage, Chinese hamsters are known to live their best in such an environment. The Roborovski hamster is called the smallest hamster breed and was discovered in 1903. The average length of the Roborovski hamster is 2 in (5 cm) long, and this hamster is found in deserts of central Asia in the wild.Russian or winter white hamsters are best known for their pearl white coat of fur, which attracts most of the people who keep them as pets. Winter white hamsters and Campbell’s dwarf hamsters can interbreed. Many times it becomes difficult to own a pure breed due to their hybridization. They look like small white teddy bears or white rabbit babies. Dwarf hamsters can be kept in pairs of same-sex or gender.How are they different from each other?Hamster breeds differ on the basis of their color, size, and their agile movements.As of now, you must have become familiar with different types of pet hamster species. If you want to distinguish between the sex or gender of pet hamsters, then you can look at their anogenital areas. The gap between the genital openings of males is wider than that of females. It really becomes difficult to recognize the hamster species by looking at pictures. However, if we go beyond the image and look into physical aspects, then you will recognize the breed.It would be an easy task for you if you were given the clue that the name of the hamster has a golden brown color and is also called the teddy bear in most parts of America. Then you would normally name the hamster as a Syrian hamster. The Syrian hamster is the friendliest pet hamster among all the species and make a good choice as a hamster for a child’s first pet.Among pet hamsters, a Syrian hamster can grow up to 8 in (20 cm) in length and play well with a small toy wheel. The dwarf hamster can grow up to 2-4 in (5.5-10.5 cm) long. Syrian hamsters have rounder and larger eyes in comparison to dwarf hamsters. Campbell’s hamsters have a more pointed snout, while winter white hamsters have a short and curved nose, also called a Roman nose. Syrian hamsters can also be the best hamsters for beginners to keep as pets as they are easy to handle and train.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for different types of hamsters, then why not take a look at different types of bulldogs or Chinese hamster fun facts for kids?
Hamsters are a cute little rodent species that are commonly kept as pets and are loved by small children.
